Grove Lodge

Bed, breakfast, Bath. It’s not just a checklist of the minimal requirements for a hotel stay. It’s also a handy description of Grove Lodge, an actual bed & breakfast in Bath, the spa town in the English countryside, best known to some as the setting for a couple of Jane Austen novels, not to mention the author’s actual place of residence from 1801 to 1806. In Austen’s day, travelers came to Bath to “take the waters,” sip tea, and stroll the postcard-perfect streets. And they still do today: the city is almost as famous for its Georgian architecture as it is for its 2,000-year old thermal spa built by the ancient Romans.

Grove Lodge is a mile or two down the road from the Royal Crescent, the city’s grandest landmark, and it has just three apartment-style suites. We dare say Austen herself — a low-key, independent sort, never one for ladies’ maids and stuffy luncheons — would approve of the hotel’s understated elegance and convenient location on London Road, especially since each of the suites has its own drawing room and unobstructed garden views. Civilized, indeed.

Each suite at Grove Lodge has a different design theme. There’s the Georgian suite, of course, with cheerful vintage drawings, gilded mirrors, and a crisp color palette of white, turquoise, and peacock blue. Then there’s the Roman suite, done up in deep red and slate gray and outfitted with Chesterfield sofas and heavy drapery. Rather decadently occupying the entire second floor, it comes with a decorative fireplace and a standalone bathtub. And then there’s the Chinese suite. Seems a curious choice, but Chinoiserie was trendy in the 18th century, and it looks exquisite here, not only decorative, but whimsical, with a romantic red velvet headboard and painted hummingbirds flitting across silver wallpaper.

Amenities vary slightly throughout the suites, but all have super king-sized beds with cashmere, wool and cotton mattresses by Mattison, Bose sound systems, bath products by The White Company, multiple Smart TVs, Nespresso machines, and complimentary fresh fruit and chocolates. But you didn’t think you’d be having a do-it-yourself espresso and a banana for breakfast, did you? This is a B&B, after all, and each suite has a dedicated dining space where the hotel staff serves a proper meal each morning. Linger over your poached eggs and toast, Jane Austen-style. But don’t hold your breath on a handwritten note or invitation, delivered with a flourish by the house butler. Luckily, there’s free wi-fi.