Bellavista Bed and Breakfast: Old world charm with a funky flavour

Have you ever walked into a place and thought, wow… I feel great here, not sure what it is but it sure feels good. Kicking off the shoes and walking on old wooden floors that welcome your footsteps with a softness that belies their innate hardness was one of the thrills I experienced on entering our room in the Italian section of Philadelphia. Large oriental carpets cover and invite one to sink their feet into a well traveled path dating back more than one hundred and fifty years. This was the place, no doubt about it, we’re staying here...


http://www.philadelphiabellavistabnb.com/






Having just made a Wilmington, N.C.- New Jersey- New York city- Boston loop, we were on our way home to N.C. and a stopover was necessary to split up the 16 hour run. After a brief look at rooms in New Jersey at ridiculous prices, my partner, Yndie said , why not Philadelphia…and I thought, yea, that makes sense, it’s a great city, I lived there for seven years during the eighties and loved it and I mean loved it. It’s a manageable city, full of ethnic diversity, great restaurants, eclectic people, inviting walks, it’s got it all. The decision was obvious, but where…




Thanks for technology, we goggled, Bed and Breakfast in South Philadelphia and Bellavista B & B popped up. We put in a call and Barbara, one of the owners answered immediately, she and her husband were on their boat somewhere in Maryland. After an extended chat, reminiscing about the old times in Philadelphia, I knew that this was it, and it was.

Garland of Letters...South Street
Di Brunos


My ex-wife and I lived in Queen Village, just a stone’s throw from the Italian market area, where we were always seeking out the best red sauce in the area. That was twenty-five years ago but I knew that the Italian market area was still basically unchanged, great food, great people, interesting architecture, superb cheese shops,( similar to Europe), and restaurants steeped in old Mafioso history, some with the spirits of Mafioso Dons still haunting them from their premature demise while shoveling in huge amounts of linguine.



One phone call from Barbara to Mary Lou, a neighbor who oversees the B&B and lives across the street and we were in. This beautiful three story row home tucked away on a quiet street in South Philly with its high ceiling, long corridors and its variety of rooms was our home for the next two days and I was very happy.
Italian Market

It was great to be back in Philly and especially the Italian section. This would be considered an eclectic B&B, maybe very eclectic, as it has a variety of brightly colored walls and ceilings, antiques, bric-a-brac and other chackas, appealing to the European, the “open” American and maybe those on small doses of cannabis. This is a very appealing environment to hang out in for several days and centrally located near just about everything, especially if you’re a walker.., great way to get exercise and enjoy the beauty of the city!

Di Bruno's cheese shop...9th street
Our first day was spent walking the city, first the Italian market, buying imported Asiago cheese, along with stuffed grape leaves smothered in garlic and olive oil, then on to Rittenhouse Square, one of the most beautiful and civilized parks in Philly, where people watching and an espresso at Le Colombe(voted the best espresso bar in the U.S.)is a must. Next we were off to China town where we enjoyed a light lunch at a vegetarian restaurant, then on to the liberty bell and back to our B&B.

It was like returning home, except without my audio system…





Later in the afternoon we met up with Jessica, a charming Colombian student at Drexel University, managing the premises, who gave us a tour of the different rooms, their styles, colors and decorations. Unbeknownst to us, there is a wine cooler with a decent selection that is complimentary to those staying in the rooms, of which we imbibed and enjoyed every last drop.



South Philly (BellaVista section) is a piece of Italy that retains that old world charm, now mixed with other ethnic cultures that together somehow fuse and yet symbiotically exist in an environment that makes it all work.

We want to say thanks to the owners, Dan and Barbara who's B&B have enriched our lives in a very short period of time and given me a renewed appreciation of all that this area has to offer. My partner Yndiana Montes from Venezuela, loves my old home and looks forward to returning as soon as possible, and that makes me happy. We will return to Bella Vista B&B and again enjoy a piece of that old world charm rarely found in the U.S.