4 of The South’s Hot New Hotels
Words by Jennifer Kornegay
Photos by The Vendue, Emily Dorio, The Admiral
As tourism booms across the South, hotels of all styles and sizes are opening to house the visitors. Both big cities and small towns boast a diverse array of accommodation options, ensuring there’s a comfortable and enjoyable spot for every type of traveler. But hotels are more than places to rest your head (and brush your teeth!); today’s best properties go beyond beds and bathrooms, offering good eats and drinks onsite, cool vibes, soul-stirring décor, and enticing extras. Here are four new hotels in the South to check out and check into.
The Outpost Inn
Highlands, N.C.
Entering the Outpost Inn’s lobby/coffee shop/1960s rumpus room/cozy, cabin-esque den area, you’re struck by the mix of styles and how well they all meld. The resulting groovy vibe begs an extended hangout, despite all the activities and appeal awaiting right outside. A wingback covered in soft fleece upholstery sits next to a giant weathered-leather beanbag. Old quilts are tossed across rustic wooden rocking chairs. An olive-green, mid-century ski-chalet-inspired cone fireplace warms a corner. Art adorned with magic mushrooms joins mounted deer antlers, and a photo of The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia watches from above. There’s incense burning. There’s vinyl spinning. And Adirondack chairs circling the firepit outside invite you to relax and peruse a volume of Foxfire’s mountain-living guides. It all combines to create a place that’s part hippie commune, part summer camp, and part serene boutique lodge, which is exactly what the owners were after. The one common thread is the chance to recharge and reconnect to the wonders of Mother Nature surrounding the Inn.
The Location: Nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to the Nantahala National Forest, Highlands is a tiny town packed with picture-perfect scenery: bubbling streams slicing through serene woodlands, sparkling waterfalls tumbling into glass pools, and multiple stunning vistas from atop lofty summits. The hamlet also offers the culture and diversions of a bigger city, including an award-winning dining scene, high-end shopping, and the Bascom, a lovely art museum. Top it off with natural beauty—and the outdoor adventures like hiking and fishing it holds—and you’ve got an inviting mountain escape.
Your Room Key: Each of Outpost’s 14 rooms is unique, outfitted with original art and carefully collected vintage furnishings to echo the chill mood of the lobby space. Comfort is also emphasized, with Caspar mattresses, soft bamboo sheets, and the scent-sational aromas of Bathing Culture and Aesop toiletries. Some rooms boast an easy-to-use gas fireplace. All spaces have a typewriter in case inspiration strikes, a turntable for playing tunes, and in-room coffee makers, plus a mini-fridge and snack tray stocked with fuel for exploring like chocolate bars and organic granola.
That Something Special: In a sea of stellar but somewhat traditional luxury accommodations, Outpost’s laidback, funky personality stands out and is as welcome as a brisk mountain breeze on a warm day. Other perks include friendly staff, a welcome glass of bubbly upon arrival, bikes (complete with wicker baskets) for pedaling around Highland’s charming downtown, and a full coffee and wine bar in the lobby, where a hot matcha or glass of crisp grenache is waiting.
The Enclave at The Vendue
Charleston, S.C.
If you’re an art aficionado who’s often wished they could spend the night in a museum, then The Vendue and its newest accommodation offering, The Enclave, are for you. The ground floor of The Vendue is a fully functioning gallery, complete with a curator and working artist’s studio, and its walls and open areas are outfitted top to bottom with the kaleidoscope of colors, textures and motifs found in more than 200 pieces of original art. While the aesthetic and energy at The Enclave (just across the street) is a bit more subdued, it too boasts its own (albeit smaller) art exhibition space, showcasing the work of the local artist in residence. Where Venue is bold and boisterous, Enclave is serene and sophisticated, yet it shares Vendue’s lively, vibrant personality, thanks to the abundance of art, plus the promise of a good time alongside great cocktails at The Vendue’s rooftop bar, one of the Holy City’s best perches blessed with incredible skyline views.
The Location: In the thick of Charleston’s artsy French Quarter district near the city’s Waterfront Park, The Enclave is within walking distance of many Charleston culinary hot spots, including Slightly North of Broad and the landmark Hyman’s Seafood.
Your Room Key: Built into two former warehouses from the 1800s, The Enclave rooms hold onto hints of the structure’s past with exposed brick walls and wood beams, and in some, heart-pine hardwood floors. Pops of canary yellow brighten the basic black and white color palette, as does more artwork. Cushy chairs, fluffy beds, and supple linens add to the allure.
That Something Special: The feel is summed up in The Vendue’s tagline: “An art hotel, not hotel art,” and while the examples of creative expression soaking almost every inch of both The Vendue and The Enclave represent the properties’ heart, their soul is found in the stellar service delivered by highly trained Guest Experience Managers. They’re quick with a smile (and a glass of bubbly) at check-in, and their off-site dining and doing recommendations steeped in local knowledge are only a text away.
