The Riverdale Inn

This was our first B&B experience and it couldn’t have been better. This place is incredible! Exceeded my expectations. I definitely recommend room #8! The bathroom is gorgeous. My wife and I really enjoyed the jacuzzi tub. We will always remember our first wedding anniversary thanks to The Riverdale Inn!

My wife and I are from Port Charlotte Florida and this was our first visit to the Riverdale Inn. The Inn is clean, very clean! The owner made us an outstanding breakfast, we were in the restaurant business and we are picky. It takes a lot to impress us but both of us were impressed with everything at the Riverdale and we highly recommend it. The Inn is also within easy walking distance of parks, museums, and shopping. Very convenient and just off interstate 95.

We LOVED our stay at Riverdale Inn. Though we live only an hour from Jacksonville — a business meeting with several out of town associates brought all of us the night before to the Riverdale Inn. What a frankly shocking delight! We may try to think of excuses in the future to come down and stay the night.
This is a perfect spot for families, couples, friends, business or solo !! The Inn is lovely. First of all — it is beautifully restored and decorated. Each (large) room is beautiful (doors of vacant rooms are left open, which feels inviting and allows for peeks. The owners have esquisite taste. Though a historic property — the bathrooms in each room have been completely renovated with current fixtures and conveniences.
Second — the housekeeping has to be mentioned — the entire Inn ‘shined’ — not a speck of dust anywhere.
Third, The entire first floor is «public» — including a lovely sitting room with fireplace, a huge dining room with many tables for ²⁄₄. and a small pub area just inside the back door (and porch). (where we enjoyed a late afternoon drink — met a few people and got a great suggestion for dinner).
Fourth, Everyone was friendly and helpful without being intrusive at all. TV and Internet access everywhere BTW.
And finally — breakfast was really surprising — quite a menu for a B & B ! — with orders taken, dishes presented and removed — — no ‘serve yourself’ here (except for coffee and OJ). I cannot recommend The Riverdale Inn too strongly.
There are several very good restaurants in the area — we enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Black Sheep — — just across the park from the Inn — — highly recommended!

We didn’t share the opinions stated in the other reviews.

My wife and I were visiting Jax for Thanksgiving. She made reservations here for 4 nights. We arrived late and were given the cottage (#10). The smell, dampness, furniture and appointments of the accommodations were unappealing. There was a loud de-​humidifier in the bathroom that cycled on and off. Fans in the bedroom were on high speed to attempt to curb the musty smell. It was a disappointment for the cost of the room ($ 170/​night).
The nights sleep was terrible and using the bathroom in the morning was downright depressing. Flickering lights, cheap shower, huge gaps in the trim, uneven floor. cheap everything.
We were very displeased with the accommodation. We decided to check out. When I attempted to check out pay for the single night, the clerk at the desk told me that I couldn’t check out because we needed to pay for 4 nights and that we were sent a message telling us that. There was a back and forth and the owner was called who recited the same thing. No care about customer service. It was an in-​your-​face argument where we were wrong and they were right and steadfastly offered no compassion or solution. I told them that their policy may be attempting to assure that people show up for the reservation but when they do show up (as we did) and they are dissatisfied, they (the owner) should make it right or do the right thing. They did not, nor were they at all reasonable.
I refused to pay for 4 nights and told them that I would pay for the night. They threatened to call the police on my wife and I. It was outrageous. Very simply outrageous.
My wife then spoke with the owner who looked at her as some kind of a trouble-​maker and gave her no resolution. Where was the «friendly and accommodating owner/​operator» that I read about? That lady was out for the day.
They charged our Visa for 4 nights and later reduced our charge to 2 nights. I am still contesting with Visa and the Riverdale Inn to reimburse me for the night that we did not use.
We went to the Omni in Jacksonville and had a very lovely rest of our stay. Great rooms, great service at the Omni.
**UPDATED**
We received a note from the owner (Bob) today ¹²⁄₄. He was responding to a direct message that was sent to him. He apologized for our situation and the treatment when we complained about it. He also offered to reimburse us for the second night that was charged to us. He mentioned that they will be reviewing the conditions in the carriage house and determining what is needed. He will also be reviewing with the staff the procedure for dealing with dissatisfied customers. A good response and step forward. Thanks.

Finally splurged on a suite last Friday. Having spent several nights at the Riverdale I always get drawn back in and leave completely refreshed, The family that owns it are hands on and jewels of people. Their son Eric adds a fun quickiness to the mix and his daughter is the sweetest 6 month old.
So yeah, stayed in a room over 125 years old and had a modern breakfast with charming people. The location is close to Mossfire Pit which has some awesome quesadillas and request the Bee Sting.

