Entire home

Historic house Ideal Downtown Location

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Interior
Living room sofa converts into a full-sized bed
Fully stocked eat-in kitchen
Dining area with access to outdoor patio
Marble floors and claw foot bathtub and shower in the bathroom

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Philadelphia, PA
  • Independence Hall
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Liberty Bell Center
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Pennsylvania Convention Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Philadelphia, PA (PHL-Philadelphia Intl.)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Dining area

About this property

Historic house Ideal Downtown Location

You'll have the full house with three bedrooms, two queen beds, one double bed, and two sleeper sofas. The dining room is a brand new space with real stone floors and the kitchen hardwood has been recently refinished as well. The bathroom includes marble floors, a claw foot bathtub, and is next to a walk in closet with ample space. The third floor bedrooms may be the nicest space in the house with exposed brick and refinished original exposed beams.

Our cobblestone Street has no cars. These half block streets are sprinkled throughout old city. There is nothing like stepping outside onto pedestrian-only cobblestones. You'll find ample street parking a half a block over on Bainbridge as well as three pay lots within one block. From the airport and train stations a taxi is the easiest way to arrive, but Market East station is walkable as well. You can take the bus almost anywhere, but the best way to enjoy the charm, history, and culture of our city is to walk and explore!

Within minutes walking distance:

Independence National Historical Park:
The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and much more!
The Betsy Ross House
South Street (the TLA Theater concert venue and Jim's Cheesesteaks)
Old City Shopping, Dining, and Nightlife
The Italian Market
Reading Terminal Market
Washington Square
Headhouse Square Farmer's Market
The new Spruce Street Harbor Park
Penn's Landing and the Delaware Riverfront
Broad Street Theater District
The vintage shops at Fabric Row
Antiques Row shopping
The Art Gallery district for First Friday
Several grocery stores including Whole Foods, ShopRite, and Essene (a local macrobiotic healthfood store with hot bar)

It's easy to explore all of Center City on foot. All the restaurants and shopping of the Rittenhouse square neighborhood is only a half hour walk, we do it all the time! Of course it's also very easy to catch a taxi just a block over on South Street any time of day or night!

Property manager

Jesse Dornstreich
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Please note steeper stairs for toddlers
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Property Registration Number 898468

About the area

Philadelphia

Located in Philadelphia, this holiday home is in the city centre. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Rittenhouse Square and Fairmount Park, while Adventure Aquarium and Philadelphia Zoo are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Citizens Bank Park or Lincoln Financial Field.
Map
Philadelphia, PA

What's nearby

  • Independence Hall - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Liberty Bell Center - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Pennsylvania Convention Center - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Reading Terminal Market - 4 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Rittenhouse Square - 4 min drive - 3.3 km

Getting around

  • Philadelphia University City Station - 5 min drive
  • 5th St. Station - 15 min walk
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Lorenzo & Sons Pizza - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Famous 4th Street Delicatessen - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Ishkabibble's Eatery - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪MilkBoy - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Jim's South Street - ‬1 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic house Ideal Downtown Location pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Historic house Ideal Downtown Location?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic house Ideal Downtown Location?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic house Ideal Downtown Location located?

Located in South Philadelphia, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Theater of Living Arts and Independence Hall. Rittenhouse Square and Liberty Bell Center are also within 2 miles (3 km). 5th St. Station is 15 minutes by foot and 2nd St. Station is 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 32 out of 45 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 45 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 45 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 45 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 45 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Matthew J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quite little old row in the middle of everything

Our stay was brief but we feel rested. We love the giant mirror in the living room and the furnace kept us warm. Also, the street was amazingly quiet for being so close to South Street.We'll definitely be back!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melinda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

This was a really fun property to stay in and gave us a sense of staying in an authentic Philly house. The stairs were a bit tough, but you'll be fine if you hang on the handle. And the provided fans in each bedroom made sleeping much easier.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Zack B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful historic property

Gorgeous "antique" style property, stayed with friends and enjoyed the living room and kitchen areas a lot. The bedrooms were very cool with exposed beams and brick. A lot of fun stuff to do in the neighborhood, great cafes and food.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Stay in Historic Philly Home!

We had an amazing stay at this great 3-story home in Philly. The property was very clean and well-maintained, reflecting its historic charm beautifully. Its location was perfect, with a short walk to bars and delightful cafes. While we managed to find a street parking spot during the day, we opted to use a nearby parking garage overnight for convenience. Highly recommend this property to anyone visiting Philadelphia. We would definitely book again!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

4/10 Poor

Beth K.

