La Reserve Bed & Breakfast

This review is for a 1 night stay in Saratoga Executive Suite on the ground floor. It was clean, very spacious (kitchen, living area, restroom and bedroom), well-decorated, and plenty of natural light in the bedroom. Breakfast was good, in the adjacent building where the dining area and hall well-decorated. Convenient location. Special thanks to innkeeper Brittany who arranged for this stay on the day of check-in. My original reservation was at a different property in Philadelphia, room only no breakfast, which she also manages. She communicated well in advance on the day of check in, and offered 2 options - 1. alternative stay at La Reserve in an executive suite with breakfast included, or, 2. full refund. I greatly appreciate her accountability towards providing the upgraded alternative at La Reserve because something came up at the other property. So, I did not have to worry about finding a place last minute. Maria at the concierge desk was very helpful too.

We really enjoyed our stay here. The service is excellent and highly responsive. The rooms are spacious, clean, and very quiet. The AC worked perfectly on two hot Philly summer days that were well over 90 degrees F outside. The only down side is that the rooms are pretty rundown. They are clean, but the walls and furnishings are beaten up. The couches have stains and minimal cushioning, we had a one fingered scissor, an iron with burns all over it, walls and light switches that need cleaning or repainting, place mats with stains, coffee pods with a drip coffee maker, etc. I almost dropped it to 3* but I really liked it here and would stay again. The narrow stairways and lack of elevator could be challenging for some, too.

This place has so much potential but is unfortunately neglected by current management. The location was great. The room was spacious but less than clean. The service? Terrible. We have stayed at dozens of b&bs. This place cannot legitimately claim to be one. We never met anyone purporting to be an innkeeper or manager. The breakfast was a joke. What we did get: 1. When we arrived, we rang the bell as instructed. No answer. We called the # posted on the door. No answer. We rang again and another guest let us in. No staff in sight. After waiting about 10 minutes a young man in gym clothes (carrying a fast food bag) rushed in. He gave us a key and told us where breakfast would be in the morning. No other information or assistance was offered. 2. We went to breakfast on Sunday morning. The room was in disarray. Every table cloth was stained. It was filthy. We informed the person working breakfast that they were out of coffee. She rudely told us that she only makes one pot a day, and when it's out it's out. (Note: we arrived at 9:30; breakfast was advertised until 11:00). There were a few saran-wrapped muffins and pieces of cake, some hard boiled eggs, yogurt, and fruit. The breakfast at Holiday Inn Express is more impressive-- with friendlier staff and cleaner tables. 3. The same person complained to us during breakfast about other guests. She also told us, "they are trying to find ways to save money." She encouraged us to write a negative review. The interaction was uncomfortable and odd. 4. When we checked out, the desk clerk (same woman who refused to make more coffee) barked at us for not knowing where to store luggage. When my wife pointed to the instructions on the sign about getting a luggage tag, she told us "we don't have time to do that" and ripped the sign down. 5. I have left two messages so far with the manager. So far, no return call. Guests beware. If you want a charming b&b experience, look elsewhere. If you want a good breakfast (or a clean dining room), look elsewhere. If you want attentive or friendly service, look elsewhere. Overall, very disappointed.

Honestly I'm not sure where any positive recent reviews come from. The location is the only thing this place has going for it. I haven't written a review in ages, but feel compelled to alert other travelers.||We stayed in the Lafayette which was spacious but run down and dirty. I could see past that if it hadn't been for the worst service I've ever experienced in a stay. We arrived for breakfast an hour and a half before it was over. The table linens were stained (on literally every table) and the coffee pot was nearly empty (with luke warm coffee). When an employee finally came out from the back and I politely said the coffee was out, we got an earful about her "not making another pot," "it will go to waste or they'll just have to save it for tomorrow." She said we could use the keurig because she wasn't making more. She continued to go on about them trying to save money, complaining about people taking cups from where they weren't supposed to, people with gluten allergies, and on and on.||I've traveled all over the world and stayed at several B&Bs. I'm used to B&Bs being charming and welcoming, but here I felt like I was being lectured -- like I hadn't read all the paperwork or something. It was so unexpected , unpleasant, and uncomfortable. Most places go out of their way to show you the space and share details. I received a welcome email before arriving saying staff would happily assist in making recommendations, dinner reservations, etc. I actually replied and got no response. There was never any staff who expressed anything close to this kind of hospitality. ||The next morning when we went to store our luggage before leaving, the desk was unattended. Someone went to seek help and we were met with the same annoyed employee from breakfast the previous day. I said I wanted to make sure we didn't need tags or to inform anyone that we're leaving luggage (as the sign at the front desk indicates), and she --again, annoyed-- said "I don't even know why it says that, we don't have time for that" and removed it from the counter.||We attempted to contact the manager Maria twice about concerns and have yet to receive a return call.||Location is lovely. Rooms are below average. Service is laughable.

