Four vantage points indicate The Restoration Hotel is worth a visit.
One of the best spots to witness the emblematic momentum of Asheville’s new hotel is from the vintage-inspired couch, in the center of the library and beneath a waterfall chandelier dripping with modern elegance. Positioned near the entryway, the mustard couch is flanked by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, beckoning reading nooks, and a chance to peek at the comings and goings of hotel patrons.
“Can you believe it?” one guest asks another as they step through the hotel entryway, nearly tripping as its extravagance stops them in their tracks. With wide-set, enamored eyes, they comb the hotel’s striking interiors—a frequent observable occurrence. Later, a kitchen employee walks through the front doors and swings left to The Exchange, cradling a bag of mountain trout, later seared to crisp perfection and served at the hotel’s on-site restaurant.
From the entryway to the rooftop to the basement and the guest rooms, there are sights to be seen, tastes to be had, and comfort to be felt in every inch of The Restoration Hotel. For nearly 20 years, an abandoned bank sat in its place. When the hotel opened last spring, it revived the district, turning an eyesore into a heartthrob frequented by locals and tourists alike.
The deco couch—locally sourced, like much of the furniture and light fixtures, rugs, plants, and artwork—is only the beginning of many beguiling vantage points. Through a wooden archway and past the sweet-bitter scent of coffee and pastries at The Rise, the elevator elevates visitors to the next stop, The Observatory.
The Restoration Hotel Rooftop at Sunset
From the hotel’s rooftop terrace, the sunset washes the mountains in an orange hue behind the glow of city buildings. Directly below, city goers fill sidewalks, heading to restaurants, shows, galleries, or to take pause on a park bench. Servers whisk craft cocktails, small bites, and lively conversation to tables, and lights strung above the patio furniture create a whimsical air sweetened by the crisp mountain breeze.
Like the rest of the hotel, the rooftop bar is swanky and approachable, refined yet laid back. Teenagers in leisure wear sit beside adults in evening wear, adjacent to impeccable influencers wearing the latest trends. Inside, orchids grace tabletops, vines hang from the ceiling, and pothos line a wall perpendicular to the stocked modern bar.
The atmosphere of The Observatory is as inviting as the bar menu, which, like The Exchange, features exquisite mountain-to-table craft fare. Chic interiors decorating a dreamy garden create an upscale feel tempered by down-to-earth comforts of greenery and soft mood lighting. It’s a tough spot to peel away from, but there’s more to see and experience at the hotel.
The Basement at Sundown
A seat at The Draftsman, the hotel’s basement bar, is a window into an adult playground. Bartenders don bowling shirts, and the two-lane bowling alley glistens nearby. Along a wall, patrons play skee-ball, Golden Tee, and other vintage arcade games. Guests fill the dance floor, bobbing to the tracks of a live DJ.
The Draftsman is a speakeasy concept with stylish, eclectic furniture arranged to facilitate conversation. In corners, couples smile over craft cocktails, and beside exposed brick walls, groups circle around a coffee table with Jenga at the center. Local bands play the basement bar each Friday and Saturday, and on a Thursday night, the basement vibrates with excitable energy.
The bar menu features some of the same dishes as the other dining concepts, but The Draftsman uniquely features playful food and drinks feeding into the adult playground vibe, there are adult hot pockets, cocktails with cocoa puff-infused vodka, and fried candy bars. Here, adults of all ages find an excuse to let go and channel their inner kid for a night.
The Balcony at Sunrise
While the hotel has four room concepts, the Premier King Suite earns a spot as a notable vantage point that is an entire immersive experience. From the guest room, a glass doorway opens to a balcony overlooking Pritchard Park. A brisk morning calls for curling up in a chair, sipping local coffee, enjoying freshly baked goods, and breathing clean mountain air.
Each room is equipped with local snacks available to purchase, complimentary local coffee and tea, and plush robes and slippers. The rooms are comfortable and stylish, with the same industrial chic aesthetic throughout the hotel. Window seats mean lounging with a book or laptop, the city in purview until it calls from beyond the glass.
Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, The Restoration Hotel is within walking distance of galleries, restaurants, shops, museums, and music venues. Should guests choose to venture from the downtown district, the hotel shuttle—a black Jeep Wrangler steered by a friendly member of the valet staff—will transport guests from the hotel to their next stop.
Holliday Hallmark
Along with its annual spectacle of Christmas lights and decor, Biltmore’s holiday extravagance will feature a special exhibit of 1940s glamour inspired by the new Hallmark film Christmas at Biltmore. The era’s enduring elegance will adorn George Vanderbilt’s extravagant library, and visitors can explore nine meticulously designed rooms featured in the film. Find more information at biltmore.com.
Midnight Masquerade
Looking to dress up and greet the new year in style? Then join the party at The Restoration Hotel in Asheville, where guests will fill a starlit ballroom for a magical masquerade on the hotel rooftop. There will be a full band, hors d’oeuvres, and a Champagne toast at midnight.
68 Patton Ave., Asheville, 828.220.0368, therestorationhotel.com
