Best Bed and Breakfasts in NC Roundup

This Bed and Breakfast Roundup was updated in September 2021

Through the course of my North Carolina travels, I have visited several Bed and Breakfasts.  A B&B can be a wonderful and intimate lodging alternative to a hotel.  More than a place to sleep, it can be a place of respite, breath taking views and excellent cuisine.  Consequently, the beauty of a Bed and Breakfast is that not one adventure will be alike.  Following is a list of the best Bed and Breakfasts in NC and the attributes that make them unique.

Top Bed and Breakfasts to Visit in North Carolina

 

Inner Banks Inn

Prettiest Location and Favorite Décor

The Inner Banks Inn sits on 2.75 expansive acres and offers four different kinds of lodging.  It is located in  Edenton, also called “One of America’s Prettiest Towns”.  The Inn is walking distance from Edenton’s picturesque downtown and waterfront that houses many independently owned shops, restaurants, and historical sites.

 

 

The Lords Proprietor is my favorite building at the Inner Banks Inn.  The 19th Century Victorian mansion has seven captivating rooms that include a living area, a dining room, and a full kitchen.  A couple of these exquisite bedrooms are known for hosting Dolly Parton and President Ronald Reagan.  During the Christmas holidays, the Inn is impeccably decorated with Christmas décor.

 

 

The Penelope Barker Suite is my favorite room in the 19th Century Victorian mansion.  To call the room and its décor gorgeous is an understatement.  The generously-sized suite is full of luxury and old world charm.  The room is decorated with mahogany furnishings and elegant bedding.  Modern amenities include a thirty-two inch flat screen television and a USB charging station.  The Inner Banks Inn charm and regal elegance makes this Bed and Breakfast one of the most romantic venues on the list.

 

 

Not only is Edenton “One of America’s Prettiest Towns”,  but it is also full of rich history.  Click here for more information on the Top Things To Do In Edenton.

The Esmeralda Inn, Restaurant & Spa

Favorite View, Amenities, and Dining

The Esmeralda Inn is a rustic and elegant Bed and Breakfast nestled within the Hickory Nut Gorge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  One of the best amenities of the B&B are its splendid panoramic views.  The majority of the rooms at the Inn have views of either Chimney Rock, the Rocky Broad River, or surrounding Hickory Nut Gorge.

 

 

The Inn has an enchanting 1st floor and 2nd floor front porch furnished with rocking chairs and inviting patio furniture. Guests can choose to enjoy their coffee or simply admire the breathtaking view from either floor.  As well as being surrounded by the lush natural beauty, the Esmeralda Inn has an outdoor spa jacuzzi, spa services, and a fully equipped game room.  Besides that, the Inn also provides its guests with access to its private cabins and beach that is fully equipped with hammocks, picnic tables and lawn chairs.

 

 

While the view and amenities are fantastic, dining at the Esmeralda Restaurant is an experience that guests should not miss.  The restaurant offers a full dinner and cocktail menu curated by Executive Chef Keith Chinn.  I highly recommend all guests to dine outdoors and kick off the evening with a Classic Old Fashioned.

 

 

After sipping the cocktail of your choice, The Chimney Rock Salad is a great start to any meal.  Crisp baby iceberg lettuce, heirloom grape tomatoes, red onion confit, Applewood smoked bacon, house-made buttermilk blue cheese dressing and croutons come together to create a fantastic bite. The house-made buttermilk blue cheese and red onion confit are a unique touch that sets this salad apart from other wedge salads.

 

 

Albeit I rarely indulge in a Surf and Turf, I couldn’t resist this special dish that was recommended by our waiter.  A filet cooked to a perfect medium, accompanies a crab cake using NC-sourced crab.  Needless to say, the entrée was fantastic.

 

 

To conclude a fantastic dinner, Chef Keith Chinn’s award-winning classic Crème Brûlée is a dessert that everyone should try.  The Crème Brûlée’s sugar is delicately caramelized and the custard’s luxurious texture has deep notes of vanilla bean.  Closing the meal with dessert sealed my dining experience which proved to be one of my favorites hosted by a Bed and Breakfast.

 

 

Avid hikers, climbers, or naturalists must visit Chimney Rock while staying at The Esmeralda Inn.  After a visit to Chimney Rock, you will likely be famished.  For suggestions on where to eat, click here to read about the best things to do in Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Foothills.

