The Melva Inn - Harlem

Location: 68 West 120 Street, New York, New York, 10027, New York, US

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Property Type: Bed and breakfasts

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - anytime

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Instructions: There is no front desk at this property.

Amenities & Facilities

• Free WiFi
• Luggage storage
• Wheelchair accessible
• Smoke-free property
• Parking (limited spaces)
• Free self parking
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Upper floors accessible by stairs only
• Well-lit path to entrance

Rooms Available

• Standard Double Room, Private Bathroom, Garden View (Zora Neale Hurston)

  1 Double Bed and 1 Double Trundle Bed

  Overlooking the garden

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi and wired internet access

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with cable channels

  Food & Drink - Mini-fridge

  Sleep - Memory foam bed and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Iron/ironing board and twin sofa bed

  Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping, no cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Sofa bed
  • Free WiFi
  • Memory foam mattress
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided

• Standard Double Room, Ensuite (James Baldwin)

  1 Double Bed

  Internet - Wired internet access

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with cable channels

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - A twin sofa bed

  Comfort - Air conditioning

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping, no cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Sofa bed
  • Free WiFi
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided

• Standard Quadruple Room, Ensuite (Langston Hughes Room)

  2 Double Beds

  Overlooking the city

  
  

  Relax - Fireplace

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with cable channels

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, towels, and a shower

  Practical - Iron/ironing board and twin sofa bed

  Comfort - Air conditioning

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping, no cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bathroom
  • Fireplace
  • Sofa bed
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Free WiFi
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided

• Standard Double Room, Ensuite (Hot Room)

  1 Queen Bed

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Cable channels

  Food & Drink - Mini-fridge

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Iron/ironing board and twin sofa bed

  Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping, no cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Sofa bed
  • Free WiFi
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided

• Standard Triple Room, Ensuite, Garden View (Maya Angelou Room)

  2 Double Beds

  100-sq-foot room with garden views

  
  

  Relax - Fireplace

  Internet - Free WiFi and wired internet access

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with cable channels

  Food & Drink - Mini-fridge

  Sleep - Memory foam bed and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Iron/ironing board, twin sofa bed, and desk

  Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning

  Need to Know - Limited housekeeping, no cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Fireplace
  • Sofa bed
  • Free WiFi
  • Memory foam mattress
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided

Guest Reviews

• RGalecio (2/5): - Horrible smell, finally I had to move to another hotel. I could not even spend the first night. I could not stand the horrible smell of foods that was inside the building and also getting into my room. Also I was not glad with the bed sheets and the bedspread was stained. It was quite a negative impression to see the place having read the rating that is stated in your page. It was not even near to be acceptable the situation, plus considering that it is winter an very cold.
• Verified traveler (6/5): - Perfect place to stay for a couple days. Located in a fairly quiet part of the neighborhood, about a 30 minute Uber ride to Times Square!
• Verified traveler (10/5): - This property is bare bones, but very convenient to my purpose for visiting NYC.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - The Melva Inn is located in a very calm and quiet neighborhood. The place was very lovely and clean.
• Verified traveler (2/5): - Stayed 2 nights at Melva Inn and upon arrival i rang the buzzer and no one answered i was outside for almost an hour at 2 am in the morning after a long flight with my 14 year old daughter. I had to call 911 then the police came help me they tried to call the owner of Melva Inn which she answered and was on the phone with the police for a while. i felt so disrespected by her. She did apoligised to me at all. She just i sent you email with th key code. When i finally got to the attic room and connect to the wi-fi i realised she had sent me an email containing the door code at the last miute.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Neighbour hood was great and not too noisy at night. The building was really cool and the room was great for what we needed, the bed was fairly hard so not to my taste but otherwise I had a great experience.
• Shelli (10/5): - I liked the neighborhood - safe, clean, residential with shops and places to eat. Great diversity. I liked staying in a brownstone instead of a hotel for s more authentic NYC experience
• Ty (4/5): - Stay somewhere else! Door handle was broken. Room was tiny and the size of a shoebox. There’s literally no staff on site and no daily cleaning. Just don’t stay here. The bathroom is the size of your tiny tiny shoe closet. Thank god im only 5 ft 9 and 155 lbs. anyone quite larger than that will have a hard time getting in and out of the “bathroom”.
• Verified traveler (2/5): - IT WAS NOTHING @ ALL LIKE THE PHOTOS! HORRIBLE! I TOOK A VIDEO AND PHOTOS TO SHOW!
• Mailcube (6/5): - For the length of our stay, the space available in the room was enough for two in our case. We lived like a true new-yorker for the duration of our stay. Inn keeper was always available and provided follow-ups for check-ins and check-outs. The location is also fantastic with an easy access to most public transports. However, we found that the room was not as clean as we had expected. We noticed hairs from previous visitors still left inside the shower (which glue to our brought soap), had to kill inserts in the bathroom and found different red stains on the draperies. My girlfriend also got stung with a sewing needle left on the floor, right in the toe.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Watch your email for entry codes. Stairs are a bit rickety, but the place is clean comfortable and convenient for metro, Great little bar and restaurant just across the road.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - This is not a "proper" hotel, but rather a very nice Brownstone with hotel style rooms in what is now a very safe area. Easy to find and access. Short 4 block walk to the 2/3 train, not much further to the 6, and I think the A. Highly recomended.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - I stayed two nights and would definitely stay again. The location is great- close to transport and in a fantastic area, but also amazingly quiet. The staff were really helpful and always answered my emails quickly. I was in the “Hot Room” which was comfortable, compact, and had everything I needed. It was two flights of stairs up, which might be difficult for people with mobility issues, but more generally are not a problem as they are in good condition and not narrow or steep.
• Montrice (8/5): Quick Trip to NYC - I am not a traveler who requires a lot of attention. If you don't mind being on your own, then the Melva is good for you. The managers responded to emails very quickly. It's located in a very quiet area of Harlem. It is walking distance from two subways stations (116, 125). It is also walking distance to Central Park, the Apollo Theater and Sylvia's restaurant.
• Verified traveler (2/5): - I didn’t stay.I lost my money.It was a ripoff. The manager was real rude talking about looking for a positive people.I was a hotel business For 15 years,never see a horrible service.I didn’t stay even 30 minutes.it is a dirtiest place I never been.They don’t want to give me my money, they charged my $75 more $ For extra guest I didn’t have.Stay away
• Verified traveler (8/5): - I didn't know what to expect of this place when I booked it but it was pretty nice. The property is a Harlem brownstone with several rooms. Check your email leading up to your stay to receive the codes to enter the locked doors in! (I didn't and had to call the staff who got back to me very quickly) The stairs creak when people walk on them and the walls are pretty thin so it can get a little noisy in the night so if you are a light sleeper, I don't recommend this place. For the price, I enjoyed it. It was very close to Harlem's lively streets and I was able to easily catch the bus or trains I needed to get where I wanted to go.
• CROCKP (6/5): - Inexpensive hotel. No present staff. You get entry codes emailed to you, the day before you arrive. Great crash pad, in Harlem. Close to the 116th street subway entrance, that goes straight to downtown Manhattan.
• Charles (10/5): What historical beauty - Wow! Such a beautiful stay with great service available immediately! Can't wait to stay again soon. Thanks
• Linda (6/5): - It's a real Brownstone, and very safe. Inside it's old not well maintained but clean and acceptable. I liked the Harlem neighborhood. The flights of stairs are hard for an old person. The room is spartan, and the bed is too high to climb into. There are no services at all, which I didn't realize beforehand. But a subway stop is within 4 1/2 and the airport bus within 5 1/2 blocks.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Good position in the city. Room condition was OK. Comfortable bed. Bathroom was OK.
• Eduardo (10/5): - The Melva Inn is close to two excellent restaurant. Parking on the street is very safe and it seemed always available. The room was what I need for my busy stayed. A very safe neighborhood on the edge of Central Park and the Garvey park, as well as close to two subway stops.
• AA (2/5): - Very very BAD Nothing good at all about this place Regret to be there. Worst experience in my life with hundreds of hotels I ve used
• Verita (10/5): My stay - The room was small but very comfortable quite easy walk to125th
• Shirley (2/5): - Bed sweek with every movement and mattress uncomfortable. Shower stall had dirty tiles, one window without a window screen was propped open with a stick. Found dead bug between mattress and another on window sill. Cheese left in frig apparently from previous guests. Speaking to Cheryl, the innkeeper was terrible... she was very very rude and told people at Expedia she would charge us for the remaining three nights since we canceled our stay there after one night, because we were very unhappy, dissatisfied with the room at the Melva Inn Harlem!
