Entire apartment

Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities

Photo gallery for Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities

A wooden deck with a table and chairs, a red rug, and a view of a brick wall and a house with a sloped roof. - Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities (Philadelphia)
A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a staircase leading to a loft, and a framed picture on the wall. - Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities (Philadelphia)
A hotel room with a bed, a desk with a chair, a sofa, a TV, and a brick wall. - Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities (Philadelphia)
A hallway with a patterned rug, a wooden chair with a cushion, a desk with a vase of flowers, and a white door. - Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities (Philadelphia)
A workspace with a laptop on a wooden table, a blue chair, and a brick wall background. - Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities (Philadelphia)
Close to University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities provides a garden, laundry facilities and more. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire apartment

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 347 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

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About this property

Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities

  • Stay in a renovated Victorian in a historic, tree-lined neighborhood—a true garden oasis in the city. This light-filled, 2-story apartment blends unique character, Old World charm & exposed brick with modern comfort. A private entrance leads to a full eat-in kitchen, bath & laundry. Upstairs, the spacious bedroom/living room suite features a seating area, workstation & 50” 4K TV. Quiet yet walkable from Penn, Drexel, CHOP & HUP—just minutes from museums & downtown. Sleeps 1-3 (rollaway available).

    The space
    This renovated, two-story apartment offers a private retreat within a distinctive Victorian home in an historic University City neighborhood. Enjoy a separate entrance via a side gate, leading through the backyard to your own peaceful space.

    The first floor features a bright eat-in kitchen with French doors and a view of the garden, a full bathroom, and laundry facilities. Upstairs, you'll find a spacious bedroom suite with a queen bed, a seating area, and a 50" 4K HDTV with Roku. A rollaway bed & linens for a 3rd guest is available.

    The layout is unique, with the bedroom/living area and bathroom on separate floors. The stairs to the second floor are historically original, meaning they are somewhat steep (though with railings on both sides). This is characteristic of homes in our historic district.

    The apartment offers plenty of comfort, natural light and a quiet atmosphere. It's conveniently located within walking distance of Penn, Drexel, CHOP, and HUP, making it a great base for visiting the universities, hospitals, or exploring the city's attractions. Plus, you'll enjoy easy access to the Schuylkill River Trail, perfect for jogging or biking.

    Great food nearby! From restaurants and cozy cafes to bagels and ice cream, to quick bites from local food trucks, just a short walk away.

    Exploring the city is effortless from our location, with a bus stop right across the street, a trolley stop just minutes away on foot, and a subway station within a 10-minute walk. These convenient public transportation options, along with readily available Uber and Lyft services, connect you quickly to Center City, Independence Hall, Old City, Fishtown, and all that Philadelphia has to offer. We're a very short drive downtown too.

    Access
    You will have full access to the apartment, and sole use of the deck. The rest of the backyard is reserved for use by our family.

    Other things to note
    As mentioned in the listing description, this apartment has a unique layout with the bedroom and bathroom on separate floors. The stairs leading to the second floor are historically original, meaning they are steeper and narrower than modern stairs, though they do have railings on both sides for assistance. We want to ensure this is comfortable for all guests.

    On-street parking is generally easier and more convenient in our neighborhood than in many other parts of Philadelphia. However, some blocks have residential parking restrictions limited to 2 hours, daytime Monday through Friday (no restrictions on weekends), while other blocks have no parking restrictions at all. Guests are advised to check posted parking signs carefully.

    Getting around the city is a breeze! We are conveniently located near multiple public transportation options. A bus stop is located directly across the street, a trolley stop is just a few minutes' walk away, and a subway station is less than a 10-minute walk, providing easy access to Center City, Independence Hall, Old City, Fishtown, and the rest of Philadelphia.

    Please note: VRBO total includes local taxes (accommodations & lodging) by Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia (15.5%), in addition to VRBO fees.

Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car not required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping on request
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping centre

Things to do

  • Optional golf privileges
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Property does not allow children
  • Recycling
  • Some LED lighting used
  • Unit size: 500 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

Quiet policy after 10pm, especially deck and backyard

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children

Events

No events allowed
Strict no parties/events in backyard or apartment

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Strict no parties/events in backyard or apartment
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 916436

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

University City, a neighbourhood in Philadelphia, is home to this apartment. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Rittenhouse Square and Fairmount Park, while Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia Zoo are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Lincoln Financial Field or Xfinity Mobile Arena. Enjoy the area's slopes with skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating. Visit our Philadelphia travel guide
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Map
Philadelphia, PA

What's nearby

  • A Drexel University building, Market Street, and traffic lights.
    Drexel University
    3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • A stadium surrounded by historic buildings and a modern city skyline.
    University of Pennsylvania
    9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • A historic building with green and red brickwork, arched windows, and a sign reading "Welcome to America's First Zoo."
    Philadelphia Zoo
    12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • A historic waterfront with classical architecture, including a neoclassical building and a bridge.
    Fairmount Park
    16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • A statue of a man on horseback in front of a museum with classical architecture.
    Philadelphia Museum of Art
    3 min drive - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • Powelton Ave & Lancaster Ave Stop
    3 min walk
  • 30th St Station
    15 min walk
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
    20 min drive

Restaurants

  • Madis Coffee Roasters
    5 min walk
  • Santucci's Original Square Pizza
    5 min walk
  • Shibam Coffee Co.
    3 min walk
  • Savas Brick Oven Pizza
    6 min walk
  • Chengdu Famous Food
    4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities located?

Located in University City, this apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Zoo and Philadelphia Museum of Art are also within 1 mile (2 km). Powelton Ave & Lancaster Ave Stop and Lancaster Ave & 38th St Tram Stop are within a 5-minute walk.

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Reviews

Garden Oasis: 1BR Apartment with Patio in Historic Home, Near Universities Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

10

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 69 out of 78 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 78 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 78 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 78 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 78 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Spot

Great location to use as a base for exploring Philadelphia!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Very clean and close to UPenn. I was there for graduation and thought I’d walk to festivities but you can’t walk on the sidewalk in shoes as bricks were not flat to ground There wasn’t anywhere in walking distance to purchase food. The steps to 2nd floor where bedroom is was extremely narrow and difficult to bring bags up. Very cute apt. Very convent if I had a car
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Penn Parents

Nice location and amenities. Appreciated quick response to questions.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful and quiet place to stay while visiting Penn. The unit is attached to the main dwelling with private entrance. The kitchen is well equipped for a quick meal. The bedroom is clean and comfy. The bathroom is small but with a washer and dryer and warm shower. The backyard is charming and relaxing to have a morning coffee while listening to birds. David has been very friendly and easily accessible when we need help. Thanks again for sharing the place with us !
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for us

There are many things to love about this rental. Easy parking. Adorable patio. Its primary use for us was sleeping and showering, so it was practically perfect. The stairs up to the living area were quite steep and could be problematic for some. Communication with the owner was outstanding. Rapid responses to all queries and seems like a really laidback person.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend stay

The apartment was impeccably clean and very well-equipped for such a small space. The bathroom and kitchen are very tidy, as is the upstairs bedroom. The closet is stocked with plenty of extra bedding, which we used due to the frigid weather, and a small cot. It was very cold, and this is an old house, so it took a while to warm the space up using the window heating units. Once it got warm, though, it stayed that way! A word of warning about the stairs up to the bedroom - they are steep and tight, so if you have mobility issues or are planning a weekend bender, stay somewhere else so you don’t hurt yourself. The host made a small space very comfortable and homey with everything you need
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Workation

I enjoyed staying here for a few weeks. Most mornings, I'd walk a few blocks to Midas Coffee for a latte and vegan cookie and work on my laptop for hours. Some afternoons, I'd pick up an Indigo Bike and cycle to the the Schuylkill River Trail. Then I'd bike along the trail or park the bike and jog to the "Rocky" stairs and back. Very cool! Other days, I'd take a 20 minute walk in a different direction from David's place to visit my daughter at UPenn. As others have said, you need to be comfortable with a relatively steep staircase to stay here — The big bedroom is upstairs; the bathroom downstairs. Also, as others have said, the porch is a lovely feature.
Stayed 28 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Couldn’t ask for a better spot! Everything was very well thought-out compared to other rentals we had stayed in during this trip. The bed and linens were super comfortable and the neighborhood was quiet and cute. Walking distance to restaurants and train stops. They even provided an umbrella during the rainy weekend. Would love to stay again :)
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a great location, and my wife and I enjoyed the patio very much in the morning and evenings. We would relax there in the evening after exploring the city.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very comfortable space. Individual heater/AC for both levels. Bathroom has heat fan in the ceiling. Easy check-in and great location close to the Amtrak station and just across the river from Philly downtown.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

