"Although this B&B is located on a main thoroughfare, you won’t notice that fact once you’re installed in one of 10 guest rooms. The inn is set back in a wooded area on the Chocorua River. Rooms feature bold colors on the walls and few flourishes, which keeps your attention on the antique furnishings. The same design sense applies to common areas such as the main guest lounge, small library, dining room, and riverside deck."
-Yankee Magazine 2008 Editor's Choice award
"Downright tony...lavishly decorated with grand
wooden beds and bold artwork collected in Asia by owners Jerry
Weiss and Craig Cox. The breakfasts are a multi-course gourmet
affair. The decor coupled with the pristine setting --
highlighted by the babbling Chocorua River out back and 15 acres
of surrounding pine forests -- is easily honeymoon worthy."
-Gary Lee, Washington Post,
September 16, 2007
"Rarely have I felt as serene as I did sitting
on the red velvet cushion of a window seat at the Riverbend Inn
Bed & Breakfast in late March, watching the Chocorua River
burble its way between snow-covered banks until the foamy copper
ribbon disappeared around a forested bend. Perhaps it was the
massage still radiating warmth across my shoulders. Perhaps it
was Sinatra on the sound system. Perhaps it was the lushly
decorated parlor that combines brick-red walls, a wood-burning
fireplace, and striking Asian accents such as a six-foot statue
of Dwarapalaka, the Hindu god of entryways, and richly hued silk
shawls tossed across the couches. Innkeepers Craig Cox and Jerry
Weiss have created a surprisingly seamless melding of East and
West, filled with treasures they have collected traveling and
enriched by their family histories. Breakfasts are creative and
beautifully presented. A fruit parfait layered fresh berries and
yogurt, topped with granola; it was followed by pancakes with
bacon and maple syrup. A fruit garnish of green grapes,
cantaloupe, and strawberries was clearly chosen for its contrast
of shapes and colors as well as taste. Sunday morning brought
poached pears and an egg casserole with mushrooms and leeks.
Guests help themselves to coffee, juice, and local apple cider."
-Ellen Albanese, Boston Sunday
Globe, May 6, 2007
"Craig and Jerry have turned this New England B&B into a top-notch boutique-style hotel. Overlooking a flowing river, the inn combines Craig's natural culinary talent with Jerry's interior design expertise. Come surround yourself with the sensuous warmth of the richly colorful rooms, and the large collection of Asian artifacts purchased during the dynamic duo's many travels. And in the morning, take pleasure in apple-creme-brulee French toast or Jerry's grandma's rugelach."
-Kate Hamman, SmarterTravel.com
"There are many inns that succeed in impressing me, but one inn stands head and shoulders above them all: The Riverbend Inn in Chocorua, New Hampshire. This inn is clearly outstanding and the Riverbend innkeepers are perfect hosts. From the moment you step into the inn, you feel as if you’re the most important guest they’ve ever had. A tour of the exquisite inn is always first on the agenda as you are shown to your room, and one of the first tenants you meet is Homer the cat, who takes up residence on the back of a comfortable chair in the main gathering room, which is beautifully appointed with oriental accents and is painted red-both walls and ceiling. A large fireplace beckons you to sit in one of the many comfortable chairs, and soft music seems to be ever present. The view from the living room’s windows is a vista of the Chocorua River, which takes one of many bends right behind the inn. The water is crystal clear and it is easy to imagine trout lurking there, just waiting to be caught.
The breakfast room, with its brick floor and walls of sliding glass doors, is a very inviting room and almost makes you wish it were time for breakfast. The doors in the rear of the room take you to a wonderful deck where breakfast is offered when weather permits. The other wall of glass leads to a patio where more oriental-themed objects make their homes beside bird feeders and flowering trees and shrubs. My room, #3, is painted red, walls and ceiling, trimmed in gold and white, and carries the oriental theme. The massive bed takes up a large portion of the room, and in the corner sits a white loveseat, casually draped with a red velvet throw. The bathroom is white, trimmed in red and black. Jerry, an interior designer, had succeeded in making this inn a combination of romance, elegance and beauty. There is no detail overlooked. I was impressed with the nightly turn-down service; my red bedspread had been replaced with a white down comforter, turned down to show the luxurious red sheets and the shades had been drawn. Breakfast was a fresh fruit parfait with a granola topping and a slice of Jerry’s rugula, a recipe passed down from his grandmother, followed by a frittata, sliced ham, home fried potatoes (a mix of white, red and sweet potatoes) and an edible garnish of kiwi, melon and cherries. I cannot imagine anyone exceeding what Jerry and Craig have done with this Inn. It is immaculate and the attention to detail is beyond compare. Guests are pampered and treated like royalty. The Riverbend Inn is the best of the best. I would highly encourage anyone looking for a romantic and relaxing long weekend to make a reservation. I’d even ask for #3!"
