One of the things I love the most about old homes is the unique details that carry throughout them. The Lang House on Main Street Bed & Breakfast, just a few blocks from Church Street in Burlington, has some of the most beautiful architectural details in a historic home that we’ve seen. From stained glass to high coffered ceilings and detailed woodworking, the Lang House is all about the details. In fact, I would describe the whole experience as “all about the details,” making it one of the best choices for lodging in the downtown Burlington area. From the perfectly shaved dark chocolate on my breakfast crêpe to the silky sheets and BeeKind bath products, it was apparent that the Lang House staff is serious about creating an atmosphere that makes you feel at home.
The History of the Lang House
The 1881 Victorian home, which sits on Main Street two blocks from Memorial Auditorium, was converted into a bed and breakfast in 2000. The Inn has 11 uniquely decorated guest rooms. The high ceilings and extensive woodwork gives the home a feeling of grandeur. Yet, the elegant yet comfortable furnishings help modernize the space. Many historic homes also risk being dark inside due to extensive woodworking, but the Lang House is bright and open. Green Mountain Boy Ira Allen built the home was built as a private residence. Fun fact: he also founded the University of Vermont. The Carriage House in the back of the property, which offers two rooms with cottage furnishings, dates back even earlier than the main house to 1851. The home was a private residence until the 1970’s when it was purchased by Lang Associates, a Vermont real estate company.
The Innkeeper at the Lang House
Kim Borsavage, the current innkeeper at the Lang House, has been hosting singles, couples and families in the Burlington area for 11 years now. Kim greeted us warmly with the two pups.
Sweet Biba, one of the Lang House pups
In speaking with Kim, we quickly learned that she isn’t the type of person you’d expect to be running a Vermont inn or bed and breakfast. Often when speaking with innkeepers, they paint a rosy picture of their world. It was incredibly refreshing to have a real conversation with Kim, about the joys of innkeeping but also the challenges . Kim is real, honest and upfront, someone who could become a true friend through repeat visits to the Lang House.
Before purchasing the bed and breakfast, Kim worked in development at the University Vermon.t She also graduated from UVM with a degree in studio art and art history; she left the university for full-time work at the bed and breakfast in 2004. Since then, the Lang House has become a popular choice for visitors to the Burlington area.
Location, Location, Location
Besides the home itself, the location is one of the best attributes of the Lang House. There is ample, free parking out back. In Burlington where parking is often a challenge, is extremely nice to have. The inn is a quick walk from the Church Street area and the waterfront. The location is also is convenient to the University of Vermont’s campus, Champlain College’s campus and the University of Vermont Medical Center. The bed and breakfast is also a straight shot down Route 2, three miles to the Burlington International Airport (BTV). It was so refreshing during our stay to be able to park the car, wander downtown for drinks and dinner and then take a stroll back up the hill at the end of our evening. We arrived, greeted by fresh shortbread cookies and ample teas to choose from for a perfect night cap in one of the inn’s common spaces.
The Van Ness Room
The Van Ness Room at the Lang House
We stayed in the Van Ness Room ($179 – $239) on the third floor of the Lang House with original Charles Eastlake (a Victorian-era interior designer) period pieces throughout the space. The Van Ness Room is one of two at the inn that has wallpaper and also features a sitting area in the turret that includes wing back chairs and an ottoman for reading or sipping your morning coffee.
Although the room is on the smaller size, it was quite cozy with nooks and crannies and a sloped ceiling that made us feel protected and at home. I was a bit skeptical about the bed in the Van Ness room due to the unique antique headboard. I admittedly had a moment of fear anticipating a rock-hard, or worse yet, saggy mattress, but in fact, it was one of the nicest mattresses we’ve slept on at an inn. The high-thread count sheets and ample pillows and blankets certainly helped. Staying on the third floor, we expected it to be a bit warm and stuffy. But surprisingly, the room was well ventilated and hot water made it up to the third floor quite quickly for a refreshing shower in the morning. The room was spotless, quiet and, best of all, offered us both an amazing night sleep.
A vanilla crepe with fresh strawberries, almond creme fraiche and shaved dark chocolate.
Breakfast at the Lang House on Main Street
Waking up refreshed and ready to explore the Burlington area in more depth, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast the next morning,. Not only was breakfast delicious and beautifully crafted, but also left us full until early evening. Good, strong coffee paired with Crystallized Ginger – Pear Bread was our starter, followed by a choice of a Sweet breakfast option (a vanilla crêpe with fresh strawberries, almond-whipped crème fraîche and shaved dark chocolate), a Savory option (a grape tomato tart with artichoke hearts, basil pesto and goat cheese served with two fried eggs) or Lang House Granola, nutty maple granola with fresh fruit and yogurt or milk. We tried both the Sweet and Savory and savored every bite.
The Verdict: The Lang House on Main Street
If you’re looking to stay in downtown Burlington in a historic Vermont inn with character, personality and grandeur rather than a chain hotel, the Lang House would have my vote for its comfort, convenience and class. Be sure to take time to really admire the details of the house, including the stained glass in the dining room, rugged woodworking along the stairs, plaster detailing and impressive fireplace in the living room. The details do, afterall, make the Lang House on Main Street the special place that it is.
Tips for Visiting the Lang House:
- If you’re a light sleeper, I would opt against staying in the Reed Room located on the first floor by the reception desk. The floors are a tad squeaky given the age of the home, so if folks are coming in and out of the bed and breakfast or enjoying some cookies and tea in the living room area, the noise could be bothersome. This is, however, an ADA-accessible room, so if stairs are a challenge, the Reed Room might be your best bet.
- From the rooms we peeked our heads into, the Hayward ($199-$259) with its four-post bed, cool blue walls and warm accent colors, oversized antique armoire and chaise lounge was our favorite. It also have three large windows facing Lake Champlain and is located in the back of the house for even more quiet. All rooms have their own bathroom and access to free (and strong!) wifi around the house.
- The rooms on the third floor, including the Van Ness Room where we stayed, were surprisingly quiet for an older home on Main Street in Burlington. Other than one siren during the night, we didn’t hear a peep and didn’t have other guests walking by our door or interrupting our night’s sleep.
More Tips for Visiting the Lang House:
- If you have children, they’re welcome at the Lang House, which is not always the case with historic bed and breakfasts.
- Take advantage of the innkeeper’s and staff’s knowledge of the area! Even though we are Vermonters, we don’t spend as much time in Burlington as I would like. Kim and her staff gave us some nice recommendations for restaurants a bit off the beaten path that we hadn’t previously thought of visiting.
- Celebrating a special occasion? Or considering a babymoon or honeymoon in Burlington? The Lang House offers a variety of wallet-friendly packages, some of which include seasonal bouquets and chocolates and others that feature breakfast in bed and a cake made for two.
- Meeting friends in the area? You can bring in outside folks for breakfast at the bed and breakfast for $15 a person. The breakfast was so gourmet and delicious that I guarantee you can’t find a better sit-down breakfast in Burlington for that price.
- If you’re coming home to the bed and breakfast late in the evening, you’ll enter through the back door. If you’re on the second or third floor, take the back staircase which is carpeted so not as to wake other guests.
- The Lang House sells beer and wine, as well as cheese plates, so you cannot bring in your own alcohol.
Lang House on Main Street Bed & Breakfast
360 Main Street Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 652-2500
Hours: November-May 8am-9pm, June-October 9am-10pm
Email: innkeeper@langhouse.com
*Disclaimer: We received a complimentary night’s stay at the Lang House on Main Street Bed & Breakfast.
Categories: Bed & Breakfasts, Burlington, Destinations, Inns, Lodging