Inn on Columbia

We stayed in the Gazebo for a weekend and loved every moment of our stay. Kenn and Madeline are perfect hosts and as many other reviews say, Madeline’s breakfasts are not only delicious but beautifully presented. They offered great suggestions for restaurants and activities and were always available for a quick chat. The room and grounds were both beautiful and well maintained. We’ll definitely return again.

It is an honor to write this review! My partner and I stayed at the Inn on Columbia this past weekend. We were fortunate enough to stay 3 nights as we were in town to do some winter hiking on the Cayuga hiking trail. I cannot express in words what a classy b & b this is! Madeline and Kenn the owners, have decorated this Inn so tastefully, very modern, yet warm and comfortable. The beds are so cozy I had to drag myself out of it each morning because it was so comfy! The art work throughout the inn is gorgeous, modern, colorful. Once I was up, I raced over to the main house where Madeline made us the tastiest egg frittata, with roasted potatoes and greens. I asked her if she was a graduate of the Culinary Institute! She said she isn’t but she cooks as though she was trained in France with the best chefs in the world! Madeline is a real first class act! She is very friendly, yet not overbearing like some b & b owners. And she dresses really cool, not frumpy the way a lot of B & B owners do! She also just this morning, made the most delicious pancakes, not like the trashy ones you get at IHOP, but fist size blond pancakes dusted with powdered sugar and a homemade blueberry compote and real maple syrup! Fresh fruit and french pressed coffee, and the best homemade scones, again hand made by Madeline was served at each breakfast, along with your choice of an incredibly designed egg dish to choose from! I did not want to leave! Kenn is very knowledgable of the area, as they both are Cornell University and Ithaca College graduates. They know of the best restaurants in town to send you to, not pricey ones, but the real cool, rad ones! I felt so at home at this B & B! Without a doubt, the best one I’ve ever stayed in, and I travel all over the world! I will be back very soon with my mom. In fact, I will find any excuse to come back to this unique b & b! Madeline and Kenn have a real gem of a place! I will go to bed tonight dreaming of the breakfasts Madeline made us, and planning my next return visit! This place is awesome! I highly, highly recommend staying here!!!
Kit Fruscione, Rochester, NY

Staying at Inn on Columbia is like staying with friends — but better.
Ken and Madeline have expertly crafted their property into a refined and relaxing environment suitable for all of your needs!
The food is top-​flight, the coffee is great and their recommendations for recreation and food are on-​point. But what makes this B&B so darn special are all the little touches that they’ve clearly put so much time into: folk and country music wafting lightly in the background, great big couches next to a roaring fireplace, thoughtfully chosen art all over the walls, excellent water pressure and excellent service.
Stay here! Seriously. Your time in Ithaca deserves a place like this!

Fantastic, memorable stay! A true gem. Very friendly to pets and humans. Fantastic breakfast, friendly hosts, and carefully decorated and spacious rooms. I highly recommend it. I checked the rooms before arriving and that may have helped, as the only review I saw that wasn’t ecstatic seemed to have stayed in the gazebo. We stayed in the Main house, which was refined and full of tiny finishing touches.

Kenn & Madeline made us feel at home when we stayed here for several nights for a friend’s wedding. The breakfasts were really delicious& Madeline had all kinds of great suggestions for food, live music, farmer’s market, etc. We stayed in the carriage house & enjoyed the whirlpool bath & all the light & foliage around the windows in the mornings. It is tucked away a bit from downtown, an elegant & comfortable spot.

We recently stayed here for our daughter’s graduation from Cornell. if you are in or near Ithaca and are looking for a comfortable, friendly, and relaxing place to stay, there is a better place to stay than Inn on Columbia.
Madeline and Kenn are very gracious hosts. Madeline prepares the best breakfasts to sustain you on whatever the day’s activities entail. And, Kenn is the ultimate handy man, architect (he does a lot of the design and work on his Inn and nearby houses), and Kenn collects antique cars.
If you ask nicely you might be able to get a ride in the 1939 Packard or maybe even the 1931 Durant, if you time it right.
One evening, wile staying in the main house, we were offered a glass of wine, which as it turns out was a favorite Zin of mine. We didn’t expect it and it was a nice gesture to cap off a momentous day for us.
The room was very comfortable, king-​size bed, TV (Satellite), Wifi, & separate bath. The sitting are had comfortable couches and a nice fireplace to chase away the chill of May in Ithaca. And unexpected occurrence, since earlier in the week it was 90 °F!
Madeline’s breakfasts consist of homemade muffins, fresh fruit, juice, coffee or tea, and typically a choice of oatmeal, an egg dish and pancakes or waffles.
We also always seem to meet a few interesting couples staying at the Inn. An added bonus when lounging around the property.