-Linda Batey, Examiner.com
"Drive up to the Riverbend Inn, and immediately
a sense of “ahhhhhh” settles over you. Rest in the parking lot
an extra moment listening to the sound of the river, and the
hassles of the world melt. The inn gives fresh meaning to “a
world apart”. Step into the Riverbend, and you step into the
intrigue of bold, deep colors and Asian art and decor. The large
overstuffed couches and the carved mahogany beds beckon those
who usually tread with trepidation at the suggestion of a B&B.
The Riverbend Inn provides the perfect spot for a romantic
weekend away from the kids or a simple retreat from the everyday
rush. Set in two buildings connected by the breakfast room-with
an entire wall overlooking a deck and the river beyond-a
wonderful sense of privacy is unmistakable here. Rooms are
spacious, and common areas are abundant both inside the inn and
out. Surrounded by forest with hammocks and Adirondack chairs
for quiet tete-a-tetes, guests settle into the inn’s calming
comforts, completely in tune with the natural surroundings. In
the evening, sit on the deck sipping your favorite Chardonnay,
and hear the quiet sounds of the rippling river and birds
bedding down for the night. Since “quiet” is a foreign word in
most households, the fabulous setting and anticipation of a
relaxing weekend can be positively ambrosial. The rooms, where
bold colors combine with Asian accents, offer profoundly
romantic settings. Warm, homemade cookies served bedside
complement the mix of Asian romanticism and modern amenities:
the perfect balance of creature comfort and ambiance. One guest,
describing herself as a neurotic New Yorker said “From the warm
glow of the B&B when we first pulled up to our ending few
minutes--every detail imagined - even the eclectic mix of music
that permeates the sitting areas - somehow flows beautifully in
rhythm with the river outside...".
- Classic Country Life magazine,
Fall 2006
"Every thing old - and wonderful - is new again these days in New
Hampshire's majestic Mt. Washington Valley. Over the past years,
many have migrated from New York, Los Angeles and other urban hot
spots to setup shop in this magnificent region of lush valleys and
the towering White Mountains. The area is perfect for a quieter
lifestyle far from everyday city life. Some of these entrepreneurs
have bought historic properties and transformed them into 4-star
boutique hotels that mirror in style and character the once grand
old hotels of the Belle Époque era. Only one or two of those 19th-
and early 20th-century timber treasures survive, but today's new
smaller gems offer the same first-class ambiance, old-world service
and superb food that attracted the luxury-seekers of yesterday.
One of the best is the award-winning Riverbend Inn, which Yankee
Magazine called "a Hollywood-perfect inn mixing art and antiques
without sacrificing comfort." And it won Inn Traveler Magazine's
award for Best Interior Design and Décor in 2004. That said, the
owners Craig and Jerry are at the heart of all this well-earned
praise because, first and foremost, they are the consummate hosts
from the moment they greet you at the front door right to making
dinner and theater reservations for guests, and providing printed
directions to restaurants, theaters, shopping (200 outlet stores and
no sales tax) and attractions.
The first-rate hospitality at the Riverbend Inn continues as they,
Craig and Jerry, personally serve a superb complimentary breakfast
on the deck overlooking the bend in the river or in the spacious
indoor dining room with floor to ceiling windows. It provides the
perfect view of the river and the beautiful grounds on this fifteen
acres of paradise.
For a look at this boutique inn and all its individually decorated
guestrooms (our favorite is the Chinese red room) and some of
Craig's outstanding cuisine, go to their Website (www.riverbendinn.com)
for a grand tour of a great country estate just south of North
Conway."