 

1898 Waverly Inn

Favorite Cocktail Hour and Breakfast

The 1898 Waverly Inn is located in downtown Hendersonville’s Main Street.  The Inn was my first introduction to the world of Bed and Breakfasts.  As such, the B&B set the bar high for exceptional service and delicious breakfasts.

 

 

One of the unique elements that makes the 1898 Waverly so special is its cocktail hour.  The early evening social features a variety of red and white wines, and a charcuterie of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, meats, and crackers.  Not only is it a perfect pre-dinner treat, but It is also a great opportunity to mingle with other guests.

 

 

Equally special is Chef Lily Krupp’s exquisite breakfasts which are guaranteed to blow your socks off.  The first morning during my stay, I enjoyed sunny side up eggs with a side of pesto, cheesy grits, and Henderson County sausages.  Though this may seem like a traditional breakfast, the quality of ingredients used by Cheff Krupp and the house-made pesto elevated the entire meal.  On day two, I could not help to fall in love with the brown butter blackberry tart with lemon curd.  After savoring the complex flavors of this tart, breakfast would never be the same.  As a bona fide foodie, the 1898 Waverly Inn is an exceptional place to stay in Hendersonville.

 

 

 

Hendersonville is one of my favorite NC foodie towns and is home to restaurants like The Never Blue and Postero.  For more suggestions on what to do and where to eat in Henderson County, read 24 Hours in Hendersonville, Part I and 24 Hours in Hendersonville, Part II.

 

Byrne’s Mill Place

Best Country Living

Fayetteville is the home to Byrne’s Mill Place, a beautiful, two-story 180 year old mill farmhouse that sits on three acres of land.  The gated property boasts a country charm that pays homage to the fours crops that were milled and farmed on the property.  The Cotton Room, The Tobacco Room, The Corn Room, and The Pine Needle Room each display authentic tools and equipment used for the appropriate crop.

 

 

During my mid-week stay at the B&B, I chose to call The Cotton Room home. White and French provincial blue hues adorn the bedding, wall accents, and furnishings.  Guests staying in The Cotton Room also have the best view of the B&B’s countryside.  While the property’s pastoral beauty can be enchanting, modern services such as heated tiled floors, electric fireplaces, Wi-Fi, and Netflix are a welcome surprise.  Guests that plan to stay indoors have all of the comforts of home to make their vacation a pleasant one.

 

 

I was very fortunate to enjoy the entire country home as its only visitor during my stay.  I relished every moment and dreaded leaving the serene and quiet beauty of the B&B.  Once guests appreciate the farmhouse stay, they may find it a bit difficult to return home.

 

 

Fayetteville is a wonderful city that has a lively International Food Scene , an Antique Trail, and several family-friendly adventures.  For the full scoop on The Best Things To Do In Fayetteville NC, click here.

 

Red House Inn

Coziest Bed and Breakfast

The Red House Inn Bed & Breakfast was a originally a house built in 1851 to serve as a General Store. In its 168 years of history, the building was also once a courthouse, a railroad station, a school, and a family home.  Today it operates as a Bed and Breakfast.  Every room at this B&B has an intimate charm that makes it both unique and cozy.

 

 

One of my favorite rooms at the Inn is their sunroom.  It is the perfect spot to read a book and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.  In my case, I enjoyed a charcuterie of wine, cheese, and chocolates.

 

 

The Red House Inn’s Leander Room has a magnetic calming energy that made me feel at home.  Adding to that tranquility is a plush, remote-controlled adjustable mattress furnished with luxurious pillows and linens.  Supplementing the Leander Room’s elegant furnishings is an individual temperature control.  Every detail made it quite enticing for me to stay in bed and lounge all day.

 

 

For added privacy, the guest room also has its own bathroom and shower which includes and an ultra-modern ceramic tile shower with exquisite fixtures.  Additional elements that made me feel at home included a wall mounted flat screen tv, cable, high-speed wireless internet, a mini-refrigerator, and a coffee/tea-maker.  The Red House Inn Bed and Breakfast is one destination where I long to return for some rest and relaxation.

 

 

Brevard is an exciting and creative town to visit.  For additional insight on which restaurants to visit and which adventures to explore, click here to read my Weekend Guide: the Best Things to Do in Brevard NC.

 

The Duck Smith House Bed and Breakfast

Most Charming Bed and Breakfast Host

Marcia and Mark Willette are the owners of The Duck Smith House Bed and Breakfast, a cozy farmhouse retreat in Seagrove.  While the farmhouse is both sweet and immaculate, the B&B’s biggest asset is Marcia.

