A member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux group, this inn sits on a 200-year-old farm that has been remade to resemble a country village. "Oreo" cows (Belted Galways that are black on the ends, white in the middle) roam the pasture near the entrance. Carefully chosen antiques, English-pine furnishings, and oversize tubs fill the inn's modern guest rooms, which overlook a courtyard and the gardens. Some suites have a whirlpool or fireplace. The prix-fixe restaurant ($$$$) serves contemporary cuisine, including seared scallops with parsnip puree, black trumpet mushrooms, salsify, and blood-orange butter. Guests can choose a full English breakfast or homemade granola. The hotel is in Pittsboro, 8 mi south of Chapel Hill. Pros: feels like a country inn but with up-to-date luxuries. Cons: the setting, while pristine, can feel a bit contrived.
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