Burbridge St. B&B

I grew up in Philly but had not visited the City in many years. I wanted to stay in a neighborhood, immerse myself, rather than spend time in a chain-hotel, tourist bubble. The Burbridge Street B&B and fascinating innkeeper Ms.Marney Hague were simply perfect! The Germantown neighborhood is a diverse architectural gem and rich in history. The B&B is a short walk to the Tulpehocken Train Station and only four stops to downtown Philadelphia. I stayed for a week and felt comfortable and right at home in the lovely old Germantown mansion. Expect home improvement projects to be in progress… The place is a work in constant progress. I would highly recommend a stay on Burbridge Street for folks who want to experience the real Philly. I had a blast!

House is unmarked and owner is somewhat annoying rather than homely/welcoming. Not a great B&B, buying guess what I paid for. House is rather run down for a B&B. Ok for a one night crash alone, but don't except anything nice or romantic.

Marney is a gracious host and has a very nice ambiance to her turn of the century victorian, filled with interesting art and furniture from the era of the home. her friendly cats also add to charm and character to your stay and the delicious fresh fruit and Amish bread in all varieties as well as fresh coffee makes for a nice way to start your day.

Marni was very accommodating & helpful. Burbridge street was comfortable, clean and very homey. I felt like I was staying at a friend's house.

Marney, the owner was very pleasant and knowledgeable about all things Philadelphia. The neighborhood was quiet and quaint and we loved the old-fashioned train stations closest to the B&B. As for the B&B itself - others have described it pretty well. It doesn't look at all like the website pictures (they must have been airbrushed!). Although it seemed clean enough, it was very cluttered (boxes, peeling paint, old paint tape still stuck around things that seem to have been painted (or not?) years ago, way too much artwork on the walls, not very healthy looking plants, etc.) Two features stand out that would prevent us from coming back until they are dealt with: (1) front porch flooring has no railings which was frightening to my 83 year-old traveling partner (I am amazed that this is even allowed by code, as the drop is easily 6 feet). (2) The bathroom (seems to be only one for 3 bedrooms) hasn't ever been renovated - tiles and ceramic are cracked, look dirty, sink has two faucets with water running so close to the back of the sink you can't even get your hands under the water to catch it, tub is claw-foot with hand-held shower pointing towards the back of the shower curtain so you can hardly get wet...also nothing to hold on to getting into or out of the tub - too dangerous for elderly travelers with stability problems (to the point where my companion couldn't shower for 3 days). Cat litter box and scratch pad between tub and sink were really disconcerting to say the least. The breakfast coffee and breads were good (fruit was kept from day to day in the fridge and didn't seem very fresh), and bed in our room was extremely comfortable. The place has so much potential - We wish Marney good luck with her renovations and thank her for the interesting (!) memories.

The hostess was very friendly and helpful, and the location was very convenient: close to the trains and a safe, friendly neighborhood. The only thing that could stand improvement would be the general level of cleanliness. Some may object to the cats being and getting everywhere, too.

We found inkeeper Marney very helpful and friendly. Attention needed to facilities: the 2nd floor shared bathroom was cramped, cat box shouldn't be in bath, owner's stuff all over, and it needed cleaning. Octagon Room was comfortable, but needs blinds or shades - neighbor's security light shines in window and lace curtains give little privacy. Facility is a "work in progress" but still below standard for most B&Bs I've stayed in past 30 years. Breakfast was good with variety of fruit, juice, cereals, breads, etc. We might stay here again though, since Marney's heart is in right place and she seems to be working to improve. Was great location for us.

This was exactly what I was hoping for in a B&B. Very cozy feel, clean, tasteful, interesting host and historical neighborhood.

Spent two nights. Enjoyed walking the eclectic neighborhood. Leisurely visit. B and B is a work in progress. Friendly innkeeper.

I originally booked my room at Burbridge St. B & B due to its proximity to Germantown Friends School. I was in town to celebrate my 45th class reunion and didn't want to do a lot of driving over the weekend. I really didn't think too much about anything but a convenient location. However, the B & B was much more than convenient! Marney, my gracious hostess served wonderful fresh fruit and amish breads at breakfast and was a fount of information about Philadelphia and Germantown history. She and her kitties, Queen Bess and Cleopatra were wonderful company and made the weekend most memorable. BTW, my bedroom was nicely furnished and I slept like a rock. I'll definitely be back someday!

