Bissell House 1887

Charming Victorian house turned B\&B with beautiful period decor. Each room has its own vibe — I stayed in the Rose Room with a clawfoot tub. The breakfast was homemade and better than most cafés. Hosts were warm and attentive but never intrusive. Peaceful, historic neighborhood. A total gem if you like unique stays

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED HERE IN MAY 2025. This review should serve as a warning for anyone thinking of contacting, booking, or interacting with this entity. Will Hoyman led us to believe that the Bissell House was financially solvent and would be able to host our May 2025 Wedding, allowing our family to even book additional time ahead of the full weekend buyout. Unfortunately, we found out from a TikTok promoting their estate sale in February 2025 that the venue was closing and cancelling our wedding. With 90 days until our event, the Bissell House & Will Hoyman felt more compelled to get their own money than inform the couples (who they required 100% deposits from) that their venue was having serious financial troubles. While we received a portion of our money, they have since ghosted us and other couples. It turns out they have a history of scams (under Will's name). We are one of many scammed couples. The house is now for-sale and completely empty - so do not try to book on the site.

Everything was amazing!! Walking inside for the first time was absolutely magical, there was soft piano music playing and all the lights cast a soft glow. The Halloween decorations were amazing and hilarious. The bed was super comfortable, the food was amazing. If I’m ever in California again, this is definitely where I’ll be staying.

Inefficient, because we never got any pre-arrival text message or e-mail containing the front door code for check-in. We tried contacting Bissell House by all means possible for two days up until our arrival - zero response.||||Unfriendly, because without the door code, with 4 elderly ladies waiting outside on a hot afternoon, and with no response to the doorbell after check-in time on our scheduled arrival date, when I finally entered the house through the back door and began to explain our situation, I was met with outrage by the owner himself and instructed to “just leave”. Which we did, with no resistance and no regrets.||||Unprofessional, because after respectfully requesting in writing a refund for services not rendered, and additionally through various official organizations and consumer advocates over several following months, Bissell House consistently ignored all our communications. Had the guest house simply refunded my $1,496 (already paid in full months before our arrival), I might have dismissed this ugly encounter as an unfortunate misunderstanding. But simply keeping the money looks a lot like fraud.

Absolutely beautiful property, a classic Bed and Breakfast, "Airbnb" type places are just not like this today. This home is lovely, like taking a step into history. So many indulgent amenities like a huge variety of teas and always available coffee, cool water and continental breakfast and snacks in the dining room all day. The hosts are delightful, never overbearing but available in the morning and by text. And the breakfasts were chef prepared and fantastic, like dining out every morning. They encourage the guests to share breakfast together and chat, I'm not normally social that early but we had a lovely time meeting other travelers. Otherwise it's a very quiet place, so cozy! Keep in mind it is a historic old house with all the quirks an old house would have, it is not 'pristine' like a brand new hotel. Make sure your expectations are set (it seems some people don't understand what staying in a home based bed and breakfast is like) and you will love this place as much as we did. It's so close to the south pasadena station so we got here easily from the airport.

We received a text message a few hours before checkin time (3pm) with instructions for self checkin. We showed up just after three and had no trouble following the instructions.||The downstairs area was nice. There was a fairly large assortment of teas and a pretty lounging area. They also had carafes of water in a mini fridge, which was great for bringing to our room.||We stayed in the Garden Room. It didn’t look quite as nice as the website, but it’s normal for photographers to make a space look fantastic. Our room had an unlocked door to an attic, which was a little strange. The bed was comfortable and not noisy, which is nice for a romantic weekend. My husband thought the pillows sank too much, but he is particular about pillows.||The bathroom was separated from the room with glass paneled french doors with a sheer fabric over the class. It was a little strange being able to see each other on the toilet while lying in bed, but it was at least obscured somewhat. I think they did that to get natural light into the room, which was nice during the day.||The shower head is at a lower height, which is not my preference, but there is decorative glass above it which I assume influenced that choice. The jacuzzi tub worked well. No issues with water temperature. I was disappointed to find during my shower that the body wash bottle was completely empty. My husband texted the staff and we got a response and a bottle about half an hour later, which wasn’t bad for 10pm at night. You can tell that the bottle is empty from the outside, so I think this could have been caught during room turn over.||There were some maintenance things I think the owner should address, namely the crack-turned-hole in the bathroom ceiling, the noisy bathroom fan, some missing caulk around where the tub meets the tile, and the ripped paper around the window AC unit. The bathtub jets also looked like they may need a deeper clean.||The AC kept the room cool, but we turned it down at night and had trouble keeping the room at a comfortable temperature. Neither of us slept well as a result, but that could have been user error.||Breakfast was nice and the place setting pretty. They had a fancier nespresso machine as well as drip coffee, and quite a few fixings for the coffee. They had milk types to meet the needs of every diet and allergy I know of. Breakfast was quite good. We had French toast and a pomegranate seed and chocolate shavings yogurt and granola parfait. There were two tables which was helpful because my husband wasn’t feeling social. We only saw the host, Will, for a few minutes, but we had what we needed. If I had to leave early and eat the continental options, I would have been satisfied.||The pool is unheated, which it does say on the website, but I hadn’t seen that. It was cold, but invigorating. The plants on the grounds were pretty and created a calming environment.||I could see this being a nice place for two couples traveling together to stay and relax.||Location was great. We walked to Raymond’s for dinner. Shops, grocery stores, and other restaurants were less than ten minutes away. The drive from the Huntington Gardens to the Bissel House was straightforward and pretty. There are also lots of churches close by (3 Catholic churches within ten minutes of the house).

