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

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Property grounds
TV, fireplace
Exterior
Property grounds
Property grounds

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5130 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Saint Michaels, MD
  • Place, St. Michaels Marina
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, St. Michaels Winery
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Airport, Easton, MD (ESN-Easton - Newnam)
    ‪20 min drive‬

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About the area

St. Michaels

With a stay at this cottage in St. Michaels (Downtown St. Michaels), you'll be steps from Muskrat Park and St. Michaels Marina. .This cottage is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Higgins Yacht Yard and Marina and 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Saint Michaels Town Hall.
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What's nearby

  • Higgins Yacht Yard and Marina - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • St. Michaels Marina - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • 1879 Hooper Straight Lighthouse - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • St. Michaels Winery - 8 min walk - 0.7 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Stars - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Foxy's Harbor Grille - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪The Crab Claw - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Carpenter Street Saloon - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar - St Michaels - ‬4 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned cottage, which features a fireplace. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Communal pool

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Internet access

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • Up to 9 kg per pet

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: No smoking indoors

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a village
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the marina

Things to do

  • Bicycles
  • Boat
  • Golf
  • Kayak
  • Tennis
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,400 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 22

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

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

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total (up to 20 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: Dog must be up to date on meds incl flea and tick.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite 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
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 is also known as

John Bruff Waterview Cottage Harbor Park Town St. Michaels
John Bruff Waterview Cottage Harbor Park Town St.
John Bruff Waterview Harbor Park Town St. Michaels
John Bruff Waterview Harbor Park Town St.
John Bruff Waterview Cottage Harbor Park Town St. Michaels
John Bruff Waterview Cottage Harbor Park Town St.
John Bruff Waterview Harbor Park Town St. Michaels
John Bruff Waterview Cottage Harbor Park Town St.
John Bruff Waterview Harbor Park Town St. Michaels
John Bruff Waterview Harbor Park Town St.

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

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 98 out of 125 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 125 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 125 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 125 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 125 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Tonda R.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house is amazing. Owner has done a terrific renovation. A couple of issues: the stairs are the originals, evidently, and way too steep for seniors to safely navigate. And the master bedroom mattress really needs to be turned or maybe replaced. We struggled to get comfortable. But kitchen works well. Location is fantastic. There is a lot to recommend this property for the right renters.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Checking in was easy & the host was kind and readily available if needed. The location and uniqueness of this historic house couldn’t be beat. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Jane V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything was very clean and tidy. The location is great. The 2 front doors are in bad repair, the roof is in bad repair, and assessment needs to be made of the the cutlery and pots and pans to see what needs to be added. For example, there are not enough forks and knives. There should also be some instructions as to how things work in the house and how the house should be left at the end of the stay. Also, there needs to be a place to hang damp towels.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

KIRSTEN G., Haymarket, VA

Liked: Cleanliness
If you want to be in a perfect location to town and beautiful water views John Bruff is your destination. Host is very quick to respond to all requests and this home is a fun step back in time . Property is appointed with circa 1800 furnishings. Each bedroom has toilet and sink . Full bath on main level. You will need to be able to climb stairs to access bedrooms. A great stay.
John Bruff House
View out front
Front Room
Front yard
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Don N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ideal location to shops and attractions. Host very easy to reach.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautifully restored historic home, in a quaint neighborhood, near the water and downtown. We loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

James L.

Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Meghan K.

Liked: Cleanliness

St. Michael’s Charm

Always a great stay at the John Bruff house! Location is perfect, great view of the harbor and even saw a free concert in the park!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristin A.

Liked: Cleanliness

House with a view

We once again enjoyed our stay here. Perfect location to every where you’d want to go in St. Michael’s! Loved sitting out front looking at the water and park and enjoying music from our front yard. Highly recommend this cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect location!

The house and location was perfect for a girls weekend with my mom and 2 daughters! The 1/2 bathrooms in each bedroom were nice to have upstairs!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Quiet, relaxing

The house was perfect with water views and a park across the street. Just blocks away to amazing stores and restaurants. Walked the dog all over the place. Relaxed on the screened-in-porch. Just a wonderful, relaxing, and delicious vosit
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

michael p.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Disliked: Cleanliness

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

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

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

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

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

Perfect as always

Great.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ellen Z.

Liked: Cleanliness

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