We had a fantastic four night stay at this historic property. Innkeepers Randy and Sherry were amazing and extremely welcoming and gracious throughout our stay. The breakfast was delicious! The inn is in a lovely walkable area near trains, buses. A terrific selection of great restaurants all around. I highly recommend Akwaaba Mansion and will be back! read more

I had a beautiful stay here! The inn keeper was kind, the building was beautiful, and I loved the story. Breakfast was incredible! The staff was so welcoming and I would love to stay again. read more

My bestie friend and I decided this is how we would celebrate my birthday. So glad we did. From them moment we drove up, you knew it was king to be a treat when you walked in. As we walked in, I could feel the istoey in the building. There was so much energy in the rooms, I needed to know more. The inn keeper was so sweet and helpful with everything. She was an amazing chef as well! She had breakfast for us each morning, and it was delicious! I stayed in Black Memorabilia- you really want to stay in this one for the soaking tub alone. You can see why they have been around for so long. Would definitely do it again read more

Randy the inns keeper is an absolute gem and one helluva host & breakfast preparer supreme! This was my second time staying at Akwaaba and in the same room (purposefully)...whenever I'm in NYC/Brooklyn my head will rest on one of their pillows read more

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Excellent B&B this was a hidden gem clean quiet and the food was delicious we will definitely be coming back soon

Anyone who complains about the absence of televisions doesn't get what Akwaaba is all about; experience, community, rest. My recent stay was wonderful. Came for a one night staycation on Halloween which meant the neighborhood was full of cool costumes and holiday spirit We were offered wine to drink shortly after being shown our room, and the bed was so comfy, we got amazing rest. The following morning, we had breakfast (mine was modified to include a yummy assortment of cooked veggies as I'm vegan and also have digestive restrictions. Thank you for a lovely stay, Akwaaba. I know I left feeling refreshed and joyous! read more

I'm an aging sex worker with quite a roster of discerning clients (quite a number of them are named John). This is one of my favorites places to book for those who book me for a weekend. Along with my prowess, I always feel this place helps me to seduce my clients even more. I feel very secure, because "significant others" can't just waltz onto the property and demand to see their husbands. The breakfast is always amazing, and if I know I don't really want to perform, I take clients to breakfast first. We usually retire to the room with me having to do the least. The staff exercise the highest of discretion, and I've never felt judged because of my profession. If you're a working girl/boy/something in-between, you should really consider turning your tricks out of THE Akwaaba Mansion. read more

Absolutely wonderful from start to finish. Couldn't help but laugh at the bad review below. Most bed and breakfasts are old and have antiques in them, if you find that creepy, stay somewhere else, lol! My husband and I drove in from manhattan, parked right outside on the street and were greeted by Glenn, a lovely, warm man. We then went to our room which was beautiful: large windows, moldings, large jacuzzi tub, done in mostly in the antique sTyle. We walked down the street to mama fox for dinner (wonderful) had too much to drink and walked back. Amazingly comfortable bed and pillows! Wow! And a lovely breakfast and conversation with Tanya (whom I adore) the next morning. We can't wait to return! read more

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I had a date here years ago. It was a beautiful experiencein the Broom Suite and the staff was nice. We strolled the neighborhood at night and it was an enchanted weekend. read more

My husband and I came here for our wedding night and stayed an extra night. We loved the decor and the hospitality we experienced from everyone who worked here. The Jumping the Broom room in particular was extra special. It has a canopy bed and a jacuzzi. You can't beat that! I'd say the one bummer -- or is it part of the charm? -- is that there's a church across the street that has a bell that goes off every hour. It makes sleeping in a bit difficult, but since breakfast is served at 9am every morning, it also serves as an alarm clock. read more

Akwaaba Mansion Bed & Breakfast - Hotels Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

With significance of the venue's ownership and also the old world aesthetic at its Brooklyn location, I was ecstatic to book this location for my wedding. I am a Brooklyn girl, through and through: born and bred. My fiancé even proposed at Akwaaba, PA - so the venue held meaning. I was extremely disappointed, however, in how I was handled as a client. Admittedly, I had modifications to my wedding date due to employment changes and also loss of a parent during the time of planning. There was absolutely no grace for my circumstance and not only did I lose my hefty deposit, communication from staff was rude and humiliating. I was appalled to be out of money and also berated because I changed my date more than once, and simply due to life happening. While I understand the nature of contracts and cancellations, it was an overall highly disappointing experience, and I cannot in good conscience patronize this establishment since I was cheated out of my deposit; a deposit that could have been applied as requested to a future event, or even towards a few nights stay, since this is a bed and breakfast. But more so than the money, I was hurt by the flippant attitude and lack of care that was exhibited to me as a future bride here. A very unfortunate experience, indeed. read more

All we have to say is thank you, thank you, thank YOU!!! We had such a good relaxing time while there. If you are looking to completely get away from all the responsibilities of life and disappear for a weekend, Akwaaba Mansion is the place for you!! The hospitality was second to none. The food was heavenly (thanks Sue for the cornbread ;)). The accommodations are more than suitable and the rooms are relaxing and comfortable...definitely choose a Premium room with the whirlpool tub. Just an FYI, they also provide massage services. We will definitely be back AND will try the other locations. For those who might be a little reluctant about B&Bs, don't be reluctant when it comes to Akwaaba! read more

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Poor customer service in regards to cancellations. I've been trying to cancel for over 2 weeks now and I am being completely ignored. I was referred to Ms. Greenwood and her voicemail box was full therefore I could not leave a message. Save yourself a headache and DO NOT book here. Terrible business practices. Bad way to treat potential customers. Tells me the whole operation is a sham. Therefore, I will not be rebooking to any Akwaaba properties.. read more

My visit at the Akwaaba Mansion in Brooklyn was amazing!! Everyone was warm, friendly and professional. I stayed in the Ashanti Suite. The room was lovely!! Breakfast was delicious and the conversations engaging. I look forward to staying there again in the future. read more

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I had the opportunity to attend a wedding reception at the Akwaaba Mansion Bed & Breakfast. It was an absolutely beautiful set up. The B&B arranged for each part of the reception to be held in a different room. This made transition times and setup so much easier for those in charge. The evening started with food and live music outside. I could not believe the yard space that the Mansion had. It made me forget I was in Brooklyn for a few minutes. The foods prepared by the staff were amazing. They had a collection of dips that I loved with the hummus and tuscan bean being my favorite. The mango lime salad that they concocted was too die for. I love that all the food was clearly labelled so the guests with dietary restrictions didn't have to go and track down a staff member to find out what was in each item. Next we moved inside and to the left. This is the room where the cake cutting took place. While it was a bit cramped with the amount of guests, it was a nice intimate opportunity to enjoy the cake cutting and hear from the people who made the cake and wedding happen. The evening ended across the hall from the cake cutting room. This is where the DJ set up. The room had excellent acoustics and enough room to make no rules dancing (my forte) easily doable. The room got hot quick but the venue had fans on hand to help cool us down. My visit to Akwaaba Mansion Bed & Breakfast was probably a once in a lifetime experience. The staff and wedding correspondents definitely made it memorable. I absolutely can't believe a venue like this is located right in Brooklyn. read more

Hubs and I celebrated our need for sleeping in sans the chirruns (our loving kids) as well as my 30th birthday at Akwaaba B+B in BK in the Jumping the Broom room. The mansion was nothing short of beautiful. The suite was everything we needed: plushly dressed king-sized with a gorgeous headboard and matching bedroom furniture. Antique charm all around, I felt like picking out a few items to furnish our home with - the suite boasted its very own sitting area, yes please. The jacuzzi and toiletries on point as well, I made sure I took a tip daily throughout our long weekend there. I loved everything about the room. The breakfast, while not unsatisfied - I've had better and judging from the other reviews, I am pretty sure I received the off-day whilst there. The staff is warm and friendly, the location in Bedstuy, perfect - so much local flavor to partake in and on the neatest little flat street for walking a few blocks to enjoy your day. We will be back! I enjoyed my stay as did the hubs. Please Note: We were promptly billed our deposit upon booking the reservation, the second portion of stay wasn't billed for a whole two weeks after checking out, quite unfavorable for my accountant counterpart. read more

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I wish you could give half stars on yelp....let's make this an enhancement for the future. I decided to try something different when booking our anniversary get away. We had never been to a bed and breakfast and my co-worker had nothing but good things to say about the one in the Poconos. During our experience their were both pros and cons but I will say the cons were more so personal preference and not at the fault of the bed and breakfasts. This house is huge, dim lighting, straight from the 1870's. There are old black and white photos of ancestors, a lot of antique furniture and original doors, fixtures, furniture, etc. The dim lights big mixed with us being the only couple until the next day made for a pretty creepy experience. It truly was a picture right out of the pages of a horror book. The word haunted came from my husband. We had an arrival time of 4 however in NYC traffic that ended up being 4:22pm. Our inn keeper Sherry called and check on us and you could tell she was up set that we were not there at our scheduled time. I apologized and gave her our location and how many minutes the GPS said we were from the mansion. Upon arrival, Sherry gave us the tour where she mentioned things like I would of had a great snack for your arrival but I'm glad I didn't because it would have been cold and that she had errands to run and was not able to do them for waiting for us. While I understand the inconvenience you should never let patrons feel they are a burden. Her disposition was also not the most pleasant. Once we were shown to our room we were asked if we would like a snack and our reply was please as we were starved. Prepared were crackers, cheese, turkey meatballs, grapes, and chicken pot stickers. Everything was good, probably also because we were so hungry but it was a nice and comforting gesture that we would not have been offered staying at a regular hotel. We had massages scheduled for 6 in our rooms and were told the people would be there at 5:30 to set up. Although the Inn set up the massages it was a third party company so I can not blame the inn for this as the massage therapist were late by 30 plus minutes and arrived separately. My massage therapist Jiaad lacked welcoming people skills and did not even introduce himself along with what would you like preference wise as well as for pressure. When in any public service where you are working with a person one on one people skills are a must at least the bare minimum high and bye. Sherry again expressed her frustrations for the massage therapist being late and that once again her errands were on hold. This was something out of our control and left us in an awkward spot. I do see why some guests choose to either not stay at the mansion once arriving or have negative reviews. With any old house their is beyond normal wear and tear for example the lock on our bedroom door would not lock all the way (this left me feeling uncomfortable) the shower door had to be picked up a little in order to open or close it due to the door being put on off balance. The roof on the porch was leaking, the chandelier in the dining room was cracked and missing a panel, the stair case to upstairs was dusty and even the railing was gritty and dirty as I used it for balance. These are the complaints that can be prevented. With any older home touches and fixing will need to take place as this is basic upkeep. It seems as though the mansion handy man is more of a band aids type of person and does not care a lot about quality work and appearance. These are just a few of the improvements needed and one of the reasons for my star score. I am so very glad that Sherry was not our inn keeper for the entire weekend. The next morning we were greeted with the aroma of breakfast along with the pleasant smile of Tara. Tara turned our stay around all that she could. She was a delight to talk to and aims to please. She called off our dietary restrictions and instead of just eliminating part of my meal due to not eating eggs or sausage she made me a delicious breakfast which consisted of potatoes, croissants, and sautéed spinach with mushrooms and red peppers. It was delicious. My husband and I both agree that the breakfast each morning was phenomenal and a great touch that we would not have received from a hotel. Tara talked to us sharing a little about her family and asking about ours, and even gave us directions and ideas for the weekend. I looked forward to her greeting each morning of our stay and only wish she had stayed the weekend to be greeted each night as the mansion was very quiet and somewhat spooky. We will most likely revert back to staying at resorts and hotels as we enjoy the more modern, and social feel as opposed to more vintage and secluded. read more

I stayed here with one of my besties to attend the Oprah Vision 2020 tour. This is my 2nd time staying at the Brooklyn location. I have also stayed at the location at Noble Lane. Every time I have been to Akwaaba it has given a feeling of home or visiting an old friend. The hospitality is great with a delicious breakfast to boot. Loooking forward to checking out there DC location soon. It's always is a wonderful retreat and I return home feeling renewed. Monique has something great going on for sure. read more

I got married at Akwaaba and stayed there for our wedding night, and I feel unbelievably blessed on all possible fronts with the experience. We live two blocks away, for starters, so having the wedding at Akwaaba was great for both practical purposes, and to be keeping wedding dollars in the community. Erica Rodriguez managed all the pre-wedding booking and planning, site visits, etc. She was amazing -- very laid back, but responsive and helpful. Monique Greenwood is the owner of Akwaaba, and a major factor in the small business community here, and was there the day of the wedding, helping with setup and getting people where they needed to. She also served us breakfast the next morning, and told us a lot about the small business network in the neighborhood and boosted all the good feelings about having had the wedding here by about 70%. She's an amazingly down-to-earth, brilliant, warm person, and helped from the ground up with everything we needed while we were at Akwaaba. We ended up having to tent the courtyard, which broke my heart a little, but the tent people work with Akwaaba and had a good setup to make the most of the space, factoring in the trees, and getting heaters set up as well. The ceremony went off well, we got everything cleaned up, and when we got to our room (we stayed in the Ashante room), Monique had run a bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub for us. !!!!!!!! I have possibly never been more grateful for anything in my life. And finally, the food lover in me can't help raving that breakfast was beyond -- french toast, turkey bacon, poached pears, delicious coffee, yum yum yum. Yum. Definitely recommend if you're visiting, but also was a really gorgeous wedding venue and I'm so so glad we went this way. read more

My sister told me about Akwaaba and all I can say is, I will be staying at the Akwaaba B&B whenever I'm "IN NEW YORK.....CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO.....!" The homemade breakfast every morning was the BESTEST! P.S. KEEPIN' IT REAL, if you know what I mean! read more

Let me blow the lid off of this lil secret place. Akwaaba Brooklyn is fantastic and you will have a peaceful and restful stay in what is a really beautiful and homey mansion. We came here for a staycation, and got exactly what we ordered. The entire home is steeped in African touches and is very elegant, yet inviting. Imagine kente cloth and blankets in front of a roaring fire. You will never want to leave. Glenn Greenwood, one of the co-owners, is such a sociable and warm host, and will go to great lengths to make sure you're comfortable and give you recommendations on art, dining, and all sorts of cultural activities in the area. Shortly after we arrived, he made us a delicious meze plate with olives, meatballs, nuts, and the like. Certainly won't find that at the Marriott! And when we returned to the B&B after a night out, our room was filled with lighted candles and a drawn bubble bath. How romantic and perfect. Breakfast will stay with you all day. French toast, poached pears, berries and turkey bacon. So rich, so delicious, and really splendid. The Akwaaba team pays close attention to detail, and it absolutely shows. We felt like family and absolutely will be returning. read more

I had the pleasure of staying at the mansion 5/14-5/16/21. Monique Greenwood was an amazing host upon arrival Friday and Saturday. She was welcoming and attended to everyone needs. She gave us tour and we had individual cocktails and a cheese tray. Saturday morning breakfast was delicious although I missed eggs for breakfast with the French Toast bake apples and chicken sausage and turkey bacon. The ice breaker was great along with prizes. The room was clean. I enjoyed the free sauna room and free yoga. I given 4 stars because some areas can use a little dusting. It is old mansion but you still need to dust some people bare allergic to dust and you shouldn't see spider webs on the window pane or around the Olympic pool. I can understand some dead bugs flying in the pool coming from the outside but not spiders inside the border of the pool it was turn off. The picnic basket can be better for $65 the spa was great the tea luncheon was great the s'mores at the fire pit was great. Sunday breakfast was soooo delicious fish, grits, EGGS and cornbread. I'll be back. Reading the reviews online only had 9 bad reviews and it's basically the same so maybe she need more staff to pitch because she can't catch everything read more

I feel so fortunate that Akwaaba and its owners and staff are now included in my life experiences! My first clue to the "flavor" of this B&B was making my reservation and working with the incredible Erica -- what a competent, warm woman. I was able to interact with Glenn, one of the owners who's sweet and helpful as can be and, most notably, Monique. OMG -- amazing amazing woman! Talk to Monique about her love for the Akwaaba and the other B&Bs she owns and you'll hear the love for the business she's in. I believe she is the heart and soul behind Akwaaba and all good things flow from her. Monique makes you feel like you live at Akwaaba; you're not a guest who's passing through. You are a family member when you stay at Akwaaba. I stayed there 4 nights while visiting my daughter in BK. Staff extended their warm welcome to my daughter when she visited me at the Mansion. My room was the Jump the Broom and Glenn explained the background about what jumping the broom means. Staff and owners were preparing for a wedding while I stayed there and all were busy making the Akwaaba shine and sparkle in anticipation of that event. What wedding party wouldn't love that kind of attention to detail? You owe it to yourself to stay at the Akwaaba whenever you're visiting BK. Like me, I'm sure you'll feel you've added a wonderful memory to your life's story. read more

By far the best overnight accommodations we found, after many years of visiting adult kids in Brooklyn. Lovely spacious room, beautifully appointed. Lovely grounds and wonderful front porch, where I was served iced tea and snacks in the afternoon. Monique has an eye for interior design, wonderful African art themes, beauty and comfort. Service was personal and professional. And oh! the sumptuous breakfast. Especially enjoyed the good company of other guests at the breakfast table, interesting conversation and good times. Happy 20th birthday, Akwaaba Brooklyn! read more

My husband and I recently stayed here in the "jumping the broom suite" to celebrate our anniversary. It was a great, safe weekend away. We were looking fir a change of scenery since we both take social distancing seriously. We thought a bed and breakfast should be good, not as many people, no elevator, etc. This place did not disappoint. Our host was Andres and he was very friendly and welcoming. He also provided us with recommendations on what we could safely do in the area. The breakfast was delicious both days but especially that French toast. It is a gorgeous establishment, a little older of a building, but that adds to the charm and character of the building. The bed in the room was very comfortable. I could lay in the bed all day (lol). We will definitely be back, hopefully under better social conditions so we can really explore. read more

Attended the best baby shower here! Beautiful ambiance, warming atmosphere. This is by far the best place to have a private function. Tastefully decorated, more than enough space for guests and a huge backyard space. Simply breathtaking, this place is a hidden jewel in Brooklyn. read more

I loved my stay! The room was immaculate, the jacuzzi was so fun and breakfast was amazing! Sherry was an amazing cook and hostess. She even hung around to converse with us as a bit as we ate. This is my second time coming here and every time I go it's so inspiring! Simply put, I want to live here! It's so beautiful, spacious and fancy while still having that homey feel. Thank you for your hospitality Akwaaba, I'll be seeing you again :) read more

It was a peace-filled end to an eventful birthday week - my friend and I stayed here as a quick overnight trip for my birthday at the end of June. The Manor was splendid in decor and the other guests that I met were charming, humorous and very friendly. Breakfast was delicious and the inn keeper - Sabrina was down-to-earth and someone I had quite a few things in common (after a wonderful conversation)! I'd definitely visit this B&B again and hope to before to long. it was quite refreshing to be able to have a peace-filled place to call "home" even if it's just for a weekend! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars - our particular room's bathroom was very tiny, which made it hard to maneuver. read more

Love it! My new home when visiting home (Brooklyn). Great bed, ambiance and breakfast. Glad I met Monique the owner since I've followed her career for years. If you're looking for a relaxing and comfie place in BK this is your spot! read more

I absolutely love this place. It's a beautiful home in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn that was converted into a bed and breakfast. I love the decor and furniture. There's even a front porch patio and a backyard for outdoor events. read more

I love this place , made me feel like I'd stepped into the shoes of Claire Huxtable and was the lady of a grand old home, from the chic decor the original wood floors , African-American art work and beyond comfortable rooms beds that you can melt right into.The mansion is decorated with themed rooms. I've stayed in "the jumping the broom room" and another one both had spa tubs a must for me. Love the light refreshments served on your first night quite yummy, the hostesses on both stays were awesome offering answers to the few questions I had . If you like charming warm inviting places you will love it here only grown folks please if you are someone who expects utter perfection and can't see beyond minor things maybe try the trump in nyc leave akwaabaa for for me ! read more

Akwaaba has become our home-away-from-home when we visit our daughter and her family in Brooklyn. A warm welcome, delicious breakfast, cosy and individual rooms. Sherri is the best--remembers what we like from visit to visit, is very responsive to requests, serenely oversees everything. If you go, two recommended restaurants in easy walking distance: Saraghina and L'Antagoniste. read more

My stay at the Akwaaba Mansion was a Christmas gift. The original gift reservation was for the DC location. Due to the pandemic we decided to change the location to Brooklyn, so we would not have to leave NY. I found the mansions decor to be very nice for the time period it was uniquely capturing. However, there were some things I would change. My husband and I stayed in the Ashante room. I really didn't like not being able to lock the room from the outside. The bed was comfortable but it squeaked terribly, the bathroom was a nice size but the jacuzzi didn't work, you couldn't turn the fan off in the bathroom without turning the light off. I wasn't aware there wouldn't be a television in the room, however, that turned out to be very relaxing for the both of us. Breakfast was good. Everyone was friendly. It was a little spooky to me, it felt as if we were on our own. We didn't know how to get in touch with anyone if we needed something or if there was an issue. It was said someone was in the upper part of the house (the attic) but, it had a sign that said private. All in all the different scenery from home during this pandemic was good. I think I would have enjoyed the DC location better it looks modern. I would suggest a mid-day snack tea/coffee, pastry, for guess. read more

I had the honor of staying at the Akwaaba Mansion to celebrate my 6th wedding anniversary. We had the Black Memorabilia room and it was very nice and cozy. I felt right at home. The breakfast was delicious and hearty. We would definitely return. read more

I really enjoyed my stay here. When I first called to book my room I let the person know that I would be coming in extremely late as I was coming after a Broadway show. She said no problem and even suggested I could drop off my suitcase and belongings the night before and it would be in my room (which it was). I loved that the innkeeper was very knowledgeable of the neighborhood and could recommend restaurants, etc. Most importantly, I enjoyed my homemade breakfasts the next morning. I would definitely come back again. read more

This used to be a favorite but has declined greatly over the years. What I love about this place is that I always meet the loveliest people and have great conversations over breakfast. I also love that the place really has a home feel to it. I also like that it's black owned and woman owned. Here are my gripes: 1. At the last minute the owner called to tell us we got "upgraded" when we actually ended up with a much smaller room with a miniature bathroom. I need a bathroom fit for a beach weekend. I needed something where I could spread out my gels and lotions and hang up my wet beach attire. There was no place to put my toiletries or even a hook to hang my bathing suit. 2. I was expecting, as in past stays, beach towels to be provided and they were not available until the second day 3. The innkeeper was unavailable when we arrived to an empty house. 4. I was expecting (as advertised and as experienced in previous stays) a snack to be served around 4pm...the house was empty. There were beach chairs out in back of the house but they were all rusted out as if they had been left outside over the entire winter. read more

Stayed at the Akwaaba Mansion last week for business. The main house was nice, very eclectic and the staff was extremely accommodating. My coworkers unfortunately did not have the same experience. They stayed in their apartments around the corner and quickly returned when they discovered a cockroach in their room. We ended up booking another hotel room and leaving immediately. read more

My family and I were very much looking forward to a relaxing stay at the carriage house at the buttonwood "manor". Well, what a disappointment!!! While no instruction to get in the house was given to us prior to our arrival (as their email stipulated), it took us almost an hour to find the right person's phone number (Tracy's) who was able to assist us, the rest of the team being on vacation. No biggie, we obtained the one door code from our 1st call, but the other door code given to us in a 2nd call was wrong... Anyway, finally in, we decided to settle in and dropped our luggages after a long trip. Time to cook... Wow, the stove is not on but burning hot? Let's call Tracy again who said not to worry, the owner said it is normal with pilot stove. Strange! OK, let's go to bed.... No bed sheets to be found for our kids sleeping in the sofa bed as advertised. Well, not a good night sleep for mommy and daddy either! Second floor window AC unit was malfunctioning, it was SO hot, a real nightmare (and that all week long)!!!!! Anyway, I guess we'll be able to relax at the beach. Let's take a shower! Wow, the shower is leaking through the ceiling, obviously nothing new given the apparent crack in the ceiling! Let's call Tracey again, the plumber will be here today she said.... Later on, she said problem was that we need to close the shower curtain all the way.... Not sure the plumber ever came by, but we did close the curtain all the way each time we showered, but water kept leaking in the bucket we routinely placed on the 1st floor living room. At this point, we decided to make the best of our vacation and not to deal with tenants or contractors anymore despite the many other bad surprises we found.... Rotten windows, broken ice dispenser, bugs found in picture frames, lot of dust below the furniture and a HORRIBLE and dangerous gas smell coming from the oven on the last days of our trip.... Not sure if this caused the horrible body rashes both my mom and kid caught during our stay, maybe the bugs, the dust? We'll never know but we're determined to call airbnb with whom we reserved and Steve, rental property owner (Bed and Breakfast D.C., Vacation Rentals D.C. Akwaaba B & B's and The Mansion at Noble) as soon as we get back, to ask for a more than justified partial refund. Well, our mistake was not to take any pictures (though gas smells or water leaks can be hard to capture).... Airbnb cannot help us. Tried to call Steve several times, sent a few complaint emails via airbnb but no answer.... Steve, the decision maker was often times on vacation. Finally got a hold of him today (almost 2 months later). He would not accept to take any responsibilities or to give us any kind of refunds (glad he refunded the person who experienced the same issue as me a few weeks later my trip per her review). He claimed I called after the fact (though is well aware of all of these problems on his property). Beware of these people, very friendly on the phone or by email after they received payment, but this is lipstick on a pig and their property is falling apart, not well maintained at all...Nothing like you see on their advertised pictures!!! They will not respond to complaints or find any kind of compromises to ease unhappy customers. Very unprofessional, stay away! read more

loved my stay here , enjoyed the comfort of the room and fully appreciated the luxury of being served like royalty . We were served refreshments by the fire in the living area downstairs shortly after we arrived and given a tour and history on the house by the housekeeper . The food was great and The Jacuzzi Bath was amazing but i did get a pretty irritated afterwards in my nether region am guessing it may have been either the herbal mixtures or whatever was used to clean the tub so i wont he doing that again the next time i visit . Overall it was a beautiful experience . read more

oh my, where to start on akwaaba? so unexpectedly lovely! a dear friend of mine who also happens to be one of the most romantic, sweetest guys i know, told me he took his then GF to akwaaba for a weekend and raved about how wonderful it was. (he is not easily impressed, so that's really saying something!) he is also mr. black history/power/etc, so i should've guessed, but never would have, that this is a black owned, operated and themed establishment. (i mean, really, how many black B&B's have you ever heard of? LOL.) but i can do you one better. it's in bed-stuy brooklyn!!! :-o i nearly fell out of my chair when he told me that. i tucked this gem of information in the back of my mind for a few years, only remembering when my then BF and i decided that instead of gifts we would go away for the weekends for our birthdays one year. *poof!* akwaaba popped back into my head. i looked them up online and found that they had a DC location, as well as 2 others on the cape in new jersey (and they've apparently added a new orleans B&B now too). it certainly looked as beautiful as my old friend had said, so, i booked it. now, any new yorker, and more specifically, anyone from brooklyn will tell you that bed-stuy is NOT a part of town you want to be looking lost in. i lived in NY for a few years, so already knew this, but trusted my friend's word that much. i'm glad i did. we arrived and the inn was everything my friend and the website had said. score! tucked back from the street, and almost hidden behind plentiful trees and bushes, the landmark mansion turned akwaaba B&B is a pretty peach painted block of serenity. the glass-enclosed front porch was drenched in sunlight and had adorable benches and chairs, along with a couple of well-stocked bookshelves - perfect reading spot. i wanted to sit there for a bit before even going all the way in! after passing through the porch-room, you enter the real front door and main foyer, which is beautiful. the first floor consists of the kitchen, on-site office, dining room, and two living/sitting rooms, all with gorgeous decor, but not pretentious or so ostentatious that you are afraid to sit down on or touch anything. we arrived and checked in at the same time as a just married bride & groom, so that was sweet to see. upstairs there is a library/reading room, and 4 themed guest rooms: the "regal retreat" suite (where we stayed), the "jump the broom room" (honeymoon suite), the "ashante" room, and the "black memorabilia" suite. we were able to poke around in the ashante room (b/c it was being changed over for the next guests), and it was very cute, all done up in african cloths and bright colours, and decorated with artifacts. we couldn't see the black memorabilia room b/c it was occupied, but - and i swear i did NOT plan this though the BF thought otherwise - we did get to see the jumping the broom room b/c we had to be moved to it on our 3rd/last night. i'm still not sure why, but i didn't mind b/c that room was just as lovely as ours. the regal retreat (our first room) was done up in gorgeous dark colors and rich/heavy wood furniture, and the large bathroom had a big claw-foot tub. we felt like a queen and king! the jumping the broom room was light and airy with a canopy bed swathed in white gauze, pale colours and a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub for 2. both rooms had deks with journal books on them where guests could leave notes about their stay. (i believe all the rooms have these, actually). the notes were so interesting to read! people talking about where they were from, why they were visiting, what they did on their stay and suggestions for what the next guests could do, and so on. a really lovely personal touch. speaking of personal touches, the daily breakfasts cooked by the innkeeper...WOW. mouth-watering french toast with fresh fruit topping, quiche, tasty omelettes, oh my! everything was WONDERFUL. i mean it was so good that the BF confided in me later that when i'd told him where we were going he was not pleased b/c he actually has a slight B&B phobia and just does NOT like them (IDK how i did not know this in all the years we'd dated up to that point), but that the breakfasts turned him into a fan. how's that for a compliment to the cook?! it was really a perfect weekend and a perfect stay. i've had the other akwaaba locations on my to-check-out list for quite a while now, and hope i can start checking them off soon. read more