Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast

My son and I traveled to Virginia Beach for the first time in November for a special ceremony at NAS Oceana. We were meeting close friends who have stayed at Barclay Cottage many times over the years and highly recommended it. They had already booked at Barclay Cottage for the weekend, so I booked rooms for my son and I as well and am very glad I did. It was a great experience. Rich and Sharon are really nice folks and wonderful hosts. The rooms were quite comfortable, and the food and hospitality were excellent! I am very happy to recommend Barclay Cottage!

My husband and I stayed in the Davenport room for five nights during the week of Thanksgiving. Rich and Sharon were exceptionally great hosts and the beautiful cottage property made for a relaxing stay. Rich made fantastic breakfasts each morning and we enjoyed our morning chats with Rich & Sharon and visits with Pheeona. We got a couple's massages onsite one morning. We both really enjoyed it and would recommend it to other guests. The cottage was in a walkable neighborhood and the porch was a nice place to enjoy morning coffees. Every aspect of our stay here was comfortable and relaxing - it felt like a home away from home and we can't wait to come back!

Barclay Cottage was a beautiful place to stay for our short trip to VA Beach. Beautifully decorated in a nice sea-island theme with a magnificent gourmet breakfast. The attention to details was incredible for all of our needs and even ones we hadn't anticipated. The beds were comfortable and we felt welcome and at home. Thank you!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast, which proved to be the ideal setting for our special occasion. The breakfast was exceptional and delicious, clearly prepared with meticulous attention to detail. The rooms were well-appointed and immaculate, and the property's beauty was evident. Its proximity to the beach and scenic walking paths added to its charm. We received outstanding hospitality and exceptional service, characterized by helpfulness and accommodation. We look forward to returning for our next anniversary.

We absolutely loved our stay here! My husband and I were here for 4 nights and had a wonderful time. The hosts were incredibly kind, helpful, and responsive to our every need. The rooms were very clean, super comfortable, and totally charming. It's a short 2 blocks from a beach entrance and walking distance to many tasty restaurants. The breakfasts are delicious and generously served!!! You literally wake up to the smell of breakfast being made in a hot skillet - wow!!! We came here to relax and loved the wide wrap-around porch and upstairs balcony with plenty of rocking chairs and couches. 10/10 experience. While we'd love to keep this place a treasured secret, the team and hosts deserve all the praise in the world for creating something truly magical. Thank you, Rich & Sharon, for a lovely stay ❤️

If you are planing a visit to Virginia Beach I HIGHLY recommend The Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast!!! In 2014, my wife and I had our honeymoon in Virginia Beach and stayed here. We returned for our 10th anniversary and this place was just as amazing as it was 10 years ago! The owners, Rich & Sharon are wonderful people. Warm, welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable of the area. The breakfast was absolutely delicious every single morning! The room (We stayed in the Davenport) was spacious and clean and we had easy access to the balcony porch which was excellent for relaxing in the comfortable rocking chairs while enjoying a cup of coffee or a bottle of wine! The Inn is within walking distance of the boardwalk and the beachfront. I recommend visiting the Virginia Aquarium which is a less than 5 minute drive from Barclay Cottage. Rudy's & Rockerfellers are excellent restaurants nearby. Sandbridge Beach, a little bit removed from the crowded oceanfront, is a worthwhile 20 minute drive! Rich and Sharon are a knowledgeable resource of all the unique things to do in and around Virginia Beach! You will not be disappointed when staying at this amazing bed & breakfast! Thank you Rich & Sharon for your hospitality!

Stayed 2 nights in the Cape Henry room. Sharon and Rich are very welcoming and friendly. Breakfast was to die for. Best BnB breakfast we have ever had. An easy walk along 16th street to the beach (chairs, bikes, and towels all available from the BnB). We received a lovely (and lengthy) list of restaurant recommendations when we checked in. 10/10 would visit again!

Location: easy to find, just a few blocks from the waterfront, very limited parking space on the property, but Innkeepers will provide “parking pass” so you avoid a parking ticket should you have to park on the street. Neighborhood noise is tolerable. B&B/Inn: small, quaint, Owners friendly, welcoming Rooms: clean, some are small Breakfast: did not partake

Great place to stay! Rich and Sharon are welcoming and food is delicious! breakfast room service this morning was excellent! My husband and I both enjoyed the scalloped potatoes Benedict and the Paradise dessert!

