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John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels!

Photo gallery for John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels!

Front of house from St. Michaels harbor looking across Town Park
View from front yard of house -- facing St. Michaels harbor
View from Park in front of house
Family Room
Kitchen area adjacent Family Room

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 5130.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Pool
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Saint Michaels, MD
  • St. Michaels Marina
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • St. Michaels Winery
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Easton, MD (ESN-Easton - Newnam)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Master bedroom

1 King Bed and 1 Crib

Second bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels!

The extraordinary fully restored historic John Bruff House, located on the Town park and harbor, has magnificent St. Michaels harbor and Miles River water views. The house is 2 bedroom cottage with plenty of living space and a rear screened porch. It is a short walk from all museums, parks, restaurants, churches and shops in St. Michaels. Rates vary by season, and whether stay is weeknight or weekend. Stays of a week or longer are discounted, as are "last minute" bookings.

The house was built around 1805 by wheelwright John Bruff who is believed to have constructed the magnificent mantel and paneled wall in the living room. The house was expanded, to include a family room and bedroom above it, and updated (including central HVAC, cable and wifi) in 2006.

The first floor of the original portion of the Bruff House includes a LIVING ROOM with original paneling, a DINING ROOM, and small DEN. To the rear of the original house on the first floor is a KITCHEN area connected to a large paneled FAMILY ROOM with a queen sleep sofa. To the rear of the kitchen is a screened PORCH facing a large backyard. There is a full bathroom on the first floor.

Up an original staircase (which is narrower and steeper than a modern staircase and which can create a mobility issue for some), on the second floor of the original portion of the Bruff House is a very large MASTER BEDROOM having a king size bed.

The second floor to the rear of the house (accessed via a separate modern code staircase) includes a SECOND BEDROOM with a queen size bed. There is a bathroom with sink and toilet in each bedroom.

Property manager

Thomas Byrne
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 22
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Dog must be up to date on meds incl flea and tick.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking indoors

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
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

St. Michaels

St. Michaels is home to this cottage. Muskrat Park and Church Cove Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Easton Cycle and Sport. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Saint Michaels, MD

What's nearby

  • St. Michaels Marina - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • St. Michaels Museum - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • 1879 Hooper Straight Lighthouse - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • St. Michaels Winery - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum - 7 min walk - 0.6 km

Getting around

  • Cambridge Station - 34 min drive
  • Easton, MD (ESN-Easton - Newnam) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Foxy's - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Chesapeake Landing Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Blue Crab - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Carpenter Street Saloon - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Crab Claw - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is John Bruff Waterview Cottage - on Harbor and on Park - In Town St. Michaels! located?

Situated in St. Michaels, this cottage is steps away from Muskrat Park, St. Michaels Marina and Higgins Yacht Yard and Marina. Saint Marys Square Museum and Saint Marys Square are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 89 out of 114 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 19 out of 114 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 114 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 114 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 114 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

michael p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
great location
The house is quaint and very clean. It could use a refresh. Can't beat the location. You can walk to everything.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Historic property in great location
The location couldn't have been more ideal. We were able to walk everywhere...all around town. And there was a beautiful view of the town park and the bay from the house. We were there for Christmas, visiting family, and her house was overflowing, so this was a little home-away-from-home. There were some difficulties. The shower curtain and main bath downstairs needs updating and the kitchen could be better appointed. The stairs to the king bed bedroom are, as others and the owner noted, very steep. They are not easy to navigate. However, the place was clean and a very cool place to stay. It definitely had the feel of a historic maritime cottage on the bay. We had a great Christmas and a wonderful time there!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