This historic house is an absolute gem at an affordable price. The front porch, grounds, formal dining room, grand piano, wood-lined library/sitting room... all charming. Absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED our one night visit. We stayed in 'Victoria's Room' and it was delightful. I literally spent about two hours taking pics of the house including lots of small details that I appreciate (door knobs, leaded glass windows, furnace grates, brass switch plates, wall sconces, exterior brick patterns, shingle patterns, bay windows, dormers...). Located at the south end of the famous "Millionaire Row" in Pasadena. Also close to several good restaurants (we ate at 'ARU' which I cannot find in a Google Search but which was a magnificent tiny eatery with a SINGLE CHEF who knows how to cook!) Seriously one of the best overnight experiences my wife of 35+ years and I have had.

I never write reviews but I loved this place so much I have to! I stayed in the English Holiday Room which was SO adorable. It was even cuter in person than in the photos. The bed was incredibly cozy, the blackout curtains were on point, they had a wireless charging dock which came in handy because I forgot my AirPod charger at home. The breakfast was phenomenal. The service was perfect (super friendly and available but no hovering that sometimes happens at bnbs) And the atmosphere - oh my gosh, bnb cozy perfection complete with games, tea, wine and pre-chilled water carafes. I wish I could have stayed longer, and will definitely be coming back here for future trips!

Outstanding B&B with personal service and welcoming hosts inviting you into their wonderful vintage home. Very nice common areas to take in a book or socialize. Nice comfortable rooms with tasty, creative breakfasts each morning. Probably the best B&B I've ever visited.

As you walk into a house over 100 years old...transform yourself into the lovely early 1900's. It's definitely updated plumbing and has everything you need for todays times. It's a 3 story big house with a super fancy antique feeling while you listen to historical Bonnie and Clyde music. Very welcoming warm feeling with refreshments everywhere. Cute wallpapers in the rooms and matching decor. Minutes away from rose bowl, metro station and old town Pasadena. My room was too messy to take photos but comfy mattress and quiet room. Prices do vary and 2 night minimum but it is so worth while. There are about 7 different rooms to choose from but book in advance to ensure you get the one you want. Yes I would come back again. Thank you Bissell House

Beautiful bed in breakfast! If you love the feeling of home away from home this is the place for you! I had the opportunity to visit and spend sometime here with my hubby. R try room is full of history and comfort. From the foyer to the dinner room, elegant decorated for Christmas, fabulous trees full of lights and precious ornaments. This mansion offers you great outdoor seating and a fabulous pool to relax and sip a cocktail or tea along with a great book. Here are some pictures of this magnificent mansion

Lovely stay in Pasadena. A very short drive to downtown. The pool area is gorgeous and the breakfast was lovely. Rachel made us feel so at home! Delightful.

This review is solely on the customer service I received today along with my colleague, as we don't have an experience with the actual stay itself. A mutual had been raving about Bissell House, and we thought it would be perfect to shoot a small digital media campaign here. I called a week prior (left a voice message) and emailed twice to two different emails regarding our interest with no response. Since there was no response, I went ahead to book a room (unaware of the policies of photos/filming). I 100% take responsibility for not reading the fine print, however, my colleague was onsite and she called me crying stating that the proprietor was hostile and yelling at her to get off the property which resulted in contacting him myself. I called Bissell House to get better understanding of what had happened, however, i was met with impatience, defensiveness, anger and annoyance. I am aware that I should've read the fine print, however, it is very unprofessional for the manager to say "Im looking at the two emails you sent right now. If you didn't originally get a response from me, what makes you think you can still come here?" As someone who has worked in hospitality and customer service, I would've appreciated a follow up call/email stating that this is something they do not offer. I asked if there was any way to receive a refund (or partial at least) and he thought it was a ridiculous question by laughing when I asked. We continued to go back and forth, but with the conversation escalating with no solution or apologies for the way my colleague and I were talked to, I decided to hang up. In result, my manager called to express that he didn't appreciate the way we were spoken to, which ended up in the proprietor hanging up on him. I genuinely hate having to make reviews like this, but I believe this situation could've been handled in a better and professional way than how it did.

