Hotel Review: Tea Cakes Bed and Breakfast in Atlanta, Georgia

I have visited a lot of bed-and-breakfasts (B&Bs) in the last few years, and the primary thing I've learned is that if you're going to insist on staying at a B&B, you've got to learn to go with the flow. Each one is unique, and there is always going to be something about it that surprises you, either pleasantly or otherwise.

Tea Cakes Bed and Breakfast is a new arrival on the Atlanta B&B scene, having been in business less than a year. We chose it because it is close to downtown, across the street from a MARTA station, and the breakfasts looked really good. We arrived late on a Saturday afternoon, and the first thing we noticed is that the neighborhood, specifically Lowery Blvd., is a little scary. But when we turned off Lowery, we were relieved to find that Lena St., where the B&B is located, is a pleasant street with pretty houses. A friend living in Atlanta later explained that the line between a "good" neighborhood and a "bad" neighborhood in Atlanta can be very thin and crossed suddenly, and that was certainly true here. In the end, we had absolutely no problems with safety during our stay.

We were greeted by the innkeeper, a very helpful young woman who couldn't have been more welcoming. She gave us the grand tour of the house, which appeared to be only a few years old, and told us that with the exception of the other two guest rooms, we had free run of the place. That included use of the microwave and fridge in the kitchen, which is very unusual in a B&B but was certainly welcomed by us. She asked us if we had any dietary restrictions, what time we wanted breakfast and gave us a set of keys before escorting us up to our room.

We stayed in the Diamond Hill room, a small room beautifully decorated in black and white. It was almost too small; the bed took up most of the space, leaving only walking room between it and the other furniture, which consisted of two nightstands and a table with a flat screen TV (with satellite!) and a DVD player. We also had a closet containing two very comfy robes, an iron and ironing board and extra towels. The bed was the last word in comfort; I'm presently kicking myself for forgetting to ask them what type of sheets they used, because they were so wonderful I'm determined to buy a set for myself. The bathroom was down the hall; since we were the only guests at the time, I don't know if other guests would have been using it, too, or if those bedrooms had their own bathrooms.

The best thing about staying in a B&B is, of course, the breakfasts! We were there for three mornings, and each day the breakfast was good. Not to-die-for good, but certainly much better than I would make at home or have in a hotel. The first morning we had a large waffle topped with bananas and whipped cream and paired with grilled pineapple. The second morning we had a yogurt and fruit parfait followed by French toast with peaches, and on the third morning we had a spinach frittata and baked cinnamon apples.

There were a few things about Tea Cakes bothered me a bit. First, the host wasn't usually in the house. In fact, on the second morning, she left our breakfast in the fridge the night before with instructions to heat it up. It didn't really cause a problem, but it was disconcerting to know there was no one around if something had come up, and they weren't around to give recommendations for dinner, much less to offer the evening tea their website promises. Second, the room wasn't made up during the entire length of our stay.

The B&B's website claims they offer a luxury experience, but I don't agree. It was certainly very comfortable and offered good food, but the service, while acceptable, wasn't at the luxury level. Tea Cakes is a fine little B&B and certainly worth the consideration of anyone planning a trip to Atlanta, but it's not the type of place where they wait on you hand and foot. If that's what you're expecting, you need to look elsewhere.

Details: 1003 Lena St., Atlanta, GA 30314. Phone: (404) 758-9879. Website: http://atlantaluxuryinn.com. Email: teacakes@atlantaluxuryinn.com.