Say cheese! The Inn at Seven Acre, part of the Seven Acre Dairy Company development, is maybe the cutest spot to stay in the Midwest. Nestled near Paoli, on the banks of the tranquil Sugar River, this eight-room boutique stay is the perfect home base for enjoying Driftless Wisconsin and nearby Madison.
Listed on the National Historic Register, this former dairy factory from 1888 has been lovingly and creatively restored into a bonafide agri-tourism destination. You can just feel the history here, as the Inn at Seven Acre perfectly melds past and present into something truly special.
We can’t get enough of the clean yet cozy repurposed spaces, custom-crafted furnishings from wood salvaged on the property, Kosa spa bath products, artwork by local artists, and Boll & Branch signature cotton linens. The Creamery Room is especially photogenic, with its 8-foot circular window that used to house the factory’s cream tank. The Thalmann Suite, the property’s largest at over 1,000 square feet, is quite dreamy too. It features a full living room, kitchenette, luxe soaking tub in the well-appointed bathroom, and sweeping Sugar River views.
Top Takeaways
Location: Paoli, Wisconsin, USA
The vibe: Clean and charming, with bright, airy spaces transformed from their former industrial usage. This restored dairy factory blends old and new with natural materials, repurposed finds, and chic neutrals playing a starring role.
Food + Drink: The Dairy Cafe is a casual, counter service spot open during the week for coffee, pastries, ice cream, and a curated lunch menu. For dinner service, visit The Kitchen, which works to seasonally showcase the artisan producers of the Sugar River Valley. Mondays are pizza night, and on weekends, you can grab brunch from 10 am-2 pm. There’s a bar right on site, too. Be sure to try Cheese Cave Dave’s Whey Spirit, crafted in collaboration with Copper Crow Distillery—which is the first native-owned distillery in America—in Bayfield, Wisconsin.
Amenities: complimentary on-site parking (paved, an actual consideration for this rural setting), free high-speed wi-fi
Our favorite thing about the hotel: There’s always something going on at Seven Acre Dairy, with loads of inventive special event programming from movie nights to live music to yoga.
What’s Nearby? Madison is just 14 miles from Paoli, and this Midwestern capital city is enjoying something of a foodie renaissance. (We see you, Top Chef.) Grab a bite from James Beard-nominated spots like Ahan (red curry FTW), Madison Sourdough (go early before they sell out), and Mint Mark (that cocktail program, tho). Next up, satisfy your sweet tooth with a trip to CocoVaa Chocolatier, a stunningly creative operation helmed by a lawyer-turned confectioner.
Architecture buffs should consider a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, an 800-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site located 40 miles from Paoli.
Any Personal Neighborhood Recs? Don’t skip a trip down to nearby New Glarus Brewing Co., a must-visit for any beer lover. Cult favorite Spotted Cow, their top-selling brew, is a farmhouse ale synonymous with Wisconsin. (You know you’re in Wisconsin when you see the spotted cow). For a closer sip, saunter over to the Hop Garden’s Paoli taproom. Also, in Paoli proper, try Driftless Chocolates for something sweet, Landmark Creamery Provisions for something cheesy, and Paoli Road Mercantile for an art gallery meets general store. (Please note: Landmark also operates a micro-dairy on-site at Seven Acre.)
For an elevated meal, walk across the street from Seven Acre to the Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro, inside (you guessed it) a renovated schoolhouse. Prefer to paddle? Try the beginner-friendly kayak or canoe route from Verona to Paoli with Sugar River Outfitters.
Rooms: 8 rooms
Pricing: Rooms start at $119/night.
Closest Airport: Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
