2 words for why this place is so awesome, Mark and Mary.......ok, maybe 3 words. But they seriously made our experience at The Dinsmore House amazing! This was our first time staying at a B&B, so we weren't sure what to expect, but whatever expectations we had were far exceeded. Room: We stayed in the Dinsmore Room which was awesome! It had a king size bed, and a sofa. The bathroom was nice and had a shower and separate tub. The room also had cable tv and a dvd player and there is wifi in the house. Breakfast: We stayed there for 3 nights, so we got to experience 3 different breakfasts and enjoyed each of them. The first morning we had a tuscan strata which was AMAZING and definitely our favorite breakfast. The next morning we had Eggs Benedict and the last morning we had a Peach French Toast, which we enjoyed as well. Each breakfast started off with fruit or parfait and along with the breakfast dish came thick sliced bacon. It also included coffee and orange juice. It was so nice getting up every morning and coming down and having breakfast served. Other perks: Each afternoon from 4-6 they had social hour where they sat out cheese and crackers and offered a glass of wine. It was a cool time to relax and get to know the other guests and Mark and Mary. Also, each evening they sat out milk and cookies which was an awesome way to end the day. I highly recommend coming to the Dinsmore House to stay. The accommodations are great, but the company of Mark and Mary are even better. They really love what they do and are so helpful and sweet. I can't wait to go back to see them again! read more

See all

If you like creaky floors, rickety stairs and dingy hallways this is the place for you. I know it is old and historic but that is no excuse for dirty doors carpets and furnishings. Furthermore the room appointments have seen better days and would be improved by a good cleaning and a coat of polish. The inns landscaping consists of indigenous weeds snd spent drink containers. Frankly the whole area would benefit from a beautification program. Crumbling sidewalks, patched asphalt and overgrown brush is not very appealing. The street reeked of that sweet pungent nauseating smell of mary jane. Perhaps that is why the place is so uninviting, the population is too stoned to care. Last, but certainly not least, the toilet in our room is so low that you feeling like you are squatting over an open pit ( and the flush mechanism is malfunctioning). The two stars was awarded to our waitress Kristan and delicious all included breakfast at Farmbell kitchen. read more

The Dinsmore Inn was highly recommended by a close friend. It is a beautiful historic property right in town. The manage, Jake, was extremely gracious and accommodating. His pleasant personality made our stay very relaxing. The Farm Bell Restaurant was excellent with a great chef and staff. Your breakfast is included in the room and there are many special choices on their menu. We will return again, read more

I highly recommend this place. First of all, an amazing breakfast at Farm Bell downstairs is included, and it's an actual sit-down restaurant with good quality food. You can order whatever you want from the menu (alcohol is extra). My room had a massive comfy bed with really good sheets, and a giant soaker tub. There are all kinds of little touches, like an umbrella in case it rains, plush bath robes, and a complimentary bottle of wine with two glasses. It's in a central location and walking distance to a lot of things. It's right next to UVA as well. I will definitely be coming back. read more

My best friend got married in Charlottesville in Aug '09; her parents, herself, and myself all stayed at the Dinsmore. The Dinsmore was extremely accomodating, quaint, and service-oriented. I loved my room; from their website it seemed that it would be on the smaller side, but it was plenty big. The bathroom let in a lot of natural light, the towels were fluffy, and the antique furniture was in good condition. Morning of the wedding I had a wonderful french toast breakfast with the bride; and I'm so glad I was able to be there for her on such a special day. They also did a light luncheon for the mothers and bridesmaids which was very intimate and fun. The location is prime for its proximity to the University and the "Corner." Ask a Cavalier what the Corner is if you don't already know. I really loved this bed and breakfast, it's definitely one of my favorites; I would stay here over any other bed and breakfast in the Charlottesville area. read more

See all

This B&B was cute and comfortable, but not worth the money. The hosts were charming and welcoming, but they didn't know anything about the landmarks in the town. The amenities were lacking, and the breakfast was less than desirable. Flavorless and dry in one way or another everyday, we really wanted to mention what a $250/night breakfast should be. The bed was comfortable and the shower was hot. Again, though, not worth the money. read more

Incredible!!! We're staying in the Veranda Room and it is GORGEOUS! Mark and Mary have been amazing hosts-- very attentive and helpful, and suuuper congenial :) For breakfast this morning, we're having the greatest French toast I've tasted (sorry, fiancé), served by the delightful innkeepers and their fellow staff member :) I would highly recommend this B&B to anyone looking to stay ON UVA's campus who doesn't necessarily want a "stuffy hotel" experience. This place is wonderful! read more

See all

We absolutely loved our visit to the Dinsmore! Such a beautiful and historically rich spot (1822! Wow!) and Veda (&pup Wrigley) were very accommodating. We stayed in the Virginia room which was beautiful and spacious and the bed was wonderful. Breakfast the next morning was amazing and such a treat. I highly recommend visiting!!! We will definitely be back read more

Such a cute and charming place to stay! The rooms were clean and the staff was very welcoming--going out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our stay. The breakfast was delicious and the server was very kind. Overall a great visit and would recommend to others! read more

The Dinsmore Inn is our favorite place to stay in Cville -- mainly thanks to its expert guest service from innkeeper Veda Garner. I've worked for many years with leaders in the hospitality industry, and Veda is among the very best. She has elevated the Dinsmore to a premier property and guest experience. She and her staff will take good care of you! read more

Very poor treatment by the General Manager, Ms G, who was overtly rude and insulting. We reserved 3 nights using American Express Travel Services. Upon arrival the hotel was locked with no instructions posted anywhere about where to check in or get a key. When we called the hotel number our msg went into VM. After subsequent phone attempts the General Mgr, Ms G, finally answered the phone. She indicated that policy is for the hotel to call patrons within 48 hours of a stay to review procedures to access the hotel. Since our reservation was booked through AmEx the number on file was the booking company, not ours. She proceeded to say we should have booked directly through the hotel, not AmEx. She instructed us to return to the front door and she would unlock it and let us in. We arrived at the front assuming she was down the hall somewhere, and rang the bell, then again after some time thinking it was not working or was not loud enough for her to hear. After 10 minutes she opened the door, having walked from another part of the building, and proceeded to berate us for "hanging on the doorbell" and immediately asked if we would like to leave and book a room elsewhere. We travel quite a bit and stay oftentimes in small hotels, so we are used to unique situations and experiences. This is the worst experience we have had in 30 years. We took Ms. G up on her offer to book elsewhere and left, but not after she yelled at us to move our car out of her dedicated parking space. Gladly removed. Good riddance. read more

Very much enjoyed our weekend at the Dinsmore House. The staff was so accommodating. Wonderful service and so enjoyed speaking to the innkeeper - she is delightful. Highly recommend! read more

See all

We stayed one night on our way home to the Smokey Mountains. It was a perfect evening! First, we called and asked if we could change our reservation and move it ahead one night as we were anxious to get home after an extended trip. Veda, the manager, was over the top accommodating. She greeted us on the curb and got us settled into our room. The room was beautiful and super clean. A complimentary bottle of wine was on the table and we enjoyed it as we sat on our small patio. We could have stayed for a month! Breakfast was at 8AM but we needed to be on the road by then, so Veda took our breakfast order and had everything Ready BEFORE they opened for breakfast. The restaurant is attached to the hotel and was over the top good. Many different kinds of breakfast food and specialty coffee. Service was personable and efficient. We believe Veda sincerely cared that our stay was perfect...and it was. This location is kinda half way to my family in Pennsylvania, so, in the future, this will be our overnight treat. We visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello that day, only about a ten minute drive. We had dinner at The Ridley, a great restaurant only a block away. We had delicious home cut French fries and seared scallops...the best I've had in years. I cannot overemphasis how perfect this whole experience was...strongly recommend a stay here! read more