ken k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Location
Our stay in St Michael's was wonderful. The location of this property could not be better. Close to marina, parks, restaurants, historic downtown and the maritime museum. We never needed to use our car! Tom is an excellent host.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lizanne F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect spot
Perfect stay in a historic home in the heart of town.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Historic character cottage with modern comforts
As soon as we walked into this cottage we knew we had made the right choice. Rooms are tastefully decorated with period pieces and interesting artwork on the walls. We loved the narrow staircase up to the master because it reminded us of a cottage we had stayed in once in Wales. Even though parts of the cottage were historic in nature, its modern conveniences such as TV, wifi, dishwasher, microwave, and shower were easy to use and worked fine. What a great place!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Happy repeat customers!
The house is in a fantastic spot in town, close see to a park, the water, and the shops and restaurants. We love the old house. The stairs to the bedroom are steep and narrow but we were totally fine with them.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cozy, historical feel in a great location
What a perfect spot to take in all that St. Michael's has to offer. We were a 10 minute walk or less from the winery, our Saturday night dinner reservation, all the quaint shops and our kayaking adventure. The house let's you take in the history of the town and region with all the modern comforts too. FYI- Be prepared to walk up some steps for either bedroom with the master being particularly steep and windy. No biggie for us, just thought I'd mention. This cottage was amazing!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Dennis g.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Nice location ! But!
Great location, food and drinks were awesome, centrally located , walking distance to everything . The negative part of our stay was the house is in need of updates , there was no hot water in the kitchen sink , drywall tape was peeling from the walls and especially the air conditioning in the bedrooms , it was not very cool , i could go on but i wont , and the money they charged i would expect alot nicer accommodations .
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Meghan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Always a great getaway
We love staying at the John Bruff house in St. Michaels. The location is great, right in the heart of town! Our family has been staying here for the past few years and we can’t wait to go back!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristin A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
This is our third visit. You can’t have a better location! We love St. Michael’s and this historical cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location
Loved this historic house! Perfect location, peaceful neighborhood and walking distance to entire town.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patrick M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Another great weekend @
Perfect location, turnkey and historic. Our go to for St Michael's.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jenny H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect as always
Great.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ellen Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pleasant stay - could use some updating
The location was wonderful - we could see the water from the house, and we were right next to a park. The home was quaint with a fascinating history. Like others have noted, one of the staircases is very narrow. We thought some updating would go a long way: fresh rugs, newer pans and dishes in the kitchen, matching towels, a few more lamps. The house smelled a little musty, and only some of the windows were able to be opened. Still, the home was clean and comfortable, there was plenty of room, and we enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute cottage in walkable neighborhood
Quaint historic cottage close to downtown and waterfront park. Love St Michaels!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joshua B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful house and location
You really could not pick a better location. A park is across the street and the harbor is next to that. Everything in Saint Michaels is within walking distance. The home itself is historic and cozy. The stairs are definitely steep! Both bedrooms are comfortable and the downstairs living area is spacious. Big thumbs up from us.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice house
Great location
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terrie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful St. Michael’s
If you want old world charm, and possibly the best location in St., Michaels, this is where you would want to stay. If you want modern amenities, I would suggest someplace else. But we were here for a memorial and we were very happy with the historical location. Thank you!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice house in a great location!
We loved our stay here. The house was very nice, especially for it being a much older house. It had everything we needed for our 3 night stay. And we can't say enough how good of a location it is. Right across the small street is a small park located right on the water. Thursday nights they have live music in the park which was a welcome surprise. We just sat in the front yard and enjoyed the show! And after we arrived we didn't use our car once. You could walk to every great spot that St Michaels has to offer, from the museums, restaurants, shops, and everything else.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

thomas l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Anniversary
Well equipped and the location was spectacular. Only complaint was that it was hot on the second floor.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lauren T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing!
Our family of 5 stayed in the charming home for a couple of nights in early June. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay during our quick trip to Saint Michaels. We were walking distance to everything you want to see & do while visiting. The front yard overlooked the water and a little park where our kids played. There’s a great bar right across the street to grab a drink & watch the boats. The home was well equipped with everything we needed to enjoy our stay. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas Y., Reading, PA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
St. Michael’s waterfront
Excellent location right by the water! Charming cottage with comfortable beds. Close to many restaurants, groceries, coffee shops and ice cream!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Meghan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location in the perfect town!
St Michaels is so charming and historic and so is the John Bluff house! Everything is in walking distance, beautiful view of the water and the perfect location to sit back and relax!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristin A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Another great visit
We again enjoyed our stay at your lovely home. Great location to everything in town and close to Oxford, Blackwater Refuge and Tilghman Island. Thank you for another nice stay!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maria C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location
We loved our stay at the Bruff cottage! The property is beautiful and very well kept. Much larger than I expected. The location can't be beat. I loved staying in a place with so much history. We will definitely be back. Thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

About the host

Hosted by Thomas Byrne

Host profile image
I have been enjoying St. Michaels and restoring historic houses there since 1991.

Why they chose this property

I purchased this remarkable property because of the historic character of the house and the area, the wonderful yard, the remarkable harbor and river views, the location on the Town park and harbor, and the convenience (walking distance) to everything in St. Michaels. It is also adjacent to other houses I have restored.

What makes this property unique

The harbor and river views, the location on the Town park, the walking distance to everything in St. Michaels, the architecture and character, the history, the yard, all make this an extraordinary property.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests