Royal
Elizabeth Bed & Breakfast Inn
By Jim Prueter
Built
in 1878 by Charles Drake and listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, the Royal Elizabeth
Bed & Breakfast Inn is thought to be the
oldest contemporary home in Arizona and the only
adobe style territorial Victorian home in the
world. Located in the quiet Armory Park neighborhood
of Tucson, “the Liz” is within easy
walking distance of museums, shopping, dining
and the University of Arizona campus.
After “burning out” on successful
corporate careers in Washington, D.C., innkeepers
Jeff DiGregorio and Chuck Bressi acquired the
inn in 2004 and meticulously restored it to its
former grandeur. From the minute you pass through
the elaborate iron-gated entrance onto the lush
grounds and arrive in the Victorian foyer with
its romantic fireplace, it’s obvious they
have paid attention to even the most minute detail.
Filled with original furnishings and period pieces,
the spacious six-room mansion with its two-feet
thick walls is plush, elegant and above all,
relaxing.
Guests are treated to complimentary fresh-baked
cookies, and a refrigerator is stocked with Pellegrino
water and cold beverages. There’s even
a “take a bottle, leave a bottle” wine
exchange rack in the kitchen. And then there’s
the coffee. The innkeepers worked for months
with Tucson-based Arbuckle Coffee Roasters to
perfect their own smooth, bold roast.
We stayed in the 600-square-foot Ryan Patrick
Suite with 17-foot ceilings, a cozy fireplace
and a private exit to the heated pool and garden
path. We also liked the cozy Rose Room with its
original 19th-century rose patterned wallpaper
and small, private outdoor sitting area. But
romance is easy to muster in any of the guest
rooms. All are elegant, charming and well appointed
with a private bath, ceiling fans, satellite
TV, DVD player, refrigerator and in-room safe.
For breakfast, guests should expect to be both
surprised and delighted as they indulge in a
generous gourmet feast. Our breakfast started
with organic “peel on” bananas grilled
on the barbeque and bathed in orange-peel-infused
butter, vanilla bean, brown sugar, cardamom and
a touch of bourbon, then garnished with fresh
blackberries and orchids.
The
good times continued with a complex
free-range egg dish prepared in
won ton skins lightly brushed with
butter, topped with brie or parmesan
cheese and fresh tarragon, and
garnished with roasted red pepper
and fresh basil. The dish was accompanied
by roasted mushrooms, herbed corn
polenta with prosciutto, and finished
with pomegranate and temple orange
slices. The fresh juice was a blend
of orange, raspberry, banana and
guava nectar, a splash of ruby
red grapefruit and a slight blend
of green tea to eliminate acidity.
The innkeepers claim that even if you stay for
a month, you’ll never have a repeat breakfast,
nor will you get pancakes or waffles. Says Jeff, “If
you can get it at IHop, you will never get it
at the Liz.”
The Royal Elizabeth delivers a complete luxury
and gourmet package. It’s no surprise that
guests travel thousands of miles and around the
globe to stay here. Lucky for us, we just have
to negotiate interstate 10.
If
You Go
Royal Elizabeth Bed & Breakfast
Inn
204 S. Scott Ave., Tucson
877-670-9022
royalelizabeth.com
$115
to $245 nightly ($35 per person after two guests)
Free phone calls and Wi-Fi Internet access
Smoking on outside patios only
No pets
AAA 3 Diamond
