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 (almost) full restoration. The truth is, 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 at all times 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 hearth creates cozy spots for dialog, and a streamlined entrance desk provides the room a greater circulate. 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 primary lodge 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 effectively appointed, with dramatic velvet curtains separating the bed room from the adjoining salon, which supplied seating, a piece desk and a further tv, all set underneath an intricate stag horn chandelier. I additionally took word 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 underneath 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 rest room.

The lavatory 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 lodge’s reliance on single-use plastics.

I discovered loads of retailers 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 house.

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

Eating

Pink Stag Grill, the lodge’s restaurant, underwent essentially the most exceptional transformation. This house had at all times leaned exhausting into the looking lodge theme, feeling very “previous boys membership” at occasions, however as with the foyer, the refresh has modernized the appear and feel of the house. The coffered ceilings, herringbone flooring 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 mild, revealing hidden photos of stags, boars and butterflies, soften the house. Outsized work body the semi-open kitchen, giving diners a peek behind the scenes.

The largest change in Pink Stag Grill is the substitute of a protracted banquette with cubicles that make a extra pure seating configuration and lend the house a extra trendy really feel.

Behind the eating room, the Black Forest Wine Room, dominated by a backlit agate slab, presents extra seating and will be closed for personal dinners and occasions.

The meals at Pink Stag Grill, notable for the reason that lodge’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 similar to elk and bison.

Elk carpaccio and Bison tartare, menu mainstays, had been nearly as good as ever, and the choice of steaks and chops was spectacular. I additionally discovered monumental salads, a choice of contemporary seafood and farm-raised trout, and an expansive wine, cocktail and mocktail record on supply. 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 cut up) and staples (omelets, pancakes and the like).

Facilities

• In the primary lodge, The Spa at Grand Bohemian gives facials and massages in a comfy house.
• The on-site health middle presents a well-appointed house for a lodge 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 journey from Downtown. Biltmore Village, established within the late 1800s as a depot and settlement for the property’s army-sized building crew, was hit exhausting 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 will discover 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 way of the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, skirts town and is minutes from the lodge.

What it prices to remain at Grand Bohemian Lodge and e-book

Since it is a Marriott lodge, you possibly can earn or redeem factors on your keep. Should you’re reserving with factors, anticipate to spend between 65,500 and 95,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time.

Customary 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 price, and in case you’re touring with pets, put together your self for the $150 nonrefundable pet price ($50 for a further pet, with a most of two pets per room).

And from now by way of Sept. 7, the lodge is providing a Grand Reopening fee that features a 20% financial savings and breakfast for 2 each day. Different packages accessible embody each day breakfast and a $100 lodge credit score when reserving three nights (good by way of September 2025) and reductions on stays of 5 or extra nights.

Accessibility

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

These rooms supply mobility accessible options like rest room seize bars, bathtub seize bars, roll-in showers and 32-inch-wide doorways. Accessible rooms additionally function visible alarms and notification gadgets 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 at all times, for questions on accessibility, we advocate contacting the lodge earlier than reserving to make sure it could 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 a minimum of one other meal at Pink Stag Grill.

In case your ultimate Asheville getaway places each restaurant and brewery your coronary heart needs solely a block or two from the lodge entrance, this won’t be the spot for you. But when a fast drive downtown sounds OK, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville makes for a really perfect spot. Downtown (and different food- and art-filled neighborhoods) is simply 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.

Should you’re seeking polished luxurious, high-concept design and an outstanding in-house restaurant, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville is the lodge for you.

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