The property is in an excellent location, within walking distance to Main Street, which is a cute little town with lots of shops and restaurants. My husband and I visited Visalia because we wanted to eat at a nearby restaurant which was where we had our first date, 42 years ago. We were very impressed with the Darling hotel. My husband stated it was the best shower/water pressure he’s ever had in a hotel. The staff was accommodating and the facilities were clean. A basket of snacks was provided, complementary. The elevator is a little slow, but worked well enough. We were surprised there was a fee for parking, but the parking lot was secure. We had happy hour at the Elderwood rooftop restaurant before going off to dinner. It was a little on the warm side, but a very nice atmosphere.

There was a fee to park our car in the hotel parking lot.

I loved the style of it and how taken care of and modern it was.

Mostly the front desk staff on Saturday night. We asked for assistance with the Netflix account and how the remote to the tv wasn’t working. Didn’t get any assistance when the staff person said she would head up to our room and help. We waited and waited and nothing. So we ended up leaving to get dinner and until we made our way back through the lobby to get to our room then she still questioned us if we still needed assistance. At that point we just wanted to sleep and were annoyed with the fact that she never assisted us or made any effort to make her way to our room or call or send someone else. Other than that experience everyone else was very nice.

The Darling was highly recommended and met up to my expectations. From arrival to checking in was easy, with gated parking space. The hotel is new and classy, yet had a relaxed air. You could sense the history of the place. The Elderwood restaurant had a nice view and good food. Service was excellent, the reception was warm and we were made to feel very welcome.

The pool didn’t have a change and shower area, nonetheless looked inviting. It was warm in early summer and would have been nice to take a dip.

The Darling is a fantastic example of how to restore a historic building—what they've done with this 1935 gem is truly impressive. The attention to detail throughout is outstanding. The in-room amenities, including Bodrun cattle with quality tea and coffee, really make you feel at home. The staff were fantastic—always attentive and helpful. The rooftop restaurant is a must-visit, packed with locals every day and serving incredible food. It really adds to the overall experience.

One small area for improvement is the shower. While it looks great, is a bit high, so the water flow and the pressure could be better. However, the private parking is a big plus for those traveling by car. Overall, highly recommend this hotel!

This was a beautiful hotel that kept the charm of yesteryear. I loved the art deco remodel that held true to the era of the original building. Very friendly and professional staff, clean and comfortable rooms, and shared spaces. Nice pool, efficient workout area. Elderwood restaurant on the roof has a wonderful atmosphere and great food drink selection. Excellent location with a wide variety of other shops and restaurants within walking distance. Mission Coffee was my go-to coffee spot! Excellent coffee and staff that give back to the locals in need.

I couldn't stay longer and spend more time at the pool

Everything, the decor, the room, the huge shower, the gym (tiny but it was enough for a workout). The mocktail I tried in the rooftop bar was very good.

Two small points. One thing was that the room was a little noisy, on 4th floor so there was a mechanical type sound coming from upstairs, maybe the restaurant, also you could hear the pinging of the elevator and people talking outside at times. Also the fridge was strangely noisy so I unplugged it temporarily during the night. Another point was that the restaurant didn't have any vegan options. I went there enthusiastic after seeing it listed on Happy Cow with a mention of a few vegan items on the menu but they must have been removed or they were never there in the first place. Staff offered to give me a salad with no cheese or dressing, but that would have meant lettuce and croutons which wouldn't have been very substantial.

It’s a lovely historic building. Our executive suite (an upgrade we paid for) was very grand, with an entry foyer, a living room and a large bedroom. The floor carpet and living furniture needed to be replaced, as they were out of date and had seen better days. The rooftop restaurant was terrific.

I was shocked when our room was not cleaned and the dirty towels not replaced after the first night stay. Apparently the hotel is very short-staffed. When I asked for our towels to be replaced the receptionist came up with new towels. No one ever offered to take away the dirty towels. After we’d finished with room delivery dinner, we were asked to place the tray of used dishes outside the room. The tray, including some dishes with leftovers, was still there at our noon the next day! I had to call to have it collected. When one is paying about $725 for two nights, one expects better service.

Breakfast was great, the rooftop patio was amazing, we love everything about this hotel.

We actually travel quite a bit and there is very little to complain about with this hotel and we are very observant, the one and only minor glitch was the automatic light in the bathroom. On suggestion would be to restore the amazing original windows so they are operational.

- The hotel and rooms are beautiful, the decor detail and design is captivating. - Really enjoyed the kettle in the room and the complimentary tea! - Enjoyed a swim in the heated pool one evening, warm enough at the beginning of winter. - Staff were friendly and helpful.

- The secure parking lot was fantastic, and easy to use after I checked in. However, there was nowhere to park my car when I arrived before check in. I managed to make a plan, and staff were accommodating when I got to the lobby, but it was stressful after a long drive.

If you’re looking to stay at a reasonably priced luxury hotel on the CA 99 corridor consider making your stop in Visalia to stay at The Darling. The architecture of the hotel is beautiful and the rooms are opulent. We were particularly impressed by the walk in rain shower in the marble festooned bathroom, it made us feel like royalty. The bed was amazing too. We also enjoyed the rooftop restaurant, it has a full bar and a great menu with stunning views of the Sierra and Mt Whitney. The staff was excellent and respectful. This hotel feels like a safe and welcoming place for LGBT and African American travelers.