We had a wonderful stay here for our anniversary. The room was beautiful, comfortable, and the bathroom has a to-die for shower. Our host left us with a bottle of wine and had already made us breakfast reservations for our stay. The attached restaurant, the Farm Bell, had delicious breakfasts, and we had such good service there. The location is perfect for exploring Charlottesville. We were a short walk from UVA and the downtown mall area, and a short drive from Monticello and vineyards. We had a wonderful stay and highly recommend this inn if you are looking for a special place in the heart of Charlottesville. read more

What an awesome cute place. Walkable to everything. Very quaint and comfortable. Anita is such a great host. read more

See all

This was my first stay at a B&B and overall was a great experience. I brought my Girlfriend here to get away from the coast during the hurricane and it was a lot of fun. The staff is great, very welcoming and helpful. The location is good. The downtown walking mall/historic downtown is within walking distance (although its a decent walk) and there is also a Free trolley that picks up about 1/2 a block away. We stayed in the Monroe room which was really nice. I also ordered their new Bubbles and Berries addon (choc covered strawberries, chocolates and Sparkling wine). VERY worth it! The only complaint is the water pressure in the showers. read more

I came to Charlottesville's quaint Dinsmore House for an afternoon tea and it was just ok I am sorry to report. My tea-bar is set high with Washington DC's Mayflower Hotel as the pinnacle of teaism, so a tea room has to be stellar to win me over and the Dinsmore House just didn't. Now, it was a beautiful house with lovely antique furniture and cute place settings. I was there with a large group and it seems groups are always a strain on anyone. It certainly felt that way to me. The tea was to start at 1:00pm per my invite but the B&B owner was still in the process of setting the table when I arrived. She continued to set up for about 20 minutes which seemed a little odd to me. At each place setting was a footed fruit cup of strawberries, kiwi, banana, grapes, melon, and blueberries. Nice, but not the norm. After we ate for a few minutes, the B&B owner brought out tea pots with hot water and had us pass one large basket of assorted teas from which to pick. Then warm sweetbread was placed on the table and after another few minutes, the owner brought offered sandwiches. She then seemed to remember that no one had knives after a few ladies used their forks for butter or marmalade. Ok, now I've got to break down why I've "experienced better." At every tea I've been to, a tiered stand of sweets and savories is offered to each guest, that way one can pick from the different items versus only being offered one item at a time (fruit, then sweetbread, then sandwiches). The Dinsmore House had a huge dining table that could have accomodated several plates of cakes, cookies, scones, and sandwiches. Points off. Second, the tea bags in a big basket? Weird. Normally, everyone has their own small tea-pot and you brew in your pot instead of your teacup. Then, there was one sugar & creamer on the table that had to be passed between each person. Several would have been better obviously. And two small butter dishes and a cup of marmalade. Again, there should have been more containers-- one to share between two or three people max. Lastly, the two types of sandwiches were very good but they were the only savory item offered. Now, it could have been because of the group and this was the request of our host, BUT the fun part of a tea is that you get to try multiple different items not just one. So, overall, I wouldn't come back here for tea unless I was assured it would be totally different. That being said, I had a great time because of what I was there for not because the "tea" itself was amazing. read more

We spent two nights in room # 1, Dinsmore freezing. I looked at the windows and realized that they were in bad shape and need to be replaced. They were basically half-open. The air penetrates from the bottom. The cleanliness of the bathroom is below average. The maids did not bother to mop/vacuum the bathroom floor. The sink is good enough for Lilliput people. I am a short person--5.1. It was extremely uncomfortable. Read the story. We informed the Veda, the managing innkeeper that the room was so cold and we were freezing. She genuinely apologized. Did not send anyone to see the problem or send extra blanket or change the room. She was very friendly and knows how to speak to tourists. The breakfast was very good. read more

Such a cute B&B. We stayed for a night for our anniversary and the room was really nice! Comfortable bed, spacious room. Food in the restaurant was good, coffee was just ok, but brunch is included which is lovely! My only complaint is the walls are thin and it was noisy with people outside our room in the morning but this wasn't a big deal for us! I'd highly recommend for a nice getaway to Charlottesville - and walkable to UVA and a slightly longer but nice walk to the mall! read more

Clean rooms, comfortable bed, extraordinary breakfast! Conveniently located right in the thick of downtown.