This place was so adorable and quiet and it had so much character. The receptionist were so nice. Just make sure you reserve a room with your own bathroom if you don’t wanna share a bathroom, but it was so cute and so romantic.

We stayed for 2 nights in La Reserve Bed and Breakfast. It was superb and Maria , our hostess, was so welcoming. Our room was The Grand Dame on the 2nd floor. It was beautiful. The room is huge with antique furniture and a big comfortable bed. The en-suite bathroom is also big with complimentary toiletries and all mod cons. The furnishings are all so opulent and in keeping with the ambiance of a time long gone. We loved it. |The breakfasts were gorgeous. So varied and generous. Cereals, fruits, yogurts, cheeses, breads, tea, coffee etc etc. Dennis’s homemade cakes and croissants were so yummy.|Thank you Maria and Dennis for the lovely time we spent with you. If we ever return to Philadelphia we would love to stay with you again.

La Reserve Philadelphia is an absolute gem! The space is cute and intimate, perfect for anyone looking for a cozy and charming stay. It’s located in a quiet, safe neighborhood, which adds to the overall comfort and peace of mind. The location is fantastic—you could be out at 2 a.m. and still feel completely at ease, with no weird vibes at all. Everything about the experience was pleasant, clean, and I would absolutely book again! Highly recommend.

Loved La Reserve. Wonderful hosts! Our suite was spacious with a kitchen. Dennis served up wonderful breakfast treats and gave us solid leads for enjoying the museums. Brittany will steer you to the right eatery or drinking spot. The Rittenhouse neighborhood has lots of character and fun Halloween block parties. Walking distance to historical district, and the art and science museums are easy to get to by bus.

This place is the perfect get away and exceeded my expectations. Breakfast was amazing, room was amazing and the owner was so sweet. Can't wait to come again!!

Had no idea this place had shared bathrooms in the hall before I booked it. It was cute and charming, old and rustic and, good food. I personally wouldn't stay here again. I need more privacy and waiting for the bathroom to be available in the morning is not for me.

I feel like we had a very different stay than most who have posted reviews. We just stayed for two nights during a trip to visit my in-laws in Center City. We were looking for a bigger room with a desk for remote work (compared to a small city hotel room). While it did have more room, and a desk, the furnishings were quite worn. The sofa and chairs in the suite were so old they had very little cushion left. They were also in need of a good steam cleaning (as were the kitchen fixtures and dresser/desks). The queen bed wasn't just soft (which I realize some prefer), but the mattress was so worn out it created a peak in the middle of my husband and I were on it at the same time (and we are small people). While the location was perfect for us, the promise of a breakfast in the bed and breakfast was not accurate. It was a cold offering only (yogurt, fruit, cereal, instant oatmeal to make yourself). No one was serving or replenishing at 8:30am. The owner seemed more concerned about our ability to keep her rooms neat than on being an innkeeper with guests in mind. Sadly, this accommodation was not worth the price, and we would not recommend to others.

If you stay anywhere in Center City Philadelphia you need to stay at La Reserve!!! Suites are amazing very well done. Total comfort! Fantastic choices at breakfast and weekend stays breakfast is over the top. Safe beautiful area of the city.

Cute place. Great location, very central and close to a lot of great food, activities, etc. If you stay, use the chain lock on your door. The innkeeper burst into my room two hours before check out while on the phone with Verizon. She tried to push her way into my room for "just a quick minute" even after I repeatedly said no and asked her to come back later. Will not be staying here again. No respect for my privacy or time. They need to keep their Verizon equipment in a common space, or at the very least wait until guests have checked out of their rooms before trying to handle technical issues.

This hotel is hidden in a quiet and beautiful neighborhood, the rooms and public bathrooms are very clean, and there is a delicious and rich breakfast! The staff at the front desk was very nice, she allowed us to store our luggage there in advance so we could start our trip with ease!

Perfect BnB experience in the heart of the most walkable & safe part of the City of Brotherly Love. Tip: book directly through their website! Better value all around Had a delightful 1 night stay on a sultry spring night. My room was comfy and clean. The best part of the time spent was the made-to-order breakfast on Saturday morn! Get your time selected before bedtime & the delicious smell of coffee and bread will wake you up. Maria the manager is sweet, attentive and made my whole stay perfection! Definitely the place to book before you go anywhere else in Phillie.

We have stayed here many times and feel like we have a little apartment in the city. We have only ever stayed in the Saratoga or Rittenhouse suites and can't comment on the other rooms, but we LOVE these. Everything is very clean, and the staff is consistently sweet. Cozy, more gorgeous than the photos, spacious, well designed... you won't want to leave, but there is so much to do in Center City, of course, so don't sit around luxuriating, lol. The location is perfect for good restaurants, the park, shopping, and so much else. Thank god I let my spouse pick the hotels. We don't get the breakfast as vegans, but Maria had almond milk for coffee. We usually head to PS & Co on Locust, a lesser-known gem with food as good as Vedge for all meals of the day. Some things to know: 1.) It is two townhouse buildings, with no door in-between, so you have to go out the front and then back in to go from one side to the other, not a big deal, and the key pad is easy to operate. 2.) You can park out front to unload your bags. They direct you to a reasonable parking lot a block or two away. 3.) I don't think you can control the temperature in the suites, but there are ceiling fans. The history of the (1850) buildings is interesting as well as the renovations -- which took away the backyard. The person who grew up there now owns it, pretty cool. There is often a deal mid-week for $100 a night, which is incredible for a whole apartment.