Hi Jan (your son Will is absolutely disgusting, that you let him manage this place or work at it in any capacity is beyond me)! Everyone else: BEWARE of this place (anything but quaint). What follows is my recount of the night of February 19, 2023. So I booked a room at this establishment anticipating a nice evening with my girlfriend while I was in town for 24 hours visiting her, reserving the Garden Room for two occupants weeks before I was scheduled to stay. I arrive early and there's no real check-in, just a chat with the breakfast host, Bryan, who shows me around the premises. I'm told that I'm unable to check-in early and that my room would be ready at 3pm, key to the room left inside when the maid finished cleaning. Pretty reasonable. I come back at 3pm and the room isn't ready until 3:30pm. Again, not a big deal. I spent my time waiting in the yard. As I'm bringing in my things from my car, my photography equipment among them - I had shoot planned for the following day at different location - the maid informs me that the owners don't allow for photography on the property. I explain to her that I'm simply moving my expensive equipment out of my vehicle, as I'm uncomfortable leaving it in there exposed during the night and that I have no intention on using it there. Better safe than sorry; I don't care if it's Pasadena; thieves look for easy opportunities. My girlfriend arrives about an hour later, having had some affairs to attend to earlier. We're in the room for less than 30 minutes when someone named Will (never told me what his relation to the property was [I assumed he was the manager]) calls me and starts accusing me of doing a photoshoot on the premises. I try to explain to him my rational for bringing in my equipment, that my girlfriend was occupied earlier and had to come later and wasn't just some random person, why I was in town, what I was doing and on and on until finally he demanded that I come down and show him our IDs. I didn't have a problem with this, as I can only assume, having never been officially checked in by this man or spoken to him outside of a text he sent me earlier in the day (which I'll attach), that he must have been confused watching the scene unfold on one of the numerous Ring cameras tucked away inside the premises - my bringing in the photography equipment, my girlfriend arriving later. I apologize to him for the confusion, handing him the IDs, and then he begins haranguing me about how my girlfriend's ID doesn't look like her, that I violated his trust even though no policy was ever reiterated to me by this man before being accosted by him over the phone and now in-person about policies that I never violated in the first place, and how he doesn't want me staying here any longer, that he was "evicting" me (baselessly). At this point the harassment was so crazy I was glad to be leaving and so was my terrified girlfriend. After I escorted her to her car and went back inside to collect my things, Will continued hurling extremely rude accusations at me, insinuating that my girlfriend was a prostitute, that I was sex trafficking her. I know it sounds insane; I wish I was making this up, believe me, but he was really fixated on that - very bizarre. We're both still trying to process all the craziness. I don't know what sort of things transpired there in the past or what could have possibly happened to him personally, but something clearly scarred him - the only explanation for why he was acting so nasty towards us, especially my girlfriend. So much for a romantic evening! STAY AWAY from this place lest you find someone creeping in through your window at night! I got a real Bates Motel vibe from this place. Lastly, I've never reviewed anything in my life - not a book, not a restaurant, not a hotel. I wish didn't have to write this but this experience was truly awful, if not memorable for all the wrong reasons, so I feel compelled to after everything that happened. There's a first time for everything I guess, and this was a lot of firsts. Godspeed if you decide on booking a night at this hardly polished hostel. You might not come back.

Truly a gem of a bed and breakfast. I did a lot of research before booking, and I'm so glad I chose Bissell House. It is a beautiful estate that is well-kept and feels like your home away from home. Inn keepers are friendly, and told us everything we needed to know to make our stay comfortable. They gave us some tips for visiting the Huntington library and offered us dinner recommendations. The afternoon tea is amazing! We each enjoyed two cups of the creamy coconut white tea during our stay. The afternoon snacks were great as well. And everything was still available to us at 10:30 at night (tea, hot cocoa, snacks). Our room was even better than I expected. We stayed in the morning glory. We had plenty of room for our things and the bed was large enough to spread out. AC in the room was adjustable and great. And the breakfast on Sunday was worth waking up! An amazing quiche dish, yogurt with fruit, a cheese blintze with homemade cherry pineapple jam, and a croissant. It was a very quiet place to relax and hang out. Nice reading materials on the coffee tables to pass the time. I highly recommend! Perfect and romantic place for couples. One tip- if you want to use any discounts, make sure you call them to book a room. I couldn't find a place to input the discount I received for signing up for their newsletter when I checked out online. So I thought maybe it was something I could sort out upon arrival. However, they said I cannot use a discount upon arrival because I had already paid, and I don't think they wanted to mess with a refund and I didn't push it. That was the only disappointment for me. Otherwise, great experience!

