Even the wildest expeditions need a good home base - whether you're looking to plan, refresh, or reminisce with friends over the highlights of the day, Eau Claire is the place for you! Say "hello" to The Lismore Hotel and The Oxbow Hotel - two boutique lodging options located in the heart of downtown with all the comfort, amenities, and charm you could hope for – PLUS – both offer exclusive deals on outdoor gear from Eau Claire's newest outdoor recreation shop, Eau Claire Outdoors! Read on to explore how you can choose your own adventure – Eau Claire style – and experience tasty food, lively cocktails, best-in-class midwestern hospitality, and northern Wisconsin’s great outdoors!
First up, choose your hotel style...
The Lismore Hotel
The Lismore Hotel sits right in the center of downtown Eau Claire and is a short walk to some of our favorite experiences, like the Hello Adorn Flagship shop, the Pablo Center, Phoenix Park, the Children's Museum of Eau Claire, and many others, but the on-site amenities of the hotel are noteworthy Eau Claire hot spots, too! In the morning, grab coffee and fresh breakfast from ECDC (Eau Claire Downtown Coffee), located in the hotel lobby; the coffee shop is not only a great place to fuel up for the day, but also the perfect place to plan a work meeting or friendly catch-up. For dinner, The Informalist offers a fresh, upscale experience with chef-inspired scratch-made fare like wood stone pizzas, pasta, steak, seafood, salads, and local favorite, weekend brunch. We recommend pairing your meal with a delicious signature, classic, or no-proof cocktail from the bar. And, don’t forget to save room for a nightcap in the hotel’s second story rooftop cocktail bar, Dive!
Whatever your needs, The Lismore Hotel offers multiple rooms and suites, including accessible accommodations, to ensure your complete comfort. Lismore guests also have access to a 24-hour fitness center, easy access to ramp parking, full-service event and catering facilities, and Hilton Honors rewards points. Visit this link to learn more about The Lismore Hotel and to book your next stay!
The Oxbow Hotel
Nestled into the north side of downtown Eau Claire, The Oxbow Hotel brings a unique, stylish, and retro vibe to town. This boutique hotel is made up of two buildings – The Main House and The Flats. The historic Main House was built in the 1940s and houses the lobby and check-in desk, The Lakely cocktail lounge, an art gallery and event room, studio guest rooms, and two-room suites. Each guest room has been carefully curated to reflect a modern Wisconsin lodge and features eclectic décor, like turntables and local art. The Flats, Oxbow’s standard rooms, offer exterior entries with a woodsy retreat vibe – and to keep the spirit of Northern Wisconsin going strong, each Flat features a hand-painted depth map of a local lake!
The Lakely, a cocktail lounge at the heart of The Oxbow Hotel, offers guests and locals alike a robust weekly live entertainment experience complete with a regionally recognized craft cocktail program and a menu of midwestern pub-style comfort foods. But that’s not all – The Lakely’s inspiring setting, complete with a stage for live music, comfortable indoor lounge, and an outdoor patio with firepits, high tops, and soft seating, makes this a place you’ll want to return to, again and again.
A stay at The Oxbow is certain to be experience-rich with unique amenities – did we mention they have a Kubb Pitch and free day-use bicycles?! Keep reading to learn more about the live performances at The Lakely or click here to discover the guest rooms at The Oxbow Hotel!
Get Your Gear at Eau Claire Outdoors
Now that you're all checked in, it's time to hit the outdoor scene! Eau Claire Outdoors is new to the small business scene in Eau Claire but offers some of the best high-end, durable equipment in town! Shop brands like Cotopaxi, Kavu, Marmot, Retrospec, Columbia, Eddie Bauer, The North Face, Hydroflask, & more, and find everything needed for your adventure including clothing, accessories, socks, water bottles, backpacks, hiking equipment, tents, sleeping bags, water gear, cooking items, and so much more. Plus, Eau Claire Outdoors offers a variety of rental options including canoes, kayaks, river tubes, tents, packing gear, snowshoes, cross-country skis, and more. The Lismore Hotel and The Oxbow Hotel have partnered with Eau Claire Outdoors to offer guests a 10% discount on all gear rentals. Visit the link to learn more about Eau Claire Outdoors, shop their rental options, and learn about the outdoor adventures they host!
Reminisce Over Evening Drinks
One of the best parts of a summer day is heading back to the hotel, getting refreshed, and heading out for dinner and drinks! Conveniently, both properties include stunning & delicious dining establishments that are also available to the public. Enjoy an exquisite dinner at The Informalist in The Lismore Hotel, and head upstairs to Dive bar to keep the party going. Dive is located on the second floor of the hotel and has a beautiful outdoor patio overlooking downtown Eau Claire. Here, you can sip on craft cocktails, share appetizers, and watch the sunset while reliving your adventures through the day. Grab a seat outside, at the bar, or on the lounging sofas inside, and get a taste of Dive's seasonal drinks right at your hotel!
When staying at The Oxbow Hotel, you can keep summer festivities going at The Lakely! This restaurant and cocktail lounge holds live performances and events nearly every day of the week and features an incredible, seasonal cocktail menu. While sipping on drinks and sharing a famous Koldtbord, tune into on-stage entertainment like open mic nights, live jazz music, trivia challenges, bingo, drag events, and more. The outdoor patio connects The Main House and The Flats and is a cozy place to chat by the fire pits, enjoy craft drinks, and try delicious dinner & appetizer options. The signature drinks menu changes a few times a year to reflect seasonal, local flavors, but all the cocktails are unique, delicious, and beautiful! Visit the links to learn more about Dive or The Lakely lounges.