First look: Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville reopens

First impressions

It was clear upon arrival that Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, one of many seven inaugural Marriott Autograph Assortment properties, had made a full and (practically) full restoration. In reality, the restoration work was impeccable and my preliminary response was to marvel what adjustments the restoration and refresh had introduced.

The design right here has all the time leaned closely right into a luxurious looking lodge vibe, with intricate wooden paneling, taxidermy looking trophies on the wall, heirloom and vintage firearms, and a mixture of classical and modern artwork — however with a yesteryear really feel. Now, new seating organized across the foyer’s outsized central fire creates cozy spots for dialog, and a streamlined entrance desk provides the room a greater stream. The ground-to-coffered-ceiling wooden paneling, 18th-century columns, and a handful of Bavarian and Austrian antiques really feel extra like focal factors.

The rooms

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville has 104 visitor rooms and suites in the principle resort and the Manor Home annex (as of writing this text, restoration work is ongoing however nearing completion on the Manor Home, taking 20 rooms out of the present stock).

My room, a well-lit nook junior suite with home windows aplenty, was spacious and properly appointed, with dramatic velvet curtains separating the bed room from the adjoining salon, which provided seating, a piece desk and a further tv, all set below an intricate stag horn chandelier. I additionally took be aware of a small moist bar space, a hidden minifridge and microwave, and a espresso station.

Within the bed room, stag horn wall sconces framed the very snug king-size mattress, which sat below one other chandelier, and in opposition to a inexperienced leather-based headboard and lighter inexperienced accent wall. A tv sat atop a dresser. There was a sq. window that opened into the moodily lit toilet.

The toilet had each a soaking tub and a separate bathe. Refillable cleaning soap, shampoo, conditioner and physique wash — made completely for Kessler’s Grand Bohemian properties — smelled pleasant and mitigated the resort’s reliance on single-use plastics.

I discovered loads of shops and USB ports for charging my electronics, and storage was ample due to the nightstands and dresser within the bed room, the closet and drawers all through the area.

These with an attentive eye for element might discover some furnishings — the desk, a bench or an ottoman — have not but been up to date. Common Supervisor Matthew Lehman says that is by design and Grand Bohemian will change these items throughout the property as soon as the Manor Home restoration is full.

Eating

Pink Stag Grill, the resort’s restaurant, underwent probably the most outstanding transformation. This area had all the time leaned onerous into the looking lodge theme, feeling very “previous boys membership” at instances, however as with the foyer, the refresh has modernized the appear and feel of the area. The coffered ceilings, herringbone ground and darkish shiplap partitions are nonetheless there, however the open desk spacing, assortment of intimate tables for 2 and sheer drapes that glow within the night gentle, revealing hidden photos of stags, boars and butterflies, soften the area. Outsized work body the semi-open kitchen, giving diners a peek behind the scenes.

The most important change in Pink Stag Grill is the alternative of a protracted banquette with cubicles that make a extra pure seating configuration and lend the area a extra trendy really feel.

In the back of the eating room, the Black Forest Wine Room, dominated by a backlit agate slab, affords extra seating and may be closed for personal dinners and occasions.

The meals at Pink Stag Grill, notable because the resort’s opening, was excellent. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus emphasize the wealthy native meals scene with farmed and foraged produce and a shocking array of aged steaks and unique meats corresponding to elk and bison.

Elk carpaccio and Bison tartare, menu mainstays, had been pretty much as good as ever, and the choice of steaks and chops was spectacular. I additionally discovered monumental salads, a choice of recent seafood and farm-raised trout, and an expansive wine, cocktail and mocktail listing on provide. Lunch featured salads, a home burger and lighter choices; breakfast had Southern favorites (shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy), surprises (a scrumptious breakfast salad and an ice-cream-free breakfast banana break up) and staples (omelets, pancakes and the like).

Facilities

• In the principle resort, The Spa at Grand Bohemian gives facials and massages in a comfy area.
• The on-site health heart affords a well-appointed area for a resort exercise.

Location and logistics

Asheville’s an easy-to-navigate city, and most of its visitor-friendly neighborhoods are a brief drive from each other. Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville sits on the fringe of Biltmore Village, 100 yards or so from the doorway to Biltmore Property and a seven-minute experience from Downtown. Biltmore Village, established within the late 1800s as a depot and settlement for the property’s army-sized building crew, was hit onerous by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters and is present process a revival of its personal; as of this writing, most of the boutiques and eating places listed below are closed whereas they rebuild. That is not the case in Downtown or the South Slope, adjoining to Biltmore Village, although you’ll find restricted openings within the River Arts District as this assortment of warehouses-turned-studios and galleries rebuilds following Helene’s flooding.

The closest airport to the property is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), about 15 miles or a 30-minute drive away.

Asheville itself sits in western North Carolina, one hour west of Cherokee and the Oconaluftee entrance to Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic route by means of the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, skirts town and is minutes from the resort.

What it prices to remain at Grand Bohemian Lodge and how you can e book

Since it is a Marriott resort, you’ll be able to earn or redeem factors to your keep. If you happen to’re reserving with factors, count on to spend between 65,500 and 95,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Commonplace money room charges vary from $460 to $589, with bigger suites and studios within the $567 to $616 vary.

There’s a $36 nightly valet charge, and for those who’re touring with pets, put together your self for the $150 nonrefundable pet charge ($50 for a further pet, with a most of two pets per room).

And from now by means of Sept. 7, the resort is providing a Grand Reopening price that features a 20% financial savings and breakfast for 2 every day. Different packages out there embrace every day breakfast and a $100 resort credit score when reserving three nights (good by means of September 2025) and reductions on stays of 5 or extra nights.

Accessibility

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville affords 4 accessible room varieties: a Principal Constructing room with king mattress, a Principal Constructing room with two queen beds, an Exec Studio Principal Constructing room and a Separate Manor Constructing room.

These rooms provide mobility accessible options like toilet seize bars, bathtub seize bars, roll-in showers and 32-inch-wide doorways. Accessible rooms additionally characteristic visible alarms and notification units for each the door and the in-room phone.

There may be an accessible route from the general public entrance to the accessible visitor rooms. As all the time, for questions on accessibility, we suggest contacting the resort earlier than reserving to make sure it might probably meet your wants.

Backside line

After my one-night keep at Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, I am impressed and wanting to return for an additional keep or at the least one other meal at Pink Stag Grill.

In case your ideally suited Asheville getaway places each restaurant and brewery your coronary heart wishes solely a block or two from the resort entrance, this may not be the spot for you. But when a fast drive downtown sounds OK, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville makes for a great spot. Downtown (and different food- and art-filled neighborhoods) is barely 2 miles away and the Biltmore Property could not be nearer. Different regional icons (the Arboretum, Blue Ridge Parkway, Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park and waterfalls discovered an hour south of town) are inside a fast drive’s attain, too.

If you happen to’re looking for polished luxurious, high-concept design and an excellent in-house restaurant, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville is the resort for you.

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