A Jewel in the Heart of Naples: An Honest Review of Bourbon House B&B
Updated: Sep 20
Travelling to Naples, Italy was a built on a dream of exploration and good pizza.
Having spent a few days (again) wandering the cobbled streets of Rome, we hopped on a super fast ITALO train that landed us in Naples in just over an hour. We had thankfully arranged for a driver to meet us at the train station and escort us to our B&B; a chaotic, nail-biting 15 minute drive.
Navigating Rome can be chaotic, with its small streets littered with cars, pedestrians, motorcycles, and scooters, but Naples is an entirely different level of chaos.
We were dropped off on the side street, in front of the entrance to Bourbon House B&B, a huge set of green doors with little signage. The building is home to a few different businesses, which can sometimes make it difficult to find if you don't know what you're looking for.
During the day, one of the doors is left open At night, you must have a key to open the small door set within the large door. Look for the keyhole on the right door to see the outline of the smaller door within it. It's Adorable, but not accessible if you need assistance.
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Access to the B&B is via an old (and extremely small) elevator that only works with a 10 Euro coin. If you're not a fan of enclosed spaces, you may want to avoid this. We had just enough room to squeeze in two adults and two luggage, with little room to breathe. It was tight, but convenient.
The small elevator works on a double door system, so if someone forgets to shut the external door when they arrive at their floor, the elevator remains stuck and will not move when called. The alternative is walking up the wide marbled staircase to the third floor. Neither has good air ventilation, so on a hot summers day, it will be taxing (especially if you have bags to carry).
Once on the floor, there is another set of large wooden double doors that lead to the main reception area. The building is old, but beautifully decorated, with great ambiance and attention to detail. The representative at the front desk was very helpful, explaining how everything worked and showing us where to find anything we needed.
We chose Bourbon House B&B for its location to the waterfront, its breakfast and its charming rooms, though we found only a handful of online Bourbon House reviews. We were very lucky, as our room was ready when we arrived (though check-in is technically 2pm) and it was fantastic.
We opted for the suite, a very large room with huge bed, sitting area, television, fireplace (for the winter), air conditioning (for summer), separate bathroom, separate shower, small storage area for luggage and clothing, small balcony that overlooked an inner courtyard (not very pretty but charming) and the pièce de résistance; a deep soaker tub. The room was spacious, well designed and very clean.
TIP: Bathtubs can be hard to come by when it Italy, so opt for a tub when its available. Soaking (even if just your feet) after a long day of walking the city is priceless.
After settling in, we freshened up and headed out to explore. Our first stop was the National Archeological Museum, which is a brisk 20 minute walk from the B&B, including stops for gelato and espresso.
TIP: If you plan on visiting the National Archeological Museum, don't miss the "Secret Room", an exhibit featuring sexually charged paintings and artifacts found amongst the ruins of the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
After a full day of walking, we headed back to the B&B, stopping at the delicious Di Matteo Pizzeria for an early dinner. This quickly became our favourite place in Naples for authentic pizza (at inexpensive prices). Tired and stuffed, we stumbled back to Bourbon House to rest and soak in that beautiful tub.
After the heat of the day, the air conditioning was welcoming, as was the complimentary coffee (and tea) waiting for us in our room. The bathtub is a true soaker tub, with enough of a lip to allow us to sit on the edge and soak our swollen legs in cold water. The separate shower was also very convenient, with complimentary toiletries and good water pressure.
All clean and rested, we took advantage of the vending machines located near the reception desk, to purchase a few room snacks before drifting off to bed. The mattress, as is typical in Italy, was thin and firm, but comfortable.
Bright and early, we arose and walked down the hall to the kitchen area for the complimentary breakfast. When we checked in with reception, we were asked to fill out a breakfast card, selecting what we wanted to have for breakfast the next morning from an extensive list of options. Most were included (juice, coffee, tea, pastries, toast, etc.) with some extra options that carried an additional charge.
We opted for coffee, croissants, toast and Nutella, which was served to us in the breakfast room by the attendant. The kitchen was small but spacious and comfortable. Since we were staying a second night, the attendant had us fill out what we wanted for breakfast the next day as well.
We spent the day walking by along the water, which is just a few minutes walk from Bourbon House. The waterfront is spacious and beautiful, with epic views of Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Locals use the path to stroll and bike, while others enjoy a morning dip in the ocean. We wandered around the spectacular Castel dell'Ovo before heading to the city center, cluttered with shops, churches and people.
TIP: Don't miss the infamous Christmas Street, with dozens of loud and colourful shops that spill out onto the streets, selling their accessories for giant nativity scenes and unlimited number of Christmas ornaments.
Another nearby attraction, and presumably the B&B's namesake, is the Galleria Barbonica (or Bourbon Tunnel), which is an extensive underground viaduct to aid in the protection of the Royal Palace. Completed in 1855, the tunnels now houses relics of cars, motorbikes and artifacts collected over time.
TIP: Be sure to research and plan your visit to Galleria Barbonica, as there are set days when access to the tunnels is allowed. We were unfortunately unable to visit during our stay as it landed on scheduled closed days.
After another long day of walking, including the beautifully secret Santa Chiara Monastery, we headed back to Di Matteo for one last pizza before returning to Bourbon House to relax and freshen up.
Our room was clean, with fresh towels, linens and coffee. Another soak in the tub and rest before one last evening stroll.
The next morning, we enjoyed another delicious breakfast before checking out. Unfortunately, the elevator was not working when we were set to leave and were forced to carry our bags down the steps to the street level. It was not terrible (but not easy) specially in the heat of the day. Luckily for us, an air conditioned car was waiting to take us to our next stop; Mount Vesuvius, where we would hike to the crater before moving onto our next stop in the modern city of Pompei.
Bourbon House B&B, Naples, Italy
Overall Ranking - 3.5/5
Though it may be a little difficult to locate Bourbon House B&B from the street, and the small elevator and front entrance make it not very accessible, the rooms are charming, clean and beautifully designed. The breakfasts are delicious and the service is friendly. The location is close enough to walk to the city center, without having to endure the noise and chaos; a true jewel in the heart of Naples. If you're looking for a unique stay in Naples, Italy, just outside of the main strips, Bourbon House B&B is for you.