Very Clean Antique-Decorated Townhouse Hotel

Very clean room, comfortable bed, ac/heat, tv, mini refrigerator, and microwave; great for a "historical escape", antique lovers, or a romantic getaway; it is walk-up stairs only, we were on second floor; this is a town house, not a traditional hotel, with no elevators, front desk, room service, and low chance of extending stay for an extra night, due to small number of rooms.

Lovely restoration of an older home...quiet and secure, as well. Perfect location for what I came to do. I would certainly return here! :)

Loved the look of the room. Great location we were able to walk around. Really the 1 and only thing i disliked was seeing a covkroach. I understand that sometimes this happenes in the city but i dont have to like it.

Great stay in the Tip Top room

We chose to stay at Philadelphia Hotel Bella Vista for our anniversary because we wanted to get a feel for Philly without feeling “touristy.” We were within walking distance of our favorite Italian restaurant (Ralph’s) and bakery (Isgro’s). We stayed in the Tip Top suite. It was spacious and roomy with a big kitchen and very comfortable bed. I was concerned that the city noise would be a burden at night, but it was quiet. Street parking can be hard to come by, but we lucked out and found a spot right out front of the hotel. We just had to move it twice during the day to avoid a ticket (no tickets after 6:30pm in some spots). Overall, we enjoyed our stay and recommend this to any travelers wanting to have a more authentic Philly experience when visiting the city.

We stayed in the Tip Top suite and we loved it. Tons of room and lots of quirky decorations. The area is great and very walkable. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Nice and different. Location is amazing!

The hotel is eclectic. It is self serve in that you have codes to your room. I had no contact with any staff. The location was why I picked the hotel as well as the price. It worked for me, but may not work for people who expect the usual amenities of a full blown hotel like a Hampton or Hilton. The manager was very patient when I had issues with my credit card ( I hadn't told Visa I was traveling).

Funky bohemian vibe which we love. We also appreciated getting in earlier than 3:00 after traipsing around a 95 degree oven that was Philly that day.

This hotel is unique system. I have never seen like this hotel、staffs are not here. It is interesting.

The check in was delayed. The roof wallpaper was falling apart. No food/drinking water. No services to contact them for issues. Over priced

I booked a room at Bella Vista because all the hotels were booked. It’s in a great location, a nice walk to different parts of the city. I stayed in the Oasis Room, and though it was clean, the facility hadn’t been kept up well. The wallpaper trim was peeling off to revels what looked like a damp wall (and maybe mold, though maybe it was just the glue), and the shower didn’t really drain. Those things were pretty gross to me. It might have just been the room I stayed in

beautiful large room and very conveniently located

If you prefer an alternative place to stay, charming and located in a walkable neighborhood, this is it!

This is one of the best places I have ever stayed in. It is located in a very cool area of Philly, with a ton of restaurants. I would definitely stay here again and again. Thanks Barbara!!! I had a great time in your place.

Fabulous location very clean space great funky decor

Liked the 50's theme & the Bohimian theme and location. Did not like the poorly kept hot tub.

Amazing decor, verry friendly and clean

Poor Value for the Money

Stairs were miserable - steep and narrow - with luggage, and our room was on the third floor. The Owner contrives things to she does not have to be there to greet you, so we never met or even spoke except for her call to make certain I would not disturb her when we arrived. I asked two questions by email and she told me to look it up in a book provided in the room, when I got there. The information in the book was not helpful. There were pumps attached to the wall for shampoo, conditioner and bath gel. The bath gel reservoir was empty and there was a half-used block of Irish Spring in the shower soap dish. Very appealing... There was also a bottle of bath gel under the bathroom sink. The place is located in a somewhat run-down area of South Philadelphia. Not a slum, but between the location and the service, we probably paid about twice what this place was worth.

A 3-star boutique hotel that deserves 5-stars!