My wife and I have stayed here several times. We love staying at Barclay Cottage. The owners, Rich and Sharon are so kind and welcoming. The gourmet breakfasts are excellent. The bedrooms are so very nice and peaceful. Setback from the beach, with only a short 2 block walk to the beach, Barclay Cottage is ideally located. We highly recommend staying here.

The Innkeepers, Rich and Sharon were great! If you love amazing breakfasts to start your day, you must stay here! Rich is a great cook! The place was very clean, they recommended some great local places to enjoy, and overall it's a good location to all the things we wanted to experience this trip.

We arrived from out of State to attend a friend's funeral only to find another guest had taken our reserved room, The Lighthouse, now called the John Henry. No apology, no explanation. She just repeated, "Well, someone else is in that room, now." When I reserve a specific room I expect my reservation to be held, not disregarded and given away because someone else (without a reservation for that room) decided they wanted it. If you don't mind a TINY room, the Delmar is okay. $199 for a 12 by 12 room. I do not recommend this Bed and Breakfast! We stayed oceanfront for less.

We absolutely loved our weekend away at Barclay Cottage!!! The cottage keepers, Sharon and Richard, are incredible people. You truly feel at home. All the extra amenities (bikes, umbrellas, chairs, bottled water, fresh brewed coffee early) were fantastic. The cottage itself is just lovely with two wrap around porches, one on level 1 and one on level 2. We sat outside with coffee on rockers and later with wine. Quiet part of the neighborhood. We will absolutely be staying here again!! EDIT: I CANT BELIEVE I FORGOT TO SAY... the food is absolutely stunning and DELICIOUS.

What a find!! Stayed a few nights in the Delmar Room. Queen size bed and new TV available in this room and full bath with all that you need for rest. Rick and Sharon are wonderful hosts. Barclay cottage is a historic, comfortable house with exquisite decorating offering areas for relaxation, both inside and out. Amenities for the beach are available such as towels, bikes, umbrellas. Hotels do not offer these. Good off street parking too. Location is walkable to the boardwalk for restaurants, shopping and entertainment. B&B's offer a different experience than hotels. If you want a balcony with an ocean view, pool and family noise than the boardwalk hotels are for you. For me, the gourmet breakfast, coffee bar/cookies/water/juice tables, excellent warm friendly service, quiet and private offerings at the Barclay are a welcome addition to my beach get away. I hope to return soon.

Stayed at this B&B Valentine's Day 2015. Everything in NJ was booked up. We took the long drive to Va Beach and it was worth it. My wife had flowers in her room champagne and chocolates. The owners made me look like a great husband LMAO. They saved my butt on Valentine's Day. The breakfast was great also. Almost forgot we had the couples massage , it was awesome. I highly recommend this place. The owners are great.

If you're looking for something between a Cape Cod boarding house, and a Mackinac Island Victorian B&B, you should definitely book a room at the Barclay Cottage Bed and Breakfast. From the time my husband and I walked through the door, we were totally at home. The Innkeepers (who were super accommodating when we called to say we were running late) Rich and Sharon have made this wonderful place a welcoming and restful little oasis, just a few blocks off the beach. The rooms were clean and comfortable and thoughtfully decorated with beachy art. The beds have what might possibly be the softest sheets known to man. There are sound machines in the rooms, with waves that slacken any stress you might have gained while traveling. There wasn't anything they hadn't thought of, from coffee in the hall, perfect rocking chairs on their expansive porches (and the porches are accessible to both floors!), to a pantry full of everything from cold water to cork screws. There are bikes and beach chairs to borrow, books to read, people to chat with (if you so choose) and areas all around the property to sit with coffee or wine for a card game or conversation. The breakfast they hand make on site was DELICIOUS! My husband (who lived in the Virginia Beach area for a decade) never relaxes in a day or two, and within hours, had fell in love with the quiet and relaxing front porch. We stayed on the first floor in Cape Henry (the rooms are all named) and loved the fact that we had porch access right outside our door. In short, we frequent the Virginia Beach area, and either grab a house in Sandbridge (so we can fit all the friends and family) or snag a hotel room for just us. We are SO, SO glad that this beautiful little gem popped up and we gave it a whirl. We plan on so many more weekend trips now, with this little secret in our back pocket. If you're looking for a serene and private bubble that is close to everything at the beach, look NO further. Thank you so much for such a wonderful time!!!

