1871 House (a New York City style Bed and Breakfast)

Metropolis: Japan's No. 1 English Magazine: Alternative Stays in New York: A new breed of accommodation offers the best of hotels and apartments: June 2007
Communal breakfasts and polite chit-chat with homeowners make the term "bed and breakfast" seem like the antithesis of autonomy. But northeast from my apartment, at 1871 House on East 62nd Street, autonomy is exactly what I find. Named for the year in which it was built, this elegant brownstone sits in the Upper East Side's Historic District and has been lovingly restored and decorated with bags of New England charm by its owners Lia and Warren Raum.

Strictly speaking, it's hard to classify what's on offer here. With just seven rooms, it could be called a small hotel. Yet a hotel wouldn't give out keys to the front door, equip each room with a small kitchen and working fireplace, or leave a stack of paperbacks on the nightstand. Similarly, to call it a guesthouse is misleading, since the owners and managers remain largely unseen (though not unreachable).

And as breakfast isn't included, the term "bed and breakfast" doesn't quite cut it here either. But, calling itself an "urban country inn," 1871 House does in fact loosely adopt the term B&B, while also distancing itself from the conventions of the category with the prefix "New York City-style." This is firstly because, as a common characteristic of B&Bs, the innkeepers live onsite (in this case in the two-story house in the garden). Secondly, it's because breakfast is available to guests-only it's in the manner that New Yorkers like to take it: eat-in or to-go at a whole host of friendly neighborhood places.

National Geographic Traveler: May/June 2007: Manhattan's inns let you live like a local: From the tip of the Village to Harlem, bed-and-breakfasts offer travelers an experience of Manhattan that is intimate and offbeat-somehow close to the bone. Tucked into houses all over the island, usually on side streets away from the razzmatazz of the avenues, these small inns offer guests individual attention, quiet, and savvy access to their neighborhoods - and the shops, cafes, and local pleasures guidebooks sometimes overlook. Formal or funky loaded with charm, Manhattan B&Bs reflect the individual character of the neighborhood and the personality of the people who keep them. 1871 House: Every grand room and suite in this historic brownstone between Lexington and Park is impeccably dressed. The original period details-wood-and-ironwork, moldings, flawless plank floors-make a happy marriage with the well-selected romantic antiques, fixtures, and linens. Owners Lia and Warren Raum take no shortcuts with amenities, low-tech and high. Wake under a stack of plump covers in an antique iron bed, then check your email with Wi-Fi. Gaze through the lace at the window and plan your day: shopping at Barneys? Dinner at JoJo? Ambling through galleries" You're only minutes away.

Make Business Travel a Pleasure by Staying at Bed and Breakfast, 12/11/2007, (TransWorldNews): You're on the road for business again; this time why not pretend you are also on a pleasurable adventure and choose a Bed and Breakfast instead of a business hotel? Not only will you avoid the anonymous rooms, noisy hallways, and pricey industrial continental breakfasts but you will actually feel you have had a pleasant little getaway. New York City: 1871 House B&B: On a tree-lined street on the fashionable Upper East Side, this classic Brownstone offers stylishly elegant accommodations. Old World charm is evident in the decorative ironwork covering the front door, ornate moldings around windows, high ceilings and floors, and ornate marble and wood fireplace mantelpieces. It was named one of the 100 best little hotels in New York City in 2003. A quote from a recent business traveler reveals the difference in staying in a little inn versus a business hotel, "I lived in New York for several years, and perhaps my favorite thing about the 1871 House was that it felt less like staying in a cold and touristy hotel, and more like I was using a friend's really fabulous apartment. I haven't felt so much like a New Yorker since I moved away".

USA Today: Some business travelers prefer B&Bs: July 31, 2007: Business travelers generally don't consider bed-and-breakfasts for their lodging. Maybe they should, a new survey suggests. The following are the top picks for the best urban B&Bs for business travelers. The top-ranking inns offer expected amenities for business travelers plus "over-the-top" extras such as a great view, notable decor, a convenient location or exceptional value.
Top 10 urban B&Bs
1. Boston Yacht Haven, Boston; 2. Oge House Inn on the Riverwalk, San Antonio 3. Butler House on Grand, Des Moines; 4. Royal Elizabeth B&B, Tucson; 5. Union Street Inn, San Francisco 6. 1871 House, New York City; 7. Napoleon's Retreat, St. Louis; 8. DC Guest House, Washington 9. Chambered Nautilus, Seattle; 10. Flemish House of Chicago, Chicago

