The Nightingale Motel
157 Pagosa St
Pagosa Springs, CO
The 1898 landmark that got Pagosa Springs a cocktail lounge worth crossing the state for.
About The Nightingale Motel
The site at 157 Pagosa Street has been a landmark in Pagosa Springs since 1898, when it housed the town's first medical clinic. The building became a roadside motel in the mid-20th century and held on through the decades that followed. Fred and his partners acquired it and renovated it as The Nightingale Motel: reclaimed timber vaulted ceilings, black and white tile bathrooms, pour-over coffee setups, and an all-black exterior aesthetic. The Neon Mallard, a hand-built cocktail lounge on the property with opium-den chic decor, moody lighting, and art covering every surface, is unlike anything else in Pagosa Springs. Fred holds the full history of the town in his head and delivers it freely over a drink. The Nightingale gives Pagosa Springs somewhere to land that matches the ambition of what surrounds it.
What The Nightingale Motel Is Known For
The Neon Mallard was hand-built by the owners. It is not a hotel bar positioned to capture room revenue: it is a specific place with a specific aesthetic, art on every wall, moody lighting, and cocktails made by bartenders who give genuine recommendations. In a small Colorado mountain town, that is not a given. Fred and his team built the property and the lounge with care specific to Pagosa Springs, and the result is a property that guests on 40-day road trips describe as the highlight. That is the editorial standard.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Neon Mallard Cocktail Lounge (hand-built, on-site)
- Pour-over coffee setup in every room
- Reclaimed timber vaulted ceilings
- Gas fire pit
- Kitchenette available (select rooms)
- Steps from San Juan River
What Guests Love
- The Neon Mallard, the hand-built cocktail lounge on the property, is consistently described as the best bar in Pagosa Springs, with art-filled walls, moody lighting, and bartenders who give genuine local recommendations.
- Pour-over coffee setups in every room: a specific amenity that guests mention and return for.
- Fred, the owner, carries deep local knowledge about Pagosa Springs past and present and shares it freely.
- Drive-up parking directly in front of every room.
- The Pagosa hot springs are a 5-minute drive or walkable from the motel.
- Wolf Creek Ski Area, one of Colorado's snowiest mountains, is 30 minutes east.
Worth Knowing
- Rooms are compact. The renovation is well done and specific in its choices, but the 1950s footprints are still the footprints. Guests who need space should book the Cabin Suite.
- Guests in adjacent rooms may be audible; a quiet room request at booking is worth making if you're a light sleeper. Rooms away from the Neon Mallard tend to be quieter after the bar closes.
- The hot springs at The Springs Resort fill up on weekends and holidays. Booking a session in advance is recommended for prime soak windows.
The Room
The rooms carry the mountain-modern renovation throughout: reclaimed timber vaulted ceilings, black and white tile bathrooms with glass-door showers, pour-over coffee setups (a detail guests mention specifically and repeatedly), TVs, mini-fridges, and luxury bedding. Some rooms have kitchenettes. A cabin suite option has a separate living area. Rooms are compact but designed with enough intention that the scale reads as cozy rather than cramped. Drive up and park directly in front of your room. All rooms have private bathrooms, free WiFi, and AC.
The Grounds
The Nightingale sits on Pagosa Street in downtown Pagosa Springs, steps from the San Juan River and a short drive from the Pagosa hot springs. Drive up to your room, park directly in front, and walk from there. The gas fire pit in the parking area is lit in the evenings and becomes a gathering point after soaks or dinner. The Neon Mallard Cocktail Lounge is on the property and draws guests and locals alike. Restaurants and shops in downtown Pagosa Springs are walkable. Wolf Creek Ski Area is 30 minutes east on US-160.
The Experience
Pagosa Springs rewards the guest who shows up without a fixed schedule. The famous hot springs, at The Springs Resort or The Overlook a few minutes away, anchor the morning or the evening depending on the day. The San Juan River runs along the edge of downtown and gives the town its sound and its season. Wolf Creek, one of Colorado's snowiest ski areas, is 30 minutes up the highway. Fred is the kind of owner who will tell you which trail is worth taking this week, which restaurant is currently at its best, and what Pagosa was like before the current version of it arrived. Have a drink at the Neon Mallard before or after, and ask him.
Details
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Nightingale Motel have EV charging?
No, The Nightingale Motel does not have EV charging.
Does The Nightingale Motel have WiFi?
Yes, The Nightingale Motel has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Nightingale Motel?
Pagosa Hot Springs: 0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. San Juan River: 0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Wolf Creek Ski Area: 23 miles, about a 45 minute drive.
How far is The Nightingale Motel from Pagosa Hot Springs?
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Nightingale Motel from San Juan River?
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Nightingale Motel from Wolf Creek Ski Area?
23 miles, about a 45 minute drive.
What is the Neon Mallard?
The Neon Mallard is a hand-built cocktail lounge on the Nightingale Motel property, with moody lighting, art on every wall, and a full cocktail program. It is open to both guests and the public and is widely considered the best bar in Pagosa Springs.
How close is The Nightingale Motel to the Pagosa hot springs?
About half a mile, walkable or a 5 minute drive. The Springs Resort and The Overlook are both nearby and offer access to pools fed by the Great Pagosa Aquifer, the world's deepest geothermal hot spring.
Is The Nightingale Motel pet friendly?
Contact the property before booking to confirm current pet policy.
How far is Wolf Creek Ski Area from The Nightingale Motel?
23 miles, about a 30 minute drive east on US-160.
Does The Nightingale Motel have a restaurant?
No restaurant, but the Neon Mallard cocktail lounge is on the property and downtown Pagosa Springs restaurants are walkable.
What does a standard room look like at The Nightingale Motel?
Reclaimed timber vaulted ceilings, black and white tile bathrooms, a pour-over coffee setup, TV, mini-fridge, and luxury bedding. Some rooms have kitchenettes. All rooms are compact and designed with deliberate intention.
What is Pagosa Springs known for?
The famous geothermal hot springs fed by the Great Pagosa Aquifer, which run along the San Juan River in the center of town. Wolf Creek Ski Area 30 minutes east. The San Juan Mountains surrounding the valley.
Does The Nightingale Motel have a pool?
The Nightingale Motel does not have a pool. The property has hot springs access.
Is parking available at The Nightingale Motel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at The Nightingale Motel. If arriving with a large vehicle, contact the property in advance to confirm space availability.
Does The Nightingale Motel include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at The Nightingale Motel.
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Things to Do Near Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Hot Springs
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. The Springs Resort and The Overlook offer access to the world's deepest geothermal hot spring, the Great Pagosa Aquifer, which feeds more than two dozen pools at varying temperatures along the San Juan River. The springs are the primary reason most people come to Pagosa Springs.
San Juan River
0.1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.1 miles, about a 3 minute walk. The river runs along the edge of downtown Pagosa Springs and through the hot springs district. Walking the riverbank in the morning, with steam rising off the thermal pools, is one of the more memorable things to do in this part of Colorado.
Wolf Creek Ski Area
23 miles, about a 45 minute drive.
23 miles, about a 30 minute drive east on US-160. One of Colorado's snowiest ski areas, averaging over 400 inches of snow per year, with a low-key atmosphere and reasonable lift ticket prices compared to the resort towns further north. The mountain is accessible from Pagosa Springs without fighting Vail or Telluride traffic.