We had a very enjoyable stay at the Bissel Bed and Breakfast. Located just on the North edge of So. Pasadena and Pasadena literally the street is the dividing line. Very unique Victorian house with a lot of charcter. Owned by the same family for many years. One interesting fact was learned while staying here. Albert Einstein stayed here on a visit to the area. He becane pals with the original owners daughter while staying here. Great pool in the backyard with lots of privacy. The water was like bath water. We enjoyed a nice swim that night. Room was comfortable, somewhat small but normal for the construction era. Each room has it's own a/c, bathroom with shower. Great breakfast with juice and coffee. We had a very nice stay and would definitely stay again. Conveniently located to surrounding cities and Los Angeles.

Bissel house - some will love it , others hate it. You're either an antiquey historic B&B person - or you're not. This place is for you if you are into history, thousands of old pictures, paintings, rugs, doilies and such. Like most things 100 years old , the old gal creaks and leaks and could use a tune up but as the proprietor told us - if you want things that work, go to the Marriott. The house is located on a great corner in Pasadena, and while the old windows don't really close it's surprisingly quiet. The gardens are fantastic (orange juice made on site) and there is a library full of old books and magazines. Old and Historic is one thing, worn and neglected another. In this case both are true. Clearly there is great pride in the voluminous display of artifacts but the pool and jacuzzi are long in need of repair. Brian the manager who lives nearby is quite an interesting character, engaging with lots of stories and aims to please. The full sit-down morning breakfast is multi-course, handmade - including lots of local ingredients with portions to feed an army. We never met the "proprietor" who must have inherited the place against his will as he is certainly not cut out for hospitality. Communication was horrible and they tried to charge us for trip insurance which they appear to be pocketing themselves (financial troubles? ) . The plumbing is glitchy - kindof expected in a property this old - but they told us the shower leaked so badly that they turn the water off at the base of the wall so it doesn't keep the guests awake. For $300+/night I don't really feel I should have to get down on my hands and knees to turn the water on and off each time I shower, call me picky. The leak is probably why the paint is peeling from the ceiling. As a property owner, it seems to me these are items that should have been addressed in the off season. For all its flaws I would have been ok with the Bissel House were it not for the snarly and unresponsive "proprietor" , so if you go ,hope that you don't need anything from him. To close on a high note - the highlight was not just the breakfast it was the breakfast table - it was so fun to meet and share stories around the table with the other guests over breakfast. We loved that - in fact we'll be visiting some of them at the Russian River Winery. Cheers!

This was doomed from the start. I made my reservation on-line. I opted out of something vaguely referenced as "Travel Protection" on the Bissell House B&B site, which is neither identified by, nor affiliated with a business name. There is no contact phone number or email address for the "Travel Protection". I did not receive confirmation of my reservation for a couple of days, but a pending charge in the form of a non-itemized total was apparent on my cc. I used phone numbers and emails affiliated with the establishment multiple times but could not elicit a response. A person named Will finally replied. He sent my confirmation. I saw that I had been charged for the elusive Travel Protection. I emailed him right away to have this erroneous charge expunged. I assumed that it would be done. The reservation was a week away. The exterior of the property is cute. It goes without saying that when you stay in an antiquated, historical building you give up some of the modern creature comforts, unless the property is well-maintained and brought up to modern standards of comfort and aesthetics. We were in the Prince Albert room. It was nicely arranged, clean, comfortable. This room faces the street so yes there is noise, but it dies down completely at night, so not an issue. I opened a window blind to see the view. Signs of wear and tear were apparent in the dilapidated roof material and tarps, but it's an old place. I'm certain that our robes were clean, though they went unused. We had an A/C in the room but no way to use it. I texted the Innkeeper, Will. He replied and told us that the A/C remote was in an unoccupied room and that we could go retrieve it...oh, and the bathtub/shower leaks so you must turn the water main on and off manually so that there is no flooding. Fine. I was looking forward to using the jacuzzi photographed in pictures on the website. Unfortunately both the pool and jacuzzi were dirty and cold. Oh well. Breakfasts were nice. Lots of effort placed on quality, presentation, and self-serve options. On our day of departure I received a text message from Will asking me to either Venmo him $30 or leave it with the on-site host, Brian (very nice man) to cover my request for early check-in. Evidently that charge had not been added to my total. The communication regarding my reservation was suspiciously complex from the start so I went up to the room to review my my final charges. He was right. The $30 early check-in had not been included, however the Travel Protection charge remained. I forwarded a copy of my email regarding this charge which I had previously contested to Will. He located my week-old email reply asking to have this fee expunged, but said he didn't see my request at the time. So now my travel was complete and I'm left with the fee for something I never selected to begin with. I discussed this with American Express when I got home and they opened up an inquiry. To date I have received two inflammatory, accusatory, and harassing emails from Will. I read the reviews for this establishment before writing this review. There are far more positive reviews than negative. Notably, the obvious theme of the low ratings is consistent: absent, poor, and offensive communication and treatment by the proprietor. I would rather have spent my $375/night at a well-maintained establishment, with reliably functioning basic utilities, whose marketing is transparent, and the customer can assume that 'what you see is what you get'. Maladaptive narcissism has no place in hospitality. A word of caution..."Travel Protection" is not the same as "Travel Insurance". An insurance provider displays a business name and contact information. I was unable to contact "Travel Protection". Only Will could communicate with them.