If you are visiting Philadelphia to take in the history and culture, Bella Vista is wonderful choice. It’s also very affordable, and frankly nicer than other 3 star hotels. We stayed in the LaGrande room and thought it was just lovely. Spacious, quirky, romantic, and just a fun space. The hotel itself is located in the South Philly/Little Italy neighborhood, and very walkable. All the major sites are within a 2 mile walking radius. There are not a lot of amenities in the hotel itself, so if you are looking for room service, and other things onsite this probably wouldn’t be the place for you. If you like traveling and living like a local, however, Bella Vista is a great choice. We’ll be back, for sure!

Not perfect, but interesting in Philly

Old home with some charm divided into "hotel" rooms. One bathroom on our floor for everyone with no towels in the bathroom. Obviously, a bit awkward for most people. Neighborhood was interesting, with a great Italian section nearby, including legendary cheesesteak hot spots Geno's and Pat's. Close to downtown, close to pro sports sites. Price makes "sacrifices" worth it for many.

Beautiful, elegant, clean, and full of fun antiques.

Loved the place, central location, relaxing and clean. Would stay again if in Philadelphia. Loved the little garden in between the two buildings.💖

It was a great location, but not what we were expecting. There is no front desk or staff, it's all a self check in. Locking the front door is on the honor system with your fellow guests and the parking is located blocks away. The room was fine, but the bathroom was so small and cramped it was unpleasant.

The property has a rustic historic feel. It’s super cute and in a nice area.

4 nights in Philly

Loved the quirkiness of this place. It was a lovely place to stay for our 4 nights in Philly.

Do not stay here

This hotel was horrible. The bed broke from just sitting on it. The representative of the hotel insulated us for it then informed us we would have to help fix it. It fell apart 3 times before before we were moved to a different room and told we were lucky they could do this. I will never go back to this place.

Gorgeous peaceful hotel

Gorgeous hotel, peaceful, beautifully decorated. It’s refreshing to find an hotel decorated with personal touches instead of the usual bland beige. Appreciated the provision of self catering facilities in the room including fridge and, if my memory serves, a microwave (we didn’t use it but might have wanted to on a longer stay). As a tea drinker would have liked a kettle/water heater as well as the coffee maker as the latter, though serving hot water, obviously did so through a coffee tasting filter. Philadelphia a lovely, vibrant city and the district is attractive and quiet. Transport links not on the doorstep but that was fine because it made for a quiet stay listening to birdsong rather than car beeps. A 15 minute walk in two directions reaches at least two different central metro lines, which is pretty good in my opinion. Would definitely stay here again.

A special place if you are open to it.

This is a special, amazing place, but it's not for everyone. If you feel the need for a traditional hotel with bad background music, bland design, and plastic everything, this is not for you. But if you relish the thought of staying in an eclectic, historic building in a room with character and the ghosts of the past 2 centuries, you'll love this place. It's rustic in a way that makes you feel comfortable and loved, as if your grandparents invited you in to stay the weekend. It manages to be very personal, yet leaves you alone to be yourself. It instantly connects you to place and time, in a subtle and passive way. I thoroughly enjoyed a non-traditional experience, where I could be a modern business-person by day, and feel like a house guest at night. I'll remember this stay for a long time to come.

Old fashion charm. Will certainly come back again next year. Great location and close to everything we wanted.

Not so bad!

A little long on the tooth, but room was very clean and comfortable.

I do a fair amount of traveling on a limited budget. The room was super comfortable and beautifully decorated in a Victorian style. The bathroom was also beautiful. I think they are art collectors so it was nice to look at the art after a hard days work. The owners were very nice to chat with as well. There were plenty of nice restaurants in the area.

Pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the facilities, quiet, warmth and not being bothered during our stay. We recommend this hotel highly!

Wanderlust, LI

It s exactly what we were looking for...ambience, character, neighborhood, kitchen! All good....particularly excellent was the bed which matters the most....if there was a feather bed, it would have been excellent

This hotel is like a hybrid hostel/AirBnb, and I mean that in the best way possible. It feels very

Great spot!