On the Sunday after our daughter's wedding at the University of Virginia, we wanted to host a send-off breakfast for 50 people. Wow! I am so glad we found the Dinsmore House! Lisa was very responsive and helpful in deciding which spaces to use... We ended up using one of the beautiful dining rooms and the covered porch out back. However, it was the delicious food that we couldn't get over! There were two types of scones that guests could not get enough of. They had been baked that morning, and it was obvious. We also had fresh fruit, bagels and an egg casserole, in addition to coffee, tea and juices. A perfect send-off for the wedding guests! read more

Veda, asked us to text her when we were about 15 minutes away. She greeted us outside and walked us to our room and even upgraded us to the Jefferson which was next to room we booked. She took time to chat with us and gave us several WONDERFUL restaurant recommendations. We saw her twice during our stay and she gave us a brief wave and asked how we were doing. She gave us space but made sure we were comfortable! read more

Right in the center of Charlottesville ! What a wonderful place. Very well taken care of, beautiful historic building. Room was enough space flor a couple, move tv with dvd, and very clean updated bathroom. Snacks and wine during the day, cookies at night. Mark and Mary are excellent hosts. We had a triathlon one of the mornings and Mark actually got up at 6 30 to fix us granola, yogurt and fresh fruit! Breakfast the other day was delicious, biscuits, fruit, egg hash bake. Yum! There was also a problem with our shower the first night and they credited us 50$ for the inconvenience. All in all very nice bed and breakfast with very nice hosts would recommend it! read more

This was my first bed and breakfast and has made me fall in love with bed and breakfasts! My boyfriend and I stayed here for only one night. We went really off-season, so we were the only ones at the inn, and the innkeeper upgraded us to a bigger room. Some kind of Marriott hotel was next door, and we got to use their pool and fitness center for free. So basically we got the best of both worlds! The room was spacious and really pretty. There was a big DVD collection on the first floor so we watched a movie in our room - the tv was huge. We also really enjoyed our free bottle of wine and cheese plate. But the best part was the innkeeper's breakfast. It was so delicious. We really felt pampered, especially since we paid a pretty low rate (since it was off-season). Will definitely return again. Only downside was that the doorknob of our room felt like it needed replacing. read more

We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary at this charming and historic inn. It was perfect. The Innkeeper, Veda, greeted us as soon as we opened the front door in a welcoming and very sweet manner. A tour of the inn was unexpected, with a interesting history lesson. Our room provided all we needed for a most comfortable stay. Dolly, our waitress (complimentary, made-to-order, and delicious breakfasts) only added to the dining experience with her great sense of humor. The location was convenient for walks, shopping and dinners. Can't wait to go back. read more

Really wonderful Inn with welcoming hosts, delicious breakfasts and comfortable, lovely rooms. It is also convenient (across from the UVA hospital and walking distance from the Corner, Rotunda etc) with easy, covered and free parking. Slept like logs in the big comfortable bed. Nice and clean too. We will be back! read more

My husband and I stayed at the Dinsmore House for 2 nights recently after their major renovation. We stayed in room 4, which was on the second floor facing the main street. All in all, while we enjoyed our stay, for this price range, I expected more. Here are my thoughts on this B&B: The good: - The inn staff were very friendly and helpful. - The location is convenient for visiting downtown and UVA. Parking is in the garage behind the house and is free. - The bed and pillows were very comfortable. - We had control of the AC, which worked well and ran quietly. - The breakfast was yummy. The bad: - The floor of our room was very dusty when we first arrived. We asked the staff to clean it, which they did while we were out for dinner. However, This should've been down prior to our arrival. - Several of the amenities listed on the website were missing from the room, such as hair dryer, coffee/tea maker, and robes. - The wifi signal was too weak to use in our room. We could only access it from the downstairs common areas. - As mentioned in some of the the previous reviews, the windows are not well insulated and street noise was quite loud. This did quiet down after midnight, when the buses stopped running. However, we stayed there in the summer, so I don't know what the noise level is like when the students are still around. - The bathroom had a nice pedestal sink, but lacked counter or shelf space for toiletries. The shower did not have any soap holders or shelves for toiletries, which was inconvenient. - The whole house smelled strongly of fresh paint. Although, they just renovated, so this should dissipate in a few weeks. read more