Frommers: Getting Cozy in 5 Big City Bed and Breakfasts: July 15, 2007: Admit it, when you think of a bed and breakfast, the imagery of some little hamlet nestled in the woods pops in your head. A pond maybe with some wee ducklings thrown in for show and a deer or two eating berries all Bambi like. You know, a bucolic hideaway shielded from the hustle and bustle of modern life, right? Well, if you are looking for that kind of living -- sans the preciousness of Mother Nature -- it might be time to check into the world of urban B&B's. Big city B&B's give you the best of both worlds: country charm and big city excitement. Many are located on residential streets smack dab in the middle of things, giving you the luxury of feeling like a local without having to pay the sky-high urban rents. Beyond being in the mix of things, B&B's are great for any type of traveler that enjoys those "homey" touches which can include: individually designed rooms, mouthwatering breakfasts and cozy fireplaces. Most B&B's do not offer perks such as bars, restaurants or gyms but what they do give you is better: a great deal of personal attention. Before you book your next metropolis-based vacation, take a peek at B&B's that can make the big, bad city feel like a home away from home. New York: New York City might seem like the last place where were you would find a multitude of B&B's, but the city once again proves to be a place where you can find anything. One of the city's top B&B's is 1871 House (rooms starting $200; tel. 212/756-8823; www.1871house.com), located just minutes away from the world's most famous grassy enclave, Central Park. With eight ornate rooms to choose from (some including full kitchens) you'll feel like you are in the midst of an older, long-gone New York.

An Explorer's Guide: New York City: September 2006 by Paul Karr: A pretty shuttered brick town house in a nicely quiet location not far from fifth Avenue and Central Park, this local secret hides behind ironwork covering the front door…Inside, hosts have carefully preserved the home's marble and wood fireplaces, moldings, around windows and high ceilings. All give the place an elegant B&B feel, as do the antiques scattered throughout, yet rooms are modernly enough appointed that you won't feel stuck in the 19th century. Each room is country furnished, much as you'd expect to find such a place in, say, Vermont or Maine. There's a private patio and terrace garden with one of the rooms.

Quantas Magazine, the Austrailian Way: NYB&B: April 2006: If you must put your head down in the city that never sleeps, do it somewhere with a personal touch. Sex and the City's Carrie Bradsahw might roll her eyes at the thought of staying in a New York City hotel, Ditto the crew from Seinfeld. Nothing wrong with that, as Jerry might say, if your like impersonal places that could be anywhere. Whether you are here for business or pleasure, savor the real Big Apple in neighborhoods with character, as opposed to characters. Experience discreet bed and breakfasts that feel like real country inns, or luxury apartment with Jacuzzis, fireplaces and robes. Don't believe the myth about New Yorkers being cold. These places are run by people who like mingling with visitors. Unlike even some of the best hotels, everything is just so thanks to personal pride. And because atmosphere is paramount, they may impose restrictions on children and smoking: Built in 1871 and located on the exclusive Upper East Side, 1871 House is just stops away from Park Avenue, Bloomingdale's and Serendipity 3, where celebrities such as Jude Law and Hugh Jackman come for the frozen (sic) hot chocolate. Some of the seven apartments and guest rooms have kitchenettes and working fireplaces. One has a lovely terrace. No meals but a goodie basket with Sarabeth's mouthwatering preserves and Gilchrist and Soames English toiletries are available.

Northeast Traveler: Inn Style: Urban Adventures: March 2004: 1871 House, New York City: Heading for the big city? Despite what you may have heard, options for accommodations aren't limited to the spare and pricey. These inns offer the ambience and flair that make urban rates feel reasonable. 1871 House: Book a room at this 130-year-old brownstone in the Upper East Side Historic District, and you'll be tucked away in a neighborhood populated by consulates, diplomatic missions and art galleries. The inn's decor is Old World charm: working fireplaces, wood and marble mantle pieces, antique furnishings and hardwood floors. Located between Park and Lexington avenues, it's three blocks from Central Park, around the corner from Barney's and Bloomingdale's and close to dining at all price points, from Burger Heaven to Daniel and Payard. It's also near the lower part of Fifth Avenue's "Museum Mile" which includes The Frick Collection, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Asia Society.

Great Escape: The Manchester Airports Group: Autumn/Winter, 2003/2004: Lets Stay the night in…New York: No one staying in New York realistically expects a large room, let alone a view! The all-American hospitality in individual places more than compensate. Here are a couple with space - and even one with a view. Just a stroll from Central Park and Madison Avenue, the 1871 House is tucked away on a leafy brownstone lined street. Named after the year in which it was built, this quiet, private B&B is a gem in the Upper East Side Historic District. Each room or apartment has been carefully designed with individuality and a touch of New England charm. There are five studios and two full floor suites. The immediate district has good restaurants and stylish cafés.

