Taylor House Bed & Breakfast

 

Taylor House Bed & Breakfast, a gracious sixteen room Victorian home in Boston's Jamaica Plain section, was built around 1855 for George W. Taylor, an international merchant head-quartered in Boston. It is situated within the Monument Square Historic District, and lies in an area known as "Pondside", which contains some of Jamaica Plain's finest suburban architecture. The structure is predominantly Italianate in style, but retains some Greek Revival elements that reflect the earliest architectural style found in Jamaica Plain. A distinctive octagonal cupola sits atop the main house, and this shape is echoed in a number of ways within the interior of the structure.

A multi-stage restoration project was launched in 1996 and is now complete. We now have a function space for dinners up to 30 and party/receptions up to 75.

Three spacious guest rooms with new private baths are available: the Taylor, Beaumont, and Haffenreffer rooms, named after former owners of the house. Upon entering the main lobby through double arched doors, you will see a beautiful staircase leading to the second floor rooms. A continental plus breakfast that includes fresh baked bread and pastries as well as fresh cut fruit and cereals is served daily in the first floor parlor. We offer a congenial, tasteful and serene environment that will enhance your visit to Boston, whether you are here for business or leisure.

 

Travelers are always looking for memorable and relaxing experiences. Let’s discover more through the words of our innkeepers. Many thanks to Dave Elliott for sharing his own secrets with BBOnline.com!

Why do most travelers stay at your inn? We get most of our visitors because they have family in the neighborhood. About 60% of our business is from grandparents that come stay with us to visit their families.

What are you best known for? What makes your inn unique? What do you love most about your inn? We are best known for our wonderful breakfast, guests love it!

If someone has never been to your city, what is the #1 reason to come visit? People come to Boston to experience the historical aspects it has to offer. It is very easy to get around in the car for sightseeing.

What’s the best compliment you have ever received about the inn? This compliment comes from one of our guests: "Ive been coming to the Taylor House for 9 years. It's my preferred place to lodge when I'm in Boston--I would consider it Boston's hidden gem. From Dave's hospitality to Daryl's great cooking, the sweetest dogs in Massachusetts, the short walk to Jamaica Pond, the even shorter walk to Boston's bountiful good eateries, it is the place to be."

What’s the best kept secret about the area? Boston has 400 acres of green space for guests to enjoy. We have jogging and bike trails available. Many people that haven't visited the area assume it's mostly urban.

If a traveler is staying at your inn for 4 nights, what should he/she do in the area? If travelers are planning to stay a few days or more, we suggest they visit the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Symphony.

Is there anything within walking distance of your inn? We are very close to many excellent restaurants, shopping, and Jamaica Pond.

What is your favorite restaurant/food in the area? Among our favorite restaurants are Centre Street Café and Ban Chiang House, which offers authenic Thai cuisine.

Any good area guides/websites that travelers could reference? We usually refer people to our web site and we have a links page at www.taylorhouse.com/aalinks.html

How many rooms does your inn have? We have a 3 rooms.

Do you accept pets? We accept dogs only.

 

Reviewed August 22, 2012 via mobile

Ive been coming to the Taylor House for. 9 years. It's my preferred place to lodge when I'm in Boston.

From Dave's hospitality to Daryl's great cooking, the sweetest dogs in Massachusetts, the short walk to Jamaica Pond, the even shorter walk to Boston's bountiful good eateries .... The local eclectic shops... All within Jamaica Plains friendly community of Bostonians.

Taylor House sits in the middle of it all. It's a great place to stay. Simple amenities but more Boston than the hotel fare will ever offer. The rooms are unique and clean. The beds could be more comfortable but never miss breakfast. You'll enjoy the peace and quit and the beautiful back patio and the special BIG home called Taylor House.

Stayed August 2012

Reviewed August 3, 2012

A lovely B&B, most courteous and helpful hosts, excellent breakfast, ideally situated, easy to find, in a lively neighborhood (nice restaurants and shops). Highly recommended. We really enjoyed our stay.

Stayed July 2012, traveled with friends

Reviewed July 14, 2012

Perched between Centre Street (the hub of Jamaica Plain) & the Olmstead park & pond, the Taylor House was a perfect location for our visit to friends. Our room was spacious & clean, though the shower was relatively small. Owners were present at breakfast but not obsequious, as some B&B owners can be. They were also gracious when we had to cancel a trip due to a death in the family, and were available when we needed to reschedule. Also, when we asked about a late checkout, they let us have the room as long as we needed, since no other guests were staying in our room that evening. The little outside area was a nice retreat. Best of all were the 2 dogs, which made us feel at home.

Stayed July 2012, traveled as a couple

 

Our landscaping project began in 1997 when the firm of George Carty developed a schematic for our property. The design flows from the architecture of the house with its bold proportions and decorative detail. We asked Mr. Carty to create an environment that blends function and beauty, using plantings, paths, fountains, and gathering places. The following is his statement about the project.

"The Gardens at Taylor House are modern interpretations of Victorian planting styles. An abundance of flowering plant species is set within distinct garden areas in ways that allude to bygone days. The grounds contain five separate gardens that are woven together by meandering paths of granite cobble, brick, and gravel. The garden fronting the house reflects its symmetry and plays with its unique architectural forms and plan. This garden provides a ‘stage set’ for the house with a large annual display bed edged in Boxwood and an abundance of heavily scented, old fashioned species: Silk Tree, Hydrangeas, Rose-of-Sharon, Trifoliate Orange, Spice Bush, and Mock Orange. The side gardens are devoted to a rich display of shrubs and perennials set in large borders. On the south side of the house the garden is large, billowy, and sun-filled, with roses and giant perennials that bloom from Spring through Fall. Wisteria and a multitude of other vines drape the porches and arbors. On the North side a moon garden with white flowers, many heavily scented and night blooming, offers shady retreat in the day and romance at night Two distinct patio areas provide secluded places for thought and conversation. The larger of the two is contained within an herb garden and has tables under a long colonnade for pleasant morning dining of bed and breakfast guests. The smaller patio is part of the entrance sequence to the house, an evergreen oasis in the shade of an ancient Linden Tree."

Even though our gardens are still taking shape, we hope our guests will linger on Taylor House grounds to enjoy the softly woven colors, sweet fragrances, and tranquil areas of refreshment that we are creating. During the summer of 1999 we installed a brick courtyard and planting beds for herbs. We have also planted many perennials and shrubs throughout the yard.

The first floor of Taylor House offers a unique, beautiful and intimate setting for private functions that range from cocktail receptions, showers and dinners to concerts and business meetings. Our interior combines antique and modern elements in a way that enhances the beauty of each, and our grounds feature lush garden spaces for entertaining when weather permits.

For business meetings we can accommodate up to 20 participants.
For all other functions the limit is around 35.
At social events we do not allow children under the age of 9.
Afternoon events may run until 5 PM with clean-up completed by 6 PM, and evening events until 8:30 PM with clean-up over by 9:30 PM.

We offer a variety of services that can help make planning easier and lead to a successful event. Examples of these include arranging for entertainment by classical or jazz musicians, menu planning, color themes, and flowers. In addition, we have a stock of function items for rent at below market prices and with no delivery fee, representing a savings for you.v Contracts are required for all events as well as a $200 refundable security deposit to cover any damage or spills that necessitate replacement or professional cleaning.

A detailed information booklet all about functions at Taylor House is available by e-mail or during your site-visit of the space.