Excellent bed and breakfast. Family owned, quiet, and quaint. Room was perfect and the property is beautiful and conveniently located to many great restaurants and bars. On site bar has everything you need and many nice outdoor seating areas. Nice grill available for guest use. Owners are very nice and helpful. Breakfast was southern style amazing. Will return!

I had the pleasure of spending one night here for a brief business trip. The Inn is in a delightful Southern plantation home. Lovely furnishings, quiet and charming. Carolyn, owner/​operator was friendly and accommodating to her guests. Lovely place to stay and very welcoming. I look forward to returning when next in JAX.

Wonderful, relaxing place! We really enjoyed ourselves here… loved the southern hospitality, delicious made-​to-​order breakfast every morning, clean rooms and beautiful décor.
We will definitely stay here again the next time we are in the area!

We went this weekend to have some quiet time alone and we were very happy there. The staff is sooo kind and helpful. The room was lovely. The hood is cool, Black Sheep restaurant, health food store and Bold Bean all within minutes. Do go here if you want a real break in a cool part of Jacksonville.

Why 4 stars? Because it was definitely weird, but not bad-​weird.
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The Riverdale Inn will always be the hotel that had a toilet with the handle 7 feet in the air. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I don’t think I can even say that I understand it. It seems terribly expensive and inefficient, but damn it… they wanted that toilet handle to be several feet above that toilet!
This is a very friendly B&B, complete with plenty of charm. My room was huge, and my only real complaint was the lack of power outlets (to be expected with an old-​timey building.) For some reason, when they built this place, they didn’t have the foresight to envision iPhone’s and MacBook Pro’s. Well, make that two complaints — the wifi was spotty at best.
I didn’t take advantage of the breakfast, as I was too busy sleeping in… and too concentrated on hitting up Bold Bean on my way out of town.
If you’re cool with the features that come with an old building, then you’ll like it here. Just try not to trip coming out of the old-​school tub!

Thank you for being amazing Riverdale Inn team!

A great place for our weekend getaway! Cozy fireplace in our room. Delicious made-​to-​order breakfast. Friendly innkeepers.

So much charm! If you are in the Jacksonville area, check this place out.
This family owned Bed and Breakfast is so warm and inviting. As one of the guests I was chatting with said it best: «It’s like you are staying in grandma’s house.» So true.
I was headed to Jax for work and was suggested to stay here and after reading the reviews, I called to book. I scored $ 120 for one night in room #3 and it was quaint, cute and warming.
Upon arrival I parked in the back and entered on the porch which lead me to the small bar in the back. I headed up front to the main room and checked in. The younger gentleman who took care of me was very informative and welcoming. You are welcomed to hang out in and of the group areas inside or on the porches. Each area is really gorgeous.
My specific room came with a view in the back. Full of windows and a super comfy bed. It was the perfect size for a one night stay. Wood floors all throughout and the furniture was all rustic and well kept. Everything was so clean. The other rooms that are not occupied are left open so you may check them out as well. All the bathrooms are very up to date but still fit in the décor. Hot water was plentiful and the pillows were glorious; two important points at a hotel, in my opinion. I slept like a baby.
There was even a guest book in each room. It was lovely to read through and write my own passage. I left so nostalgic in a place that was not my own, I felt very at home.
I look forward to staying here again. The location is great, a block from the river and across the street from the gorgeous Memorial Park! You must walk through there and along the water, gorgeous!
I would suggest this as a romantic getaway, a solo stay or small groups. This isn’t really built for loud, bustling parties.

I guess I am becoming an inn expert. Travel for work allows me lots if experience.
Clean and comfortable. Not as low price as a previous review. I paid over $ 150/​night. Breakfast was ok.
I would give 5 stars if the breakfast was more atypical and the little party was not loud downstairs.
I enjoyed a hot bath and large room. I will be back.

Like a previous reviewer, my boyfriend and I stayed here through a LivingSocial deal. The Inn was very easy to find, gorgeous (I wish I could say the same about the area it was in), and the owners/​staff were nothing but friendly and welcoming throughout our entire stay.
We stayed in the Oak Room, which was very nice and cozy, and had a great view of the mossy oak tree out back. There is free wireless in the rooms, but also a computer on the first floor for guest use. The mini-​fridge in the room proved to be very useful for our two-​night stay. Warning: The king size bed is incredibly comfortable! My only complaint is that the shower is pretty small, and it took a long time (if at all) for the water to get to the right temperature. I wrote it off as it not having been used in a while, as well as it being on the third floor. It’s not that big of a deal if you’re not too picky about your showers.
Breakfast choices are limited, but cooked to order and always guaranteed to be delicious! I had pecan waffles (absolutely to die for… I was craving them the rest of the day) with a side of fruit, bacon, and coffee the first morning. The next morning, the blueberry pancakes were just as good! There is a full bar in one of the two dining rooms, but we did not get the chance to head down there for a drink. They also offer high tea from 1PM-​3PM, which was so good and enough to pass off as lunch. This consisted of egg salad/​chicken salad/​cucumber sandwiches, lemon cookies, scones, banana bread, and cupcakes. Most of which are made from scratch right in the Inn. Linda, one of the owners, was nice enough to give me her recipe for the scones! They serve dinner at the Inn also with reservations, but my boyfriend and I had dinner plans during our entire stay, so we did not get a chance to try it out, but I’m sure it would’ve been just as good as everything else we had had there.
Things to do were limited in the nearby area, but we did go over to Five Points, which was about a block away. It consisted of a few little shops (most of which were closed when we went on a Monday morning) and restaurants – you would not be missing out if you decide to skip this area altogether. The Cummer Museum is also within walking distance. Since we were college students, we were able to get in free despite our free passes from our LivingSocial deal. There were some great art exhibits, and a beautiful garden out back. The St. Johns Town Center is about a 15 minute drive away, with lots more to do.
Overall, we had a great experience and would stay here again.

It’s always been a daydream of mine to stay at a B&B and when my boyfriend noticed it was one of LivingSocial’s deals and conveniently only a short drive away, we decided to «escape»!
When we walked, in my boyfriend (since he purchased the deal) was greeted by first name. We were given a quick tour of the 3-​story Inn which included a library, entertainment lounge, and 2 dining rooms (all of which were small but cozy). Our chilled bottle of champagne (included in the deal!) was waiting for us in our very spacious and clean room. Breakfast is from 7:30−9, too early for my taste, but the handcrafted Belgian waffles and spinach and feta omelettes were worth the early rise!
My very favorite part of our stay was «high tea». We chose 1:00pm so we could have the morning to explore the area and be back in time for this scrumptious snack (which ended up being our lunch). «High Tea» consisted of blueberry scones, pound cake, and egg, chicken, and cucumber sandwiches served with of course hot tea.
The only reason I didn’t give the Inn 5 stars is because it is in an OK area. There are a few pubs and shops down the street as well as a small Gardens&Gallery museum, all of which are walking distance. To keep us busy, we went to a movie one night at the old 5 Points theater, rummaged through antiques at a nearby vintage shop, and ventured to the local farmer’s market. Not many things to do in the area but definitely made for a relaxing and delightful getaway.

So, does it really surprise anyone that on my thirty-​ish or so minutes long break between my first day at the new co’s Jacksonville headquarters, I use it to. .. Unilocal?Didn’t think so. I already have things to say about this great FL city and what I’ve discovered so far!
My new employer is based right in the heart of historic Jacksonville, on lovely Riverside Ave amidst palms and magnolias, bougainvillea and historic homes. Love this place, already! Even better, the adorable Riverdale Inn is a block from the office and I get to stay here for two nights!
Itself a precious old home, it is the most charming B&B I have possibly ever seen. The back porch is set up almost like a grownup’s tree house, with patio tables and a charming cocktail-​party-​like inviting presentation. Inside, a cozy living room welcomes you if you use the back entrance, and the rest of the downstairs includes a nifty little pub adjacent to the Inn’s restaurant, The Row, where full breakfast is served daily and dinner is nightly from 5pm on.
Wireless is free and some rooms even have modem connection in case you need that, and I’m taking a break before our business dinner to write this. .. wearing one of the plush white robes I discovered on the back of the bathroom door! They also have a desktop with open access and a snazzy flat screen in that «living room» part I previously described. How cool!!! Classic and modern– unbeatable combination. I know where I’ll be staying on all future visits to town! Prices ($ 119/​night) are business-​travel reasonable, too.
The bathrooms, by the way, are as modernly-​appointed as the rooms and whole place are cute and charming– the perfect combination. Even better? The whole Inn is nonsmoking!
Will have to report back on the food and pub, but had to mark my Jacksonville debut right away!