The Charles Inn

We have very little experience with bed/​breakfast venues. With that said we have vacationed in plenty of unusual oddball hotels, plus unfortunate blasé econoboxes, so we feel qualified to comment on our first B&B experience. A spectacular adventure– 74 Charles Inn has cemented our opinion to never spend a single night in another boring hotel AGAIN.
DECOR: What seems to be de rigueur of the typical Annapolis B&B is boatloads of antique tchotchkes framed with floral fabrics and quaint porcelain. At first glance 74 Charles seems to follow that formula, but on closer inspection it’s more in a «we buy what we like because we think it’s cool» way, so their artifacts are clearly thoughtful and adored even if they don’t always match. Tastefully done. Ask to see the 17^th century chopping block.
We rented the Little Star room, where the floral prints were kept to a minimum. It has a bed so tall it requires a ladder, the toilet in a private closet, the clawfoot tub about three feet from the bed, and just enough room left to walk around. Cozy places suit us just fine, but they have bigger rooms if you need something more American-​sized, though trust us: you don’t need it. We went in December and the room was chilly, but John had set up a stack of logs requiring only one match to light. This kept us toasty warm until climbing under incredibly comfortable blankets. So: if you’re game for an adventure and don’t mind a little quirk, the Little Star is intensely romantic and nothing short of memorable.
SERVICE: John and Pamela are super-​nice. We are always happy to chat with random people, and John loved telling us local stories and giving us the lay of the land. I read another review that praised the couple for «leaving them alone,» so I suspect John is just good at reading people, and entertains only as much as visitor patience permits.
FOOD: Pamela was in charge of breakfast: two different juices, coffee, and toasted almonds in a peach-​raspberry medley started us off. This was followed by an apple-​oven pancake, the perfect antidote to our own eggs-​and-​bacon breakfast obsession.
While B&Bs are not everybody’s thing, our experience at 74 Charles is enough to convince us that given the option, risking your vacation with a reputable house is a much better way to go. We highly recommend!