 

 

The Duck Smith House host has a lovely disposition and makes a great effort to ensure that her guests are enjoying their experience.  Not only does Marcia prepare her guests a delightful breakfast each day, but if you are lucky like I was, she might prepare her Almond Joy Cake or other yummy treat.  I appreciate the daily interaction that I had with Marcia as well as her attentiveness to my comfort.

 

 

The Duck Smith House Bed and Breakfast is located in the whimsical Town of Seagrove, “The Handmade Pottery Capital of the United States”.  Randolph County’s Town of Seagrove is located minutes from other wonderful cities and towns like Asheboro and Ramseur.  Click here for all of the details in my Randolph County Weekend Guide.

 

The Ivy – An English Bed and Breakfast

Best English Bed and Breakfast Experience

The Ivy is not only equipped to provide a place to rest and sleep, but it aims to provide the full English Bed and Breakfast experience.  In addition to its richly decorated sleeping quarters, The Ivy provides guests with a full English breakfast and the option for High Tea.

 

 

My first English Breakfast at the Ivy consisted of Chipolata, Black Pudding, English Bacon, English Beans and Fried Toast topped with a Sunny Side Up Egg.  While guests can have breakfast in The Ivy’s dining area, I requested my breakfast outdoors on the spacious open-air porch.

 

 

Guests that are interested in High Tea should make reservations in advance of their stay at The Ivy.  During my High Tea, I was provided an assortment of delicious savory and sweet foods.  A cheese and onion pie, salad, biscuits, chocolates and Victoria Sponge were all served in elegant English bone china.  Guests can choose to have their Afternoon Tea in the Ivy’s parlour or its comfortable wrap-around porch.  The Ivy is located in the Town of Warrenton.  While the Eastern NC town may appear quaint, it has unique experiences that you will not find anywhere in the state.  Read my Warrenton Travel Guide for the full details.

 

The Inn at Celebrity Dairy

Unique Farmhouse Experience

If you enjoy the smell of fresh air and the vast quiet of an illuminated night sky, you are going to want to add the Inn at Celebrity Dairy to your NC bucket list. The Bed and Breakfast sits on a 300 acre farm in rural Chatham County. Celebrity Dairy’s Greek revival farmhouse is surrounded by a log hay barn and granary, an 1880’s smoke house, a 1940’s tobacco barn and a farmstead goat dairy.  The latter produces award-winning goat cheese, gelato, fudge and Cud-Zu Goat’s Milk Soap.

 

 

Celebrity Dairy is home to a herd of 100 Alpine and Saanen goats.  Make it a point to take part in the unique farmhouse experience and tour the goat dairy farm.  It’s hard not to have anything less than a smile after seeing goats of all ages frolicking in the farm.  Should you have a chance to hold a kid, do it!  Celebrity Dairy is located on 144 Celebrity Dairy Way Siler City, NC.

 

 

The MacPherson House

Most Charming Powder Room

If you have not planned a day or weekend visit to Fayetteville, you are missing out on a stellar selection of International Cuisine.  To be honest, it’s one of NC’s best-kept secrets.  In addition to that, Fayetteville has a variety of family-friendly places to visit like the Airborne & Special Operations Museum (ASOM) and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.  On one of my most recent Fayetteville visits, I stayed at The MacPherson House.  I was excited to learn that the B&B was located within walking distance of Fayetteville’s downtown district.

 

 

Each room in The MacPherson House features a fireplace, en-suite bathroom, beautifully restored historic architectural details and a luxurious King size bed.   I love the carefully curated selection of antique furniture in each of the guest rooms.  During my stay, I was placed in The Campbellton Room. The first floor room is furnished with a four poster King sized bed and features a large private bath with the original 1926 clawfoot bathtub and shower. The shower is adorned with fresh Eucalyptus, which is a beautiful touch.  Guests will find luxury toiletries, robes and towels in each room.  I found the powder room incredibly charming and one of my favorites out of all of the Bed and Breakfasts that I have visited to date.  The MacPherson House is located on 701 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC 28301.

 

 

Bed and Breakfasts provide an intimate lodging experience that also provide guests with an opportunity to connect with the people who manage and own the properties.  More than that, some are home to dairy farms while others provide elevated luxuries that rival those found at resorts.

If resorts are more your speed, click here to read my review of Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.