We had a very nice weekend stay here for our one year wedding anniversary. We were in the heritage room on the 4th floor, it was nice, but a bit hot at first til the ac window unit got all caught up. Sharing the bathroom on the floor wasn't bad at all, as it's pretty much just 2 rooms to a floor, so it's not like you're using a communal bathroom like at college or anything. Also for those in previous reviews who have complained about lack of parking....it's an historic B&B in one of the oldest cities in America, they really weren't thinking about parking lots back in the 1860's....just saying. The walk from the garage on south street only takes about 4 minutes, not even, and it's not difficult to drag a suitcase that distance either, rough sidewalks made of brick and all. Breakfast was very good, the first day I had the omelet option with bacon and coffee and my second morning I had the pancakes with fruit reduction and bacon, and both were delightful. If you're looking to stay in a nice, clean, historic building in a safe neighborhood in Philly pretty close to everything, this is a great place to stay. Next time we are in Philly again, I'll definitely just call them up.

I was looking for an affordable hotel to stay at during a layover in Philly. La Reserve fit the bill perfectly. I made my reservation via Expedia and got an email within the hour requesting confirmation information. Once I provided that the reservation was set. The B&B is decorated very nicely. I waited in the parlor area while Maria was checking in another customer. She was friendly and efficient in checking me in and explaining more about the history of the B&B. I stayed in the Heritage room which was homely and very spacious. I was elated that the Wi-fi worked perfectly unlike the non functioning Wi-fi at my previous hotel. I'm not a fan of shared bathrooms but when in Rome...lol. I did like that the shower had a shampoo, conditioner, and soap dispenser in case you forgot any of those. It was also cool they provided lotion and for the ladies make-up remover pads. The location was great as well. It was within walking distance of the train line I needed to take to get to the airport. The highlight though was the weekend breakfast that I happened to participate in. I had a tasty omelette with goat cheese. I also enjoyed meeting two other couples that were all friendly. Unfortunately after breakfast I had to hightail it to the airport but it was a good way to end my visit. I would definitely stay again.

I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed my stay here with my S/O. This is a small B&B that feels like HOME in the middle of the city. The property welcomes all (Families, LGBT people, etc) which was so so nice. Breakfast is provided and prepared by the manager, Maria and some other staff. It was absolutely delicious and the dining room is so cute and cozy! The Location Situated on Pine St right off of Rittenhouse Square, the location is PERFECT and gives you easy access to lots of restaurants, bars, shops, and the gayborhood. The Room We stayed in the Chateau Room on the second floor. Spacious, high ceilings, lovely french inspired decor. Shared bathroom with one other room on that floor was not a problem at all, and the bathroom shower was HOT and had everything one would expect. Open the cathedral window inside the shower to let some steam out. The Management Maria was an absolute dream of an operator. She welcomed us warmly at check in and gave us a printout with all of the necessary information regarding the property and how to access the front door after hours etc. A passionate woman with a kind heart and a real love for her business. Please be kind to her and her business, as it is obvious she puts her entire being into making it a success. Overall an experience that I would absolutely 100% prefer over any corporate hotel chain stay. Do yourself a favor and reserve a room at La Reserve on your next Philly visit!

We had a wonderful stay at La Reserve. The room was beautiful. Staff was so sweet and really had a welcoming atmosphere. Will definitely rebook next time I'm in Philly.

Very lovely B&B. Large, airy rooms with shared baths. Quite old-fashioned, which our out of town guests loved.

The location was excellent for our sightseeing and for visiting family. The hosts were pleasant and the breakfast was filling.

++++ - Location; if you're a walker, it's pretty much within a half hour walk to any tourist or restaurant destination - if you're not a walker; there's always a cab - Size; 'suites' are like fully furnished apartments, complete with kitchen (plates, silverware, glassware, cooking utensils, wine opener) - Decor; definitely feels like you're staying in the 18th century - Feeling; Feels like your in somebody's house. I like that feeling as opposed to a hotel - Service; Our clogged drain was fixed after hours, within minutes - Weekend food; they have handmade dishes by personal chef ++ - Breakfast, some of the breakfast pastries are great, others feel a day or two old - - (Minor), Although there are three wifi passwords, they have drastically different strengths in different areas of the apartment - (Minor) no elevator; pack lightly TIPS - You need to reserve your spot for weekend breakfast - don't forget to call ahead if you're going to check in after 8pm, so they can leave your key

Beautiful B&B in a lovely area of Philadelphia. The Innkeeper was tremendously busy during our one night stay, it appeared that one employee was not feeling well so Maria's hands were full. She was cooking breakfast when were arrived early in the morning. We weren't able to check in early, which was disappointing and one of the main reasons this B&B was chosen, but did leave the bags in the living room at our own risk. There's an electronic keypad on the door so guest's can come and go as they please. The room was absolutely beautiful, the shared bathroom on the third floor was immaculate and provided some toiletries. Maria definitely deserves a raise, she's amazing and is truly an asset.

