Profile

When playwright and artist Rene Calvo bought The Harlem Flophouse in 2000, the historic brownstone was partitioned into over a dozen pea-sized rooms and the main inhabitants were rats and dirty syringes. One major renovation later, the elegant prewar building has been transformed into a quirky combination B&B/art gallery. The good-sized rooms are decorated in the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance and boast names like the Corky Hale, the Chester Himes and the Cozy Cole; décor includes an original pressed tin roof, beautiful claw-foot tub and large walnut dresser dotted with ancient cigarette holes, as well as more quaint touches like old paperbacks and lamps made from Kentucky bourbon bottles. The house is filled with the work of local artists, including that of Calvo himself, and the elegant, checkered downstairs mantle doubles as an exhibition space. A walking encyclopedia of city lore—and mixer of a mean cocktail—Calvo often follows-up his home-cooked breakfast with a tour of the best local gospel and jazz spots, many of which are within walking distance. He also gives discounts to artists. — Mike Sanfilippo

Much more personal and affordable than most hotels in the area, the B&B is clean, beautifully-restored and historically-engaging.

Cons
While most of the kinks have been ironed out, the Flophouse is still a tad rough around the edges. Also, the rooms do not have private bathrooms, though the large tub in the central bathroom is both clean and comfortable.