My husband and I stayed for our anniversary it didn't seem that inviting no one was around, went down for afternoon tea but was not much there, and breakfast was ok and they had no juice to offer was part of the breakfast not a coffee drinker. Was not that impressed.

This place is a gem! Gorgeous, great vibes, stellar customer service. Everything is impecable and filled with love. I keep coming back and recommending it to everyone I know. After 6 years coming, it only gets better.

I have stayed here several times, while visiting friends in South Pasadena. The location is close to downtown South Pasadena, Pasadena and Los Angeles. The beds are extremely comfortable. The coffee and the breakfast are excellent. The common area and the grounds are cozy, peaceful and relaxing. And the Hosts are very friendly and accomodating. Like staying at Grandma's House!

This best b&b I've stayed at,so welcoming and pleasant. Friendly staff, I felt like I was staying in a friends home. Right now they offer more of a continental breakfast , which was still perfect. I enjoyed my coffee in the beautiful garden. We stayed in the garden room which had the jetted tub. Very relaxing stay nice and peaceful. We will return

To celebrate my two year anniversary of being alive, I felt called to visit Huntington Museum and Descanso Gardens. Pandemic numbers were dropping, yet I was still too edgy to stay at a regular hotel. The Bissell House had just been allowed to adjust their policy to include breakfast again as long as we were seated appropriately. Everything was beyond perfect from the touchless check in to the staff wearing masks. I felt safe and spoiled. What a gorgeous home!

I needed some time to myself to write and read and be still. I left my family in Eagle Rock for a night and came here. I'm so glad I did. It was so relaxing and quiet. I only had to drive a few minutes to feel like I was far from my demanding life. I'll be back again. SOLO. : ) (Albert Einstein stayed at The Bissell House once, and Alice Cooper once slept in The Rose Room.)

Thank you Bissell house. I have not stayed at Bissell but I wanted to give it a strong shout out for its incredibly generous and healing offer to give free lodging to first responders during the Covid19 crisis, for 6+ weeks. This allows the workers to be comfortably separated from their families, keeping them safe and allowing for the workers to get the rest that they need. Thank you Bissell House. This will not be forgotten.

Oh gosh what an incredible experience! This was our first stay in a B&B and it was amazing. Great food and excellent service. The staff were wonderful and we felt so at home.

To whome it may concearn, We recently stayed at the Bissel House. KNOWING that Einstein stayed at the house gave us a rich historical providence transporting us back in time. If you arrive in the afternoon a authentic and beautiful Victorian craftsman house awaits with afternoon tea. The property is very clean and well kept with a collegiate feel and a beautiful breakfast table awaited us in the morning with lovely linens (which I immediately stained) The grounds are delightful and easy to pause in.They even have a pool! The owners are fully engaged and down to earth and unobtrusive. We fully recommend without any reservation whatsoever. AND ITS NOT FAR from anything in Pasadena and indeed for that matter LA.Short or long stay you won't be disappointed.5 star! Matt

I have stayed here two times in the past and I enjoyed both stays immensely. Some of the rooms are quite large and the baths were great fun as many potions were included. I loved the lace covered water bottle in the cabinet and the Victorian gowns in the closets. Some guests even come down for breakfast dressed for the times. I have fond memories of this place and plan on returning now that I am done with the Langham. Yay, Bissell House! :)

Bissell bed and breakfast is one of the most beautiful places I have been. The decorations throughout the whole house was absolutely beautiful. The customer service from Janet was spotless. I appreciated the breakfast, it was cooked to perfection. I will definitely be back to bissell next time I'm in town and bring friends! This bed and breakfast is so unique it felt like I was on vacation the whole time even though I was in Pasadena for a business trip. A plus bissell!!!

Charming, quiet, comfortable, with excellent breakfasts done with imagination and flair by innkeeper Juli. Convenient location, but confusing to find initially because the address is on Orange Grove but the house, somewhat camouflaged by foliage, is actually around the corner on Columbia. We'll be back! --Dave Felthous, Seattle

We greatly enjoyed a 3 night stay in this classic old Victorian house. We chose the Morning Glory room and it was lovely. The grounds are nice and plenty of places to sun or read or even jump in the pool. Breakfast was awesome every day and tastefully done. We were well fed enough to last us on our daily adventures around Pasadena. The house is like living in an episode of Antiques Road Show, many of the furnishings are original. The innkeeper shared many interesting facts of the homes history including a stay by Albert Einstein. Overall it provided us a peaceful escape, we would stay here again.

