9 Charming Hotels Perfect for a Suburban Staycation
Want to extend your trip? The region has plenty of hotels, inns, and B&Bs with quirk and character.
The Bookhouse Hotel at Faunbrook / Photograph by Alexa Johnson
Want to extend your trip? The region has plenty of hotels, inns, and B&Bs with quirk and character.
The Bookhouse Hotel at Faunbrook
If your idea of a delightful weekend away means curling up with a good read and never leaving your room, then this hotel, which opened earlier this year in West Chester, is the place for you. It’s the second Bookhouse property from realtor-turned-innkeeper Stephanie Olenik and partners Stephen Tallon and Bill Rookstool, who debuted their first location in Kennett Square in 2023. The new iteration has more than 5,000 tomes spread through its library, parlor, and seven guest rooms, six of which boast a theme inspired by a book or author: Daisy’s Room, for example, draws on the charmed-but-damaged beauty in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
Photograph by Alexa Johnson
The Darlington Suite, meanwhile, is named for the family who called this property home in the late 1800s and were known for their Fourth of July parties.
Photograph by Alexa Johnson
Want to take a book home with you? You can’t, but you can join the Book Club, with quarterly deliveries. Or you can wander over to the nearby Baldwin’s Book Barn, built in 1822; it’s filled with cozy nooks for reading. Rooms from $160; West Chester, Chesco.
Black Bass Hotel
This historic inn — one of the oldest in the country — offers river views and well-appointed rooms in a variety of styles. Naturally, you want one with a waterfront balcony. Check out after their popular Sunday brunch, and don’t skip the shrimp and grits. Rooms from $250; Lumberville, Bucks.
Carriage House
Have a romantic retreat at this intimate enclave. All three guest rooms have balconies with views of the Delaware River and Aquetong Falls. If a lovers’ rendezvous isn’t your current cup of tea, rent all three and have a weekend with your friends. Rooms from $475; New Hope, Bucks.
Radnor Hotel
A massive reno to the property’s event spaces, common areas, and guest rooms (complete with a new pillow program) — plus changes to the restaurant (Triple Crown) and gardens coming later this summer — has made this Main Line spot a good home base for exploring the region. Rooms from $199; St. Davids, Delco.
Gifford-Risley House
Don’t be fooled by the facade of this 19th-century Gothic Revival home: Each of the seven rooms is decorated in a different style, from Arts and Crafts to Art Deco. An open house on June 18th will give you a peek inside, though you might as well just book a stay. Rooms from $195; Media, Delco.
Normandy Farm
This sprawling destination — known for its red roofs and white facade — dates back to 1730 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, but today offers a modern farm stay. Dine on the terrace at Farmer’s Daughter restaurant, and check out the summer lineup of music, themed dinners, and other events. Rooms from $229; Blue Bell, Montco.
Three Daughters Inn
This sweet B&B on High Street puts you near gardens and museums (including one focusing on historic vehicles) and close to the riverfront park, where you can rent kayaks. Rooms from $145; Pottstown, Montco.
General Warren
A lesser-known fact about this 1745 inn and tavern (a popular wedding spot) is that it has its own pastry kitchen — they make their own breads and desserts, and even sell wholesale to local caterers. Enjoy all those carbs on the terrace of the 250-year-old springhouse. Suites from $190; Malvern, Chesco.
Fairville Inn
This adorable B&B caters to couples getting hitched at nearby venues, offering a weekend program for the soon-to-be-weds’ guests. No unions on the books? The inn is in an ideal location for exploring the Brandywine Valley’s wineries (Va La Vineyards is 20 minutes away) and museums (Winterthur’s a five-minute drive). Rooms from $265; Chadds Ford, Chesco.
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Published as “Weekend Warriors” in the June 2025 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
