25 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.

The only hotel located on the campus of UNC–Chapel Hill, this century-old historic property features modern amenities in a charming setting. Built in 1924 and designed by award-winning architect Arthur C. Nash, who designed a number of other university landmarks, the inn has a rich history with UNC families. Historic photos of the university and its people line the hallways and serve as decor for the tastefully decorated rooms, which feel historic but not dated, thanks to marble-and-glass bathrooms and thoughtful updates. The inn's restaurant, Crossroads, offers classic Southern-inspired fare and afternoon tea.

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.

This employee-owned boutique hotel (named for the renowned short-story writer, who grew up in Greensboro) was constructed in the late 1990s but evokes old-world European charm; expect lots of wood paneling, mohair club chairs, and an extremely friendly staff. Rooms are elegant and spacious, with many featuring dining areas, living rooms, and bathrooms fit for royalty. The period furnishings are complemented by modern luxuries like dimmable lighting and surround-sound speaker systems. A breakfast buffet is served in a sunny pavilion overlooking a small garden. For lunch or dinner, grab a table in the courtyard of the Green Valley Grill, a European-style restaurant with a wood-fired oven. The hotel's checkered cab and London taxis are a fun touch.  O. Henry employs an in-house artist, Chip Holton, whose framed landscapes hang in every room. Look for his murals and embellishments throughout the hotel and restaurant.

With its high ceilings, big windows, and exposed beams, this modern hotel makes you feel like you're in the future—or perhaps just in a loft in a bigger city than Greensboro. A sister hotel to the more traditional O. Henry, Proximity features the same checkered cab and London taxis, but it's much more sleek and modern (the design was inspired by memories of old textile mills). Abstract but approachable large-format paintings hang in each room, balancing the iron-and-wood furniture, much of which is built by the hotel group's in-house craftsmen. Proximity holds the distinction of being the first LEED Platinum certified hotel in the country, a status evidenced in the guest experience by small touches like filtered water dispensers on every floor, as well as 100% employee owned. The on-site restaurant, Print Works Bistro, echoes the eco-sensibility with its farm-to-table sourcing and the healthy creek flowing past the patio seating, a natural restoration project by the hotel's developers.

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.

This innovative hotel, housed in a historic bank building, is the perfect fusion of art museum and boutique hotel. Its signature colorful penguins can be spotted throughout, and rotating art exhibits are on display in place of a traditional lobby. Guest rooms are similarly modern and very comfortable. The Counting House restaurant serves creative cocktails and Southern-inspired entrées, pastas, and small plates, and the small hotel spa offers massages. Even if you don't stay here, be sure to tour the edgy galleries and visit the underground bank vault and its eerie series of passageways.

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.

This boutique hotel in the heart of downtown displays mid-century modern decor and emphasizes everything local, from its overall design to the in-room snacks. The rooms are bright, service is friendly, and the hotel restaurant features local producers. The rooftop bar offers sweeping views of the city and is a favorite nightspot. The lobby coffee shop is one of the city's best, and is known for its coffee soda.

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.

Overlooking the Appalachian foothills and two world-class golf courses, this resort, spa, and conference center offers a luxurious escape. Rooms and suites are outfitted with sleek furnishings, downy-soft beds, and marble baths with rainfall shower heads. There’s also an Italian restaurant, bar, and relaxed café on-site, as well as indoor and outdoor pools. Golf, spa, tennis and other getaway packages are available.

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.

No two rooms are the same in this historic, affordable, and very pleasant lodging, built within two former cotton mills dating to 1837. The interior, with its exposed rafters, high ceilings, and brick walls, retains its historic character. A "graffiti wall," where young female factory workers left their mark, has been carefully preserved. There's a wine and cheese reception in the breakfast room each evening, as well as cookies and milk before bed.  The Art-o-mat machine in the lobby is one of the first in the world. Artist Clark Whittington created the concept in Winston-Salem.

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. 

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.

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.

Experience a taste of Italy at this fanciful and friendly hotel, where the lobby and rooms are filled with imported carved-wood furniture, fabrics, and artwork that conjure up the Renaissance. European-style sophistication is king here, and thanks to an impressive outdoor fountain, that's clear upon arrival. Tuscan cuisine is the hallmark of Il Palio, open for breakfast and dinner.

Well positioned for university visitors, conference and concert attendees, and IKEA shoppers, the Marriott hotel opened in 2021 with sleek, modern rooms overlooking UNC Charlotte campus. There's a light-rail stop outside that takes guests to Uptown in 30 minutes but most guests opt to valet park their car or park in the nearby garage to explore Charlotte. The Golden Owl Tavern is busy day and night for business lunches, pre-dinner drinks, and late-night snacks. While leisure guests can usually bypass the activity at the ground-floor conference center, elevators can be slow when many people are checking in or going to the restaurant on the second floor. A large fitness center overlooks an outdoor heated pool that's open until early fall. The University City shopping center across the street has many options for a quick bite, and it's two miles from IKEA, the only store in the Carolinas.

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.

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.