West Philly

We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quick stop in Philly

Great place for my sister and me to stay for a couple of nights. Close to subway and some good eats.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Return visit to Philly

David's rental was a perfect location for us to revisit Philly and visit with friends and family. The unit is cozy and had everything we needed. The back deck was a great spot for meals and to spend time with our kids.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy stay in powelton village

We really enjoyed our stay at David’s apartment! We liked that it was walking distance to penn and the parking situation on the street was super easy! The apartment was very nice and clean. David was available to answer any questions. We highly recommend this vrbo!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
As described. Will return.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

perfect urban setting for a weekend getaway

David's property is extremely clean and will lay down exactly how it's described in the description. It is extremely close to a number of attractions inclusive of art, museums, historical sites, restaurants and shops. This is my second stay at David's and will definitely come back for a third time thank you very much.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little apartment

This property was very quaint. Everything was clean and very well cared for. Parking on the weekend was free and easy. This would be a perfect place for some to stay if they were visiting someone at Drexel Univ as it was several blocks away. Don’t forget to visit Sabrina’s Cafe for your eating pleasure. Would definitely stay here again. Owner was friendly and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Powelton Village

Nice easy walk to the Hospital of U. Of PA…the reason we needed the place. Place was very clean, quiet, and well maintained. It needs some sprucing up on the outside, but was ok. Parking is a nightmare, but to be expected in this area! I’d stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot, great house, EZ park

Love this cozy apartment. It is as advertised. Clean and comfortable. We parked right next to the entrance on 3Xth Street every time. EZ. Quick walk to Drexel. Expect city noises and plenty of sunshine. Stairs are steepish but EZ if you are not feeble. This is our 2nd time and we’ll be back. Host quite responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Lovely quaint unit

We live in a rural area in Oregon far from big cities. Staying in a big city was an experience but this house was on a quiet residential area and seemed less busy even with traffic and noise. It was a good experience!! One thing we did have a problem with is we are both large people and older so the stairs were an issue, especially at night when using the bathroom downstairs. Some people more elderly than we are and more immobile might not be able to navigate the stairs very well. Other than that, we had a lovely stay.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2019
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unfortunate, this could've been a wonderful place

There are a lot of things I liked about the rental, but 3 major reasons I would never stay there again. 1. The place smelled very musky. 2. It takes a rocket scientist to operate the oven. I nor my husband ( electronic tech) were able to get it cooking properly. It took 2 hrs. to cook a dish that normally takes 1 hour. and it still wasn't completely done. 3. I came for a wedding and my husband asked about an iron. We looked for an iron, but never found one, so we notified Mr. David which told me that it was unfortunate, because there was an iron and ironing board there but someone must have taken it. He never made any effort in getting me one. Thank God I was able to borrow one along with some decent pans. He has organic and good quality things, but most of which need updating especially furniture and some stainless steel pot and pans. Kitchen was loaded with almost everything coffee, salt, pepper, oil, plastic food storage bags. These are all things I usually bring and my husband loved the quality of the silverware. I did enjoy sitting on the deck each morning sipping on coffee. He also had a pitcher of filtered water like the one I have at home. BE CAREFUL WITH 2HR PARKING WEEK DAYS
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent communication with the host, David. I had to shift the dates of my reservation and also had questions about parking and later on about check-out. He responded very quickly and in detail. I really enjoyed our stay, especially sunning on the garden deck. The apartment had everything we needed (I did bring ground coffee of my own to brew) with cozy spots to sit inside also and read. Good lighting options too! I had a car, so I appreciated that parking was easy to find and that the location was convenient for moving my student from her dorm. Thank you!I look forward to being back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A perfect stay just outside City Center, we were able to walk to most places. Super cute location and the host was so kind and considerate. We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quick Weekend Trip

My wife and I rented this VRBO to attend the Army-Navy football game. We had flight problems and ended up arriving a day late - David was very easy to deal with - great communication. Our brief stay was pleasant - clean and well appointed space near U Penn. Small but nice. We would stay here again. Thanks David
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect weekend get away in charming vintage neighborhood clos to restaurants and shop. aunts

The property was immaculate, easy to check in, matched the description on the app. David the owner kept in good consistent communication with us and his recommendations for restaurants and experiences were spot on. Planning on going back with my sisters in January.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022