My husband and I stayed at Emilia's Retreat when our original B&B cancelled to a double booking. It was the best thing that happened to us! Donna gave us a warm welcome to her home and made sure that we were comfortable throughout our stay. She was a brilliant hostess but also gave us our privacy too.

Breakfast consisted of amazing pastries, bread rolls, croissant & various home made treats left in a basket for us to discover each morning. The fridge was replenished with fruit juice, fresh fruit, milk and a variety of spreads and the kitchen was full of little baskets of teas, a coffee machine, nuts, biscotti, jam, peanut butter....in fact everything you could possibly want for a continental breakfast, including the largest selection of cereal I've seen outside of a supermarket.

We stayed in the basement apartment and slept like babies in the oh so comfortable beds. Although the subway passed within a few yards of the house, it's rumble just served to lull us to sleep. My husband is a fairly light sleeper and it didn't disturb him at all. The living area was comfortable and spacious - the evenings were warm and we were grateful for the air conditioning unit.

We did have a few concerns about the area on the way from JFK airport as we drove along some pretty run down roads, however our fears were allayed when we got to our destination. The street is quiet and the surrounding area safe to walk in.

The subway was a short walk away and within 20 minutes we were in Manhattan. Our stay at Emilia's Retreat was brief but very pleasant and we have no hesitation in making this recommendation.

We strongly recommend anyone staying in NYC consider this amazing Brooklyn getaway. Donna is an amazing Inn Keeper and our entire family was shocked at how much "at home" we felt in the Big Apple. After a day of "going" and "running", this was a very relaxing way to end the day -- a short "Q" ride and we were home. Thanks to Donna, our entire family (daughter 11; son 7) had a trip to remember!

I got married in July and needed a place nearby for my parents to stay at, for me to stay at the night before the wedding, and a place for my wedding party to get ready at. Emilia's Retreat was perfect for my needs. We stayed on the third floor which had two bedrooms and a bathroom. My parents loved the space and Donna the hostess. I was rather worried at first as my parents usually stay at hotels and weren't too happy about staying at a bed and breakfast at first, but the homeliness and charm won them over the instant they got there. The photos came out really beautiful with the Victorian home and tree lined streets. Since it was a spacious two bedroom suite there was plenty of room for all of us and the photographer, videographer, and assistant. Furthermore, Donna is a wonderful hostess, very friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend staying at Emilia's Retreat. Plus, Ditmas Park is really quite a gem of a neighborhood in NYC, an oasis of green and calm. I love this neighborhood as I live here too. The Q and B trains go to a lot of places in Manhattan and Brooklyn and there are plenty of good restaurants in this area as well.

We spent a night here in late July 2011 so we could poke around Brooklyn a little bit. Donna was very friendly & accommodating, especially since we booked at the last minute. We were up on the 3rd floor, which has 2 main rooms - a master BR and a room with 2 twins, a TV, and a couple of rocking chairs - as well as a small but clean & airy bathroom. It felt like what it was - staying in someone's home, with all the quirkiness of a century-old house. Breakfast was marvelous - incredible locally baked bread, fruit, yogurt, good coffee. The house is on a beautiful, tree-shaded cul-de-sac, quiet except for the frequent passing of subway trains (which might bother some, but I love the sound of trains). The Q train station is 5 minutes' walk away, with a 20-minute ride taking you to Park Slope & Brooklyn Heights, probably 10-15 minutes more to lower Manhattan. The neighborhood hasn't been touched by Park Slope-style gentrification, and the ethnic diversity in the shops & on the streets is classic New York.