WOW! Rich and Sharon! BRAVO! So accommodating and just friendly and welcoming! The food was absolutely delicious. Every breakfast was so delicious and elite! I have a lot to live up to now cooking for my husband. Rich and Sharon were so nice and so kind. Cookies and water provided. The cookies were especially nice when my husband and I came back from the bar late night and needed something to munch on. :) Rich even gave us places to go to for dinner.. a true local. They are very hard workers and they make sure the guests have everything.. we rode their bikes and borrowed beach towels from them. They have practically anything you may need if you have forgotten something. My husband and I will definitely be back-- especially for that breakfast!!! Thanks you two!!

I know I now live in LA and I stayed here a few months back but I had to Yelp this place. on to my review... I came to Barclay because it was a part of a 'package' through www.beachweddingsvirigina.com which included a wedding ceremony, flowers, pictures, a DVD and a two night stay at the cottage. My husband I decided to elope and this seemed like the perfect deal. We lived in NY so it was a nice drive to get down to Virginia Beach. This place was amazing! It was my first time to a B&B so I didn't really know what I was in for. When we arrived we had our own parking spot. The cottage is a big Victorian house with a wrap around porch on the top floor and bottom floor. It sits on the corner of a street, three blocks from the Atlantic ocean. The place was beautiful, a living room with a TV and DVD's to choose from. A large dining room table. Fine china set in an antique hutch. tons of books and games. restaurant menus. old photographs lining the walls...everything just oozed comfort and nostalgia, like I was visiting with a relative. The innkeepers were so helpful, warm and inviting. they gave us tips about where to go and even drove us down to the beach for our wedding. There was coffee brewed every morning waiting for us downstairs. We spent each morning sitting on the porch right outside our room sipping coffee and sitting in comfy rocking chairs to watch the day break and the dark become light. Then it was off to the most amazing breakfasts made by the innkeepers. I didn't even mind sitting every morning with my fellow B&B'ers to share a meal and some conversation. During the day there was a lot to do-a quick walk to the beach, miniature golf, a museum, a restaurant... Overall, it was a wonderful experience and if I ever get back to the east coast for an anniversary or a vacation I would definitely book a room at the Barclay Cottage.

A wonderful B&B! The innkeepers are extremely knowledgeable about the area and events going on, and what they don't know they will find out for you. They made visiting the Virginia Beach and Norfolk area easy--even answering questions about directions while we drove or coming to pick us up when we had walked quite a way off the beaten path looking for a restaurant. The breakfasts were delightful! A light first course of a pastry or danish and fruit was then followed by an amazing succulent second course that filled you up. Always delicious. The conversation each morning with fellow B&B-ers was pleasant, not forced, and supplemented (without being overwhelmed) by the innkeepers. Best house feature is the porch--rocking chairs and side tables perfect for playing games, sharing wine, and dozing... all within blocks of the ocean (but not ruined by the masses shouting, playing, talking on the boardwalk). We stayed in Lillian's Room. The bed and linens were extremely comfortable, though the room was a bit smaller than I had imagined, so accordingly the bed was a bit smaller, and attached restroom was more than sufficient but not very large. The advertised air jet tub for this room is just a standard sized bathtub, with jets along the bottom few inches. The little extras of the B&B make it worth it--the afternoon cookies, the bottle of sherry for a night cap, the brewed coffee every morning, and stocked pantry of snacks and sodas make for a comfortable, relaxing stay.