As other reviews indicate, this «inn» or «B&B» — we found it while searching for a B&B in Ithaca — consists of multiple buildings. What we look for in a B&B or inn is something more home-​like than a hotel that is comfortable and quiet and that serves a breakfast to a group of guests who get to meet vs. sitting by themselves in some restaurant or café. This inn/B&B met none of those conditions: We were in a building on S. Aurora Street, in a front room. The street has noisy traffic until late at night and again beginning early in the morning. Probably because there are multiple buildings, the innkeepers deliver a continental breakfast in boxes the prior evening and one serves oneself breakfast. One is requested — admonished might be more accurate — to clean up after oneself; and there is a whole double-​spaced page of rules/​regulations/​responsibilities for guests prominently posted near the kitchen. The kitchen is inadequately lighted by the way. Overall the innkeepers, though pleasant when we checked in, seemed more interested in how they were paid and imposing their rules than in our comfort.

i love this little inn in ithaca! the proprietor is very friendly and helpful and the room that i reserved in the main house has a nice private bathroom. the downstairs common area had a nice selection of current magazines and newspapers.
the only drawback is the street parking. when coming back late in the evening, most of the parking infront of the inn is already taken and you may have to park a block away. this could also happen when you check in which would be a bummer with the luggage. however, i was lucky and found a space on the same street when checking in.
there is also a bit of a discount if you pay cash as opposed to putting it on a credit card.

This is an absolutely amazing, charming place within walking distance of downtown Ithaca. Hosts are very friendly, helpful and Madeline cooks up a fantastic breakfast. They also know the area very well and can help you pick a destination or two for a romantic afternoon trip. The Bed & Breakfast has several rooms with various degree of intimacy/​privacy, as well as other locations that can be rented, so check their website.

We stayed at the Inn on Columbia the weekend of our wedding in Ithaca and it was a wonderful experience. The Gazebo room was recommended to me and it totally fit the bill for what we were looking for! The room had great privacy, a really interesting layout and design, and was much quieter than other lodging options we would have had if we stayed on Ithaca Commons.
Additionally, the breakfast was fantastic. Madeline is the breakfast czaress extraordinaire! She treated us to an amazing selection everyday of fresh pastries, oatmeal and fresh fruit, a great fritatta (my choice), and delicious homemade pancakes (my wife’s fave!). All this was served at a classic B+B style breakfast table where we had fun meeting and chatting with some of the other guests.
My only concern was that the room was a little pricey for Ithaca. For a special wedding weekend, it was totally worth it, but for another Ithaca visit, I would weigh whether or not the premium was what I fully wanted.

We recently stayed in the Cottage with the Inn on Columbia and had a great time. The space was really unique and perfect for what we needed. The cottage is what looks to be a converted garage with two levels. The first level has a sitting area (the couch folds out to a bed), a table, and a small kitchen. Upstairs is a bedroom with an exposed shower. By exposed I mean it is a jacuzzi bath with a shower curtain which is in the bedroom itself and not closed off in a separate bathroom. (This was fine for us because all of us staying there were good friends.) The sink is also out in the main bedroom. The toilet, however, is behind a separate door.
It was a comfortable space to sleep four people (as long as two people are okay with a fold out bed). We also used the cottage as a meeting point for other friends before taking a wine tour around the Cayuga Lake. There was plenty of space in the downstairs living room/​kitchen area for 10 of us to all gather before our van picked us up. The location was also very close to Ithaca Commons. It was only two blocks away from restaurants and bars.
The breakfast was also delicious. Each day we had a basket full of delicious fresh fruit, baked goods. They also supplied us with a carton of orange juice, milk, GOOD coffee, and yogurt. There were also dishes and other necessities provided for us (paper towels, dish soap, etc.)
We really had a great time and I definitely recommend the Inn as a great place to stay! It is also a reasonable, spacious alternative to some of the chain hotels downtown. Comparable suites in some of the hotels downtown were much more expensive.

