Wyndham Alumnae House

If you like lumpy beds that look like they were stuffed with horsehair, wallpaper patterns rescued from a 19^th c insane asylum, or surfaces with so much «patina» you’ll be skeeved out to touch them, then you will love the Wyndham. Even by B&B standards the rooms are scary, off kilter, and run down. I’m seriously sleeping with the lights on because I’m terrified an undead Victorian child-​ghost will crawl out from under the rickety bed.
Oh, and this is a sensible shoes ONLY type of place: my high heel went *through* one of the dilapidated floorboards as I attempted to leave my room.
Staff was very friendly but also a hot mess. I assume they are all students or something. Or, maybe they just can’t concentrate on account of all the Victorian child ghosts.

A lovely b & b on the Bryn Mawr campus. Reminds me of British B&Bs except the breakfast is just Continental, with no hot foods, and the rooms are well heated.
Love the historic feel with creaky floor boards and antiques. Bed was comfy. No glitzy bathroom. Charming and relaxing.

I am only reviewing the food FYI as I did not stay in the B&B.
The Buffet was small however everything on the buffet was well tended to. Salad fresh, everyone was raving about the soups and the meats and veggies were on point as well. Service was a little strange because we were in a large group. Some of us got waited on while others refilled their own drinks from the drink table in the corner. Dessert was my favorite part, the sorbet was some of the best I’ve had.

This was one of the worst stays I’ve ever had in my life. The public areas are okay in décor but were messy with over-​flowing trash and food service items uncleared. There was a pile of swept up dust and dirt alongside of a leaning broom that was there when we checked in and there when we checked out.
The rooms were in bad shape, ill-​matched, unclean. Cheap and worn linens adorned the beds. My pillow smelled of someone else’s perfume. There was pubic hair in the sink and tub. The toiletries were no-​name and even half-​used but the scarier thing was «made in India» on the label.
The bathroom was barely put together but did have a ancient placard referring to «kotex and tampax» not being flushed. The smoke detector was quite old and was hanging from the ceiling by a wire. And these are just the highlights.
I could go on about the staff — but would that be piling on? We were directed to the wrong room number twice complete with one with a guest already asleep inside. Unbelievable given that there are only seven rooms to oversee.
We were so uncomfortable that we went to my son’s apartment without eating the included breakfast or bathing. We just wanted to get out of there.

An unexpectedly pleasant historic home on Bryn Mawr College’s campus is a great place to find an affordable lunch that will leave you feeling that you have truly had a momentary escape and pause from the rat race.
The service, menu, and décor are more like the old Merion Cricket Club than the club itself is today; a bit mauve, quiet, polite, and dignified. Try the fried oysters and chicken salad, a Philadelphia classic I’ll take over a cheesesteak any day. Meanwhile, enjoy rubbing elbows with a markedly more academic, buttoned-​up, tweedy silver-​haired crowd than has ever graced a Fleming’s steakhouse.
Wyndham doesn’t «wow» with shock value, but for locals it will be a «wow» to discover that such a — dare I say — «lovely» place exists as an alternative to the more trafficked lunch spots, and right in the back yard.

umm, what’s the alternative at bryn mawr?

Love love LOVE Wyndham! Why? It’s where I had my wedding in June!
This gorgeous, charming, and picturesque old inn served as the perfect venue for my wonderful wedding, at which we had approximately 110 guests. The absolutely lovely Sandra Donahue worked with us on every intricate detail, from the placement of the cake to the table runners, transforming the dining rooms into a stunning reception.
Despite the extremely hot and humid forecast for our special day, the folks at Wyndham made everyone comfortable, cranking up the air-​conditioning and providing cold drinks. The wine and food were positively phenomenal – I do not exaggerate! – and everyone came away completely satisfied and begging for recipes. What a success!
Wyndham’s elegance and grace – both exterior and interior – were a dream come true. The gardens were enchanting, while each of the many rooms of the inn were decorated tastefully with antique rugs and furniture, adding to the sophisticated yet comfortable feeling of our wedding. One sweet touch was Sandra’s suggestion that we – my now-​husband and I – use one of the inn’s guest rooms as a dressing room for before the ceremony. That lent an air of surreality to the moments leading up to the big moment – and a bit of time to be alone together and reflect on how we felt.
Thank you so very much, Wyndham, for giving me, my husband, and our family and friends the most wonderful, memorable day we could ever have hoped for. We’ll treasure you forever!

Wyndham the restaurant/​bar gets five stars. Wyndham the hotel gets four. Average: four and a half. I’m rounding up, ’cause Wyndham is awesome in everything it does. And no, I never worked here, so I’m less biased than Steph and Catherine.
Wyndham, as a whole, kicks ass, no two ways about it. It’s absolutely beautiful inside, the servers are always polite, friendly and accommodating, the menu is widely varied but always delicious and reasonably priced, and they’ll make you a damn stiff drink if you want it.
Did I mention the whole place is ridiculously clean? And pretty? Well, it is. The business lunches and alumnae «events» I’ve done in Wyndham (AKA Wyndham Alumnae House AKA Wyndham Bed and Breakfast) have been highlights of my adult life. I just feel so sophisticated when I’m in there, I can’t help it.
Wyndham also hosts many of the College’s esteemed visiting poets and authors. The Ely room is a wonder to behold: I saw Mary Gaitskill read here. I saw Robinson Jeffers read here. I saw Olga Grushin read here. And I am so lucky. (It’s so lovely that couples often choose to be married or have their receptions in the Ely room!)
So why am I giving the hotel only four stars? Personal preference for the rooms. They’re rather small, and they remind me of my great grandmother’s house. They’re kind of dark, a little stuffy, and the floorboards creak. I realize that this is exactly what most B&Bs are going for, but Wyndham is so elegant in all other regards that I couldn’t help but find myself wanting a little more polish in the rooms. What can I say? I’m a Bryn Mawrtyr — I have high standards. But once I settled into the bed there, I was won over. The sheets! The down comforter! The mattress that is soft yet supportive! It was nothing short of glorious, and to top it all off I had a splendid breakfast the next morning — with all the fresh fruit and pastries my heart could ever desire.