Porches on the Towpath — Hotel in New Hope

I was looking for a low-key, relaxing, and well run country bed and breakfast in New Hope with easy access to the Delaware Canal tow-path, and that was also gay-friendly and welcomed singles as much as romantic couples, and I found what I was looking for at Porches in New Hope. It sits rights in the middle of New Hope, close to everything, but most people don’t even see it because it is tucked away at the end of narrow lane that is easy to miss with the canal running behind the main guest house, and I mean right behind it. When you take a couple steps off the back (side) porch, you literally step onto the towpath – which is a beautiful, nature filled trail that runs along the entire length of the canal and into the picturesque countryside of Bucks Country. The trail is perfect for people with hybrid or mountain bikes, joggers, or those who just want to take a leisurely stroll along the pretty canal. At night, you can hear the bull-frogs croaking.

My entire stay there from beginning to end was a pleasant one. Porches is filled with country charm, inside and out. The rooms are well decorated with art and antiques (and no tv to ruin my stay thank god), and right outside of the main house is this lovely and lush garden, something you would see in a garden magazine; it’s that nice. The garden is a perfect spot to read a book in the middle of the day or to sit with a special someone. The whole place has a laid-back feel to it, but in no way does that mean that the place is not well taken care of, because this bed and breakfast, unlike others, is very well-run. Everything works very efficiently including the free wi-fi, and the service is very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. And I think the main reason why the staff is so good is because of John, the proprietor and head Innkeeper. He sees to it that all of the guests are felt welcomed there and are well taken care of.

I was told that breakfast would be served between 8 and 10, but I told John that I will be getting up late, and he said “not a problem.” So, I step out on to the second floor porch directly from my room around 10 am and take a seat, and within a minute or two, one of the Innkeepers greeted me with a warm welcome and a beaming and genuine smile, and a few minutes later I am drinking orange juice and eating this really nice, home-cooked breakfast that was fresh and hot; on that particular day the breakfast was Belgium waffles that was topped with something like apple crisp and blueberries with very hot maple syrup on the side. It was really good! They not only know how to serve, they know how to cook too! The most important thing about that breakfast with the great service was that it put me in a really good mood and it got my day off to a good start. And this alone explains why people go to bed and breakfasts instead of cheap motels.

I think I’ve said just about enough. If you are looking for a well run, charming, and quaint, old, country bed and breakfast with a friendly and attentive staff in a laid-back and lovely setting in the middle of New Hope, then Porches is the...

This is a super-cute and slightly quirky B&B with, in my opinion, one of the best locations in New Hope. It has plenty of free, easy parking for guests. It is centrally located in New Hope while yet not at a main intersection, so it was very quiet. ||My partner and I chose room 8, which is not in the main guest house, and backs up to room 7. We enjoyed the privacy it offered, although we did, at times, feel like we were in a birdhouse with the guests in the adjacent room. Unlike room 7, the patio in the unit, while private, was not cozy or inviting as it backed up to the parking lots nearby and had hard, peeling metal chairs for seating. The room and the main guest house were clean and the bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was small, but manageable. We really enjoyed our stay and would consider a stay on one of the other rooms separate from the main house just to check them out, although this room was cozy and a great price. ||However, this is not a 5 star stay and really a 4, at best, for a few reasons. First, my partner and I never had much interaction with the hosts/owners/staff, and rarely saw them, which made the hospitality feel lacking. Even though we arrived in the checkin window, there was no staff there, just envelopes left hanging outside with our room keys, and some instructions. Outside of breakfast, which was very tasty, the inn staff were hard to find if anything was needed, like extra linens, or more soap. I certainly don’t expect them to live there, but the lack of staff present just made it feel a little vacant and cold, which is not what vibe I think of when I think of staying at B&Bs. ||While there plenty of tables and chairs for dining, this B&B lacked a central room to gather or relax, and given most of the bedrooms are not terribly large, a living space would’ve been nice to have. Though there weren’t chairs or sofas inside to relax, there were cookies and bread left out for guests, as well as a coffee and tea station in the main house, and a communal refrigerator. Even though we had a coffee/tea setup in our room too, I wish there was a small refrigerator in the rooms, as it felt a little odd (and slightly intrusive) leaving our leftovers in the main house. ||The only other thing I noticed, but didn’t bother me, only because I’m used to it in my own home, were the ants in our room. I realize older homes and especially those with gardens or patios will have bugs. But, I’m sure this would not please many guests that stayed here. Although they did not bother me, they were still a nuisance in the bathroom, and constantly crawling around the sink and window.||Despite my last thoughts, if you’re lucky and catch this B&B when it’s on sale or for a good price, it’s still worth it. I’m not sure I would pay their high season rates, especially given there are other comparable options that are just as well located, have parking, breakfast, and are as well received, if not better. It’s cute and comfortable enough, but could use some tweaking, and it...

My wife and whole family just stayed at Porches for the week of my wedding! (We got married in New Hope, just about a five minute walk away). Our whole experience with Porches was magical. It felt like we were transported in time, back 50 years, when places really cared about their customers and wanted to develop relationships - not just get people in and out and make a quick buck.

Lisa and Bob who run the place are the best. They know you by name, cook delicious breakfast, and go above and beyond to take care of you for your whole stay. They even offered to pick us up deodorant at the grocery story while we were out doing wedding venue prep one day. Like I said, it was totally surreal. I've never truly stayed at a place where I felt like I mattered in this way. We left out stay feeling like truly good friends with the B&B owners, how cool is that?

Logistically - the location couldn't be better. 5 min walk from everywhere in New Hope, and a 10-12 minute walk from anywhere in Lambertville just across the bridge. The rooms are quirky and filled with personality - but the beds are comfortable and we slept like a couple of rocks the whole time. And the food for breakfast is absolutely delicious - like 5-star meals. And then of course the atmosphere of the porches, the gardens, the whole vibe is so peaceful and beautiful. This is a true GEM. Highly recommend. It's worth staying here verses a chain hotel. This will become part of your whole vacation experience. Loved them and cannot WAIT to return,...