New York e-guide: 2005: This beautifully renovated brownstone building is close to Central Park and an upscale shopping zone, but the quiet, leafy street makes you forget you're in the heart of the city. There's no common area for guests, but the spacious, high-ceilinged rooms, suites, and studios are ideal for lounging, and most have working fireplaces - quite a treat for a New York property. The keepers even provide duraflame logs to burn. So long as you don't require 24-hour room service, these cozy, relaxing accommodations are a good option. The whole place is furnished with antiques and the décor is warm and homey. If you are traveling in a group of four or more, reserve the Great Room and Cottage Combination; both have access to a lovely garden, the "cottage space." Some rooms have kitchenettes, but the hotel is close to many eateries. A four-night minimum is usually expected.

"Country Living Magazine:" September 2004:"Inn of the Month": On a leafy side of the street on New York City's Upper East Side, the cozy 1871 House offers the comforts of home within walking distance of Central Park and some of the Country's finest art museums. The converted townhouse has three comfortable guest rooms, three studios with kitchens, and two family-friendly suites that sleep five and have fireplaces and kitchens. While you're in the neighborhood, shop around the corner at Bloomingdale's, sip the famous frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity III, and visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, where 18th- 19th-century furniture and quilts are on permanent exhibit.

"new york's 100 best little hotels": 3rd edition, 2003 by Allen Sperry Imagine -New England Country Charm just steps from Park Avenue! This delightfully warm and welcoming bed and breakfast is located in a classic five-story brownstone on one of New York's loveliest, tree-lined blocks. Proprietor Lia Raum and her husband, Warren, have furnished this wonderfully special place with treasures gleaned from Connecticut antiques stores and flea markets. The result is a feeling of home and hearth, as you would dream it to be. More country inn than urban B&B, here personal attention, good taste, and loving care are evident in every detail. Hand-stitched quilts, hooked rugs, sleigh beds, and sporting prints and paintings abound. Most bedrooms feature original moldings and working fireplaces. Windows look out on either the leafy, quiet street or the tree-shaded back garden. If you can, book the romantic Cottage room, with its sun-drenched second-floor terrace. This book was written expressly to unearth gems like 1871House - a lovely "country" hideaway in one of New York's most elegant neighborhoods.

Frommers:The Unofficial Guide to Bed and Breakfasts and Country Inns in the Mid-Atlantic 1st edition (2002)
Awarded 1871 House four stars (out of five)! Their review says "privacy and exclusivity with easy access to the best of urban New York City…and the opportunity to stay in a genuine renovated brownstone". An interesting mix of antiques and eye-catching, over-sized accessories gives each guest room a unique look. Quality fabrics and designer-brand items add elegance. Japanese Esquire Magazine: 1871 House Featured in the special November 2002 issue (New York City Guide Issue)

Petra Magazine, November 2002: "Elegante Stadtwohnung mit Kamin, gleich um die Ecke von New Yorks edelster Shopping Meile 5th-Avenue."

Fodors Rivages Guides: Hotels & Country Inns of Character and Charm in New York 2003. By Michelle Gastau: Excerpt: Upper East Side est le quartier huppe de New York, du moins pour les rues proches de Central Park. En effet, ce ne'st qu'avecl'ouverture du parc en 1860 que cette zone de prairies commenca a s'urbaniser: les mansions fleurirent sur la Fifth Avenue, les brownstones dans les rues perpendiculaires. Aujourd'hui, Madisoin Avenue regroupe les boutiques des grands couturiers, il y a de nombreuses galleries d'art et tous les grands musees son't situes dan la zone. La charmante Lia Raum occupe avec sa petite-fille le rez-de-chaussee de sa jolie maison, les etages etant totalement consacres aux chambers d'hotes. Toutes sont tres soignees, amenagees dans un stule Victorien ou Arts & Crafts, dotes de meubles anciens ou de belles copies avec souvent une cheminee. La plupartont une cuisine avec tout ce qu'il faut pour avoir un espace completement prive et independent. Certaines sont de veritables appartements avec deux chambers. Si vous etes en famille, ou entre amis avec qui vous pouvez faire sale de bains commune, la Great room partage la terrasse avec un cottage qui se trouve au fond du jardin. Celui-ci n'est loue qu'en chamber supplementaire. A deux blocs de Central Park, on est saisi d'envie de jogging ou de promenandes matinales pour ne pas deroger au rite new-yorkais.

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