The place was wonderful. Marney does a wonderful job. I would highly recommend the place.

Beautiful vintage home; very comfortable accommodations & Marney was very friendly and welcoming!

We were pleasantly surprised by our experience at the Burbridge Street Bed & Breakfast. Though some say it is hard to locate, my daughter and I had no problem finding the charming, old home on foot. It's only a ten minute walk from the Tulpehocken Station. When we arrived we were warmly greeted by Marney, the innkeeper. After getting us settled into our spacious, but cozy room, it was dinner time, so she directed us to several local restaurants in the area that were within our budget. In the morning, we awoke to a fresh, delicious and beautifully displayed breakfast including several types of tea, coffee, cereals, fruits, fresh baked local breads, local honey and even your choice of soy, almond or regular milk! We had an appointment to visit a nearby college, but we weren't sure of the best way to get there. Marney took time out of her busy schedule to map us out a route using the local transit system. Our room was wonderfully comfortable and also had an array of teas and coffee at our disposal. The bathroom is conveniently located next to our room and was clean and well lit. Our favorite part of the experience was the friendly, cuddly kitties! Both of them were at ease with us made us feel at home. Marney is so incredibly hospitable and such a giving, caring person, that I felt as though I met a long lost friend. She opened her home and kitchen to us. Staying at the Burbridge Street B & B was like staying in a European pension, with a built in historian tour guide! She knows so much about Philly and not only saved us a bunch of money, but she made our stay in Philadelphia a pleasurable one we will not forget. When I return to Philly, it's Burbridge for me! I highly recommend it unless you are super fussy and don't like cats.. If that's the case, then it's the Holiday Inn for you... Enjoy! Teresa & Angelique

If you really love antiques you will enjoy your surroundings here. The house is over-filled, with every surface having something collectible. Hospitality and friendliness are wonderful, with lovely breakfast available early enough for me to get an early start. Get directions ahead of time, if you find your way from Broad St. you might find the intermediate neighborhoods scary. Private room not lockable when out, but the hostess makes it seem totally secure. A good deal if you are comfortable in the big city. Easy train commute to downtown or airport.

My family and I stayed here for three nights because it was by far the best deal in town for our dates (especially with a January $50 off per room special on BedandBreakfast.com). We booked both the Parlor Bedroom and the Octagon Room, which share a bathroom with each other and with Marni. I would recommend the Parlor room, as it is spacious and somewhat isolated. The Octagon room, however, is awkwardly situated with 2 locked doors on either side (one to the bathroom, one to Marni's room). You can not only hear what's going on in the bathroom (which would have been really awkward if it wasn't my family) but we could hear Marni snoring one night (she was sick, so nothing against the snoring, it's just a testament to the thin walls/poor sound barrier caused by the doors). In other words, staying in the Octagon room is a bit awkward if you don't know the guests in the other room, and if you are concerned about making noise for Marni. Pros: plenty of parking on the street, beds are comfy, the neighborhood felt safe (mostly families), drive into Philly easy, close to trains, neat neighborhood. Cons: awkward bathroom (the tub's shower curtain also does a poor job of covering the entire tub/seems poorly installed, the water has low pressure and the shower head is hard to manuever, I felt cold and a bit rushed the whole time), very little window coverings so you get light in the morning, and my parents mentioned that one of the neighbors had a bright green light on that faced right into their room (Parlor) in the middle of the night. Breakfast was simple--good fruit and lots of bread choices, although we did have to wait on it almost every morning. Ultimately it was a good deal for us and the awkward factor was reduced by us having people in both rooms (the upstairs is rented by a full time tenant now). Would recommend the Parlor room over the Octagon room.

We stayed at Burbridge from March 9th through March 13th. I called the owner, Marney on the 9th to let her know that traffice through DC was making our arrival later than we'd anticipated. We'd been driving for hours and were exhausted. Marney talked for at least twenty minutes straight once we got there when all that we wanted to do was use the restroom and lay down. We finally just had to walk away. There is indeed a catbox in the bathroom right outside of the shower. Litter does get onto the floor - you will probably get some on your bare feet. 3 cats roam the house freely - and by freely, I mean that they sleep on the guest beds. If you have even a slight cat allergy, you'll be feeling it. I like cats and the cats are cute, but I am allergic. We came back in the evenings to find Marney laying on the couch in the main sitting area to which the front door opens watching television, sometimes asleep. We had to tiptoe past her and up the stairs to our room and felt like teenagers sneaking past our great aunt. She was very informative and knowledgeable about local history and politics, but was also very forceful about this information, not sensing when she'd been talking for too long and we wanted to go. Breakfast consisted of cereal & fruit. This was fine. But knocking on your door in the morning to tell you that it was ready felt very intrusive. You are expected to be at the table at a certain pre-arranged time & if you're not, it's very awkward. The house smells of cats thinly veiled by Lysol and other cleaners. The layer of dust and grime on the nick nacks in the bathroom was thick. A previous review from December 2010 notes painter's tape in the bathroom around the pink paint-chipped radiotor - it's still there. Had we had more money, we would have gone elsewhere, but I'd already paid for the stay.

We stayed recently at Burbridge Street, and found it very charming and comfortable. The innkeeper was tremendously helpful, and gave us lots of good advice on places to eat and tourist attractions around the city. The location is a little out of the way, but convenient to public transit. I would definitely stay there again!

I was astonished at my experience here. While Marney seemed very friendly, I can not say that she runs her amateur enterprise with any amount of professionalism. I was astounded that there were three cats that roam the house freely-- and even worse that the bathroom we were to use also included the litter box, the mess of which was not easily avoided when entering or exiting the shower. The breakfast on our first morning included milk which was two weeks expired and rancid. Twice fail. The kicker was that the day after we had checked out she called and accused me (or, she claimed, my 6 year old son) of stealing $60 worth of quarters she had in a bowl, and claimed that we were the only people in the house when in fact she had two other residents aside from herself. I have yet to receive an apology. I cannot recommend this experience to anyone.

Marney is very kind and knowledgeable about the area. She is also very good with upkeep on the B&B. And if you are kind to her cat, Bess, and invite her to sleep with you, you may find a furry little body next to you at night. Awwhhh.

Enjoyed our visit at this B & B, friendly and personable. Nice walk to train station. Had info for out of towners on various places to site see, and how to get around.

The porch floor mentioned by others has been replaced. Large flowerpots stand in for railing on the narrow section adjacent to the door; approaching the entrance with luggage is disconcerting (there is a 5’ drop). Take care as well with the steep top step. Breakfast begins with a generous plate of cut-up fresh fruit and berries, and a large selection of breads, jams, and cereals, some from 2007 & 2008. Good coffee, and a large selection of teas. The 3rd floor rooms are not cluttered and look clean; the 3rd floor bathroom is large and tidy - as is the 3rd floor kitchen, for use by extended-stay guests. The 2nd floor Parlor room's many decorative touches, however, are dusty - as are many artworks and flower arrangements around the B&B. The Parlor room has an inaccessible bureau tight behind the love seat, making the room feel crowded - as does having to climb over the radiator to exit the far side of the bed. There is, however, an Ikea-style closet for hanging up clothes. The torn folder exploding with (old) tourist brochures adds to a sense of untidiness more than utility - too much to sort through, and little free space to sort the flyers. There is in-room coffee and tea; when asked, owner was happy to wash the greasy drinking glass and water carafe. I noticed bottles of Poland Spring water on a third-floor bureau. The 2nd floor bathroom is shared with a litter box. Though emptied twice daily the room smells, as does the hair dryer living on the floor behind the cat box; having absorbed the odor, using it is extremely unpleasant. The cluttered bathroom is mid-renovation, with dirty painter's tape peeling up around the radiator. The slow toilet backed up our first night. The shower is rigged over a claw foot tub with a nice shower head, but it’s hard to get under the water due to its placement – with bits of cat litter on the floor, who wants to shower anyway? Used towels and washcloths (some pre-dating our visit) stayed put for 3 days. We left ASAP.

My wife and myself had accomodation in this B&B for 6 days and I must say that it was wonderful the way we have been received Marney Hague, the Innkeeper.