Wonderful quiet hotel. It's definitely has that home away from home feel. Service is excellent. Very close to yummy restaurants and fantastic food vendors if you want to buy and cook at hotel.

Disappointed

My concerns started with my reservations. I reserved a room for three days at a relatively low price, for a room with two twin beds. My confirmation came back with an amount that was nearly twice what I had made on My Hotels. com reservation and the room had one queen bed. I contacted the hotel by email and explained my concerns. The amount was reduced but the room still had one bed. So, I contacted them again and they made the change. I also noticed that my credit card was also already charged for the entire amount. Maybe that's standard procedure with this hotel, but not what I am used to. You're basically stuck at that point. My first morning was full, so I got up early to take a shower. The water was ice cold. I went ahead and took it anyway. I called their number (there is no front desk) to report it. They gave us permission to use another room for a hot shower. They later explained that the pilot light must have blown out. We had hot water on the second morning but it only lasted until the end of one shower. We were again given permission to go to another room. The excuse this time was that people staying below us took long showers. Be advised if you stay here that this "boutique hotel" is a little quirky. No front desk, no elevator and lots of rules to follow. The doors have pushbutton locks and the front door lock is very temperamental. I will say that when we had a concern, our problems were addressed, as the owners were responsive. I would not stay there again.

We loved the imaginative attention to detail concerning the decor of this place. We were transported to another time, fitting for the place and area. The room was cared for, as were we. Thank you.

Colors decor clean warm Easy

Adorable walk up with great personality

I loved this place and plan to stay again the next time I visit Philadelphia. It's rustic, creaky, and adorably decorated. If you enjoy non standard hotel stays, this place is great. Excellent location.

Amazing customer service!

Excellent service! I messed up my reservation and scheduled it for the wrong month. When I arrived and realized my error, the hotel staff immediately jumped into action and found another room that was available (on a Saturday night). They honored my previous reservation with no additional fee and were very nice about the whole situation. Can't say enough good things about their customer service!

We arrived in the middle of a snowstorm. While I realize it was not the hotel's fault, it was difficult finding a parking place, and then it was hard to get our luggage into the room. We had to park at the parking lot 2 blocks away and walk back in the storm. Again, not the fault of the hotel. The temperature in the room was very cold when we first entered. We appreciated the little space heater near the TV. The most disconcerting thing was having to share the bathroom with any strangers that took the adjoining room. It was my fault for not reading the fine print before booking this stay. I'm sure it's wonderful in the spring, summer, and fall. It's very convenient to restaurants and shops. But I would prefer a place where the bathroom and kitchenette was just for the guest in that room.

Perfect room in Philly

Lovely room.

Lovely stay

Our room at Bella Vista Hotel was very accommodating. It was very comfortable and had all the amenities. The location was wonderful with restaurants and bakeries, a Whole Foods all in walking distance. We loved it !!

Anniversary trip

Was in Philadelphia for our anniversary. Bella Vista not regular hotel. Was actually a 1 bedroom apartment with nice amenities. Had one small issue and was promptly taken care of!

This place is more like a B&B without the charm. Dirty, musty smell, plaster patches on the walls. Cracks in the wood floors such that you could see the floor below. Noise from the street. All bed linens worn out. Bath towels more like rages. I will not return here.

Broken, rickety hand rail needing attention and replacement. Horrendous furnishings, bed sheets and wall colors. Bathroom in hall had no hooks, towel racks or shelving, and was left in unfinished condition with spackling work left unsanded and unpainted. For the price, we expected something much better that adults would feel comfortable in.

Great find!

This hotel is a diamond for sure. Please be advised that the buildings are walk up apartment style. We were surprised to discover the interior stairway where we had to climb 3 flights of stairs. Once we got into the room, we sincerely enjoyed seeing the shared kitchen where it felt like a perfect apartment retreat. Hotel staff displayed thoughtful attention to detail where we felt truly at home.

I was very pleasantly surprised with this hotel. I was a bit nervous because the self check in experience was new to me and not very straightforward. But my room was really nice and the area seemed awesome. I was not able to spend time exploring but would like to come back to check it out.