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location but several issues

While the location is fantastic, unfortunately there were a number of issues at the house during our stay. The lockbox is incredibly difficult to open, and we had to work at it for a while before we were able to open it. Some of the instructions provided in advance did not match what we found in the house, and one of the beds had been slept in and was not made. The owners are very friendly and said there must have been confusion on the part of the cleaning service, but in general it was not a great experience with our stay, unfortunately.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Historic stay in Philadelphia.

My family fell in love with this house as soon as we stepped foot in the door. It was neat, clean and very welcoming. The historic build of the home added a charming firel towards its atmosphere, but did also provide some challenges. The spiral staircase upstairs could have been challenging for someone with mobility issues, but we were fine. One or two more chairs for comfy cozy seating after a long day touring the town would have made it just a tiny bit nicer, but overall our family loved our stay! They actually spoke of trying to visit again in the near future.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jon V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joanna V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Claire T., Québec

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great but needs cleaning

La maison est charmante, confortable et bien située mais aurait besoin d’un bon ménage. Il faut savoir que l’escalier est abrupt et étroit.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Scott B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Good location but there are some issues

So, the good first. The location is excellent. It was in a good location to walk to everything in the historic part of Philly. We had issues with cleanliness of property and fact that the couch was covered by a sheet. This may have been due to late departure of the guests before us who were there when we arrived around 1 pm.The beds had no top sheet. The second floor bed was comfortable. My daughter described one of the third floor beds as “thin and uncomfortable.”
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anthony M., New York

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Philly Rental

Jesse helped make our stay in Philadelphia a very enjoyable one. Leading up to our arrival he made himself very accessible via email to any of our questions about the area and the property. The location was great, a stones throw from most of the sites in the city. Parking was a breeze as there was a safe, underground garage which charged a very reasonable rate for the night. The home was very clean and had all of the furnishings one would expect/need. I would wholeheartedly recommend Jesse’s rental to anyone who is visiting the city. Thank you Jesse for a job very well done.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ozsel B.

An amazing historic house

Staying in this beautifully restored historic house was a unique experience. We really enjoyed the many wonderful details in the kitchen, the bathroom and the living area. It is centrally located though on a quiet street. Thank you.
Stayed 1 night in May 2019

8/10 Good

Sean T.

Great place to stay in Philly

This house is great. Very clean and the owner is very occomadating. He responded quickly to any request we had. Thanks for a great stay.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

Lois C.

location , location , location

Fantastic location. We spent two nights here and would do it again. Jesse was only a text away when we had question. A few things to note....I would not recommend staying here if you have small children or some one with knee, hips our gait issues. This house is from the 1800's the stairs are spiral style wood and can pose a challenge. Personally we didn't mind and it added to the character of the house but for small children or disabled this is not the house for you. If you are looking for a clean, safe place to stay with a fantastic location This is the place for you! Walk to Marrakesh restaurant and Dmitri's for fantastic dinners. We walked a lot and Uber was very affordable to get to other locations. Thank you for sharing your city with us!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Perfect for a night out!

This place is in the perfect location if you are doing a night out in Philly. My sisters and cousins stayed there for a ladies night. The place is beyond cute and authentic to “old Philly”. Love how they have maintained the original decor of the house but have upgraded where it really counts- mattresses were very comfortable, linens were amazing, house was very clean. The owners were so helpful and accommodating. We would definitely book again!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

s k.

Thanksgiving in Philly

Our family of four enjoyed a comfortable 5 day stay here over a Thanksgiving holiday. The beds are comfortable and the street was very quiet at night.The kitchen was fully equipped and well-accommodated our needs. The neighborhood has a great variety of stores and restaurants. We found excellent provisions at the many Italian shops and grocers on 9th Street, nearby the house. The location has good access to the entire city which we discovered mostly on foot.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jason C.

Five kids in Philly

We had so much more fun in Philly that we expected! We took our 5 kids for 4 days and this house was a huge part of making it a great trip. Jesse was super helpful and had lots of recommendations for us. I was a little uneasy as I had never been to Philly before but after the first few hours we felt comfortable and safe. The house is great, just know what it is and you will be fine, they don't make them like this anymore! The stairs are narrow and steep, just go slow. The neighborhood is fun, right on South Street which has tons of restaurants, shops and nightlife. It is a busy place at night! The house is a few blocks from the historic area which we walked to everyday. It's also an easy walk to the waterfront, our kids loved the hammock garden at Spruce Street Harbor Park. Know that the streets are super narrow, our minivan barely fit down Orianna Street, which is the nearest street you can drive on to get close to the house. I'm glad we didn't drive our suburban! A public parking garage is about a block away, it's easy. We though Philly just had the liberty bell and Independence Hall, boy were we wrong! There is SO much to see, museums and historic sites everywhere! 4 days was not enough so we are planning another trip. Restaurants we liked: Jim's Steaks is just a block away, Jones restaurant is cool with great staff, that's just a block from the visitor center. Rita's served us several times with cold, sweet treats, it's on South Street, not far from the house. Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and lots more are right in the neighborhood. We also drove to a Phillies game, that was easier than expected, there is plenty of parking by the park, unlike Fenway. It's about a 15 minute drive. Thanks Jesse!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

DinaGrace B.