We had a fabulous stay at La Reserve, we were not expecting such a lovely, warm, comfortable and home-like place. First, it is located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood which is one of the cutest neighborhood of old Philly. Here, no more modern buildings, banks, or H&M. Beautiful old houses, lovely coffee shops take over and it is really a pleasure to walk around. La Reserve itself is inside an old house, with furniture like it must have been in the 19th century - I am totally guessing here, I obviously have no idea on the matter but let 's say it looks authentically from another time when things were beautiful... The room (Penn Franklin) was very large with a comfortable bed, huge pillows, big TV, armchairs, a desk big enough to work on, a well equipped kitchen and very clean bathroom. And again the furniture makes you feel like you were in an old beautiful house. So I have talked about the bed, what about the breakfast? 5 stars again with some normal breakfast during the week (try the great cheddar scones or delicious muffins) and brunch for the week end where you can choose between your style eggs or specials of the day. Oh and all day long, some tea and coffee are available, along with some cookies in the common area. On our last day, as I was leaving on the evening, I just hanged out in the house all day and it was perfect, as there is a big living room with several sofas, and chairs. The common area is really welcoming if you need to wait before check in or after check out. Also, the staff is very kind and very responsive to your needs. If I were to come back to Philly, I would definitely go straight to La Reserve again!

I had an amazing extended stay at the La Reserve Bed and Breakfast over the past two weeks. The location right in City Center afforded an fantastic opportunity to explore a truely beautiful section of downtown Philadelphia. Close to restaurants, shopping, museums, etc. My suite was amazing ~ very comfortable and charming. I felt like I had my own apartment in City Center rather than that I was "camping out" in a standard hotel. The staff was very helpful and the B&B is stunning. I generally don't sleep well in hotels, but the bed, pillows, and bedding made me as comfortable as if I had been in my own bed. I will definitely be back the next time I visit Philadelphia!

This is a fabulous place to stay in downtown philly. The property is very clean, and the decor is magnificent. The staff were very nice and helpful. It's located within walking distance of the liberty bell, or if you are lazy like us, you can walk a couple of blocks to the subway and get there that way. There are a ton of restaurants within walking distance as well. They have free wifi and parking is within a few blocks. It would be nice to have a fridge in the room, but if I travel to philly again, I will definitely stay here. I highly recommend it!

Two words: quel bummer. I had a work conference in Philadelphia and all of the hotels were booked at the special conference rate. I'm a huge fan of B&Bs and try to stay in them when possible, mostly because I love a good breakfast and you always learn some fun fact from the owners and other guests. I reserved my room through their website. I had very little choice since the city was quickly filling to the brim with librarians, so I selected the "La Chateau" room based on the fact it was available, slightly less expensive than the other rooms, and the picture and description on the reservation page made it look cute and comfy. Perhaps if I had more thoroughly searched their website I would have learned that I had to share the bathroom, but this valuable piece of information was omitted from the reservations page description. I arrive at La Reserve around 7pm. After paying the full amount up front, I'm asked to sign up for breakfast for the following morning. Well, all the early times are taken, since nearly all the guests are here for the same conference as me, and so I guess I couldn't have breakfast. The woman at the desk never told me that I could have signed up for an earlier time, despite the fact that the sign-up sheet explicitly said that only four names may be signed up for any time, and you may not write in the margins. So, that's how I miss my first breakfast. I try again to sign up for the next morning and voila! There is space early enough so I can still make it to my meeting. However, I find myself sitting at the breakfast table with three other guests at 7:45am, and there's no hotel staff to be found. Apparently the B&B forgot about the second B (I later found out that the cook had previously called in to say she would not be there, but that information failed to reach the appropriate ears). So, day two of no breakfast. Ahh, my final morning and final try to get a taste of the most important meal of the day! Alas, no breakfast times were early enough to accommodate my early meeting. No breakfast number three for me. Again, I found out upon checkout that I could have requested an earlier time, and that others were doing it because they, too, had early meetings. Why was I not privy to this valuable knowledge? As for the shared bathroom, I'm not a total prude and have shared bathrooms before, but given the price of the room and the fact that this detail was missing from the description I read, it was a super duper bummer to have to smell a stranger's poo first thing in the morning. How do you distinguish soaps in one soap dish? What if your "bathroom buddy" is a believer of "if it's yellow let it mellow" like mine was? My final and perhaps most worrisome comment: every time I came back to my room the door was unlocked. Instead of keys there are keypads, and I quickly learned that mine unlocked just fine using the code, but would not lock using it, it had to be locked manually from the inside. Somehow the cleaning staff didn't know this. I felt very safe in the hotel, and the outer door to the street was locked, but I really would have preferred to come back to a locked room. Almost done ranting :o) I told another staff member at checkout about my concerns/disappointments, and she apologized and told me everything I "should" have known, but that was it. She did suggest that I could probably get a credit the next time I visited. If you know the "rules" of la Reserve, then you'll be good to go. The house was built in the 1850's and has great architecture and the interior design is lovely and not over the top. Couldn't tell you what the food tasted like, though. Oh, and did I mention the rooms do not have televisions or phones? Again, I "should" have known there was a shared TV room, as well as 24 hour access to coffee, tea, etc., but how was I supposed to know? No love for La Reserve, but it is centrally located! ***UPDATE*** I just received a letter from the owner expressing her apologies for the concerns I had during my stay, and she offered me a credit toward a future stay. Thank you, La Reserve, and the general manager. I appreciate your letter and offer very much!

