We chose Villa Toscana primarily for location in a vibrant colourful neighbourhood with good transport links downtown. Responding to my initial booking Ron the host was super helpful in booking additional nights during a very busy period and very responsive to my questions around out of hours check in (he needed to leave earlier than normal on the day of our arrival).

It was unfortunate therefore that having made a special effort to arrive at times that suited him we still found nobody available to greet us or show us our room. Thanks to a lovely fellow resident who lent us his US mobile we managed to contact the owners who sorted everything out, but it certainly wasn't the start to our stay we had been hoping for.

Our Moroccan themed room however was lovely, tucked away down the side at the rear of the property with a comfortable double bed, nice furnishings and a dark, cool sanctuary of peace so close to the excitement of North Halsted. By European standards the room was OK but in comparison with most US beds and bedrooms I can understand why many would call it small and cramped and there was very little natural light. The bathroom was perfectly functional but is definitely "characterful" bordering on "in need of a refurbishment" with peeling paint, tired fittings and with more than its fair share of cobwebs.

Breakfast offers a limited but high quality choice of cereals, bagels, pastries and fruit. Coffee and juices are also freely available and we certainly found it fine for our purposes. Hours are from 6am to 11am so great for flexible starts but don't expect the usual B&B service. Breakfast is a strictly a DIY affair eaten in the kitchen, often standing up (there are only three stools!), sometimes chatting with your fellow guests.
We actually only saw our host for about 10 minutes in the 5 days we were there which wasn't an issue for us but certainly not what we've experienced in other B&Bs.

Location is perfect, ten minutes walk from the Addison Red Line CTA station and in the heart of great restaurants and bars on N Halsted, Clark and N Broadway. At the front of the property there is a lovely shaded deck great for relaxing but often used for smoking if that bothers you.

Generally we found Villa Toscana offered good value for money in a great location and for what we wanted suited our purposes exactly. However it could do with some attention to the decor and it had none of the personal charm you often hope to find in B&Bs which was a shame.

I have stayed here a handful of times and have usually enjoyed it but have noticed recently it is starting to slip. The innkeeper Ron seems to have lost interest in being a good host and on the over-all upkeep. Breakfast has gotten sparse and wasnt even put out on my recent stay. The lower level rooms are in a desperate need of a redo. Great location and free parking but there are better options