Check out the Retro Retreats, themed Airbnb Rentals in Cincinnati!
Are you looking for a really unique and definitely memorable accommodation experience in Cincinnati, Ohio? Then you absolutely must check out the Retro Retreats. These innovative Airbnb vacation rentals will help you walk right into the life of your favorite Sitcoms, and truly make you feel like you are living the show! The Retro Retreats currently have four awesome themed Airbnb rentals - each would make the perfect place for exploring Cincinnati. There is a Friends themed rental based on Monica’s famous pastel apartment'; the “Purple Suite”, an extremely well-done Airbnb recreation of Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment; the “New York Suite”, a fabulous Airbnb recreation of the Rosebud Motel from Schitt’s Creek; the “Creek Suite,” (this one might be our favorite), and finally, an adorable Airbnb called the “Golden Suite” that is themed after the Golden Girl’s adorable Miami Beach House.
Below we have listed each cool Airbnb available at the Retro Retreats in Cincinnati. Under each one we will list helpful information about how many people it can sleep and some of the coolest details we noticed. Also, we will include the link so you can go right to the listing and book your instagrammable trip! These are all listed as one-bedroom apartments, but you can rent the entire building if you need enough space for a group. All of the apartments are only about ten minutes from downtown and you won’t be too far from any of the highlights in Cincinnati!
We have also included an interview with the owners and operators of the Retro Retreats, Brenda and Otto Baum. We wanted to cover topics like, “What all went into designing these incredible spaces,” and “which Retro Retreat is your favorite?”
The Golden Suite
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath, Sleeps 4.
Channel your inner Golden Girl with a stay in the Golden Girls Airbnb. This rental is perfect for those who love the sass, style, and humor of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia. The décor is inspired by the Miami Beach house that the ladies lived in on the show, and features plenty of tropical prints, pastel hues, and kitschy touches. There is a full kitchen, perfect for making Cheesecake and eating it with your friends! Located just a block away from bars, restaurants, coffee and more, you have everything you need for your vacation to Cincinnati! Check out this link to find more photos and availability of the Golden Suite!
The New York Suite
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 4.
If you're a fan of Seinfeld, you won't want to miss the Seinfeld Airbnb. This rental is designed to feel like Jerry's apartment, complete with a retro '90s aesthetic, a quirky mix of decor, and plenty of nods to the show. You'll feel like a character in the show as you sit at the kitchen table, relax on the couch, and admire the memorabilia on the walls. There is a full kitchen for cooking meals, and the couch in the living room pulls out into a full bed - perfect if you bring your kiddos. Check out this link to find more photos and availability of the New York Suite!
The Creek Suite
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 4.
For fans of the more recent sitcom Schitt's Creek, the Creek Suite Airbnb is a must-stay. This rental is inspired by the Rosebud Motel, the famous run-down establishment that the Rose family calls home at the beginning of the show. The Rosebud is the centerpiece of the show and this Airbnb really makes you feel like you walked right on to the set. You'll feel like you're in the heart of Schitt's Creek as you stay in one of the motel's quirky rooms, complete with vintage décor and plenty of character. Located only a block from cafes, bars and restaurants. Don’t miss Moira’s wigs! Check out this link to find more photos and availability of the Creek Suite!
The Purple Suite
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 2.
This amazing Friends apartment, a must-stay for any fan of the iconic '90s sitcom. The Retro Retreat Airbnb rental is designed to look just like the famous apartment shared by Rachel, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Ross, and Phoebe. You'll feel like you're living in an episode of Friends as you lounge on the iconic sofa, cook in the open-plan kitchen, and admire the quirky décor that pays homage to the show. The furniture is so close to what was on the set of the show, its honestly so cool to look at. They even nailed the purple color. Our favorite part is the faux window that really gives you the feeling you are in a New York City apartment. Check out this link to find more photos and availability of the Purple Suite!
If you are anything like us, we bet you are curious about the process that goes into designing such amazing vacation rentals. Read on below to learn more about the creative process of Brenda and Otto Baum, the owners of the Retro Retreats. They were nice enough to answer some of our burning questions about how they put together the Retro Retreats in Cincinnati!
1. The Retro Retreats are so much cooler than your typical "white linen" hotel room. How did you come up with the idea for the Retro Retreats?
