Entire home

Historic house Ideal Downtown Location

Holiday home with patio, near Rittenhouse Square

Living room sofa converts into a full-sized bed

Dining area with access to outdoor patio

Marble floors and claw foot bathtub and shower in the bathroom

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location

Wonderful

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8

Popular amenities

Parking available
Outdoor space
Dryer
Washer
Air conditioning

Place, Liberty Bell Center
Place, Rittenhouse Square
Place, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Airport, Philadelphia, PA (PHL-Philadelphia Intl.)

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!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Washing machine

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Parking available

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Large outdoor patio! Entertain and hang out with friends! Relax, Barbecue, Laugh

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Please note steeper stairs for toddlers

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

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. Independence Hall is a notable landmark and some of the area's popular attractions include Adventure Aquarium and Philadelphia Zoo. Check out an event or a game at Citizens Bank Park, and consider making time for Coco Key Water Resort, a top attraction not to be missed.

View more Holiday homes in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

What's nearby

Independence Hall - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
Liberty Bell Center - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
Reading Terminal Market - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
Rittenhouse Square - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
Pennsylvania Convention Center - 3 min drive - 2.5 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

‪Jim's South Street - ‬2 min walk
‪Lorenzo & Sons Pizza - ‬1 min walk
‪Rita's Water Ice - ‬2 min walk
‪Ishkabibble's Eatery - ‬2 min walk
‪Cry Baby Pasta - ‬2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic house Ideal Downtown Location pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Historic house Ideal Downtown Location?

As of 30 October 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic house Ideal Downtown Location on 2 November 2025 start from NZ$656.69, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

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.

9.2

Wonderful

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Betsy W.

25 September 2025

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

House was very clean, perfect location to explore south street, and very quiet at night.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matthew J.

15 December 2024

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

8/10 Good

Zack B.

11 April 2023

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

Melinda B.

25 July 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan M.

11 July 2024

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

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

14 May 2025

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

Great stay on Kater

We really enjoyed our stay in a great house in a perfect location. It was slightly noisy on Friday and Saturday nights but that was to be expected given the proximity to South Street (and it wouldn't prevent us from returning). The house was full of old character (including steep stairs up to the 2nd and 3rd bedroom floors that might be difficult for an older person or someone with bad knees :). We parked the car very close by at 25 per day, and didn't really need it as it was, because so much was within walking distance (including good restaurants, music, theater and museums). A few light bulbs need replacement and the back patio brought up to speed for actual use, but otherwise, it was a lovely spot to stay in and we'd come back again for sure. Check in was easy as was check out. Thanks for hosting us! Warmly, Caroline

Stayed 6 nights in May 2025

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

s k.

11 December 2017

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

8/10 Good

Debbie R.

19 May 2025

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

First Impressions

This home is definitely located in a lovely setting and side street. Unfortunately, the home exterior is not welcoming. The window boxes had dead stems from last years flowers and the steps should have a railing for easier entrance.The interior was not quite as bright as depicted on the pictures. Also, the two "sofa beds" were not pull outs or either we just could not figure it out. The couch on the third floor was dirty and had a hole in the upholstery.

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christina T.

5 July 2025

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

Charming Historic Home in an Ideal Location

This home is definitely historic and full of charm! As expected with an older house, there are a few features that might be challenging for some guests—like the high tub and narrow spiral staircase. But if you don’t have physical limitations, it’s a really fun and unique place to stay, especially in a city like Philly.The location is fantastic—just steps from South Street and close to great shops and restaurants. Despite being in a lively area, the house was quiet and cozy. It’s also quite spacious, and my family really appreciated the privacy it offered each of us.A few things to note: I would have loved to have a mirror in every room, and the washer/dryer setup was a bit inconvenient, so I didn’t end up using it. That said, the kitchen was well-equipped and the AC worked well in the home which was comfortable, even with the summer heat and humidity outside. The TV and internet worked great, which was a nice bonus.Communication with the host was excellent—he was very responsive and helpful, which I truly appreciated.Overall, I loved staying here and would definitely recommend this home for anyone looking for a memorable and comfortable Philly stay.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Beth K.

27 February 2025

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.

14 September 2024

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

6/10 Okay

Claire T., Québec

28 March 2023

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.

6 June 2022

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

4 November 2019

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

Ozsel B.

6 May 2019

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.

23 April 2018

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.

22 March 2018

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

8 March 2018

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

Jason C.

20 August 2017

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.

3 August 2017

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.

25 July 2017

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.

4 July 2017

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

1 June 2017

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.

29 May 2017

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.

12 April 2017

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

About the host

Hosted by Jesse Dornstreich

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:

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Historic house Ideal Downtown Location

Photo gallery for Historic house Ideal Downtown Location

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

About this property

Historic house Ideal Downtown Location

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Have a question?

Similar properties

16 Beds: Groups, Wedding, Grads, Gathering Space!

House Rules

Children

Events

Pets

Smoking

Important information

You need to know

About the area

Philadelphia

What's nearby

Getting around

Restaurants

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Wonderful

8.6/10

9.6/10

9.8/10

9.6/10

9.0/10

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Betsy W.

Betsy W.

10/10 Excellent

Matthew J.

Quite little old row in the middle of everything

Matthew J.

8/10 Good

Zack B.

Beautiful historic property

Zack B.

10/10 Excellent

Melinda B.

Great Location

Melinda B.

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan M.

Fantastic Stay in Historic Philly Home!

Jonathan M.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Great stay on Kater

Verified traveller

10/10 Excellent

s k.

Thanksgiving in Philly

s k.

8/10 Good

Debbie R.

First Impressions

Debbie R.

10/10 Excellent

Christina T.

Charming Historic Home in an Ideal Location

Christina T.

4/10 Poor

Beth K.

Great location but several issues

Beth K.