Probably the biggest choice to make writing a yelp review is the star rating choice. I'm going all-in on Barclay Cottage vs. 4-star because as others have noted the owners are very warm and welcoming, while simultaneously unobtrusive. Amenities offered are spot-on for a beach B&B, don't even bother bringing your "beach stuff" unless you have something really special like one of those pop-up half tent things or similar. They supply simply everything else you'd need, and a cart to haul it the short walk to the sand and water. Several of everything too, so you don't have to set the first alarm at the inn to get it. The house is quite old, built in the 19th century, but has been very nicely adapted to B&B use. The Lighthouse room was quite pleasant, clean, and quiet despite being first floor. Little touches like the container of cotton swabs in the bathroom show attention to detail and really set this apart from the hotel experience. Breakfast was at 9:00, a welcome hour on vacation, gives time for a sunrise walk on the beach, or just relaxing a few more minutes before starting the day. The food was good, and Steve made just enough small-talk to start the table chatting without taking away from the peaceful enjoyment of the meal. One might think he's been doing this a few days now... There aren't many B&B choices I could find in Virginia Beach, but even if there were, based on stays at other well-reviewed establishments in different areas I would have no qualms recommending Barclay Cottage to anyone.

Don't believe any hogwash that this Inn is ranked #2 in VA Beach, VA. Barclay Bed & Breakfast Cottage IS the #1 B&B in VA Beach. Steve and Marie Louise (the kindest, sweetest, and ever so accommodating host/hostess) of this quaint and cozy B&B will prove that their service is unequivocal. Here's the standard Bed & Breakfast to expect: Two twins, a queen, or a king-sized bed for 1-2 people with your private bathroom OR shared with one other room. Every morning during breakfast you'll have your room tidied up, your bathroom cleaned and squared away, all "on the house" snacks (water, sodas, daily fresh-baked cookies, coffee, tea, chocolate, and etc as there's WAY too much to list), and beach equipment (to include but not limited to: blankets, beach cart, bike & helmet, beach umbrella, beach chairs, boogie boards, sun-block, after-sun aloe vera and moisturizer, bug repellent, and AGAIN WAY too much to list) restocked, repaired, and ready to go by the time you've eaten the last morsel of a scrumptious made-from-scratch breakfast. My fiancee and I stayed four days and enjoyed four different types of breakfast pastries to fill our tummies before a long day at the beach. The Inn: Went for 4th of July, 2013 and fiancee's birthday. We're city folk but originally fell head over heels for each other while serving Active Duty US Army at Ft Bragg, NC. You better believe we're Airborne and hold everything to a higher standard. Southern charm is a characteristic one never forgets and is unable to fake. This slice of heaven is the "real deal" when it comes to genuine hospitality. The mentioned stewards of the Inn will bend-over backwards when it comes to "making it happen" whatever the mission. I was at their mercy of pulling off a successful rest and relaxation getaway, a memorable 4th of July, and a romantic birthday. Needless to say I needed to exceed the high expectations of my significant other and Steve & Marie Louise had to deal with a very neurotic me. R&R: Refer to the paragraph of what to expect at this B&B. All we had to do was show up with bathing suits and that's all I would've needed to have this box checked off as a success. 4th of July, 2013: This Inn has a top floor wrap-around porch with several rocking chairs (even a row of rocking chairs in a 360 degree fully screened first floor porch) and a hammock. When the sun went down and the darkness of the night slowly blanketed the beach I was enjoying a custom Barclay B&B cigar, a chilled Yuengling, and a rocking chair as we watched the first and the dramatic finale to the fireworks show. We weren't further than 10ft from the door to our room as the spectacle unfolded on the second story of the Inn. We enjoyed the pre and post firework entertainment of watching swarms of cars, people, and traffic scrambling to get a parking spot, get to the beach, and get back from the beach.. all the while tow trucks and law enforcement were hooking up and leaving with illegally parked cars and having big sum penalty parking tickets being written. My car was safe from that debacle in the driveway and anxiety nowhere to be found as I rocked back and forth watching the evening's entertainment. Success? Very much so. Romantic Birthday: I placed a special order to Marie Louise for banana pancakes in the morning (the very first edible meal I ever made for my fiancee) for breakfast and left it to Steve to have a birthday cake by evening as a surprise to end what turned out to be a day full of laughter and romance. After returning to the cottage from dinner the birthday cake was already set up with silverware, plates, a knife and necessary utensils. The only thing that needed to be done was light the candle already in place. YOU CAN'T FIND SERVICE LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ANYMORE! Success? Check and double check. BOTTOM LINE: the kind-hearted souls that run Barclay's will go the extra mile(s) to ensure that your stay at their B&B will the most memorable and accommodating. They will earn your business; they've certainly earned mine and without doubt have in their clientele list two additional lifelong guests. The least I can do is return their service with the best compliment any patron can give: referral, reference, and recommendation to anyone with eyes and ears for their business. Last Words: Steve and Marie Louise run this home away from home in an old-fashioned and honest demeanor that seems to be lost amongst local competitors. My personal conviction is that the honor of being #1 is reserved for those that deserve the title of "best in business" solely through the merits of service-rendered. If that isn't the only method of receiving the honor than it becomes a disservice to those that play the hospitality game by the rules.