Thank you! Otto has been in the property development business for 25 years. He's always wanted to recreate a sitcom set as a fun project, a personal challenge. Once Covid kind of shut everything down, we found ourselves re-watching classic TV and revisited the idea. We thought it would be a cool place to getaway and have a date night. We saw there are some experiences you could go to and snap pictures, but not spend the night and be immersed in the set.
2. How do you combine these awesome ideas with practical functionality?
We've designed many apartments and there were only so many ways to lay out a kitchen...redo a bath. This was going to be a fun challenge! We owned a building for years that was in need of major renovation. The location of this property with proximity to our own house and in our favorite neighborhood seemed like the perfect place to create these units. We could be close to manage, and guests could walk to some of the best restaurants/bars in the city.
3. When you guys were planning the Retro Retreats, what all went into that process?
The process was pretty much watching a lot of TV. We would freeze any close-up images and that's how we determined the layout plans. There was a lot of shopping online and second hand to get the correct pieces of furniture. I traveled to 6 states and logged a bunch of miles finding the right pieces for the sets. The fun part about the suites is that the styles were all 80's, 90's-2000's and most could be found in a thrift store.
4. Do you have a favorite Suite that you have designed?
Otto's favorite is the New York Suite - he was very excited to do that one, and it was the first one we did. He is a huge fan of the show, so it was fun to add nods and references throughout to any super fans out there. Mine would have to be the Golden Suite. This is the one that Otto thought would be the most challenging because it is such a huge space, and we were only working with 1-bedroom apartments. We figured it out and you seriously feel like you are in Miami Florida when you walk into that living room. It's amazing how it transports you through the design.
5. What was the most frustrating aspect of putting the Retro Retreats together, and the most rewarding?
I'm not sure anything was truly frustrating during this process. It was definitely challenging taking a current floor plan and having to fit a completely different floor plan into the space. That's where Otto adapted and created "set walls." Most people would think you are crazy for putting walls in front of windows inside a unit, but to get the floor plan right, it needed to be done. It also makes it feel like you are actually on a set, the walls don't go to the ceiling, the light fixtures are made to look like stage lights. These little details made it like nothing else out there.
The most rewarding thing is seeing people's reactions when they come into the spaces and their jaws drop. The feedback has been incredible!
6. Is there a particular design element that you are most proud of, or a hidden detail you hope people notice?
I really love the fabric and wallpaper designs. My friend from grade school, Katy Dika with KatyDikaDesigns, reached out when she heard we were creating these and specializes in repeat patterns. She offered to help me create a lot for the Purple Suite and Creek Suite. Everything was custom made with but with our own spin, even some easter eggs hidden if you look closely.
There was also a piece of furniture I drove 5 hours to get for the Purple Suite. I made an Instagram post on it, because it's such a wild story. It turns out to have a connection to one of the characters on the show!
7. Do you have any future plans for more Suites that we can share?
This process really has changed how we watch TV now and we can't help ourselves considering how it would look in real life. Noticing all the layouts and details. Otto says he's not done until he's created his favorite - the one that started all of this- Frasier. But the space has to be right - these 4 that we just did were too small to do it justice. And there are so many to choose from! The sitcoms we chose for the Suites were chosen based on the best fit for those units.
8. The attention to detail is incredible - were you big fans of these shows?
Definitely. We love these shows and that really helped with nailing all the details. There are certain things in each unit that we knew we HAD to get right. There's a large window in the Purple Suite, the door in the New York Suite, the headboards in the Creek Suite, and kitchen in the Golden Suite. It's fun through all of this learning the different design styles for the sets and I feel like I learned so much about furniture through this.
9. If you had an unlimited budget, what would be your dream design?
We would definitely buy a penthouse apartment with an amazing city view and balcony to recreate Frasier.
No matter which sitcom-inspired Airbnb you choose, a stay at the Retro Retreats promises to be a fun, memorable, and Instagram-worthy experience. Each rental is designed with meticulous attention to detail and plenty of fan love, so you'll feel like you're truly living in your favorite TV show. Book your stay now and get ready to step into a world of sitcom nostalgia. We know you’ll eventually want to try all four! Special thanks to Brenda and Otto for talking with us.
Thanks for checking out our article about the Retro Retreats in Cincinnati. This is one of many articles we have put together about innovative hosts putting together fun themed Airbnbs. Check out some of the links below, we are sure that you will find something awesome for your next vacation! If you really enjoyed this article, we definitely know that you will enjoy our list of Amazing Airbnbs Designed to Look like Your Favorite TV Shows! Make sure you are following us on Facebook - we share amazing places to sleep every single day.
