8 Best Hotels in Central North Carolina, North Carolina

To understand Winston-Salem in the 2020s, consider that the former RJ Reynolds headquarters—an Art Deco, tiered-top architectural masterpiece that inspired the design of the Empire State Building—is now a modern hotel where (of course) smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises. Instead, the luxury hotel honors the history of Winston-Salem with tartan fabrics that echo the area’s textile past. Guest rooms exude elegance and masculinity, while the basement-level rec room is all fun, with touches like a two-story slide, bowling lanes, and a small basketball court. There's also a fabulous French brasserie on-site called the Katharine.

What was once a run-down mid-century motor lodge is now downtown's coolest place to stay, thanks to an overhaul with retro-chic furnishings, trellises with climbing vines, and a sage-and-neutrals color scheme that extends to the lobby coffee shop and lounge. The bar's patio is a hot spot for locals on weekend evenings.

There's a sumptuous sense of escape at this modern, luxurious hotel where wall-sized portraits and sculpture (including a large-scale Chihuly) balance the gorgeous outdoor surroundings, including a 3-acre lake (with walking trail) and an infinity pool framed by comfy chairs and cabanas. Expansive limestone and granite bathrooms, comfy beds with 330-count sheets, a full-service spa, and balconies with lake views add to the luxury. Herons, a celebrated five-star restaurant that sources produce from its own farm, serves food around the clock.

Once a 1960s motor lodge, this fun and quirky boutique hotel has been transformed with a (tiny) rooftop pool and lots of retro touches. The rooms are bright, colorful, and very '60s mod—but with smart TVs and other modern necessities. The top two floors have exterior corridors and open directly on to the pool and bar area. On the bottom floor, the lobby area is a comfy place to hang out with a coffee or cocktail from the in-house café. The central location means you're steps from everywhere, including Cheeni's Indian restaurant and Pour Taproom just downstairs.

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.

In the center of this hotel, three floors of rooms overlook a carpeted basketball court, where guests can shoot hoops with soft basketballs handed out at the front desk. It's one very notable touch among many that compel both heavy and casual UNC fans to stay at this boutique hotel in the thick of Franklin Street. Guests can people-watch from room balconies or mingle with the after-work crowd at the Trophy Room, the cushy ground-floor bar and patio, where the honey used in cocktails is sourced from beehives on the roof. Service is spot-on, from the friendly hosts behind the counter to the well-versed bartender. The setting and the contemporary touches combine to make guests feel both part of the college scene and far removed from their everyday lives.  Ask to see Room 23, a replica of Michael Jordan's UNC dorm room.

Built into the renovated art deco–era Pepper Building in the heart of downtown, this locally owned 2019 addition to the city's lodging doubles as a gathering place—the wide windows overlooking the street beckon passersby into the stunning lobby-level bar and restaurant, Sir Winston. Rooms are spacious and modern, with touches that nod to the building's century-long history.

On the campus of Duke University, this luxurious hotel evokes the feeling of an English country inn. Many of the guest rooms—all with classic furnishings and creamy wall coverings—overlook either a park or the golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones and redesigned by his son, Rees Jones. The inn feels a bit like staying in an upscale golf clubhouse—there's a pro shop in the hotel lobby. On display in the public rooms are memorabilia belonging to the Duke family. In the lobby, you'll find the quietly sophisticated Fairview Dining Room.  If you're in town for a special event and the inn is full, the JB Duke Hotel is just across the street.