After staying at Barclay Cottage B&B on Memorial Day, I could not be more grateful for the weekend I spent there. Rich and Sharon were delightful hosts- greeted my girlfriend and me like weary travelers (which we were) and helped orient us immediately. The breakfast was truly gourmet every day- there was a lot of care taken to it, and the actual property, porch, linens et cetera were impeccable. Not for nothing, but both the smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies every day, and the stocked jar of them were awesome. Great facilities, great food, great hospitality- above all, both Rich and Sharon understand the art of being the host, and are not intrusive, but aware and available if needed. I would recommend Barclay to close friends and family.

My fiancee took me for a romantic evening away from DC to Barclay Cottage for my 30th birthday. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The owners, Sharon and Rich, treat guests like family. They are warm and inviting from the very beginning you step in the door. Rich met us and apologized for his oven mitts, which he was wearing because he was making. fresh. chocolate. chip. cookies. Sharon took us on a tour of the place, and gave us a brief overview of its history as a former schoolhouse. We did not partake in the evening's gathering with the other guests, to which the owners served wine, but judging by the laughter coming from the common room, it was a good time. The two owners also live in the house; so it feels like home because it actually is! Our room was on the first floor, and it was warm and comfortable at night, and decorated with sea shells, sand dollars, and paintings of area landmarks, like the Cape Henry lighthouse. It was very clean and well-appointed, evident of great care and consideration. At 9 in the morning (when breakfast was served), Sharon and Rich plated a freshly-made dish of Rich's invention - a wonderful concoction of thinly-sliced potatoes, Swiss cheese and an egg baked on top. He served it with asparagus and a roasted roma tomato and pesto. He really knows his stuff, and despite his culinary skill, was humble and self-effacing. That attitude of low-key confidence and quality pervades the B&B, and Sharon and Rich have a great thing going. I wish them all the best from the bottom of my heart, and would recommend a stay there to anyone. The fact is, Bed and Breakfasts are unique experiences. This one is for you if you like going into someone's home and being treated like a member of their family, even if only for a night. After we checked out, Sharon gave us both a hug and Rich gave me a firm, kind handshake. Recommended without reservation, from the bottom of my heart.

Whenever my wife & I need some serious, immediate R&R, we take the 3-hour escape out of town to Virginia Beach and stay at the Barclay Cottage B&B. We have been staying at this wonderful place for 8 years now and continue to enjoy the many reatuarants & attractions offered by the Virginia beach area. At the end of September/beginning of October, we decided to attend the Annual Neptune Festival, while celebrating our wedding anniiversary. The main reason our trips to Virginia Beach are always so memorable is the excellent hospitality offered by Barclay Cottage. Marie-Louise and Steve LaFond, the proprietors, continue to go out of their way to make sure that their guests are pampered and renewed. They provide good suggestions for things to do when you wish to be active or how best to kick back and chill out. The rooms are airy, light, and attractive. You really do not want to wake up in the morning, because of how well you sleep in their relaxing beds. However, the aroma of fresh coffee and gourmet breakfast treats will propel you out of bed and into the dining room for an unbelievably delicious morning meal! The rocking chairs on each level of the two wraparound porches beg you to sit with a good book and enjoy the fresh air. Many extra, caring amenities are included which reflect the LaFond's attention to making sure that the needs of each guest are provided for. At the end of our stays at Barclay Cottage, we feel refreshed and are never quite ready to go home which, I think, is the best testament as to how well you are treated there!

