No trip through North Carolina is complete without a visit to the Biltmore House and Estate in Asheville.
The 1890s French Renaissance château, built as a private home for George Vanderbilt, is considered America’s largest home. Situated on a sprawling 8,000 acres, the estate boasts 250 rooms, stunning gardens and miles of hiking trails. Original furnishing and works of art have been faithfully preserved. Visitors wanting to enjoy this destination — and everything else Asheville has to offer — will find The Grand Bohemian Asheville, an upscale Marriott hotel steps away from the Biltmore, the ultimate spot to stay.
The Grand Bohemian, a Kessler Collection property blanketed in a smoky haze beside the Blue Ridge Mountains, displays all the finery of a stylish urban hotel with the added charm of a hunting lodge.
The building’s exterior, covered in pebble dash stucco, fits in with Biltmore Village, an enclave modeled after a British village which serves as home to shops, cafés and restaurants housed in historic cottages along picturesque tree-lined streets. Inside the hotel, you’ll see wild boar sculptures and mounted deer heads hanging on the walls. Original artwork and eclectic décor — such as ivory inlay columns from India and giant entry doors from Bali — are placed throughout.
An open-side fireplace in the restaurant keeps things cozy.
The 104-room, Tudor-inspired hotel was built in 2009 by Richard Kessler, a former Days Inn executive who founded a collection of boutique luxury hotels to showcase his love of music and art. Like all of the Kessler Collection properties, The Grand Bohemian has a gallery featuring fetching works of art and offers exhibitions and receptions by local artists as well as those from all over the globe.
Reflecting Kessler’s fondness for music, live performances take place in the Red Stag Grill Lounge every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. In addition, curated soundtracks are featured in every room.
An Austrian-made Bösendorfer piano, known for legendary pure and brilliant sound graces the hotel’s Bösendorfer Salon, where jazz and piano nights are routinely scheduled.
Those looking to relax will find a visit to the Poseidon Spa, which uses the healing power of water and is known for indulgent massages, facials and body treatments, the ultimate form of pampering. If indoor exercise is more your thing, the 24-hour fitness center with cardio machines, personal TVs and custom-programmed music is the place to go.
Head to the hotel’s renowned Red Stag Grill for a memorable meal. With its hand-hewn beams and tables, wood flooring and intimate lighting, the restaurant emanates an old-world ambience. Helmed by Executive Chef Brian Knickrehm, the menu features contemporary European comfort food accompanied by an expansive wine list. Specialties such as Pan-Seared Salmon with Brown Rice, Sugar Snap Peas and Spring Onion Aioli and Elk Strip Loin With Béarnaise, Horseradish Cream and Blue Cheese Butter with a side of Tarragon and Dill Roasted Carrots or Sautéed Kale, are among diners’ favorites.
Guest rooms provide a welcome refuge when it comes time to turn in for the evening. Antler light fixtures illuminate velvet headboards and landscape prints created by Mitch Kolbe, a North Carolina artist, decorate the walls. Pillow top mattresses, down duvets and luxury bed linens await in guest rooms along with the promise of a good night’s sleep. Other room amenities include comfy signature bath robes and rain-style showerheads. Some rooms have balconies and some come with soaking tubs, sure to wash away any stress accumulated throughout the day.
Beyond serving as home to the Biltmore House and Estate, Asheville is known for its thriving art community, energetic downtown, diverse culinary offerings, unique shops and charming historical district. With so much to explore, visitors can easily spend several days hunting down precious artworks and dining at trendy cafés. What’s more, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just a short drive away, so those who enjoy the outdoors will be in heaven as well.
Grand Bohemian Asheville is located at 11 Boston Way, Asheville, N.C. 28803. For more information, call 828-505-2949 or visit kesslercollection.com/bohemian-asheville.