I've seen a couple of reviews mention the price and we do agree - it is a little pricey for what it is... However, that said, the B&B is a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square - so it's a great location - and it's amazing how the noise dies off just a couple of blocks away from the Square. It's a very peaceful and tranquil location and we always sleep well here because of the lack of city noise. Breakfast is help yourself during the week and a cooked breakfast to order at the weekends. Staff are always super friendly and very welcoming... the rooms are pretty spacious for city accommodation, which is always a bonus! :-) We've been staying for 3 years now and do plan on returning. Definitely recommended!

I had a great weekend stay at La Reserve, contrary to the first reviewer here on Yelp. This is a really cute brownstone (two, actuallly - side by side) in the Rittenhouse Square part of Philly so it's a quick walk to lots of shops and restaurants. Being that it was my first time in Philly it was nice to have easy access to these sorts of places. We stayed in the Chatham suite which was spacious and more than enough room for the two of us. Living room, bedroom, bathroom, and "kitchenette" which was really a full kitchen minus an oven - it even had a regular sized stovetop with gas burners. The glass-walled shower stall in the small bathroom wasn't great because we always ended up with a puddle of water on the floor just outside the stall. I think I have to say that would be my only complaint about the suite. Since we stayed here for fun we had no schedule to stick too and signed up for a 9:15am breakfast on Saturday. We had a pleasant meal chatting with another couple staying there and the food was tasty. They have a menu with several breakfast items - french toast, pancakes (with blueberries or strawberries), omelettes with you choice of fillings, and sides like bacon, toast, potato pancakes. There was even a special omelette to choose from that morning, which I got: cheddar and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. And it was delicious, if slightly oversalted. Checkout is 11am and if you need to leave your luggage while you run around the city before you leave town, you'll be directed to leave it somewhere in the main parlor. I'm very careful about my things and was kind of uncomfortable leaving my duffel bag there for hours, even though there was nothing really valuable inside. But everything was intact when I came back to get it. Overall I really enjoyed my stay at La Reserve and I would definitely stay there again.

I'm not typically a Yelp reviewer until my horrible experience with La Reserve. I needed to cancel my reservation due to the sudden loss of a family member. Not only did they charge a cancellation fee, when I called to see if I could transfer money spent into another reservation, the innkeeper responded with "How did he die, was he sick?" She was impatient and tried to promote direct booking while I fought back tears. I understand my situation is unique, however, avoid this place. There are better deals and people to deal with.

I made a reservation on a Tuesday a little after noon, for one night, the upcoming Sunday. There were at least 3 rooms available for that night. The cancellation policy for this week says you have to give 2 weeks' notice for a refund. I understand this policy for busy nights, but obviously this coming Sunday was not that busy. Less than 24 hours later I had to cancel for reasons beyond my control. I called and was told the cancellation was taken care of. Then I got an email saying I would be charged the full amount because of the above-mentioned policy. I wrote back saying that since I'd kept the room of the market for less than 24 hours, and other rooms were available, this policy seems unreasonable and could they see their way to refunding at least some of the cost. The reply was no. Very poor service.

I'm staying at La Reserve for two weeks. I'ts a great place to stay. Nice staff, very tasty breakfast, nice rooms and free wifi. It's worth every cent and prices are relatively cheap, considering their location. If you rent a car and will stay for more than a couple of days, I recommend you to get a public parking permit. The hotel staff was nice and lent me an utility services bill which was required to get the permit. Only issue was that my room shared the bathroom with another room, but that it is ok since they keep it nice and clean.

I booked this B&B on Super Bowl Sunday through Booking.com for a stay on Tuesday night, February 6. Philadelphia was supposed to hold their victory parade on Wednesday, February 7, however due to an impending storm, parade was switched until Thursday, February 8. I called Booking.com and asked if it would be possible to cancel the reservation. The gentleman put me on hold and contacted La Reserve. La Reserve refused to cancel the reservation. The gentleman at Booking.com said to call the B&B direct to ask if they would be willing, under the circumstances. I did call and left a message. Not the courtesy of a return phone call. Nothing. There is no reason they couldn't cancel the reservation and refund my money.