My wife and I just returned home from another visit to Barclay Cottage in Virginia Beach. This time we celebrated our wedding anniversary. As usual, our stay at our "home away from home" was nothing short of perfect. Our hosts, Steve and Marie-Louise greeted us with open arms and walking through the doors of the Cottage was like returning to see an old friend. Every nook and cranny of the 100+ year old inn (also a school for a number of years) is full of charm and comfort from another era with original woodwork, antiques, a homey great room and each meticulously detailed and comfortable guest room. Steve and Marie-Louise have combined casual ambience, friendship and service like we have not experienced at other B & B's. The highlight for me is breakfast served at 9:00AM. Coffee is ready for guests around 6:00AM and it is a great start to the day to grab a cup and sit on the first or second floor wrap-around porches and admire the gardens and the birds. A little before 9:00AM guests begin to gather in the great room with comfortable stuffed chairs and sofa and here is where the magic begins. It is such a pleasure to rekindle friendships from previous visits because if you visit once, you will want to come back. This morning we had breakfast with a guest we met during a previous visit and it was wonderful to catch up with each other while meeting new "friends" at the breakfast table. Steve and Marie-Louise always join the guests after serving one of Marie-Louise's delightful-and to die for-breakfasts that always amaze me and the other guests. Our hosts have a down to earth way about themselves that fosters interesting and friendly conversation among the guests about each other and about a variety of topics. My wife and I have never enjoyed a finer breakfast experience than that provided by Steve and Marie-Louise at Barclay Cottage. Virginia Beach has a lot to offer throughout the year with many fine restaurants and attractions. Steve and Marie-Louise know the area well and can offer as much or as little help as you wish. They are always accommodating and truly enjoy helping guests get the most out of their visit. We are already planning our next visit and I urge you to book your stay at this gem if you plan on visiting Virginia Beach. Just be prepared to want to return.

We just spent a very relaxing weekend at the Barclay for Memorial Day! It is our favorite B & B and we have stayed in quite a few,including author Nora Roberts' Inn at Boonesboro. The Barclay tops them all in the hospitality offered....Marie Louise and Steve truly make you feel welcome and comfortable! We particularly love sitting on their front porch! As others have said, the beach is close by but you are away from the crowds. The weather was a bit cool for the beach, but there was plenty to keep us busy...the aquarium and IMAX, First Landing Park, great restaurants, shopping at my favorite ladies summer clothing store-Beach Buddies. We plan to stay here again in August for the beach and would love to come for Neptune weekend in Sept!

I have stayed at a few B&B establishments in the past, but was completely unprepared for the unique and personal experience of staying at Barclay Cottage. We arrived on Monday evening and Rich came to the door to meet us. He introduced himself and his wife Sharon and they talked to us a bit, like arriving at the house of an old friend you hadn't seen in years. They went over some of the surprise extras we hadn't realized, like beach chairs, towels, and bicycles free to use for guests. We went into our room and discovered that they had changed the older slightly more over the top room decorations for a much more elegant and classy approach. The room had a Mr. and Mrs. pillow added as we were on our honeymoon. We ended up extending our 3 day stay to a 4th day, and loved meeting other guests during our stay. I can't say enough good things about the place, I was ready to score them 5 stars when we arrived, and the score never wavered through the next 4 days. Read some of the other reviews here to get more info on just how great a place this is to stay for couples.

I am not a person who would normally go to a B and B, or so I thought, since I tend to be more introverted. But the innkeepers make you feel right at home without being intrusive and feeling like they have to be yakking with you to make you feel comfortable. The rooms are pristine clean, with incredible linens. I really appreciated all the little touches throughout...the antique dolls and quilts, books everywhere, wonderful pictures of Mrs. Barclay from the inn's former school house days. But when one goes to the beach, the idea is to be comfortable and to have fun. The location makes this 100% possible because you are a block away from the "madding crowds" of tourists and kitsch, and resting comfortably in a stately and serene environment. Best of all, you have a place to park, something not to be taken lightly in the Virginia Beach area! The homemade food is fabulous. Others have commented on the quality of the table settings, I heartily concur!