I can't give it any stars since I have been trying to reach them for information, left two messages and never a call back. I'm sure it's cute but getting service in advance sucks. I was going to write an article for my Newport Beach newspaper on weekend getaways but on his one I may have to pass up.

My family and I love The Bissell House!!! It is our go to logging when we have events to attend to in Pasadena. From the moment you walk in, it feels warm, cozy, and like home. The innkeepers are FANTASTIC!!! I had a terrible experience at Arroyo Vista Inn, the worst Inn I have ever been to actually, and TBH puts that inn to shame. It always exceeds my expectations, thank you TBH.

The woman who owns this place is completely overwhelmed by her personal life. If you are planning an event here beware any agreement you make with her and get EVERYTHING in writing ASAP. If you don't you may regret it. The grounds are historic and lovely but the owner completely turned me off. I won't be recommending this location any time soon.

My husband and I were riding our tandem bike from SF to LA for our one-year anniversary celebration. We were arriving pretty late into LA and were pretty exhausted. About 6pm I started calling around to find a place to stay. Unfortunately, we were on a budget since my husband was recently laid off. But we wanted to stay somewhere nice for our Anniversary and for our only hotel-night of the whole trip. The Bissell House kindly met us at our budget! We were so happy to have a comfortable room, soft towels, a great bathroom and a pretty view of the garden from our room. They also had tea and a pastry out on our arrival. One of the best night sleeps of our trip. The house is very pretty and comfortable with a nice porch and garden for reading. In addition, we had just picked up our car which was loaded with our surfboards and all our camping gear. I felt totally safe parking it in their very private hedged parking area. It is also close to the freeway and a hop-skip-and-a-jump from a little downtown area as well as the Huntington Library and Botanical Garden. Thank you to the Bissell for making our anniversary trip special and memorable!

my girlfriend and i live in Venice, and decided for a little "stay-cation" in Old Pasadena would be great. Bissell House was the first search result for "bed and breakfast" and we were hooked before we even got there. $160 was a solid price for the Morning Glory room, on the third floor with a private bathroom, flat-screen tv and dvd player (though we brought a movie to watch, it'll go without saying that we didn't watch any TV that night). for $50 they left a really nice bottle of French champagne and truffle chocolate. breakfast the next morning was homemade quiche kind of thing with fruit, OJ, and coffee. you can either sit at the bigger communal table (there were 4 or 5 other couples who were staying that night and they were all pretty cool) or you can have a private breakfast at the smaller table. Couple reading rooms, fireplace in the living room which also has assorted teas and water available 24 hours, every room seems to be decked with a couple COMFY chairs. All in all, this place is almost too cute to be real, but the coziest stay you'll have just about anywhere. i want to get their gift card special for just about every couple i know!

Everytime I stay at the BH, its great, The gals make me feel at home and I love the house of course, being a fan of historic old homes. I tell everyone the Bissell family connection to the house and they love it. My favorite is the breakfast and the beds sleep great. Cant stay in Pasadena without roses and the landscaping is beautiful. Close to the 210 and 110 fwys, you can explore Pasadena, downtown and dont miss South Pasadena, a little town in itself. If you are having an event and need a location or just a night to excape, you have to give Jane, the owner a call and she will fix you up for the best place to stay if want something different than the same old hotel. Alison Winston

The breakfasts were delightful at this Southern California B&B. "Millionaires Row" is a fabulous place to experience opulence on a grand scale.

Beautiful old Victorian home, one of the first three built in So. Pasadena according to the owner. Lots of history in that house, including a visit from Albert Einstein. Our room was on the third floor, but needlessly worried about it being too warm, as the entire house had central air conditioning. Our room was bright and cheerful with much character and the mattress was very comfortable. My husband and I enjoyed the breakfast very much. Staff was very attentive to our needs. We will definitely make a return visit.

The best Bed and Breakfast I've ever been to. We'll be back in the future! There is enough space and freedom to do whatever you'd like: swim around the pool, relax and read by sunlight in the library, play board games and enjoy the classical style.

We recently celebrated our 34th anniversary at the Bissell House B&B and LOVED it!!! We were blessed to stay in the Garden Room (with the Jacuzzi Tub)...a beautiful room with a very serene atmosphere! Built in the late 1800's adds to the wealth of charm that this place offers!! It is close to Old Pasadena (less than 10 min drive) and The Rose Bowl - we loved driving the old streets of Pasadena and will definitely return!! (Fyi - The entrance is really off of Columbia St., make a note of that when you arrive...it helps to enter that driveway rather than off of Orange Grove.) - Enjoy!!!

We stayed here after we viewed the Rose Bowl floats on the 4th of January. The house is well kept and decorated like a traditional bed and breakfast. It felt very warm and cozy with all the decorations. The rooms were very nostalgic which is what I really liked about it. Janet and Juli were very accommodating and gave us great recommendations for local restaurants and things to do. Very easy access to all the freeways. A nice little gem in Pasadena.