I cannot recommend this beautiful bed and breakfast highly enough. Every detail exceeded my expectation. I booked a 2 week stay. I arrived late in the evening and directions to enter my suite were easy and allowed for a seamless arrival. The suite I stayed in was large, the kitchen fully equipped with a full refrigerator and stove, a gorgeous marble bathroom, the bed more comfortable than my bed at home! During my cold winter stay, the temperature was so comfortable and I was able to control the radiators. The amenities were top-notch. Lush linens, comfy furniture, beautiful decorations. Now for the staff: they are amazing! Inn Keeper Sherri went above and beyond to ensure that myself and my family had everything we could possibly need. Her devotion to her guests is exemplary. Ed is a pleasure, making sure we were all happy and received our daily tea and homemade cookies. The housekeeping staff are all attentive and do a fantastic job. The food: OMG! Weekend breakfasts are gourmet. You are able to order from a menu and the offerings are delicious and inventive. Daily continental breakfasts are plentiful with many healthy choices. And the aforementioned homemade cookies - a special treat. The location: I could not imagine a better place to be in center city. Steps away from Rittenhouse Square and also South Street. A short walk to so many wonderful restaurants in all price ranges. Great shopping, walking, sight-seeing. I met a couple who said that when they visit Philly they won't stay anywhere else. I certainly understand their sentiment. This is a perfect place for a weekend, week-long or extended stay. I will be back as often as possible. I am now officially in love with Philadelphia thanks to the accommodations, the hospitality, individualized attention and dedication of the staff of La Reserve.

We booked a room at La Reserve based on reading several favorable reviews. (The B & B we normally book was filled.) Our suite was located on the 2nd floor and offered a generous bedroom, private bath, living room, and kitchen. The living area was, however, accessed by walking down a very long corridor. This gave the feeling that it was a separate apartment, somewhat unsettling. Despite the Center City location and tree-lined historical area, there seemed to be something lacking at La Reserve. Although the suite was comfortable, our bedroom's AM/FM radio did not function properly. TV news channels were Pay to View, and dressing mirrors were too small and positioned too high to be useful. It should be noted that the Inn's parlor and dining room are only accessed by going outdoors and re-entering the building via an adjacent front door. Oddly, No other guests were seen within the parlor while on our way to the dining room. While checking-in, we were asked to reserve seats for breakfast; 10AM being the only remaining time slot, and not our first choice. That next morning, only four other people showed up besides my wife and I. The dining room could have easily accommodated more guests. There was a noticeable lack of Ownership and staff during breakfast. The cook seemed to be the only person greeting us. After we seated ourselves, a woman entered the dining room, perhaps the Inn Keeper, yet she did not introduce herself, very odd. Other staff members were nowhere to be seen, resulting in a cold atmosphere which seemed, sadly, to set the theme for Breakfast. Breakfast itself was "OK". Again, that "something" was missing at La Reserve. The atmosphere seemed to be inconsistent with the website's "warm" narrative, although we found the neighborhood to be appealing and convenient, which was secondary to our stay at La Reserve.

My husband and I make it a point to stay at a B&B whenever we can. So my review is from that perspective. We stayed for one night. Pros: Great location! Staff is very helpful and very nice! Did I mention the location was fantastic? The room was clean and nicely decorated. Free WiFi! Parking is non-existent but they direct you to a great lot. Building was quiet. Cons: First time sharing a bathroom. I did not like that. (Not the fault of the place, of course.) Breakfast was okay. Not bad but not great. Walls are thin. No, really... Bed was slightly uncomfortable. Clean but not too comfy. We had a concert in the area and this B&B was perfectly located. It certainly wasn't as expensive as the hotels nearby. I could live with the cons if it was just a little bit less expensive.

So, so, so happy with this B&B! It is very home-like...I truly feel like I'm staying in an old-fashioned boarding house with a family. The furniture and decor are beautiful and antique, yet comfortable. My room is HUGE and has three gorgeous windows that look out onto the charming tree-lined street. The neighborhood is quiet and safe, with great local pubs in walking distance. It's also close to everything! Downtown is an easy 10-minute walk, and there are many train stations close by. Finally, the room is very affordable - less expensive, in fact, than the big chain hotel where my conference is. The only (possible) drawback is that the establishment is very quiet. Some of the rooms don't have televisions, and the walls are a bit thin, so you can't come here expecting to have full run of the place - it's definitely a shared space. But, for me, it adds charm to the experience.

1st of the parking here isn't on site, you have to park in a lot like 3 blocks away.. that's sucked! The room we had was on the 2nd floor no elevator pack light lol . No tvs in the room which is common at a B&B. Room was really sweet, vintage, clean. It's really close to all great restaurants , local attractions. Overall great experience

My opinion ... Positive overall.  Pros: great location near food and activities!  Nice clean rooms with good food and mid-day snacks.  Cons: little awkward that they use two buildings, parking not included, and many steep steps were difficult for my pregnant wife.