Church bells too!

Great stay, great neighborhood, highly recommended

Old style comfort

Experience was great from beginning to end. We were able to drop our bags off very early in the day, then head out for some sightseeing in Philly. Close to Italian Market, a few good restaurants, and reasonable distance to downtown--20 minute walk/5 minute Uber. Hosts were very friendly and room was excellent. Definitely a departure from the cookie cutter normal hotel rooms--much more early century B&B style. Room had water bottles, microwave, mini-fridge, plates/etc., which was a real plus when we had leftovers from a huge Italian meal at Pesto's. Also allowed for some refrigerated snacks. Loved no room keys--push button codes. Finally, our final day had an evening flight, which kept getting delayed. We were able to pass the time in the shared living room, watching TV in comfortable furniture, vs. an airport waiting area. Quick 20 minute Uber ride to airport.

Amazing different kind of hotel/room

Different type of hotel, interesting, yet very comfortable. The room design was perfect, small but well equipped and arranged. Small kitchen and restroom we asked not to share and they agreed. Overall we were very satisfied.

Beautiful room in a beautiful mansion, surrounded by tasteful art everywhere.

Our stay at the BellaVista was awesome. Loved the whole vibe, very clean and private.

Very nice hotel.

Cozy Find in the Heart of the City.

A great place nestled right downtown. Easy access to subway and parking. Quiet street. Felt safe walking around. Nice to be in a home-setting versus a hotel. This is an older house so there are some cosmetic things that could be updated but overall a great place. We couldn't get the tv to work by the wi-fi was great. Very nice local guide put together by owners.

Bathroom sink was coming off the wall. Towels were poor quality. You really have to like antiques. Bed was comfortable and in room coffee was good.

Well located - but dusty

Place is okay but for the price stay at the Marriott and have a cleaner room

Disappointing

Charming room ,but the bathroom was dirty and the staff did not change out our towels or take away a dirty silverware and washcloths. The courtyard is un usable

Would not stay there again

Eclectic, Boutique in the Heart of Philly

Eclectic and boutique are two words I would use to describe this property. The rooms are decorated like you would expect at a quaint B&B out in the country. Room has a mini-fridge, microwave and filtered water, which is nice. Neighborhood is nice, mostly residential. It's a bit of a walk to get to the tourist areas, but Lyft is only an app click away.

The Bella Vista offers a unique and charming place to stay in a walkable, historic location within Philadelphia. The neighborhood boasts great food, friendly faces, and the legendary art/architecture of Isaiah Zagar's Magic Gardens among other artistic adventures.

Out of the Ordinary

If the idea of staying in brownstone a few blocks off South Street interests you then this is a great place to stay! Everything was nice, clean and cozy.

Nice and quiet. Close to awsome italuan restaraunt. I would recommend this hotel and would stay here again.

Great hotel!

Very clean and super comfortable like a home away from home!

3rd visit

Our 3rd visit but was disappionted, no longer provide breakfast. People next door had a battle royale on Friday night.

Unique Boutique hotel. Great location!

Dan the Property Manager was very nice and helpful.

Charming self-serve hotel/b&b

The Philadelphia Hotel Bella Vista reminds me of my all-time favorite bed and breakfast ever in Atlantic City which has since closed—The Chelsea Pub & Inn. It has old world charm with interesting artifacts that also serve a purpose to the rooms. Amenities are thoughtful and homey. Perfect if you like some independence and don’t mind quirks or awareness of the other people staying in the building. Only complaint is lack of parking but we made it work. Thank you!

Antique Charm

Great location for foodies. Loved the antique inspired rooms. Felt very quaint in a big city.

Very pleasing and private and accommodating.

I enjoyed the art work and the cleanliness of the room and the staff was pleasant. I like privacy and that was accomplished. Access to all restaurants within walking distance. We had an emergency so we left earlier than expected. Overall it was great.

