WORK IN PROGRESS... will finish shortly Pros Great location Updated clean urban chic look Beautiful decor main level Gorgeous Chandelier Curb appeal - beautiful planted front yard Microwave in room Fridge in room Plenty closet space Cons No screens in windows = no fresh air without bugs! Air conditioner non functional Breakfast no longer served Kleenex in room! read more

Mary Prentiss Inn - Mary Prentiss Inn 1908. Photo outside of room 9. - Hotels Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

If I could give this place a zero, I would. This property is no longer the wonderful Mary Prentiss Bed and Breakfast that was a wonderful place to stay. We have family a couple of blocks away and stayed there many times. However, it was sadly sold and the "new" Prentiss Inn was such a disappointment that we never stayed there again. You basically prepay, get a code to enter and never see a person if you need anything. Will never stay there again. read more

My second time here, and once again so delighted. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I arrived at 930 am and they encouraged me to try the breakfast being wound up for the prior night's guests even though it was just past serving time and I wasn't registered to check in until later that afternoon. They also let me use the bathroom downstairs to wash up, freeing me to totally freshen up before launching into the area for a full day of sightseeing before my room was ready at 1 pm. The breakfast (both days) was a wonderful cooked to order spread and the afternoon tea and pastries included homemade scones, chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies and biscotti. Suite 9 was huge with microwave and mini fridge and a beautiful sunny view of the quiet street (very little traffic on Prentiss). Bathroom and furnishings throughout house had been tended to with plenty of TLC evident. Totally cozy feel and well located amidst many shops and restaurants as well as a ten minute walk south to the heart of Harvard square, Harvard law school and Harvard Yard. Parking lot downstairs in the building. Will be back for sure a third time! read more

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The room was nice. Neighborhood nice. Location to restaurant and coffee shops nice. Zero service provided so you are paying only for a bed and location. Trash never emptied. No Kleenex. Bed never made. No breakfast options provided. No one to talk to if you have a problem. Plus if you have someone loud above your room you can hear everything. If you go in knowing you get nothing but a bed then it's alright. Otherwise it's merely adequate. read more

Problem: Daughter has dreadful roommate situation 3,000 miles from home. Problem: Chaos before the anticipated arrival of Chaos for the Holidays . Solution: Mary Prentiss Inn, Cambridge, Ma. A charming little place this is, nestled in the quaint and collegiate village of Cambridge, Mass. It seems like a century away from the sleek, high rises of Hiltons and Hyatts and the craziness of today's life, frequently in overdrive. This Inn was the perfect setting to restore our nerves while feeling cozy and warm on a cold and rainy autumn weekend. A short walk from bustling Harvard Square, the Inn is situated on a quiet street in a residential neighborhood of stately colonial homes. This had a completely different vibe than the usual hotel stay, and was quite pleasant. We enjoyed our quiet room, appointed with antique twin beds, soft quilts, microwave and mini fridge. The room was spacious, which somehow added to the home like atmosphere; we could spread out and move around comfortably. A full breakfast is served along with afternoon tea and cookies. I found that this more intimate setting easily encouraged guests to converse with one another. It was pleasant lingering in the dining room and foyer, while others were searching the internet on a computer, talking to the friendly staff or absorbed in conversation. This was home base for a mother-daughter weekend of site seeing, shopping, pampering and relaxation. The Inn has approximately 16 rooms on three floors plus several rooms with large french doors off of the the patio. Built in 1843 by architect William Saunders, as a wedding gift to his son and daughter in law, Mary Prentiss. There are just enough antiques, that the architectural details of the home remain the main focus. What I liked about this B&B was that it wasn't screaming romance, as some do. This is an inn for everyone. Here were visiting scholars, others mom's visiting their missed children, prospective students, couples, and a woman seeking a medical consultation. The staff were very accommodating and friendly. A guest asked if there were any small desks that could be moved to her room. The staff immediately searched and found one which they then moved with a small desk chair. I am reminded of the British TV show, "Faulty Towers". Although the Mary Prentiss Inn is not remotely run like John Cleese's inn, it has a similar feel to it with the down to earth staff mixed with scholarly visitors and even a scruffy cat wanting attention. We both loved staying here. My daughter got a sweet break from an unpleasant dorm situation and I enjoyed the splendors of autumn on the east while the chaos settles. Problem Solved! read more

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I'm conflicted about what parts of the experience to highlight so I'll just get into all sorts of details. I have now stayed here twice, the first time was just one night and it was such a good experience that I decided to come back again. The second time I stayed here for five nights and that was too much. I definitely have likes and dislikes about this place, here they are. The pros are that it's a cute house with rooms that are pleasantly different from the usual cookie-cutter hotel room so that's interesting. There is a nice atmosphere plus cookies and tea in the afternoon/evening, which is also a nice perk. They leave you a piece of chocolate on the first night, but then weirdly they don't do it again. When I asked whether I just missed getting chocolate, I was told it's only for the first night. That seems weird since I wasn't paying any less for the subsequent nights. The room I had the second time (#19) has a jacuzzi and that was great. The things I don't like about this place include the bad heating system, noise and the cat. First, it took forever for the room to heat up and I was freezing. Second, not only are some of the guests noisy, but so are the staff. They shout to each other constantly while they are surfing the Web. (It's great that they can surf the Web on their off-time, but is it necessary to shout to the person two feet away?) I would hate to have a room right off the dining area. The one exception is the woman who serves breakfast. She is probably the hardest working person at this inn. She runs around serving a million breakfasts and does so with a smile. The inn never mentioned that it had a cat that it lets roam around freely. This was a surprise to me and not a pleasant one. The cat is there all times of day including breakfast. This seemed extremely inappropriate to me. Overall, the experience was okay, but I think I'm done with this inn for now. As I was checking out, I canceled my reservation for later this Spring. I've booked a room elsewhere. read more

Mary Prentiss Inn - Evening tea and cookies - Hotels Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This was my first bed and breakfast experience so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. But I'll give you the full rundown I wish I had! Decor & Amenities: we had the room that had a separate entrance from the main building(#5). In the winter the only downside to this was that you had to walk next door outside for breakfast. Other than that, this room was amazing because you had your own key and front steps like it was your own little house for the weekend. King size bed, surprisingly comfortable, good bedding and sheets (not dingy old quilts like I was expecting), Flat screen tv with basic channels, full bathroom microwave and fridge, very cozy and comfortable. ** WiFi was definitely weak, as others have mentioned. Breakfast: you get to chose from 2 options each day, usually it's one full style and a healthier option. We opted for the full both days. Day 1: eggs, Canadian bacon with seasoned potatoes and fruit. Day 2: blueberry pancakes (fluffy and amazing) with sausage and fruit. The other options were always some kind of oatmeal, yogurt combination. I kind of wish there were a little more options to chose from, but it was still very good. Also, the latest breakfast options were 8, 9, or 10am and that's it, so if you're not a morning person keep that in mind. Coffee and tea was also offered in the lobby most days until a certain time. Location & Parking: a quiet side street, a block away from a few great restaurants (The Abbey) and a ton of other little shops. And also not too far from Harvard Square - we went in the dead of winter so we were limited and drove to some places, but didn't have a problem parking in garages or street parking in the area. The B&B also has a small parking lot right below it for guests. We never had an issue getting a spot late at night, which was refreshing. Staff: friendly, but left you alone to do your own thing. Cleaned the rooms when we were out for the day, didn't interact much. But it was overall a great place to stay, and good for the price. I would definitely stay here again. read more

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We just had a stay at the Prentiss House by Thatch - I made the mistake of thinking things promised on their website would be in effect. We were pleased with the home upon arrival; however things went off as we returned from dinner we discovered there was no A/C! Another person in the lobby confirmed that they had a fan and no A/C (it was about 80 degrees outside and 78 in our room). We left a window open and tried to go to bed about 10PM - Note: Their stated quiet hours are 9:30PM-8AM - at 11:30PM we were shocked to hear a door slam and someone slamming what sounded like luggage against a wall then each of the drawers were slammed, slam, slam....they finally settled. Then at 1:15AM a drunk couple arrived to have a long chat and make-out session on the porch with our window open we sadly were hearing all their considerations about should he come in with her (they also were talking loudly as if they were still in the club talking over music) finally she let him in, but then they were so loud (nobody explained to her about "inside voice" as a child). I went out to the foyer and requested "Quite hours" they clearly didn't know what I was talking about and KEPT talking loudly - I said it again "Quiet hours please" she decided to take him to her room... he soon left - closing the door loudly and stomping off down the sidewalk. We got settled in the heat just in time for 1:45 another arrival of a couple with a ton of luggage trying to haul it all up to the 3rd floor while chatting in the hallway... I again asked them about "quite hours" - they also didn't know what I was talking about and why was this man up in the night. I messaged and emailed the company and didn't hear back from them until about lunchtime...when they explained to me that others were on VACATION and that I need to be considerate of their holiday. WOW - my partner was on holiday tagging along with me. Meanwhile we were out to buy sleeping pills, a fan to put next to the window and visit the Prentiss house gym. The BSC gym is far away and didn't know anything about the Prentiss House finally the 2nd person we talked to said "yeah, we don't know what to do about that number on the paperwork" and let us workout anyway. I would also note that the bed was hard - I usually like a firm bed but this was like sleeping on the floor. When we showered the shampoo and conditioner bottles were empty and I had to go downstairs and find a young man cleaning. He didn't speak English but did understand money when I gave him a tip that I needed shampoo - he got me a bottle. We had to buy the shampoo. The next night when we arrived back at the House there was a BIG mouse at the front porch.... I wrote that off as maybe from the alley was next door behind businesses - BTW that business has their BIG trash can dumped on Thu. Morning at 8AM you wake up to a BIG crash bang bang/boom. So after a rough night in the heat we were treated to this alarm clock with a lot of bottles crashing into a dump truck. Another surprise. read more

Loved my stay! Slept like a baby on a fabulous bed, great pillows and sheets oh and beautiful view. So easy to get into my room too with their system. I checked in on a Sunday and the codes were perfect. Walking distance to Starbucks and Harvard. Great spot! Loved the amenities too. Highly recommend! read more

I would give this Inn a 4.5/5, rounded up. The half-star off would be for the lack of consistent wifi connection in our queen bed room (#14). The complimentary breakfast was delicious and the service was very good. My favourite part about this Inn is the decor---what a beautifully decorated place! Charming, quaint, and creative. read more

Stayed here while visiting at friend at Hah-vad nearby. Nicely located, not too far from the T and so no need for an expensive taxi. Off a quiet side street with NO noise whatsoever. Quaint and charming main house. Arrived late at night but was made welcome despite this. Had a room off the back of the property, like its own separate house. The room was warm, the decor delightful and inviting, the bed massively comfortable, the room cleaning impeccable and mysterious (how do they know when I'm out???), and free coffee and tea and fruit and cupcakes and...sigh...I miss it already. It snowed and rained and was slushy and frozen my whole time in Boston and I couldn't have cared less. I would definitely stay here again. And again. I would comment on the breakfast but I never ate at the Inn. Too many other places to eat in Boston and Cambridge. The one drawback is that if you are in one of these backrooms, which are wonderful, your own light source are big beautiful French doors that line are the entrance to your room, which means if you want to the let in light you basically have to open your whole room (and whatever you're doing) to the room opposite you. Not a big deal...unless you happen to be naked. Not that I was naked. Just sayin'... read more

Clean and very locally.. I love how this inn is decorated.. It feels like home.. The location is pretty much close to davis square and havard square, lots of restaurants around here, and good the good thing is you can park in the inn's free parking and walk around the area, very convenience! since parking here is almost impossible ;) Free wifi and breakfast are included read more

Joel Florenza.. the Inn Keeper at this fine establishment, he is very nice, and he serves all the guests with the best service. I am writing this review because my mom and i have stayed there alot, and every time we stay, we enjoy the b&b even more. I brought my girlfreind for a weekend getaway, and we had a nice relaxing time.. Book here if you want to stay in a Awsome B&B in cambridge !! read more

The place looks nice enough, but beware of a rude concierge woman who doesn't care about your business. I'm having family come into town in late May and want to treat them to a 'thank you gift'- So this Inn was the closest/nicest lodging to my apartment. I called last night and was told that the place was booked, but I could see some rooms after 11:30. I show up today at 11:45 and the woman tells me I can't see anything. I mention to her that I was told otherwise last night, and she was dismissive and didn't appear to believe me or care. Then she takes an 8 minute phone call and gives me a cold shoulder. I just stand there and wait it out. She hangs up and realizes that I haven't gone anywhere and that's when she breaks down and shows me one of the rooms. Now here's the thing: I understand that today is Marathon Monday and all the rooms are booked, but I was specifically told that I could see some of the rooms after 11:30. IF a customer (me) goes through the trouble of walking through the rain to see a place that I was told I could see- I expect nothing less and the bad customer service I received will lead me to look elsewhere for my B&B booking. read more

We stayed two nights for a special family event in town. The first night we were given a room on the third floor. Our room had slanted ceilings and beams lower than those which were real head bangers in the middle of the night. The shower was very difficult to use without either banging your head or burning your body. Sadly our next door neighbor came in late, turned his tv on full volume and fell asleep. So at 2:30am I had to knock on his door, wake him up and beg him to turn the volume down because there was no staff to alert. We reported this to the desk clerk the next morning who agreed to give us a new room. The new one was tiny and in the breezeway between buildings so it wasn't the old part of the hotel. It was fine but I was surprised that there was no compensation for the first night. The second morning we had an early flight and were assured that coffee and tea would be available since we were going to have to miss breakfast (service doesn't start until 8am). There were cups and tea bags but no pots of coffee or hot water. Though this is a a super conveniently located and utterly charming hotel, it's expensive and there's a huge difference between the rooms depending on their floor. The staff was pleasant enough but we resented not being able to sleep, being put in the attic, and getting no discount for the hassle. read more

This place was sweet and charming and good value for the money. There is a parking garage, big plus in weird Boston where parking is a nightmare, the people were friendly and really helpful, the room was clean, tasteful and spacious -- we had a suite in a little side house all to ourselves. Good water pressure in the bathroom, absolute privacy, a big breakfast but don't get the omelet, it's a little off. There's a charming parlor room with tea and cookies in the afternoon. There's a great Korean restaurant on the corner too. It's a little far from the rest of Cambridge and there's not really any points of interest in walking distance, but really, this is Cambridge and Boston we're talking about, so this place is probably as good as it gets. read more

Stayed on a Saturday night in Mid-June for $199/night for a queen bed (room 12). Quaint and clean place to stay that's close and convenient for visiting Harvard, MIT, and Boston University. Room size is small but well furnished, and the bathroom is nice with two clean sets of towels, a jar full of cotton balls, and nice smelling bath products. I enjoy the free wifi, however it is pretty slow likely because it's not password protected. The A/C system in our room was pretty weak. Even on its coldest setting, it still feels warmer than inside than outside. read more

I would have to say that our stay at the Inn was good but not memorable. The feel of the place does take you back to a homey, grandmothers home with lots of character. I did feel that the people were nice and responsive towards their clients. We had a room with a loft bedroom and the place was big enough to accommodate guests + a small kitchenette. One drawback though is that the room did feel old (granted that its supposed to look old) my wife's dust allergies were triggered but other than that we had a good time, actually. I would recommend it with reservations. read more

My boyfriend and I "dumb lucked" into this place in out one night stay in Boston. It was a perfect place to stay. The breakfast was delicious, the rooms were cozy and clean and perfect for what we needed. The biggest perk: free parking! That sealed the deal when we were looking for a place to stay. Since we only stayed there one night, I am looking forward to visiting again and staying there a little longer. read more

A horrible experience. The jacuzzi worked noisily without anyone starting it. The wifi worked in bouts of minutes. Mostly it didn't. The person at the reception in the evening was rude and every complaint was answered with "We never had this problem before. It maybe your fault." The "full" breakfast consisted of bread and bacon. Too much money to throw on bad service. read more

After I moved away for grad school, I stayed here when I was visiting. The rate was around $120 for a very large room and a filling breakfast in the morning. They have a friendly house cat, but if your allergic be warned. The room I had plenty of windows which made the room pleasantly bright. There was a small kitchenette if you want to make food in your room. I recommend this B&B to out of town guests who don't went to crash on my couch or pay $200 a night. read more

Stayed at Mary Prentiss Inn June 2016. The inn itself is very charming and the rooms are quite comfortable. Decor is homey and welcoming. The freshly baked pastries served daily in the common area contribute to the comforting atmosphere. The beakfasts offered each day were carefully prepared and very satisfying. We've stayed in numerous hotels and b&b's in the Boston area and this is certainly one of the best. read more

I stayed here while attending a friend's wedding. It's truly beautiful, very historic and extremely clean and comfortable. The staff is friendly and helpful. It's expensive, but I think you get your money's worth. It's not super close to the T (subway), but within walking distance. There seemed to be some nice restaurants within a few blocks. I walked to Harvard Yard in the evening where there are many many restaurants, pubs and bars. I would definitely stay here again! read more

We chose the Mary Prentiss Inn largely because of its proximity to Boston and Harvard Square and the fact that its price was a bargain compared to other hotels that were rated well. What we did not realize was that our expectations would be exceeded on every level. The Inn itself was beautiful - the bedrooms, breakfast room, and sun room all possess the qualities of tasteful luxury and historic charm. Breakfast was delicious each day we stayed. It was made to order and included items like pancakes with fresh strawberries and kiwis, and eggs frittata. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. They were happy to store pastries we had picked up from the North End in their fridge, and most importantly they allowed us to park our car for free on the night after we had checked out (if you know Boston, parking is not easy to come by). Finally, the Inn is walkable distance from Harvard Square and is just a few blocks from the T. We loved this place and would definitely stay again! read more

We absolutely loved staying at the Mary Prentiss Inn! What a gem! The location is superb--we chose it to be near our friends and enjoyed being almost on Mass Ave but still in a quiet and residential area. The decor is perfect, exuding that lovely New England charm. Everyone who worked there was kind, helpful, and friendly so that we felt right at home. Free parking, afternoon tea & cookies, breakfast, and wifi. We honestly can't wait to come back! Just a tip: Room 17 has a shower built into the roof, so you can't stand straight up. We will avoid that room in the future. read more

I stayed at this B&B four nights and enjoyed it very much. The room was clean, big, quite and the breakfast was delicious!

We had a wonderful stay at the Mary Prentiss Inn! It was quiet, quaint and clean. The staff was very friendly and helpful - they let us check out late and leave our bags there while we explored Harvard Sq. before heading to the airport. The breakfast was pretty good and the afternoon treats (cookies, pound cake, etc.) were a plus. Overall, we had a great experience and would recommend this b&b to others! read more

The place was beautiful and I loved all the extra touches like tea and cookies each day. They made special accommodations for us since we were leaving early in the morning. They gave us continental breakfast early and showed us where the small fridge was that we could have access to for milk. Has anyone else seen strange dripping from the picture frames in the hallway???? I have to admit I thought the photos of all the children from decades ago was a little creepy. In the morning I found a photo on the wall with brownish red goo on the wall! (Resembled blood!) I got chills over my whole body!!! I checked it out later that day and it was sticky and came from the back of the frame. I couldn't figure out what would have made this frame drip anything in the middle of the night. As I said we left very early the second morning. As I was leaving with suitcase in hand I saw two more frames with drippings!! Freaky!!! I asked the staff after the first day. They gave no indication this had happened before but did not go up to investigate as I had requested. Just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience. read more