• Peter (8/5): Value and Location - Very good value and fantastic location. Minutes walking from best Harlem restaurants and historic locaitons. Will plan to come again.
• June (10/5): Melva Inn, an Ideal Place - My stay at Melva Inn was excellent! I was not sure about what to expect. It turned out to be one of the best decision I made. The location is ideal for getting around. My daughter and I felt safe and the distant to Columbia University and back is ideal. The location provided access to public transportation, lots of great restaurants & family friendly activities. Wished there was a microwave.
• Verified traveler (6/5): - If you need a place to lay your head that is all it is good for. if you are to pay oer $200.00 you might as well choose something better.. bring your own towels if you plan to stay longer than 2 days.
• Douglas (4/5): - It was cheap but not cheerful. It's a lovely old building and with a tiny bit of effort could have been better. Instead it is dilapidated and has no amenities. Eg the "soap" was a disgusting bottle of brown sludge in the shower which had been coagulated forever. Not recommended at all.
• Nellie (8/5): Querky and comfortable - Enjoyed the feeling of being in an old house in an old neighborhood and not an hotel. Felt as if we were staying in a friend's guestroom.
• Carol (10/5): Simple, Affordable, Comfortable - This is an affordable, SIMPLE, comfortable place to stay. This is not a four start hotel or B & B. But I found it to be just as it is advertised. It was very clean. The bed was super comfortable. The bathroom had everything we all need. The room was spacious. The innkeeper was very quick to respond when I had a question. It is quiet (rare for NYC). I felt safe and walked so some great restaurants. I was there on business and my conference was a one mile walk so it was convenient for me. I love Harlem!
• Viola (8/5): The room is not worth the money, sorry no photos. - I was not informed as how to get in to the building and since there is NO innkeeper you may end up on the steps of the building waiting....and who wants to be waiting for a key to get in to your room in the rain and in the cold?!
• Verified traveler (4/5): Will not be returning here. - The room i was in had ants on the foot rails, comforter and pillows. It’s was a little cold so i used the heater they provide. They had to change my room. The next room was clear of ants and bigger as well as clean.
• Dennis (6/5): Ah h-LL no. - Not clean enough, and I have low standards. No wi-fi or cable. Poor communication as far as accessing the room. (Was told the key would be on the second floor. Disturbed another guest, thinking it might be the proprietor. Finally figured out the room was on the third floor). I contacted the proprietor a week before sending this review, and received no response.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Pleasant and affordable - Very pleasant stay. A few quirks but this adds to the charm. Nice location in Harlem and affordable.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - No frills, the most essential things to me were present. Clean. Met all my expectations for a low-price accommodation in Manhattan.
• Diane (6/5): - The walls are chipping. Seems like some renovation was being done and it was stopped so the owner can generate money. The Ac was turned off the last night I stayed there. Two towels were given to us to use for the entire week that was spent there. All in all it is a convenient location but not worth the price
• Clark (8/5): Confortable Accommodations - Almost perfect accommodations. Just needed a curtain for one of the windows and the password for the WiFi. I make several e-mail requests but received no response. Love the neighborhood and comfort of the room.
• Linda (10/5): - I was very pleasantly surprised by my room at the Melva Inn. The brownstone is lovely and my room was enormous (for NYC) and very comfortable. You won't find another place in Manhattan with a private bathroom without paying a heck of a lot more. I really appreciated that my room featured a mini-fridge. I typically got in very late at night and felt safe walking the few blocks from the subway. My only issue was that I couldn't get the fancy television system to work. This probably wouldn't be a problem for most people but while I'm not a complete idiot, I'm no technology whiz-kid either, and I don't even have cable at home. I'm sure the innkeeper would've assisted me if I'd called and asked for help but I wasn't about to call her in the middle of the night. Perhaps if the instructions for the TV were more detailed I could've figured it out on my own. I had no other issues and would absolutely recommend the Melva Inn to others.
• Verified traveler (6/5): Brownstone - The sink was not attached to the wall and the floor is unfinished wood. Good location if you need to be in Harlem and a nice neighborhood. Basic accommodations.
• Kevin (2/5): The Miserable Melva Inn - Completely misleading information on all websites. Rooms looked like they were thrown together by a bunch of inexperienced kids. Bare light bulbs, burned out light bulbs, no soap, no drinking glass, ugly paint jobs in rooms and noisy. No fans and air conditioners weren't installed until a day later when I complained.
• Sara (6/5): close to central park and subway - some things need to be repaired, but it was good stay
• Maria (8/5): Very good location to discover New York - Clean, with private bathroom, nice character, very convenient location.
• EJ (6/5): Harlem's Little Cubbyhole - The neighborhood is quiet, the noise levels are low and the small heater is hidden between the bed and window so in the snow storm it was hard to get warm.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Wonderful brownstone! Great location.Very clean area! So Charming! Will book here again.
• Hank (8/5): A Nice Place In Harlem - I checked in late in the evening, and never saw another resident, neither Hotel Staff nor Guests for the five days and four night which I was there. It was a nice, simple space, which felt safe and secure. It was also quite quiet during my stay; the loudest noise I heard was a pleasant Blue Jay who was playing in the backyard area.
• Daniel (8/5): Convenient and affordable - No hotel staff on site, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because it's also the cheapest hotel I could find in NYC that has a private bathroom. Great location and enjoyable stay. Nice option if you aren't looking for lots of amenities or staff/maid/room service. As expected for the price, no luxurious pillows, bedding, or towels, etc., but has mini fridge, TV, and free wifi.
• Richard (8/5): FUN in NYC - it was very good, would stay here again.
• Bill (6/5): Great location / like camping in a re-Hab site. - No counter space in bathroom. No glasses or ice bucket. Never use brown or beige in a bathroom. It just looks dirty. Still in re-hab state. Floors not finished. Four flights of stairs.
• Peter (6/5): Acceptable accommodation - The room is quite adequate for tourists as you are only in the at night. Facilities were clean. Note there are no on-site staff. Hotel and room access instructions were emailed on my arrival day, so need phone/tablet to access this info.
• Cynthia (8/5): If you're looking for a place with some history - Bed was comfortable. The James Baldwin Room was a perfect size for one person. There weren't many places to eat at around there so that was the only thing I didn't like. I wouldn't really call this a B&B as there was no breakfast but I would definitely stay here again. The price was right you can't beat it!

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