Wonderful experience! Quaint older building with awesome staff. Katrina at the front desk was great! We will definitely stay here next time we're in Philly!

I don't know where the positive reviews are coming from. The many negative reviews on Trip Advisor are more accurate. The location is excellent. The room was clean. However, the tv didn't work, one of the shades was broken, and the lock on the front door to our room was sticky and we had difficulty opening it. The innkeeper had to come to our room at one point and it took her 10 minutes to open the door. I asked to cancel my reservation because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get my stuff out of the room. She became nasty and hostile and told me that they don't cancel reservations in the hotel business and that I don't know how the hotel business works. I had to go somewhere else that had a tv and door and wound up paying for a room that I couldn't use. Do not stay here. I lost almost $200.

Fantastic B&B experience! Staying here was like visiting an elderly aunt who's rich, elegant, and quiet, yet friendly and down-to-earth, even while decorating her house like a museum! As a solo female traveler on business for about 5 days at the end of July, I had a wonderful stay- the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, the location was prime (Center City), the rooms clean, beautiful (a lot of the furnishings looked to be antique), and spacious, and the breakfasts were tasty. I like the communal aspect of breakfast they've set up- you sign up for a time slot and are seated at a large table with other guests- with breakfast made to order! I don't know if there's a "B&B type" of person, but the other guests I met, especially over breakfast, were all really friendly. The prices are also really reasonable. I ended up sharing a bathroom (which was really clean- even seemed to be recently remodeled) with one other room to cut costs, but that was a really minor inconvenience...especially when I think about how other places have you sharing bathrooms with multiple rooms. Other pluses: the beds were really comfy, the house is on a quiet, pretty, and residential street (check out Dmitri's a few blocks away on Pine Street for really good, simple Greek-style food!), and the rooms all have free wifi. I'd definitely stay here again...for business or a vacation...it's great for both...with the biggest draws being that it's in a really convenient and coveted area - close to Rittenhouse Sq. (5 min. walk), and lots of restaurants, shops, bus/metro lines, etc. - and that it has some of the nicest, most helpful staff I've met...B&B and otherwise!

If I could live at La Reserve, I would. The staff is almost TOO friendly and the b&b itself is beautiful. The building has such a historical feel while being kept so clean. Maria is such a sweet host and gives the place such a welcoming feel. I made a mistake and booked for the wrong night, but they let me switch it right there anyway! I couldn't be more happy with our stay and I will definitely be returning. Book straight from them instead of through a 3rd party site. OH AND THE BREAKFAST - outstanding!

This was my first time staying at a bed and breakfast and it was wonderful. The room was beautiful, elegant and spacious. I was in town for a conference and this was located just over a mile from the convention center. The neighborhood is quiet and away from the main strip of traffic, but still close enough to walk to a few tourist attractions. I was able to walk everywhere. A wonderful continental breakfast was available every morning and fresh cookies in the afternoon. I heard there is a more elaborate spread on weekends, but I stayed during the week.

My dad stayed here when he visited us. It was amazing! He was able to book a suite with a full kitchen and living room for $100/night from bookings.com. It is a very beautiful B&B and in an amazing (safe & fancy) location, just a few blocks away from Rittenhouse Square. The also had homemade muffins and bread pudding included in the breakfast. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because they forgot to put towels in the room and there was a dirty rag left in the middle of the living room when we came in. Otherwise this place was pretty awesome.

La Reserve is perfect for a stay in Center City. The old world charm, high ceilings, piano in drawing room, richly cushioned couches, makes you swear off chain hotels. And the last minute (5 days in advance) deal is bonkers. Bonkers.

FAN-TAS-TIC, Spent only one night there, but I'm definitely going back. The area's very nice but mainly, I was enchanted by the service and the warmth of the personnel. The room I was in (Le Marquis) was exquisitly decorated, very clean. The bathroom was impeccable. The breakfast was excellent and the chef adorable. Bravo La Réserve!

I had a totally fabulous experience at La Reserve. My husband and I got married a couple of blocks away, and we decided that it would be fun to rent out the whole B&B for the weekend for our guests. First, the hotel is quirky, charming, and fairly luxurious. We spent the first night in the Chateau, which is a smallish room with a shared bathroom, and we enjoyed it. The room had a lot of character. The second and third nights, we were in the Lafayette room, which felt more modern and was HUGE. There was plenty of space for my now-husband to hang out with his friends there as they arrived in Philly--it was perfect for them. The Chateau and Lafayette rooms are in separate rowhouses. In the first room, we could hear a lot of sound from other rooms, but in the second, things were very quiet--perhaps the insulation is better there or something. Second, Sherri, the manager, is FABULOUS. She was so kind and accommodating. She let us take over the common areas of the hotel for a bridal brunch without batting an eye, even as we used the beautiful grand piano as a bar and covered the dining room in decorations. Our crazy relatives had all kinds of crises, and she remained calm and helpful throughout. In all, I would very highly recommend staying at La Reserve, particularly with a big group. The only caveat is that wedding groups have to book the whole place, so you should only do it if you're confident that you can fill twelve rooms. It was perfect for us.