I really enjoyed my stay here! The owner (Marnie) will make you feel very welcome and opens the place up for you, making you feel at home. I found the service outstanding due to the knowledge Marnie provides. If in Philadelphia again I would have no hesitation staying here. Darren, Perth Western Australia

We have found Burbridge B&B by chance looking for a B&B in Baltimore and we chose it also on the basis of price. We found a very friendly home hospitality. We needed two rooms for three nights in a journey between Washington and Newark flight Back Home and we have found that the rooms were so confortable and goodlooking with their warm and coloured forniture. The proprietress, Marnie Hague, is a warm, generous, and knowledgeable hostess who made our stay in her lovely home very special. We are cat lovers and were delighted to have "Queen Bess" (such a love!) greet us as we entered our room. She (Marnie not Queen Bess) is very gentle and hospital. Very helpful with us expecially when it was so hard to find a car to rent for a not so expensive rate. The breakfast was very tasteful and the conversation very interesting for us that for the first time were visitins USA coming from Italy. Everything was really beyond our expectation. The location were the Burbridge B&B is located is a wonderful quartier The neighborhood is lovely - nice residential location and an easy trip into the city. The train stop to the city is not far. The train that brings you in the center is cheap and convenient. We spent a wonderful time By Marnie maybe too short. We hope we can return here one more time in our lifetime.

We were most pleased with the hospitality, accommodations, and location of the Burbridge B&B. Our host, Marney, is very knowledgeable of her city and has inspired us look forward to our next visit to Philly. Our room exceeded our expectations as did the quiet street and available parking. We have already picked out the room we want to stay in on our next trip.

When we arrived at the B&B we had to call to verify that we were in the right location! There are no signs stating that this is a B&B. Upon arrival we were not sure if we wanted to stay. We decided to stay because it was only for one night. We spent the evening out. This evening was a night away from the kids, and some quiet alone time. It was very quiet as we were the only guest for the evening. Too quiet if you ask me, we were afraid to even move. The bed creaked with every movement! We were well rested in the morning, and ready for breakfast. We awoke to the aroma of bacon and eggs. When we arrived for breakfast there was fresh fruit, toast, and cereal. No bacon and eggs!!! We left ASAP picked up our children and went to breakfast. This is a very nice historic house, but we will not be back. The innkeeper is knowledgable and pleasant.

My husband and I live in nearby northern DE and were looking for a special way to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. We were fortunate to find just the place: Burbridge St. B&B. The proprietress, Marnie Hague, is a warm, generous, and knowledgeable hostess who made our stay in her lovely home extra-special. We are cat lovers and were delighted to have "Queen Bess" (such a love!) greet us as we entered our room. The B&B is a work-in-progress and a labor of love, as Marnie brings her special touch to renovating this beautiful stone house. Free street parking (and basement bike parking) and the delicious Amish fruit breads are added features, and the close proximity to the biking/hiking paths in Fairmount Park guarantees a return visit from us in the near future!!

The overall conclusion is that I can recommend to stay in the Burbridge B&B. Rooms are clean, uniquely furnished and mostly well renovated. The service by Marney is outstanding. The tourist information cannot provide as much information as she does. Besides that, she took good care of me, when I got sick during my stay. For the money you pay, you will get a well tended B&B place in a quite neighborhood with street parking. Due to some minor renovations still going on the place could be a cleaner, but over time this issues should be solved easily. Breakfast was - for American standards - really good, with fresh fruits, juices, coffee or tea. Several types of cereal, jams and fresh breads. Some cheese & coldcuts could be a future improvement. I hope this helps. :-)

After being on the road for 2 weeks and staying in various generic motels, Burbridge St. was a wonderful treat. The neighborhood is lovely - nice residential location and an easy trip into the city. The house itself is a work in progress but not lacking for charm or beauty in its current state. My room was clean, bright, and comfortable, it was an absolute pleasure to go to sleep at night with my 3 windows open and wake up in the morning with the sunlight streaming in. Though I know the cats would be a concern for some, due to allergies or personal preference, I was delighted to have them about. There was no issue of fur on furniture or carpets, or litterbox odors. I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Marney over breakfasts - she was exceedingly helpful in providing information on Philadelphia and how to navigate it - and overall a great host. It's clear that she loves what she it doing and is meeting the challenges of renovating a beautiful old home in the only way one can: with flexibility, patience, and good humor. I will, without doubt, be staying here again on my next trip to Philly.

