Charlottesville hotels

Originally constructed in 1912 as a private residence, Keswick Hall is a luxury resort in the heart of Albemarle County’s stunning countryside, just outside of Charlottesville.

The property has an elegant design that reflects both European and Southern charm, with 80 incredible rooms and suites. Amenities at Keswick Hall include a stunning infinity-edge pool, tennis courts, an award-winning golf course, and a world-class spa.

I’ve stayed at this resort a few times, and it’s one of my favourite hotels in all of Virginia. The spa is a real highlight, with treatments ranging from hydra facials to couples’ massages and nail services.

Even if you’re not staying at the resort, I highly recommend making a reservation at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Marigold, which is operated by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

It’s not every day you get to stay at a hotel in the US built in the 1700s. But The Clifton, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers a rare step back in time and is one of the best boutique hotels in Charlottesville.

This colonial-style mansion was built in 1799 for Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, Martha. The 100-acre estate now contains 20 luxurious rooms and suites spread across five buildings. For the best room in the house, book the Martha Jefferson suite, which features an antique writing desk, two pedestal sinks, and a walk-in closet.

Guests can unwind at the intimate Copper Bar or delight in a gourmet experience at the 1799 Restaurant, led by Michelin-starred chef Matthew Bousquet. The property’s signature 1799 cocktail – crafted with cucumber vodka, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and pineapple juice – is a must-try.

Boar's Head Resort boasts nearly 300 years of history. The resort occupies a 3,000-acre tract that was part of Virginia's first land grant in 1734, with Terrell's Ordinary, an inn for westward travellers, opening on the site in 1759.

The 168-room resort features an award-winning sports club, a 9-hole golf course, extensive hiking and biking trails, and a luxury spa. This is one of the best hotels in Charlottesville for active holidays and consistently ranks among the world's top 25 tennis resorts. The hotel offers daily tennis clinics, private lessons, 12 indoor courts, and 10 outdoor clay courts.
Boar's Head Resort has multiple dining venues too, including The Mill Room, which offers farm-to-table cuisine with a focus on innovative regional dishes. Top picks include wild boar with sweet yams, spiced plantains, and white tendrils, and country shellfish stew with Carolina gold rice.

One of the city’s newest luxury hotels, Kimpton The Forum is located on the grounds of UVA. Not surprisingly, the hotel’s design draws inspiration from Jeffersonian architecture, incorporating brickwork and neoclassical details.

The 198-room hotel is filled with contemporary art pieces and a colour palette that nods to UVA’s school colours, orange and blue. Guests can enjoy a rooftop area with panoramic views (ideal for relaxing and having a drink), a fitness centre, and several meeting rooms.

Dining options include Birch & Bloom, a trendy on-site restaurant serving modern American fare and craft cocktails, which often features live music and events. The Good Sport taproom is also part of the hotel, where sports fans can cheer on the Cavaliers or their favourite team. This hotel is the ideal place to stay if you’re participating in activities at the university and has a serene location at the Darden School of Business.

The Draftsman is a 150-room boutique hotel that references the three Virginia presidents – Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. All of them contributed to the drafting of the founding documents of the US, hence the hotel’s name. One reason this is one of the best hotels in Charlottesville is its prime location on Main Street, just a short drive from the Downtown Mall and university.

Among the artworks on display are a lounge ceiling centrepiece depicting a historical map of Charlottesville and framed prints of Monticello and the Virginia state seal. Rooms include drafting desks, sectional sofas, tufted headboards, and custom linens and bedding. The hotel offers a penthouse fitness centre and a business centre.

I’ve stayed at The Draftsman a few times and loved dining at The Ridley, one of Charlottesville’s Black-owned restaurants. It serves Southern-inspired dishes, such as BYO po’boys, shrimp and grits, and Maryland-style jumbo lump crab cakes.

The Oakhurst Inn is a boutique property near the UVA hospital. Opened in 2014, it was the former home of a university professor, initially comprising three boarding houses. It's now a Craftsman-style hotel with 36 spacious king, queen, and accessible rooms and suites. Amenities include a saltwater pool, library lounge, coffee bar, and bicycles for exploring the nearby historic district.

The on-site Oakhurst Inn Cafe serves delightful breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch items such as house-made buttermilk biscuits, beignets, and smoked chicken hash. For a more casual atmosphere, the hotel’s Chateau Lobby Bar feels more like a living room than a hotel lobby, perfect for lounging by the fireplace or enjoying creative cocktails and small bites.

Don’t miss the hotel’s weekly Gin & Jazz live performances on Monday nights. The property is one of the best hotels in Charlottesville for a social event or gathering.

200 South Street Inn is one of the best hotels in Charlottesville for a bed-and-breakfast experience. Guests are treated to home-like comforts, historic charm, and genuine Southern hospitality. This stately Victorian-style inn comprises two restored houses dating back to the 1850s and includes a cosy library, a serene garden, and complimentary perks like afternoon refreshments and wine socials.

Every detail of the inn has been meticulously restored, from the neoclassical veranda to the two-story serpentine handrail in the main gallery. Each of the inn’s 19 rooms is uniquely decorated with period antiques and furnishings. Breakfast is a delight, featuring homemade and locally sourced items served in the sunlit dining room. Guests also benefit from free parking.

What I particularly like about this inn is its location. The neighbourhood strikes the perfect balance between peaceful residential vibes and being close to the action.

Steps from Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall, the Omni Charlottesville Hotel has long been one of the top hotels in town. It offers a convenient and elegant base for exploring the city, and excellent service has always been a highlight whenever I've stayed here.

Guests are welcomed by a stunning, light-filled seven-story atrium and an indoor garden in the lobby. The hotel also features two indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre with a sauna and hot tub, and extensive meeting facilities.

The hotel has two fantastic on-site restaurants. The Hillock Neighborhood Kitchen provides seasonal grab-and-go items, Southern-inspired breakfast and brunch goods, and a wide selection of beer, cider, and wine. The Conservatory offers similar fare in a more relaxed, open-concept setting.

The Doyle Hotel, housed in the former Quirk Hotel Charlottesville, is a modern boutique property showcasing a carefully curated collection of contemporary art and unique design elements.

The lobby features whitewashed walls, asymmetrical arches, and vibrant pops of colour. The striking glass-front exterior provides a welcoming transition into the lobby’s cool colour scheme of neutrals and grays accented by pink, orange, and gold undertones. Rooms range from standard kings to loft suites and are bright and spacious, with local artwork adorning the walls.

This is one of the best hotels in Charlottesville for those looking to hang out in the city. You can unwind in a variety of inviting spaces here, including a cosy speakeasy whiskey bar and a stylish rooftop bar (my favourite spot), where you can enjoy cocktails while taking in stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Like many buildings in Charlottesville, the Dinsmore Inn is steeped in Virginia history. Originally built by James Dinsmore, Thomas Jefferson’s master builder responsible for constructing Virginia’s famous presidential homes, this 19th-century Federal-style townhouse has been fully refurbished into a luxury inn.

The property features nine distinctive and thoughtfully designed rooms. The Dinsmore Inn is of the best hotels in Charlottesville for foodies, housing an acclaimed on-site restaurant, Farm Bell Kitchen, which consistently ranks as the 'Best Brunch in Charlottesville'.

Guests can enjoy daily brunch service with mouth-watering menu items such as banana beignets, fried green tomatoes, and salmon bruschetta. Make sure to save room for the restaurant’s ‘irresist-a-bowls,’ which include a Lowcountry bowl, bayou bowl, and steak bowl. Best of all, brunch is complimentary for inn guests.