My husband and I loved our stay at this beautiful home. My husband was amazed, that his stress from driving, vanished the moment he stepped into this home. This historic home has been lovingly cared for and is a testiment to quality. A lovely afternoon tea is set up, when you arrive. The home is beautiful, clean & comfortable. The breakfast absolutely wonderful! The family members that run this establishment, are hard working and very accommodating. Thank you for our beautiful experience Bissell House Bed & Breakfast of South Pasadena! Hospitality should be tought by these people!

My husband and I got married and his family decided to treat us to a wedding night here. It was a surprise and we were very excited to see what this place was about. We got there around 11pm and went to the top floor to find the "morning glory room". It was cute...not honeymoon style but it was cute. I was more excited about the huge tub and the fancy robes than the room itself. They provide complimentary wine but we didn't partake in that because my new sister-in-law gave us bottle of champagne for our wedding night. Anywhoo...moving on....It was our wedding night...so of course we uhh...you know. =) We woke up and went downstairs to join the other guests for our breakfast. It was good, the chef (who was really nice and helpful) made a really good breakfast. Artichoke egg souffle with breakfast potatoes and a fresh chocolate crossiant, and a blackberry yogurt parfait. Very yummy! Fresh coffee and orange juice too. This is where is got awkward part one: In the middle of our breakfast and conversation with the other guests, one of the guests starts saying, "I don't know what was happening on the third floor but it felt like an earthquake...hahaha" WHAT?! What do you say to that?! My husband and I are very conservative about what goes on behind closed doors....meaning we don't talk about it with anyone! But my husband played it off really good though and blamed it on the old stairs in the house that were noisy. It was just akward...I don't know you...why are you talking about that in the middle of our breakfast?? Ready for akward part two? Here we go.... I noticed that they had cute mugs for sale with their name on it and I wanted to purchase one for a keepsake. It was $25 for a mug! ok? Whatever...you only have one wedding night so I wanted it. Remember the chef I was telling you about? The nice one? Well, he couldn't find change for us (b/c we gave him two twenties) so he was nice enough to just give us the mug for 25 no tax. Then we asked him to take a picture of us with our mugs in front of the house sitting on the porch. While he was taking a picture, this woman comes out (she's the owner of bissel house) and starts telling us to give her more money for the mug! The chef tells her that he took care of it and to leave it be. But she's not leaving it alone at all! She then tells us, "that's not right guys...you need to give us the rest of the money". Mind you...it was only two dollars. My husband and I are just lookinf at each other wondering what to do. The chef then says, "I settled it! Leave them alone!" She rolls her eyes and leaves us. WOW.....you are such a great hostess lady...I'm gonna tell everyone about this place! My husband then takes my hand and says lets get the hell out of here before we get to awkward part three. So....that was our experience. We would never go back there again and for sure wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

New parents on a weekend getaway to a bed and breakfast= amazing! Juli and the other staff were very welcoming and friendly. We had never stayed in a bed and breakfast before and were nervous with what to expect. Upon arrival, we were given our keys, some general instructions, dinner recommendations and a tour of the inn. There is a pool (we didn't use it but looked inviting), a small library with an eclectic collection of books, and an area with baked goods and coffee/ tea available. We stayed in the Prince Albert room which was small but cute! The bed was also very comfortable; we slept great. I agree with other reviewers that the breakfast was really really tasty! Even my carnivore husband was impressed. We ate ALL of it, within a few minutes. We will definitely be back and will also recommend Bissell House to friends and family.

Absolutely blissful! I booked a two-day getaway for myself and reserved the Rose Room. It was as charming as pictured, and perfect for one person. The house and grounds are gorgeous and beautifully kept. Janet and Carrie, the innkeepers, were lovely and provided wonderful suggestions on neighborhood walks and restaurants. The breakfasts were outstanding. I would come up again in a heartbeat! (Thank you Janet for recommending I visit Koi--it was marvelous!)

Loved our weekend here. They were as sweet as can be, and the house is beautiful. They have managed to keep the integrity of the period without skimping on the modern amenities. (For example great free WiFi). The breakfast was delicious and the afternoon tea lovely.

This place is great! An amazing little B&B in Pasadena. Even though you're smack dab in the middle of a sprawling megalopolis this place feels private and quiet. The staff takes care of you as much as you ask and then leaves you alone. Tea and cookies and cakes in the afternoon and nicely prepared breakfasts. They are very accomodating of your schedule and work to make it cozy. Nicely done up rooms.

A historical house. Really sweet place. Best of all the personal touches. Forgot my cellphone charger after we checked out. Although I figured I'm not getting that back, hotel manager Will called me and made arrangements to send it back to me. Better than the hotel chains who can't even find my stuff when I made the effort to contact them.