Quiet Historic Stay

We really liked the inside charm of this property, it had everything we needed for our stay. The basement laundry was nice to have, but please note the stairs are steep. The third floor bedrooms were perfect for our teens. The staircase is steep but has handrails that made it easy to get up and down. The location is on a quiet street which we loved. Easy walking to all the sights, great coffee at Milk & Honey around the corner and lots a places to eat. Parking was easy in the garage at 3rd and South Street. The issue we had was with the curb appeal upon arrival as well as the upkeep of the street ( we know about being in a city) during the week. Not under the owners control... some of the issues were right outside the property doors. When we arrived there was random garbage along the street as well as a suitcase ( by its contents I am thinking it was left there by someone who was sleeping there ) with its contents laying in the street for the week. The owners were able to get the neighbor's left bags of garbage from the previous week removed for us. We would have given the property a 5/5 but the outside continued to be a "sore sight" during the week.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

erica s.

girls overnight

My girlfriends and I had a great time at this adorable location! We really enjoyed the back patio before we went out to dinner for our bride-to-be. There was ample space to accommodate all of us (6 girls total; originally supposed to be 8). Please keep in mind there are very steep winding stairs to the bedrooms which take some skill to maneuver in heels! Jesse was amazing at getting back to me right away with any questions I had. Great area to explore with a farmer's market on Sunday that is super close to this location. Thanks again Jesse!!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Jesse K.

Great location, some challenges due to age of house.

The beds are comfortable and a nicely appointed kitchen. It was functional and pleasant to stay for a family of 4 adults and a toddler. Great location. The small spiral staircases were challenging for my young daughter and my older parents. Also, the water pressure in the shower was lacking.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anne F., USA

Quaint and quirky

Stayed for a quick overnight between graduation events. Charming, very old row house. All we really needed were comfortable beds, a shower and some plates/utensils for breakfast. Check, check, check. Amenities were clearly available, no hunting around needed. Because our schedule was so nutty, we didn't arrive at the house until very late so it was nice to have a lockbox entry. Owner immediately responsive to all my early questions. As noted in other reviews, there is a 2-flight would-never-pass-code-today steep staircase, and the bathroom has a deep claw tub shower--so not a good set-up for anyone with mobility issues. The neighborhood had a number of cute places open early to grab bagels, coffee, etc.
Stayed 1 night in May 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Debra A.

Character home in interesting part of the city, close to shops, cafes and the river.

We were very comfortable in this quaint 3 story home. Walking distance to shops, river parks and museums. Enjoyed breakfast at the Famous Fourth St Deli and hired Citibikes for a ride up the river bikeway. Great place to stay for 4 adults who are mobile enough to climb the stairs. Host very responsive and check in very easy.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Margaret D.

Cute place but watch those stairs!

This is a very cute apartment in a very funky neighborhood. The owner was attentive and the apartment clean. However this is a very narrow building and the second and third floor are accessed by an exceptionally narrow spiral staircase with at least one broken step. This would be a bad place for anyone with physical disabilities, older people or folks with young children to stay. It was fine for us but i dreaded using the staircase. In addition it is a showerbin a claw bathtub which is also not great for older folks and anyone with infirmaries.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Travis R.

Nice stay at a nice property in a cool neighborhood.

The house is very nice and clean. The pictures make it seem a little bigger than it is but it wasn't a problem. I would definitely recommend to anyone staying in Philly.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2017

About the host

Hosted by Jesse Dornstreich

Host profile image
My wife Elizabeth and I have loved living in Philadelphia for over ten years. A year and a half ago we added little boy Benjamin to our family. We are avid travelers often planning three or four trips ahead. Even with baby Benny in tow, we just strap him in and go! From nature, to small towns, to the cities of the world, we just can't get enough. Some of my favorite trips of the past few years have been Edinburgh and the Scottish highlands, the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, San Francisco and this past summer a wedding in Portugal and Andalucia, Spain!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests