We had an amazing stay at the Lillagaard. The tropical room was perfect for us. The staff were very sweet. The views from the porches were right of the ocean! Would definitely stay again! read more

The Lillagaard - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Ocean Grove, New Jersey

See all

Lillagaard is a nice, decent victorian style b&b. Its a 130 + years old building so you might be a little disappointed if you go in there expecting an average hotel experience. This place has its own quirks, the room I stayed had a separate sink next to the beds and a small bathroom with a small shower and a toilet. They dont have a fridge in the room but they have a big fridge downstair in the kitchen area. This place lends you complimentary beach chairs and towels. Also you can get a beach pass for $6 (if you buy it from the beach entrance its $9) Their breakfast was pretty good. They gave out home baked chocolate chip cookies in the evening and they were delicious! It was a "perfect" place for a quiet and relaxing mother daughter getaway! read more

See all

We had a very pleasant stay at the Lillagaard last weekend. The building is charming, or room was hand-painted in a delightful, whimsical theme, and the shower was strong. The hosts were gracious, and the hot breakfast and fresh afternoon cookies were delicious! It is located very close to the beach and has an old world charm. We loved sitting on the front porch in the evenings. My biggest complaint is that the bed was extremely hard! For the room cost, you would expect a more comfortable bed. Maybe add a mattress topper or pad? I woke up sore in the morning. The staff also did not make our bed in the morning, although they did provide fresh bath towels (which is less common in these days of environmental awareness - typically if you want a fresh towel you leave yours on the floor but they don't have that policy). It would have been nice to come back to a made-up room. There also was no shampoo or conditioner provided. All in all, it's a lovely place and I highly recommend it. Ocean Grove is a charming town and we loved staying there and having close proximity to Asbury Park. read more

I stayed overnight on a friday before a fishing trip. Suzanne was very friendly and really interested in helping me enjoy my stay! The website describes the individual rooms so I was not surprised about my bathroom being down the hall. The hot weather was not yet in full swing so the a/c units were not in the windows but Suzanne was willing to put it in and was otherwise wonderfully accommodating. I would absolutely stay here again! read more

The Lillagaard - This super cute room is decorated in flowers! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Ocean Grove, New Jersey

See all

This is a cute B&B in a cute town on the Jersey Shore two doors down from the beach. The owners are very nice and accommodating. That said, the review from 2016 regarding Room 12 (Also called the "Little Lilac" room) is spot on. It is quite possibly the worst hotel room I have ever stayed in. On the plus side, the owners were accommodating and allowed us to move to a new room after our first night, and it was perfectly nice. read more

Kevin and Fam are amazing! There's a lot of old reviews in here from weird previous owners which the owners are def a million miles from! We were greeted before we got to the door by our hosts and helped up to our cozy room after a small tour of this charming little B and B. Cozy room Very Clean room perfectly priced! Look at the pictures peeps, it's a old charming B and B, know what your getting into, you can spend $450 at the Asbury or stay in this Charming spot for half the cost. Would def recommend! Also the lady in the review before sounds crazy, we had the exact opposite experience, must have been a later review that stayed with previous owners or something! Don't pass it up! read more

My girlfriend and I stayed here for the long holiday weekend, and we really loved the place. We booked the Tower, which is the highest room in the house; the trek up four flights of stairs is definitely something, but worth it for the sense of privacy and ocean views from the windows. The hosts were very friendly, daily breakfast was delicious, and the other guests were very courteous. Location is ideal, with a very short walk to the beach; Asbury Park boardwalk and Cookman Ave nightlife also an easy walk away. We only had a few concerns during our stay: the WiFi connection didn't reach our room, the bed was a bit firm, and our bathroom (shared with one other room) could've used a deeper clean. Would definitely come back for another stay!! read more

My first ever bed and breakfast. Had a wonderful weekend getaway for my sister in laws 60th birthday party. Kevin and Suzanne were such wonderful hosts. They go the extra mile to accommodate all their guests from providing simple necessities to homemade cookies. The place is cozy, two houses away from the beach. Ice cream shop on lower level. Highly recommend for any bed and breakfast beginners and lovers. read more

My girlfriend and I really enjoyed staying at Lillagaard this past weekend for a quick Ocean Grove getaway. Location is great as it's a one minute walk to the beach. Lillagaard is very charming and comfortable. We stayed in the Americana room which had cool american historical memorabilia and was very clean and comfortable. The innkeepers Suzanne and Kevon were courteous and helpful hosts, giving us several recommendations for restaurants in asbury Park. Breakfast was pancakes, sausage, French toast and fruit. The food was delicious and fresh. I can't wait to get back to Lilllagaard!! read more

This place was so unique and fun. Each room was named and decorated in its own theme. My room was the Polo Room... Awesome old paintings and photos of horses, jockeys etc. My room overlooked the beach, loved it. This place is located right next to the beach, location is quiet and peaceful. The owners are so wonderful and welcoming. When I stayed I had left an 80 degree Manhattan and arrived in a chilly windy Ocean Grove, NJ. Jane (one of the owners) noticed my lack of sweater. She immediately went to her room and retrieved a sweater and insisted I borrow it... saved my night! Breakfast is downstairs in the lovely Victorian tea room. If you're wanting a chic modern place, this is not the Inn for you. But if you're looking for something a little different, fun and welcoming, then you must stay. Just walk up the lovely front porch steps, past the giant chess board and pink flamingos, and step into a slice of the past where each room has it's own story to tell. read more

I HAD to write this review bc two things hit me as soon as I got there -THE FLOORS. Omg the floors. They are so warped that I felt like I was on a ship/didn't know what I was going to step on next -the VIEW. It was beautiful and the porch was much better looking in real life than in the pictures I saw online Pros: -Very very close to the beach -nicely decorated if you're into the whole Victorian era thing -cute little tea room downstairs -nice/friendly owner (Jim I think his name was?) Cons: -I cannot NOT mention the floors. I get its a Victorian era house but this was seriously disorienting -bathroom had a strange set up, with the sink separate from the toilet & shower all the way near the window. But again, I guess it comes with the quirks of a victorian house -kinda far from Asbury Park where everything is -i have to also mention the lady from Eastern Europe who worked there who was quite rude. She chose to shame my parental units into leaving while they stayed downstairs, saying that if they're not going to book a place they have to leave. I get the policy but it could have been said in more polite terms. I have to say though, I had the most restorative sleep here, which is why I'm giving this place 3 stars overall. Good if you want to try a quiet but very "historic" (and therefore old) B&B in Ocean City! read more

Think long and hard before booking at the Lillagaard. There are much nicer hotels closer to the beach -- and others with much more honest and professional proprietors. I recently booked a room there as a friend of mine was having a brunch for her bridal shower. I booked 2 weeks in advance. You cannot change or cancel your reservation after the 2 week mark so I knew I was locked into the reservation. The staff seemed nice and I was excited about going. I love ocean grove and hadn't been in a while. I'm an ER nurse. The day before we were due to leave to ocean grove I developed back pain at work. I spoke to one of the ED doctors who gave me medicine. I was determined to push through. We arrived to the hotel. First off there is absolutely NO PLACE to park. Their website boasts they have a driveway to load and unload but it's basically parking in the middle of the street. It was 90+ degrees -- I'm dealing with back pain. Get into the hotel and there is this odd smell -- like old wood. Not terrible -- just odd. Our room is on the 3rd floor -- each flight with at least 10 steps. Get to the room and they had no put the air conditioner on despite me calling and telling them I was on the way. So I'm in pain -- hot -- now the woman wants to take us back downstairs for a tour of the hotel. How about having someone there to carry luggage so that guests can tour the hotel? A hotel - no elevator charging $232/night with no bell hop service. The room was basic. There were 2 small towels on the bed and 2 wash cloths. The bathroom was outside in between other peoples rooms. No privacy really to this thin old wooden door. Toilet was small and low to the ground. They do have a beautiful second floor balcony that if you look to the left you can see the ocean. We stayed out there for a bit and ordered dinner. After dinner I attempted to get up and my back pain was too great. My husband alerted them we were leaving because I was having a back issue. They didn't offer a lower floor. They didn't offer a refund. They didn't offer help to the car. They took the key back and that was the last exchange. We drove home at 12:30 am and I immediately emailed the owners to apologize. I asked them not to rent my room in case I was up to returning to which he replied -- when you left we rented your room at 1:30am. Keep in mind the policy is they will refund your money if they can rerent the room and they also have a policy of a 2 stay minimum on weekends. After multiple emails back and forth about a refund -- they said the best they could do was give me $200 back. I paid $232 for the night. They booked the room for the weekend as it is there policy not to rent for less -- yet they would only give me $200 back which is not even a full nights rental. I lost over $500. They mailed me out a check a week later and I had to call to remind them. I would never ever stay in this hotel again. I would never recommend it to anyone. I pray the karma they deserve never finds them. I pray they never find themselves in similar circumstances. Greed is an ugly thing. read more

The Lillagaard (Hard) Bed and (Bleh) Breakfast Cons: 1. I had a very hard, uncomfortable bed which is strange since it's a BED and breakfast. 2. The lights are left on overnight in the hallway which streamed into the room. Between that and the awful bed, I couldn't sleep. I left after the first night. 3. The breakfast is not a buffet and pretty lame which is strange since it's a bed and BREAKFAST. You pick your food items and one of 3 time frames. Mine wasn't ready at my "allotted time." I only ordered a fruit cup (it was a sad fruit cup). 4. No air conditioning is on in any of the common areas which isn't pleasant in August particularly in the dining area. 5. The ice cream shop was closed. 6. For over $300/night, they need to step it up. So not worth the money. Pros: 1. A short walk to the beach. 2. You can buy beach badges there at a discounted rate. Just don't ask for them during the breakfast hours because no one is manning the office during that time. read more

My fiancé and I had a fantastic time at this eclectic, Victorian style bed and breakfast! The view and proximity to the beach is great and the food and staff are fantastic! I honestly can't say enough about the delicious breakfasts we had every single morning. They have a 5 course tea time which costs extra but is COMPLETELY worth it and a fun outdoor chess set. While it is a considerable distance from Asbury Park and the rooms have an odd layout and window a/c units (at least in the room we stayed in), if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing time at the beach or if you don't mind walking to get to AP it's perfect. Honestly, it'd be worth it for the breakfasts alone! We will definitely be coming back some time in the future! read more

My wife and I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights in late July 2021. We enjoyed it. We paid $310 per night including tax and fees. It is overpriced and parking can be problematic. The website says, "free parking nearby," but no parking is provided and the only parking available is street parking. Parking is not a problem during summer weekdays, but on Fri-Sat-Sun during summer, the entire town is flooded with cars and you may need to walk a long distance between the hotel and your car. This situation is not unique to the Lillagaard. All hotels in Ocean Grove have a similar parking issue, since the town is so built-up, without parking lots, and this is perhaps a reason for the community's charm and its excellent architectural qualities. We enjoyed the hotel's location, so close to the boardwalk and beach, and we enjoyed the breakfasts and the ice cream shop downstairs (ice cream shop is open evenings only). We also enjoyed the 3 large porches which are common porches furnished with chairs, sofas and tables, with ocean views. The porches are a good place to meet other hotel guests. Most of the problems with this hotel are related to its age. This historic B&B was built in 1871. Our room was small, had flowered wallpaper (everything is flowery here, in terms of decor, and our room is called the Rose Room), the bathroom is tiny, and the sink was not in the bathroom, but in our hotel room on the opposite side from the bathroom. The cramped shower stall had dark-stained caulk which surprised me greatly, given the high price at this B&B. There is no TV in the room, but I expected that when I booked. There is a common TV in the first floor reception room. Rooms have window air conditioning units, which creates noise on the porches, and when the a/c is off, the discussions on the porch can be heard clearly in the rooms. So you need to expect to hear plenty of chatter, or the hum of an air conditioner. The room had no USB ports for charging phones, but had adequate electrical outlets, although most were situated in hard-to-find places behind a chair or curtain. The small staff works very hard, at this hotel. Despite not being a good value, I would stay here again. Overall we were satisfied with out stay. read more

A calm piece of paradise. I've never felt so at home, nor at ease. With wine, candy, tea, coffee, lemonade, etc laid out for all guests, two TV rooms, communal board games (chess, chekers,) and luxurious porch and indoor furnishings, and wifi, no creature comfort is too far out of reach. Each room is decorated in it's own unique way and comes with a private bathroom which is a luxury in the world of B&Bs. I'm in my room and can hear nothing but ocean waves. I have an ocean view that wasn't an extra charge. I'll be back! read more

Spent one night. Wish it could have been longer. Perfect location, so much charm, awesome friendly hosts. Feels like the English seaside. read more

My partner and I visited for Memorial Day weekend. Such a great place to stay. The hosts were super nice and made Every effort to make our stay safe and enjoyable. Great breakfast in the morning to wake up to also. If you are looking for a safe enjoyable time at the shore I would highly recommend giving them a call. read more

I decided to extend my vacation and booked this b&b last minute after a stay at a nearby town. I called Lillegaard after finding them on one of the booking sites and the owner gave me a great deal. He greeted me upon arrival and kindly carried my bag up to the next floor. It was midweek and he gave me the choice between two equally beautiful rooms on the second and third floor, which is quite gracious. Note: I have a background in architecture and a deep appreciation and knowledge of 19th century homes; bedrooms at that time were typically smaller than they are now and the owners have made the most of them. Also, it is typical of many older homes to be on a slight angle on some parts - it's from how the house settled - saying this because I saw it mentioned in other reviews, and my home is older and has the same. I chose the lovely and cozy second floor room by the balcony, with a full size bed, sink next to the bed and good size private bathroom with shower, painted white with handpainted ivy and flowers. The A/C was great, very clean room and high, comfortable bed. I work on my laptop and wifi worked well in my room. Breakfast was great; I love the combination European and American offerings in their buffet: ham, hardboiled eggs, fresh tomato and cucumber slices, fresh fruit and greek yogurt, as well as sausage and pancakes or bacon and french toast, excellent bread baked daily by a local woman, sweet baked goods, nutella and fruit preserves. Very nice staff, love the cute little ice cream shop. Lots of games, movies and free coffee and tea all day, softdrinks and water paid on your honor. They even offer beach towels, chairs and umbrellas to use on the beach, included with your stay. And feeling the ocean breeze while sitting on the porch is an amazing feeling. What more could you ask for? read more

Wonderful spring stay at Lillagaard BnB. New owners Suzanne and Kevin along with daughter Imogene were gracious hosts that took care of every need. Delicious breakfast in a giant old quirky Victorian with many, many rooms, I opted to stay in the very top tower with a view of the ocean from my comfy bed. The vibe is special, can't wait to return in the summer. read more

We LOVE the Lillagaard Hotel, we had a wonderful stay last Summer. The hotel has great charm, the breakfast was fantastic, and the relatively new owners super friendly and helpful. Next time we visit the Jersey Shore, we're definitely staying here for it's close proximity to the beach, it's unique ambiance, and overall atmosphere of Ocean Grove that you'll find wonderful. read more

The new owners took over in the Spring of 2018, so you can now disregard any old comments on the owners. The new owners were lovely, engaging and present. I was pleased that there was no musty smell, as you sometimes get in old inns with old rugs and furnishings, The hardest thing for many would be the stairs -- steps to get up to the main entrance from the street, steps up to your room and the steps down to eat. If your knees aren't young, it's a lot. Also, the parking is free but it's street parking, so finding something close on a weekend can be a challenge. My husband loved the candies on the table in one of the parlors. There are no refrigerators in the rooms but there is a common one in the dining area, where you put your name on your things. There is also a wine fridge on the main floor - again, the honor system. You label your bottles with your name. The rooms are definitely quirky. Seems all the showers were small like ours but I'm not tiny and I was able to fit. Our room had two baths -- a shower and a sink in one room and a shower and a toilet in the other bath. So you'd use the toilet, walk across the room and wash your hands in the other bath. We had a queen bed with an oldish mattress where there was a dip in the middle. As the new owners get the lay of the land there, I'm sure they will work out some of the kinks. And yes, there was very little storage. The room could use more hooks in the bathroom. In order to accommodate a queen bed, there might have been 15 inches at most, to maneuver around either side of the bed. And yes, the flooring was wonky. All in all our stay went well. When you choose an Inn at a beach that is stick built, on sand, and over 130 years old, it's not going to be a Holiday Inn. But that's where charm comes in. To be honest, the room prices weren't that much higher than some of the new hotels inland, so I was happy to pay the price. read more

The breakfast is five stars and so are the staff. The French toast was sooo good and they will make you eggs any style - staff are very accommodating. The room was clean however the bed was too hard. When I asked about a solution not much was offered. The views from this place and location are excellent. The furnishings are well thought out and comfortable. The complementary bars of soap were tiny and broke apart, bring your own. Overall good. Wifi did not work on upper floors. read more

This is by far the worst hotel experience I have ever had. I'd steer clear of this place at all costs. We checked in to room #12. My guess is that it's around 250 square feet. The sink is at the foot of the bed with a one-foot walkway clearance in between the two. It has spring-loaded facets, which meant you had to hold it with one hand and wash your face with the other. The hot water didn't work at all...not like it didn't get hot, but like the handle just didn't turn, at all. There are no plugins remotely close to the sink and mirror, which meant I dried and curled my hair with a little makeup mirror I had brought with me. I am 5'5 and 115 pounds and the shower was too small for me. I was hitting my elbows when I shampooed and had to duck to get under the water. Speaking of water, the water pipes are not inside the walls. They're screwed to the outside of the walls and you can hear everything going on above and around you. I could hear the sink turn on downstairs and the people showering above me. The plugin was hanging out of the wall. The AC sounded like a jet engine and didn't properly cool. On top of the technical issues, the décor is horrific. The owners sat downstairs in the living room with their TV turned up too loud. I could hear the score of the football game they were watching while I laid in bed. On my first night there, I had already checked in and gone to bed when my phone rang at midnight. It was the owners wondering when I was going to check in?! The door handle was janky and sometimes wouldn't turn properly. We got stuck in the room the second night. It was by far the worst hotel experience I have ever had. read more

Lovely bright floral decor in Tea Room in the basement of this B & B. Good choice of teas, awesome desserts, tasty sandwiches and gluten free is available if you request it when you make your reservation. The staff was friendly, efficient and very eager to make your visit perfect. My only negative is that the scones were ok but not great. The scones remind me of bisquick. Even so it was a great time and I recommend going. read more