I stayed at the Inn on Columbia in June 2009 for three nights. The home was beautiful and inviting. The outdoor spaces were immaculately kept yet park-​like and serene.
We did not sleep on the main property but rather an adjacent one on Hudson street. The two bedroom «apartment» was beautifully renovated, quiet and well proportioned. But most of all, the beds were firm and comfortable with fresh linens. And Madeline’s baked goods were absolutely delicious to have in the morning.
My experience at the Inn on Columbia was a modern, sophisticated version of luxurious comfort. Definately more of a mini hotel rather than a B and B. Hope you enjoy it!

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Columbia Inn (Carriage House behind the main house) the beginning of May 2009. I searched for a special place for the weekend of his graduation. The Carriage House was fabulous– it was private and tranquil– perfect for our farewell to Ithaca/​Cornell.
My boyfriend’s father and sister drove in and were able to visit us at the Carriage House and lounge in the living area to unwind. There is a kitchenette area, bedroom and bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. It is simply fabulous.
The ambiance was relaxing and rejuvenating; it was modern, yet nostalgic. The breakfast was fantastic and only a walk across the deck away. The variety and fresh options were great.
The host and hostess were very pleasant and extremely accommodating (–and an exceptional chef).
We booked in advance as it was the Law School graduation weekend, and the other room and Gazebo were booked by couples, as well.
We would definitely recommend, and would stay at the Columbia Inn again… if we plan to visit the area in the future.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful stay at the Inn on Columbia this past weekend. We made the reservation at the last minute and got a really good deal ($ 99/​night including breakfast). The hosts were really nice and accomodating, especially when we hit traffic and ended up coming in later than expected. The room was lovely and spacious and we had our own bathroom, wireless internet, shampoo & conditioner, etc. The breakfast was great — simple but yummy and you could eat at a time that was convenient for you. We stayed at the house on S Aurora Street which was super close to Ithaca Commons and very convenient for going out. Overall we loved our stay and would definitely come back!

A friend and I drove down for an overnight stay at the Inn at Columbia. We took advantage of the procrastinator’s special (check out their website for details). It was a great time – we stayed in a room at the main house that hand plenty of space and our own bathroom. Everything was scrupulously clean. The location was great; we had an easy walk to Ithaca Commons and Cornell. Breakfast was good, with homemade muffins and a choice of entrees. The innkeepers were very friendly and warm and offered great suggestions for places for us to visit. We would definitely go back.

We stayed at the 208 Hudson St house, which is connected to the Columbia street address via a backyard gate. The room was large, including a living room with gas fireplace, a bedroom and a kitchen. Décor was all 1920’s modern, which I quite liked, but my wife found a little uncomfortable as far as the chairs and sofas were concerned. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi, which was nice, but the associated shower suffered a bit as a result. The breakfast consisted of homemade muffins, banana bread, fruit and yogurt delivered to the room in the evening along with a quart of milk. Coffee and coffee maker were provided in the room.
All lighting was on timed motion sensors, just like one finds in many European guest houses. The vibe of the place was very civilized, with none of the dehumanizing aspects that all but the finest hotels unfortunately have. It felt more like a tasteful pied a terre than overnight accommodations. We both commented on how it would have been entirely pleasant to stay there indefinitely. Just a few blocks’ walk down the hill put us at Ithaca Commons, so we felt connected to Ithaca instead of removed from it. Watching groups of students wandering up and down the street looking for a Saturday night’s party only served to increase this feeling of connectedness, reminding me of when I was one of them. Don’t come here expecting the country B&B experience — this is the charming town version.
Deep discount for same day booking, making this place a perfect alternative to a hotel and securing four stars. Book in advance and it’s on the edge of pricey, which is why this is not a five star review.

I thought this was the nicest bed and breakfast I have ever been to, and one of the nicest hotels I ever stayed at. The room was huge, and included a large sitting area, and a dining table. I believe they offer a deep discount if you reserve the day of your stay, but I would look up their website first. Breakfast was great as well, much better than having to find something yourself. If you want a romantic stay in Ithaca, and potentially a cheap one, come here!