After being on the road for 2 weeks and staying in various generic motels, Burbridge St. was a wonderful treat. The neighborhood is lovely - nice residential location and an easy trip into the city. The house itself is a work in progress but not lacking for charm or beauty in its current state. My room was clean, bright, and comfortable, it was an absolute pleasure to go to sleep at night with my 3 windows open and wake up in the morning with the sunlight streaming in. Though I know the cats would be a concern for some, due to allergies or personal preference, I was delighted to have them about. There was no issue of fur on furniture or carpets, or litterbox odors. I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Marney over breakfasts - she was exceedingly helpful in providing information on Philadelphia and how to navigate it - and overall a great host. It's clear that she loves what she it doing and is meeting the challenges of renovating a beautiful old home in the only way one can: with flexibility, patience, and good humor. I will, without doubt, be staying here again on my next trip to Philly.

Yes, it was like being in my grandmothers house (in France), the ceiling needs repair, the paine has cracks but that's all part of the charm!!!! Marney is delighful and puts on a great spread. She is a delight and I'd go back in a heart beat. Kath and Tom Hynds

Marney was a superb hostess! She was very knowledegable about the area and shared a great deal of history. She provided maps and offered suggestions of charming venues to visit! I had no idea that Germantown held such such great treasures! Thanks Marney for such a wonderful visit.

The entire neiborhood is being reclaimed to it's original beauty. The home is a work in progress, but well worth my visit. I plan to visit again next year to enjoy another performance of Broad St.

The inkeeper is a wonderful host. She was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, warm and just a gem of a lady. She loves what she does and once the renovations are complete, it will be a lovely place to stay. But, at the time we stayed the porch steps and porch itself was in great need of repair. The steps were coming lose and there were rusty nails sticking up in the banister. The site I saw mentioned an outdoor pool. There is a "wading" pool that the inn-keeper will blow up, but not a "true" pool. There are two cats on the property not one. I'm sensitive to cats, but I was able to stay there with minimal medication For someone who has more severe allergies...you may not want to risk it because the cats do roam freely. At the time of our arrival there was a huge hole in the kitchen ceiling and was leaking all over the floor. The room we had was okay. But I think it might be worth an investment to get a mattress that fits the 4-poster bed. I think the frame is queen size and the mattress is standard. There was cat hair in the room which means to me, it may not be "serviced" as throughly as it should. The verdict is still out on the oriental carpet that was in our room. I have to believe it was clean, but there were some courious white spots and dark areas that I couldn't explain. The TV in the room is exactly what you see. There was no cable in the room. The other good thing about the place was that the Breakfast was outstanding!!! It was the best part of our stay. You may be reading this and saying "if there was so much wrong...why stay?" Well, it was air conditioned and it was close to were we needed to be. So, while I was not impressed with the property.....there were things that were a tad more important.

The porch is falling down, there were buckets to collect the rain water in each room, the room did not have a door that could be closed or locked for privacy and saftey.

Marney is very helpful, providing info on dining choices, sites in Philadelphia, directions to anywhere. As with any house, things are constantly being improved and refurbished-great poofy beds and furnishings and art are right in period. Great breads, cereals and fruit choices for breakfast and owner goes above and beyod to accomodates individual schedules - I will definitely come here again.

The owner is wonderfully warm, the rooms are cosy and very private. The breakfast is excellent, multiple kinds of cereal, fruits and fresh bread. I would recommend this B&B to anyone!

I think you can do better than this B&B. The owner is not a licensed B&B operator. The breakfast was expired/moldy. The rooms are quaint, the beds comfortable, and the owner is nice. It's a little far from Center City, so spend the extra $10-20 and find a closer B&B or hotel.

Our stay was very pleasant. Very comfortable beds and rooms. Innkeeper is very knowledgeable about the area and very helpful in assisting in any way with one's visit. On a nice, quiet street, but very easy to get to Center City. There is a cat in residence, so those with allergies beware. I'd recommend this B&B to friends.

I appreciate the innkeper's will and ideas, but I think that she should close the house, restructure the bathroom an insulate better the windows of the bedrooms and THEN open it as a B&B. The bathroom was dirty and the last day of my stay the toilet would not flush. I only had breakfast once on my two days and half stay in the house, because my first experience was terrible: the bread that the innkeper offered was moldy or even worse had a terrible smell.