The Clifton Inn – Historic Boutique Hotel Near Charlottesville

When I’m looking for a weekend getaway I want a place with some charm and character but I also want my modern conveniences. Add in a great restaurant and a location minutes from wineries, hiking and history and you’ve got all the ingredients for a great trip. I found all of this in the bucolic Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia. Let me introduce you to The Clifton Inn.

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After laying low for months due to the pandemic I was in need of a safe and social distancing appropriate getaway and the wine country near Charlottesville was calling my name. The Clifton Inn is a smaller boutique hotel I’ve had my eye on for a while, and with a world class restaurant, understated service and proper safety measures in place it checked off all the boxes.

The Clifton Hotel dates back to 1799 when it was built as the home of Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. and his wife Martha, a daughter of Thomas Jefferson (his home Monticello is 10 minutes away). The Clifton offers rooms in the main manor house, garden cottages, livery stables and the Collina Farmhouse (which can also be booked as a stand alone home with 5 bedrooms). The lobby and common spaces are inviting with an equal balance of modern and historic (as well as stations with hand sanitizers and masks for safety). Check in was courteous with recommendations for nearby wineries as well as a quick overview of the property.

While it was closed for the season the Clifton has a beautiful infinity pool as well as spa services (I certainly hope to partake of both on a future visit). There are also a few walking trails and a small lake on the property.

We stayed in the one of the Garden Cottages in the Merriweather Lewis suite. This room features a sumptuously comfortable king bed, an antique clawfoot tub and a stone shower. This suite also has expansive windows with beautiful views of the garden.

The 1799 Restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner with seating in their cozy dining room or large porch (heated in the winter) with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is a complimentary continental breakfast for guests or you can order from the menu if you want something a little heartier. Dinner is a three-course prix fixe menu that changes based on what’s fresh and in season ( We visited late autumn and enjoyed butternut squash bisque, beet salad, pork tenderloin with bacon wrapped kabocha squash, braised short rib and a mini Basque cheesecake). A bottle from their curated wine menu or a cocktail from the Copper Bar is a great accompaniment to your meal.

With a relaxed approach to luxury, great food and understated service the Clifton Inn was the perfect spot for our Charlottesville wine country getaway.

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