The Gables Bed and Breakfast Philadelphia — Hotel in Philadelphia

Have you ever closed your eyes after watching a BBC or PBS period drama and wished that you could travel back in time and experience Victorian luxury as did a contemporary aristocrat? Well, stop dreaming and get yourself to The Gables for the full, immersive experience.

The Gables is a sprawling, fanciful brick Victorian manse featuring ten immaculately appointed bedrooms, an expansive, high-ceilinged downstairs dining room, two sitting rooms and an inviting lobby. The elaborate woodwork on the winding staircase and in the floors displays artisanship that is now long gone. The rich furnishings include custom-made period curtains, stand-out Persian rugs, collector quality furniture and art pieces and ceiling lighting of museum caliber. There are operable antique gramophones to provide the music to help lure back into the past. While we encountered no spirits, a 200-year old white lace wedding dress on display with a bittersweet tale of nuptials aborted by tragedy, can conjure them in your imagination. All-in-all, The Gables is a lovingly reconstituted reproduction of a bygone era, one that a guest can lose himself in - and in comfort. It is also centrally located, with a trolley line at curbside.

The hosts, Cesar and Rick, go beyond the call of duty in looking after their guests' comfort and information needs. They are of that caliber of people who seem to genuinely enjoy hosting visitors, right down to the small touches, including complimentary wine, milk, soft drinks and homemade cookies as well as reimbursable transit cards to save you the hassle of purchasing them. Breakfasts are imaginative, healthful and ample. During our stay, they threw an impromptu dinner, which was a most welcome offering after having driven hundreds of miles that day.

If I were to proffer one tiny suggestion, it would be to place a bowl of apples out in the lobby (we are fruit lovers).

Anyway, next time you're lost in "Upstairs, Downstairs," "Victoria," "Downton Abbey" or "Bleak House," don't despair of being captive in the 21st century. Make your way to the City of Brotherly Love and check into The Gables. Rick & Cesar are awaiting your arrival and will look...

Confession: I only started staying at B&Bs about two years ago. Now, it's hard to go back to regular hotels. I appreciate the pleasant atmosphere which feels like you're staying at a relative's house--acomplanied with good company and good food. That said, I try to research possible B&Bs when I'md staying in a given area. I've been successful so far, and The Gables did not let me down.

Let's start with the building itself. It's a huge, beauftiful Victorian building which dates back to the late 19th century. Beautifully decorated, the first floor has large rooms for eating and sitting, and the rooms on the second and third floors are equally beautiful and accomodating.

As for the hosts, Ricky and Cesar were warm, friendly, inviting, and very helpful. They're new owners to the property, but they've made it their own and they did a great job of making my girlfriend and I feel welcomed. They provided late night snacks and offered us ideas on places to eat for dinner and visit while we were in town.

Located in University City, the Gables, while not in Center City, has very easy access. For starters, they have free parking (parking in the city will cost you an extra 20+ bucks). By comparison, you can park at the Gables and take the trolley (which picks up right outside the Gables) and take a nice streetcar trip into the city for the cost of a token (about 2.25). That, in itself, is a nice experience.

I definitely need to mention the food. Ricky is an exceptional cook, and our breakfasts were delicious, and the coffee was great. It was hard to leave both mornings (for the city and for home), but that's just a testament to the atmosphere our hosts cultivated.

As for our room, it was lavishly decorated and clean, warm, and very comfortable (the fireplace definitely added to the appeal). All things said, I highly recommend the Gables for people staying in Philadelphia or looking to simply take in a...

We stayed at The Gables for our anniversary in September. This is an extraordinary place for two reasons. First, the house is full of history that you can reach out and touch. There are all kinds of working mechanical marvels here, like a phonograph, a pump organ, and a Victrola, that you can actually play. Almost all of the structure of the house (doors, windows, flooring, etc.) are original to 1889, and the innkeepers have decorated the house wonderfully with unique objects (elaborate gigantic birdcages and a 100+ year old chess set, to name a few) that give the impression that you have stepped back in time to the Victorian era. You just cannot find a place with this much character anywhere else. (Of course, the place also has modern amenities like great air conditioning.)

Secondly, the innkeepers, Cesar and Ricky, are consummate hosts and go far, far out of their way to make you feel welcome and taken care of. They cook a delicious, ample breakfast every morning. Sometimes we hosted some visitors and Cesar would just stop by with some complimentary cupcakes. There is a pantry with wines, beer, coffee, tea, and snacks that you can access 24/7, and you can leave leftovers or put other beverages in the fridge as well. We had to mail a package over the weekend and Cesar took care of it while we were out and about. You can easily reach the hosts by text and they respond to your questions in minutes.

Lastly, we felt safe and the innkeepers have taken all precautions in the COVID era. Folks wore masks (guests and staff alike) and it was very easy to socially distance on the property.

We stayed in the Victorian Suite, which I highly recommend as it has a solarium, perfect for reading breaks or naps during the day. If you come here, please also visit the nearby Kusina Philly restaurant that Cesar also runs -- the Filipino food is delicious and safe indoor dining is available too if you want to...