9 Best Hotels in Central North Carolina, North Carolina

The former estate of RJ Reynolds executive Bowman Gray and his wife, Nathalie, is now a luxurious inn 2 miles north of downtown, near the Wake Forest campus. The expansive yet welcoming stone building includes many architectural wonders, such as the elaborate ironwork and intricate wood panels imported from Europe during the Roaring Twenties. Most rooms are spacious, stocked with every amenity (as well as a communal ice-cream refrigerator), and well soundproofed. Antique furnishings—in private rooms and the billiards room, butler's quarters, and the library—give the feel of abiding within a living museum. It's like staying in a real-life game of Clue, with all of the luxury and none of the murder mystery.

This sprawling 6-acre property dates to 1775, with rooms spread across the Manor House, a Garden Cottage, and a cabin, all amidst gardens and green space. Its surroundings are as lovely as its accommodating owners. All rooms are filled with antiques and feature a working fireplace, and many have whirlpool tubs and steam showers.

Built to join the ranks of Relais & Chateaux, this luxury inn sits on a nearly 250-year-old farm that has been remade to resemble a country hamlet. Belted Galloway cows, which are black on the ends and white in the middle, roam the pasture near the entrance. The rooms have views of a courtyard, garden, or pastures and are individually furnished with carefully chosen antiques. Some suites have a whirlpool or fireplace. The Fearrington House Restaurant serves up swanky, contemporary fare. An elaborate made-to-order breakfast is included in the room rate, with afternoon tea available. A two-story spa offers treatments to guests and the public. A small selection of village shops includes the excellent McIntyre's Books, but otherwise guests will need to drive 15 minutes into Chapel Hill for other shops and dining.

This design-inspired inn in an 1880s home is the boutique hotel Raleigh needed, offering eight warm and modern rooms and suites, along with a parlor with honor bar, a rocking-chair front porch, and a leafy backyard. Much of the historic home has been preserved, with contemporary architectural touches and skyline views. The location makes it easy to explore downtown Raleigh by foot (Transfer Food Hall is a block away), while off-street parking allows for farther outings.

The kind of hotel that will have you checking neighborhood real estate listings, this elegant inn has been home to several families and a Baptist church before being transformed into nine luxury rooms, an intimate bar, and a romantic events venue. Guests are greeted with a glass of champagne before being led to a sun-soaked room with Egyptian cotton sheets, thoughtful technology (meaning: excellent plugs), and decor that feels both vintage and modern. The Boylan Heights location is the best of all worlds, close to downtown, Warehouse District galleries, and NC State campus. The Parlor is open to the public, serving afternoon tea, Italian-inspired cocktails and charcuterie, and themed Supper Club dinners. The historic nature of the property means no elevator (though there are ADA-accessible rooms), pool, or gym, but guests may use facilities at two nearby YMCAs.

One of the last remaining Green Book–recommended establishments in the area, Magnolia House is a piece of history you can sleep and eat in. The Green Book was a publication in the mid-20th-century for Black travelers about welcoming places to stay and dine during Jim Crow law restrictions, and Magnolia House hosted such luminaries as Tina Turner and Ray Charles. The thoughtfully restored inn has touches of modern design in its four themed rooms: Baldwin, inspired by intellectuals like James Baldwin; the masculine Legends, for sports heroes like Jackie Robinson; Carlotta, a pink room dedicated to icons like Lena Horne; and Kind of Blue to celebrate Miles Davis. The restaurant serves soul food favorites like fish and grits and smothered pork chops, a decadent brunch, as well as live music. 

With its grand staircase, richly carved moldings, and marble fireplaces, the stately coral-colored 1918 Adams Mansion is home to this boutique inn where each room is designed for comfort. Many of the suites are named for North Carolina furniture makers and feature their craftsmanship. An extended continental breakfast is served daily and there's also a restaurant and wine bar on-site.

It's a wonder there wasn't a place like this in a furniture town already: a boutique inn with rooms impeccably designed by different interior designers, from Bravo TV's Thom Filicia to the NC-based Madcap Cottage. Not a detail has been overlooked here, from hand-painted wallpaper to custom dog beds. Two suites have room to work or entertain, while Celerie Kemble's room has a standalone tub and veranda. Events are often held on the tented lawn or in the showpiece kitchen, which also serves guests elaborate breakfasts and snacks. The clientele is mostly industry and visiting university parents, who enjoy every luxury with rates to match.

This 1844 inn right on Old Salem's Main Street has a way of transporting guests back several centuries; it's also made a name for itself as a romantic getaway. The rooms and common areas are filled with reproduction antiques of the 18th and 19th centuries, and every room has pleasant views of the well-preserved town or the inn's period gardens, framed by a large magnolia tree. A generous breakfast with homemade muffins, biscuits, eggs, and more is served each morning.