The room was cold. Heating didn't seem to work well. Coffee machine was inconveniently located

New look the city

The place was amazing and so interesting. I would definitely stay again and recommend it to others. Great location in the city for everything we were there to do.

Adorable and perfect for a couple getaway!

Really cute rooms and perfect location! Very unique decor. I love the help yourself bed and breakfast idea. Only opportunity was the bed... it's time is up. Super dippy and uncomfortable. Additionally, not a great place for kids or those who want privacy. We could hear everything...including a couple "in love" upstairs...all night. Good for them! Lol

Fine for a place to sleep. Not a bed and breakfas

bathroom floor missing tiles and sinking in. Bathroom sink coming off wall. Not an actual bed and breakfast and much more an air b and b. There are no staff on hand and they instruct you to only contact them in the case of an emergency.

Lovely old building close to city centre

A lovely old building styled in the era with antiques, it’s in a lovely neighbourhood. A 15min walk to most tourist attractions. The other guests were a little noisy at times.

An interesting experience

This B&B is an unusual setting in an interesting neighborhood. The furnishings are an eclectic mixture of objects from different periods. The comfort was limited, including only partially working shades, soft mattress and a barely functioning bathroom. We never saw any staff members or guests. However, the electronically provided access codes worked well.

Nice place

The stay was nice, the person on the phone pretty grouchy and negative

Trip back in history

Bella vista is a very unique place to stay and especially interesting if you enjoy history with the building dating back into the 1860's. The apartment is very clean and appointed with antiques throughout. Really love the charm and location.

Unique stay

Very lovely. Easy in and out. Great location

This hotel is overrated. It charged far too much than it should have considering its condition. It listed as a 3 star hotel on hotels.com, but its service and condition can barely match 1 star hotels. The photos on hotels.com are very deceiving. The room was filthy and smelled terribly, and the rug was old and dirty.Same can be said about the hall way. It's a bed and breakfast, but the breakfast was only a couple pieces of bread and muffins that they put in the room the night before, with no hot drinks what so ever. There is no reception/service at all. It was a terrible experience. The integrity and honesty of the owner of this hotel should really be questioned.

DIY ... but that's ok.

It's all DIY: let yourself into the place by door code supplied, into room itself via another code supplied; next day's breakfast laid out on table in dining area (bread, muffins, bananas, micro-wave porridge, Tropicana OJ bottles, water bottles, ground coffee & filter machine, micro-wave popcorn, cereal & bottle of milk). More than enough to get you up and going. 20 minute walk to Independence Sq. Local area ok and nearby restaurants and bars are described in a hand-made guide for the locale. The first day/night was a bit of a voyage into the unknown, and not having anybody welcome you or talk you through it on arrival, was a little unnerving. But thereafter, quite ok!

Stay here, I liked it.

Located in a residential area with convenient access to super markets. Lovery location yet only 15min walk to the city centet. The room had a very high ceiling.

Wonderful......

Beautiful accommodations. Amazing Italian restaurant a couple doors down. Great location. Friendly staff:)

Nice place and close to many different places

It was quite and clean place. The neighborhood was very interesting and good.

Love this place!

It was so super easy checking in...loved that aspect. Also the location is super walkable and adorable. The room (really it was an apartment) had everything you would need from wine glasses to conditioner to a Brita in the fridge!!! It was so great! The only downfall was the bed...it was harder than I am used to but that happens in most new places! Other than that, everything was FABULOUS!!!

Wonderful stay! Will return!!!!

Bella Vista was a wonderful bed and breakfast! It has beautiful antiques all throughout the rooms and hallways. It is very quiet. With the lock-code doors I felt very safe and secure. There was a garden outside that was so peaceful to have breakfast in! Dan, one of the owners, was very responsive during our stay and answered any questions we had. The parking garage was conveniently located within walking distance to the B&B as well. We will definitely be returning!

Two stars at most

When I go there I dropped off my bag - be aware of steps and no one to assist. I was on the first floor in an ensuite room which is a very nice room and was quiet when I went in. I checked the TV and got a No Signal notification but I needed to go to a meeting so didn't have time to call and wait for someone to come and fix it. There are notices everywhere that say no staff is on site and to call only in an emergency. When I got back that night about 10:00 I didn't think it was an emergency that there was still No Signal displayed on the TV so I left it alone. The TV screen is the size of a small computer monitor so difficult to see from the bed anyway. Sunday morning there was no hot water. A very loud noise was coming from another part of the house - sounded like a loud washing machine - and footsteps carry from the floor above. They do provide fresh fruit, packaged cereals, muffins and coffee and tea. I was surprised that the tiles in the entry and the bathroom did not go to the walls and the paint job was bad. I expected more for the price.

Great little spot; affordable and charming

This is a very cool little spot. The self-service aspect was especially need - Dan and Barbara made it extremely easy to check in and make my way around.

Very close to Italian Market District, safe, quiet

I found the Bella Vista Inn a charming place and I look forward to going again. The care and diligence they put into upkeeping the 1870s houses is quite clear. I found it quiet and peaceful. Their instructions about entry (keyless doors) were easy to follow. Very nice staff.

Location, location, location!

Great location! Bike station 2 blocks away and bike lanes all over the city. Places to eat, shop, and drink all within walking/riding distance. Room was very cool and clean. Bright and airy. Great breakfast spot right at the corner.

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Beautiful vintage rooms

Everything about this hotel is gorgeous--vintage Victorian décor, homemade bread and muffins, plenty of character. Staff is helpful and the experience was first-rate!

Old world hotel with 14 foot high ceilings. Lots of stairs and tall bed. antiques galore. safe neighborhood. Excellent restaurant next door. Whole Foods grocery store in 4 blocks along with other shops. 20 minute walk to Rittenhouse Square. Two hour parking on street. No parking limit on Sundays. Oversized cars do not fit into CVS parking garage but you can find 12 hour parking on Walnut street before 33rd street if you are going to Upenn functions. Friendly and very helpful owners/staff. Enjoy!

This hotel needs a lot of repair and upkeep. It was definitely an 1860-style house with a few upgrades.

Quaint but worn.

As you might expect in an older structure, we found our room a little worn around the edges. The toilet paper holder was coming off the wall and cleaning has been cursory for a long time. The room needs a really thorough, top to bottom scrubbing to remove the "antique shop" smell. Great location. The cost of parking adds another $16 to the cost of staying here (if you get the discount). And parking is complicated but doable. The hot tub in the garden was being used for trash.

Quirky but comfortable

A quirky but comfortable place in a great neighborhood with lots to walk to. Nice large room but, as was the whole place, a little cluttered with kitsch and slightly worn around the edges. WiFi was a little slow.

The best accommodations for the money in Philly!

Great neighborhood and very quaint surroundings. It took me five attempts with the security code to get in after an evening out. No, I did not consume any alcohol or drugs. Other than that, I would highly recommend it.

Lovely Atmosphere!

I loved the atmosphere of the building with the antique décor. The location was perfect for me to travel to and from my business endeavor and the neighborhood was pleasant. I will definitely come back for a vacation sometime in the future!

something different

Very unique and interesting. Immaculate and the food was good. People very friendly. A great change from the "typical hotel" feeling for a great price. Biggest downside: no elevator, had to walk 2 blocks from parking.

The Magnolia was very drafty and cold. We will definitely stay again but in a different room. We lived the Tip Top which is the room we stayed in last time. The place is located in a nice neighborhood, and not too far from the convention center.

Unusual and charming bed and breakfast

I stayed in this hotel before, and I absolutely loved it. The decor resembles an old house, and it makes the guests feel like they are staying at someone's place. Breakfast was simple and delicious, and there was plenty of milk, orange juice and water. I liked that the staff was omnipresent, meaning that the room was clean and had everything we needed, but we never saw any of the staff members, even when checking-in. This hotel is great for a romantic getaway, or for someone who wants to stay in a quiet and charming place.