My Aunt and I stayed at the Bissell House this weekend and had a wonderful time. They were very personable and went the extra step to make sure we had everything we needed. We didn't have a car and Janet (one of the owners) volunteered to take us and another guest site seeing. We had a wonderful time and felt like we had been all over Pasadena and learned so much about it. The house itself was really was full of history and you could feel the love that went into keeping it alive. Thank you again to everyone at Bissell House. We will see you again.

This was my second visit to Bissell House, I love this place. Was very happy to see the same chef was there making fabulous breakfasts. I stayed in the same room as before and as always everything was great. The rates have gone up a little bit since 2009, it is worth it. They have a special refrigerator for guests so you can keep your take-out food and drinks cold, also a microwave in the dining room for your use anytime. There is a pool, cake and tea are available in the sitting room and you can hang out in the garden or in the study as well. TV and wireless in every room. Original fixtures and period furniture make this home beautiful. Soaking in the claw-footed bathtub was lovely. Breakfasts in the dining room with linen tablecloths and china were special. I have met some very nice and interesting people at the dining room table. Highly recommend and will return again for sure.

Nice one night stay in mid-August. We stayed in the Rose Room right at the top of the house. Smaller room but it was fine. Great bed. Did not get a chance to use the pool but it was very clean and looked like a great dip. Breakfast was good but we would suggest not opting for the grab and go breakfast as it is limited. Local dinner was a pick up from Radhika which we enjoyed.

Had an amazing evening with my husband and 3 month old. Clean and inviting with amazing history. Breakfast was light and delicious. Would have liked more variety with afternoon tea but understand without the business it is too expensive! Darn economy. Will go again and will recommend it to family and friends

We spent a night in this historic, yet homey B&B and wish we could have stayed longer. Not only is the home beautiful and full of interesting accounts (from Einstein visits to vacuum prototypes), it's also incredibly well run by a kind and attentive family. I'll give you an example. After the head of the house learned that we were from South Carolina, we made our way down a three-story ornate staircase the following morning to find Gorgonzola grits, among a spread including egg souffle, fruit, waffles, orange juice/coffee, and more. The house was family run, and everyone seemed to take pride in the enjoyment their guests received. They were all so polite, professional, and welcoming that you feel as though you're staying with family. We'll definitely be coming back as soon as possible!

My sister and I were there last week and had a wonderful time. The decorations, furniture and all the extras in the room made us feel that it was far more than a B&B. More like a Inn. Julie one of the owner/partners/managers was more than accomodating and the breakfasts were delicious. Even though it was on a main street and we were in the front the room was Very quiet and the beds were So comfortable! Loved the midafternoon desert/wine/tea time! We will be back!

I love this inn. Every room is unique and equally charming but GARDEN ROOM is my favorite. The Inn Oozes charm, and peace and quiet. A great city escape plus super comfy-chic for out of town visitors. Nummy breakfasts and lots of hide-away places to get away on the property itself--the poolside, library, living room and fireside. Thanks for making our stay so perfect!

We stayed in the cozy Rose Room on the third floor overlooking the pool. Sadly, we arrived later than we had hoped and did not get a chance to soak in the surroundings and the pool at night, but had a chance to enjoy both in the morning. (The pool was very clean and the temperature was perfect in July). The inn's entrance is subtle, so we accidentally passed it first. But that adds to the privacy, as lush vegetation and trees surround the corner property. The neighborhood was high-end and the home was very authentic for the period. The furnishings and decor was an attraction in itself, and a step back in time....everything from the original door knobs, to the outlet covers, glass windows and pipes around the bathtub led to the historical ambiance. The home was updated and attractive without losing the original flavor, and the breakfast was good also. The owners spared no details, from the thick pool towels in the library leading to the pool to the bathrobes. They were helpful in making you feel at home, without hovering. It was a welcome respite at an affordable price after a stressful year. The air conditioning was a treat also, as it was a warm weekend. Not too noisy and it cooled quickly. Bed was comfy...ceiling/wall had a sloped gable which added to the charm. (Though tall folks should watch their heads getting up on that side of the bed). I hope to return and spend more time to enjoy the surroundings and the nearby treasures that South Pasadena has to offer. Guests were also treated to cake at night, coffee and tea, and a library of books to borrow from during their stay.

I really like this B&B. I stayed there multiple times often in different rooms during the Spring 2010 semester of the Art center (was taking a night class there). Each room I stayed in had its own unique character and was always clean. The place overall definitely has a family-run charm (definitely not cookie cutter Hilton approach, just so you know). I did not have the breakfast (my experience was more in-and-out following late class and preceding early train trip home) but my interaction with the staff there was definitely positive. Janet is was responsive via phone and email, and everyone was very accommodating and flexible. And, hey, they encouraged me to play the piano one morning when I had a little time. Recommended highly.