-Don Church & Tony Schillaci,
Metroline Magazine
"Lushly decorated rooms don't overwhelm guests; instead they cosset
them in comfortable elegance at Riverbend Inn in Chocorua.
Downstairs, window seats overlook the river and deep sofas invite
curling up by the fireplace to read from the inn's exceptional
library. Linger over a multi-course breakfast on the terrace to
watch the river meander through the woods."
- New Hampshire Magazine, July 2005, Best of NH 2005 Awards
"Yankee plain on the outside, the Riverbend's interior is wonderful
to behold. Hosts Craig Cox and Jerry Weiss have traveled widely in
Asia, collecting sizable souvenirs such as a statue of the South
Indian god of doorways that graces a living room with
persimmon-colored walls. We settle into comfortable armchairs by the
crackling fire and eventually make our way to a soothing, forest
green guest room with a king-size bed. We are lulled to sleep by the
gentle murmur of flowing water. The morning sun reveals the Chocorua
River, partially frozen in the snow. Sun fills the breakfast room,
an enclosed patio with white-linen-dressed tables and massive
candelabra, overlooking the river. Breakfast begins with gingered
melon and apple coffee cake, followed by blueberry pancakes with
locally made syrup. Our hosts are full of suggestions about antiques
shops nearby, peaceful places to snowshoe, and cross-country trails.
Actually we wouldn't mind spending the better part of the day in
this hospitable inn, but today we really do have to be in North
Conway. We plan to return though…"
- Christine Tree, Boston Globe
"Situated on a bend in the Chocorua River, the appropriately named
Riverbend Inn B&B offers a cool spot to lounge on a hot summer's
day. Riverbend Inn is a stylishly decorated and very hospitable B&B
at a U-turn in the Chocorua River. A multi-course breakfast is
served on the terrace over the rushing water, so relaxing a spot
that it's tempting to select a book from their exceptional library
and spend the day there."
- New Hampshire magazine
"Craig Cox and Jerry Weiss may have left southern California behind,
but they've created a Hollywood-perfect New England inn, elegantly
mixing art and antiques without sacrificing comfort."
- Yankee Magazine
"This 10-room inn tucked away on a coursing river in the middle of
the Chocorua woods, is a quintessential White Mountain retreat - a
converted rambling farm house amid the birches and maples of a
sylvan glade. The inn is permeated with a sense of good living -
curiosity about the world beyond yet a deep satisfaction with the
pleasures of here and now. Good food, elegant interiors and
attentive ministrations."
- Margo Mallar, Summer Week
"This is my first experience with staying in an inn and this inn is a delight. Lots of hard work and good taste are evident here. The use of color is amazing. The rooms range from yellow to bright red and are very beautiful. Tasteful pieces of eastern-accented art and beautiful furniture complete the picture.
Jerry and Craig are perfect hosts, practically bending over backward to provide the absolute best in customer service and welcoming. The expression, "he'd give you the shirt off his back" is true here as I personally saw Jerry open his closet to give a guest his jacket so she'd be more comfortable while having breakfast on the back deck, which is right on the Chocorua River.
Craig is the chef, and is an artist with food. The Apple Creme Brule French Toast with Poached Pear appetizer is delicious, even my meat and potatoes palette loved it.
Absolutely treat yourself to a stay at the Riverbend the first chance you get. You'll have a fantastic time while being treated like a king."
-Ken King, MeatandPotatoesGuy.com
"A good choice is the newly renovated and sprawling Riverbend Inn on
Route 16. The owners, Jerry and Craig, have created a graceful and
romantic getaway in a rambling house with a crystal-clear river
flowing by and decks, patios and terraces that take full advantage
of sounds of the bubbling waters."
- Don Church, Metroline
"Although only a short distance from Route 16, it seems to be deep
in the woods. The inn overlooks a deep curve in the Chocorua River,
and in good weather guests have breakfast outside on a terrace that
extends out over the riverbank. The inn is as lovely as its setting,
with bright airy guest rooms and antiques-furnished public rooms.
Little details make guests feel pampered. "
- New Hampshire Off the Beaten Path