Lovely B&B with nice rooms and very near to the University. The staff was quite nice and helpful. Be aware, though, that it is on a major street with traffic at all hours, near a hospital, ans (as of 8/12) across the street from a construction site. read more

I don't just love this place. I adore it. Why? In three words...Veda, the inn-keeper. I love this woman. She works hard from the moment you make the reservation until the moment you drive away from the property. She is kind and funny, personable and accommodating. She clearly loves making her guests happy and no request we made was too big. She always has a smile on her face. I'd take her home with me if I could. Veda, you simply shine. Beyond that, you can't beat the location, the rooms are unique and darling. The breakfast is one of the best in Charlottesville and is included in your room rate. You can eat as much as you want. I never ever write reviews but my time here was just too perfect to pass up the opportunity to say thank you and well done and I will most certainly be back. read more

Completely excellent. As a lover of history, I was extremely pleased to see that the owners had preserved the house to a tee. Great location, walking distance from UVA and some local restaurants. The room was extremely private, comfortable, and fairly fancy, with some period furniture replicas. Plenty of water bottles, snacks, and soda 24/7. Breakfast in the morning was so lovely. I had some dietary restrictions and they warmly offered to fix something else for me. Nice homemade cookies and lemonade in the afternoon, and a fluffy dog to hang out with! read more

Great place to stay! A real piece of history, the Inn was built by and inhabited by the architect of Monticello. Friendly staff, very nice rooms! read more

Six Stars! If possible, this is the rating that I would give. Anita was awesome! I planned to propose my girlfriend and told Anita about my plans, and she was beyond helpful. It is the best B&B, hand-down. The breakfast is top-notch---no need to make breakfast/brunch plans at any other location! We will always remember our stay, and plan to celebrate again there very soon!. Thanks Dinsmore Boutique Inn! read more

Stay Here! We had a wonderful experience. Rooms are all remodeled, bathrooms are new, and the walls are well insulated (meaning we couldn't hear other guests). The staff was very friendly and accommodating. We came on graduation weekend, and although it was probably their busiest weekend all year, we certainly couldn't tell! We will definitely stay here again. read more

Offers warm hospitality in a 200 year old house. Thoroughly recommended. These folks went out of their way to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. Excellent brekkie too. read more

I stayed here in the Dinsmore room for my birthday in the fall and I can't get it off my mind so I needed to write a review. We had a wonderful time. It was a very quick wine tasting centered trip and there are so many wineries to fit in however we made time for the wine social at the B&B and are glad we did. The hosts were very welcoming and gave us an amazing dinner recommendation within walking distance. We even picked up a dvd from the library in the sitting room to relax to in our room after dinner, fun selection. Breakfast was exceptional, seriously delicious. It was also well worth adding the champagne and chocolates package to our stay. The Barboursville champagne was excellent and the local truffles and chocolate dipped strawberries were to die for. I didn't want to leave! Everything was clean and comfortable and perfectly decorated. Even parking was easy which is hard to say for anything in downtown Charlottesville. We will definitely be back!! read more

Overall, a good experience. We weren't aware when we booked the establishment would be going through renovations while we were there. The staff were very welcoming and they nailed breakfast each morning. We stayed in the Virginia Room, which was really large and had already been renovated. The room was redone very nicely, and the bed and linens were great. The shower is awesome, spacious with two shower heads. Lots of storage in the room and space for suitcases. Parking was very easy. The location is great, as foodie spots are a quick walk down main street and 29/64 are close by. The location does present some street noise, which I underestimated. They provided a white noise sound machine in the room and we used the fan in the AC unit to drown out the traffic. Above our particular room, there were often folks walking around upstairs, and as with old historic homes, substantial wood creaking ensued. A few challenges with our room included several power outlets not working; a TV that seemed a bit too small for the large room; a Dish Network subscription that didn't allow more than 6 TVs to operate at a time, so we weren't able to watch TV when we wanted; no closet; no shelf in the shower for soap or shampoo; and our bathroom had a sliding barn door that provided very little privacy. read more