Completely exceeded my expectations!!! I typically stay in hotels but decided to try this bed and breakfast on a friend's recommendation. I am so happy I did! This place has old world charm, atmosphere and the staff is amazing and caters to your every need. They treated me as if I were a guest in their home rather then a paying client. The bed was very comfortable and my room (the Marque) made me feel like I was more in France then on an overnight trip in the city. I awoke to the smell of coffee and bacon. To my surprise the breakfast was made to order instead of a traditional hot buffet or continental style which I normally find at hotels. The breakfast was just like my grandmother would make for us on Sunday mornings with all the trimmings. Other then having to walk two blocks for parking this is certainly a place I will stay at again and will recommend to all my friends and family. This place is an undiscovered gem!

Love this place. The staff is considerate, and I felt right at home. Book early though, this place tends to fill up pretty fast.

We had a great experience at the La Reserve. We were in town for 3 days looking for an apartment (as we're moving to Philadelphia this summer) and this B&B was in the perfect location for traipsing around Center City for showing after showing. It was so nice to be able to come back during the day and just decompress a bit before having to go out again for another showing. We stayed in the Chatham Suite - which was nice and homey - it had a separate kitchen and living room, which came in really handy. It was on the top floor of the rowhouse and it was very quiet and restful. The rest of the B&B was equally lovely - the lounge/salon is wonderful - even after we checked out, we were able to relax there for a few hours before we had to leave for our train. All the staff members we met were polite and helpful. The continental breakfast in the morning was yummy - homemade muffins and other baked goods along with cereal, bagels, juice, yogurt, hardboiled eggs, etc. The last time I stayed here (this was my second stay), I had their weekend cooked breakfast - which was also lovely as well - they offered you a small menu to choose from and make your meal to order. I'll definitely be recommending this place to family and friends who come to visit after I move to Philadelphia. Perfect location, lovely B&B, nice people, and a great price - what's not to love?!

all of the hotels were booked up for the marathon so i did some research and stumbled upon this b&b. this was a great find. apparently other marathoners were staying in the b&b, too. they knew all of us had to get up early. in fact, it was too early to even enjoy the regularly scheduled breakfast so they packed us all individual breakfasts and left it in the fridge for us instead! the following day was checkout day for me but i was able to indulge in the breakfast this time -a step above the standard continental breakfast since muffins and scones were homemade. i stayed in the Independence room and it was the perfect size for me to spend a weekend getaway, complete with a kitchenette stocked with flatware, dinnerware, etc. the room itself was clean, and tastefully decorated. Overall, I felt very taken care of and it was a relaxing, pleasant stay. The only personal con is they had a tv but it looked more like it was from the early 2000s and it's not a flat screen...

Absolutely wonderful! My husband and I stayed at the La Reserve Bed and Breakfast in August for my birthday weekend and we could not have been happier. First and foremost I would like to recognize the exceptional customer service from the General Manager Sherri. It is not too often that a manager will go above and beyond her role to ensure a couple has a fabulous weekend visiting the city! Sherri was so welcoming into the B and B and was very generous, friendly, and a breeze to work with. I think hands down her service made our stay wonderful. On top of the phenomenal service from Sherri, the location is perfect and the bed and breakfast is so charming and cute! Everything is within walking distance and the parking garage is very close. We were able to enjoy a wonderful weekend in the city exploring the local area and enjoying great food. The home made breakfast was wonderful and the Chef was very friendly. Thank you Sherri for making my birthday weekend a success we will sure to come back and recommend you anyone who is looking to stay in the city!

All I can say is: Beware.. this B&B is lovely but was unwelcoming. Besides being greeted with the admonition to " be on time" for breakfast, the shower which went from scalding to freezing and could not be regulated, or the mattress which was hard as a rock... all that I could forgive, but my party, which was "on time" for breakfast, was made to wait 15 minutes past the time set by management, just to sit down and place orders. We waited more time at the table, after being told to give them time to clear things up ( we only wanted to get tea and coffee at the side table). We finally had to leave the table, no breakfast, as we had a plane to catch. We got up to leave and were questioned, and when we explained, we were lied to about the time we had had to wait, and were left to feel as if WE had done something wrong. The attitude at this place isn't what I have met with at other B&B's.. just the opposite. I had even ordered oatmeal, so as to keep it simple, and asked if there might be fruit to go with it.. was told the only fruit was in the bowl on the table ( 2 oranges, 3 bananas, and an apple)... nothing wrong with that, just a funny response. I would caution anyone reading this: spend your money on one of the other wonderful B&B's or inns in this great city... don't bother with this one... you'll be sorry.