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. 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. 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. — 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.