My boyfriend and I stayed here last weekend after visiting a few wineries in the area. We really loved this place. We stayed in the Veranda room, which was great. It has its own private entrance and a terrace with two chairs. The bed was SO comfortable, and breakfast the next morning was delicious. All of the people we talked to who worked there were very friendly. I would love to go back. read more

We just enjoyed a great night at Dinsmore. It's fun to stay at an historic location, but sometimes it's not all that comfortable. In this case, it was a modern shower stall with plenty of hot water next to a claw foot tub, radiator that kept things warm (and I saw a window unit for a/c), charming decor, comfortable bed. Lovely family that owns the place. Stop for free "trolley" that goes between UVA and downtown right out front. Great parking. Can't think of anything to complain about! read more

My husband and I stayed at the Dinsmore House Inn in Charlottesville for our minimoon. Neither of us had much experience with bed and breakfasts, and we were admittedly a tad wary of staying in what looked like somebody else's home as opposed to a regular hotel. To be sure, we had done our due diligence scouring Yelp and TripAdvisor about a month in advance for the best, most reviewed B&B's in the area. The Dinsmore House Inn, with pictures of its quaint, cozy looking rooms, as well as information regarding available packages (including discounted tickets to Monticello, a must-see while in Charlottesville, and breakfast in bed served by the innkeepers themselves and with which my husband surprised me the morning after our arrival), and its prime location right between both the UVA campus and the pedestrian mall, piqued our interest the most. Soon after checking in, any doubts we may have had were quickly laid to rest. The innkeepers, Sherrie and Bill, were such a friendly, sweet couple who welcomed us strangers into their home with a smile on their face and open arms. Not to mention the furry greeting we received from their adorable dog. Sherrie was so helpful as we settled into our room, explaining which lock each key went with, how to park in the adjacent hotel parking garage, and even provided us with brochures and pamphlets of recommended activities and restaurants. Bill, meanwhile, was a most gracious host who brought out a delectable spread of cheese, crackers, grapes, and even glasses for our choice of either red or white wine during the daily social hour in the living room, where we had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know our fellow travelers (without any pressure for those who didn't want or have the time to do so). He also seemed to be the do-it- all chef behind the breakfast in bed referenced above as well as the delicious breakfast we ate the following day. Their hospitality even extended to storing a bottle of champagne and leftovers in their fridge. As if all this were not enough, we returned each evening to a plateful of warm cookies and milk laid out on a table in the hallway for a simple dessert that reminded us of home. We cannot say enough just how lovely it was to have met Sherrie and Bill, with whom we found that we shared more in common than we would have anticipated had they not shared stories about themselves and their children. We hope to meet them again and make it back to the Dinsmore House Inn during our future trips to Charlottesville - perhaps as an anniversary of our minimoon! read more

Dinsmore House is a wonderful place to stay where you can enjoy the experience of a smaller lodge with a touch of history. Although the rooms were comfortable and furnished nicely with period pieces, the incomplete renovations and modernizations made the rooms somewhat of an anachronism. For example, our room (Madison) had a 32 inch flat screen TV and DVD player, but did not have an electrical outlet in the bathroom. Additionally, the heating system consisted of "water radiators," which were adequate, but noisey--popping sounds kept us up all night long. The bathroom was good, but the shower doors/sides needed replacing, as they were loose and off track. On the bright side, the morning breakfasts were exceptional with great coffee, juice, fruit, and a daily special such as waffles, french toasts, etc. The parlor was comfortable with a daily "happy hour" consisting of cookies, cheese, and wine. Finally, the location was great for those wanting to be near UVA, the Corner, and the Mall. Several restaurants/pubs are nearby, which was great for those unfamiliar with Charlotte. Overall, 4 stars, but could be five if the owners, who are very attentive and kind, will invest a little more into the building. read more