Today’s best properties go beyond beds and bathrooms, offering good eats and drinks onsite, cool vibes, soul-stirring décor, and enticing extras.
The Admiral
Mobile, Ala.
Visitors planning a trip to Mobile should navigate their way to The Admiral, a recently reimagined historic hotel downtown. The property was first opened in 1940, and in summer 2024, arriving guests were welcomed by a brand-new look heavy on French flair. Jon Weitz, owner of Avocet Hospitality, (which owns and operates the hotel) invested serious time to discover what direction the revamp should take. While researching Mobile’s past, he was drawn to the story of an actual admiral, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, the French naval leader who settled Mobile at the behest of King Louis XIV in 1702. Nodding to this part of the port city’s story and the opulence of Louis’ reign, today’s Admiral mixes the trappings of boutique property in Paris with the hospitality of coastal Alabama. It’s outfitted in polished marble and regal purple and gold, while reproductions of paintings hanging in Versailles embellish walls, and the multiple gilt-framed mirrors in the on-site restaurant, Le Moyne’s Chophouse, evoke the palace’s famed “Hall of Mirrors.” But Mobile itself is a key player here, too. The royal purple and gold also speak to Mobile as the birthplace of Mardi Gras, a massive chandelier in the lobby calls to mind the massive oaks lining the downtown streets outside, and monarch butterfly motifs — honoring Alabama’s state insect and the majesty of King Louis — recur throughout.
The Location: In the middle of downtown Mobile, The Admiral is within walking distance of several city landmarks and attractions, including historic homes and the Mobile Carnival Museum. And only a short sail away, an eclectic selection of wines by the glass at Red and White, a wine shop/wine bar, beckons like a siren song. After a glass or two there, head back to Le Moyne’s for dinner and ask for a table near a window. While you sip on your smoked old fashioned (served with fanfare under glass) and dine on fresh herb-crusted grouper or tender steak frites, watch the hustle and bustle of Mobile go by.
Your Room Key: In keeping with the regal theme, spacious guestrooms feel palatial, while more pops of purple and gold enliven. But the style isn’t stuck in the 16th century; contemporary art everywhere and sleek-lined furnishings bring modern touches to this Mobile-focused version of Versailles. And the usual luxury suspects add jewels to the crown: high-end linens (including plush velvet throws and accent pillows), in-room coffee, and fast Wi-fi.
That Something Special: The Admiral strives to share its city’s story, using statement pieces as well as tiny details. “If all we do is give you a comfy, clean room and hot shower, we have failed,” says Weitz, “because our mission is to provide more than a hotel stay. Our goal is that everyone walks away with some new insight into Mobile.” Warm conversation over a chilled French martini in the lobby’s Living Room bar adds to the experience, too.
The Albert Hotel
Fredericksburg, TX
Occupying the former family homestead of the Keidels, a noted Fredericksburg family, The Albert Hotel honors the life and work of its namesake Albert Keidel, a local architect who made his mark all over town in private homes and public buildings. His style, influenced by both globe-trotting travels and the traditions of European design, stands out against the rugged Texas landscape surrounding this hill country haven and is evident in this boutique hotel, particularly its front exterior, which makes use of several historic 19th and early 20th century buildings. Both refined and relaxed, Albert Hotel invites guests to slow down and immerse themselves in its special section of the Lonestar State, known for its preserved German heritage, wineries, and scenic wild spaces and places.
The Location: While the hotel’s four restaurants, two bars, pool, and full-service spa make staying on property appealing, its spot on Fredericksburg’s Main Street puts the property conveniently in the thick of things, with antique shops, restaurants and boutiques only steps out its front door. But the real treat awaits beyond downtown’s borders: exploring the rolling knolls (for which the area draws its name) and serene streams and rivers of Hill Country. Another can’t miss: Fredericksburg’s massive National Museum of the Pacific War highlighting the service and sacrifice of those who fought in the Pacific theater of World War II.
Your Room Key: All 105 guestrooms boast a rustic-chic aesthetic with custom furniture, lots of wood (including custom millwork) paired with organic green hues, and minimalist lighting and details. Thoughtful Texas touches like hooks for your cowboy hat join a rainbow of wildflowers plucked from nearby fields resting in simple vases. Sophistication anchors the vibe, but equal attention is paid to comfort; Albert’s primary goal is making guests feel at home.
That Something Special: Michelin-starred Chef Michael Fojtasek’s seasonally driven cuisine at The Restaurant at Albert Hotel and the circular limestone-lined pool and adjacent pool bar beckon, but the star shining big and bright here is the Saloon, a re-imagining of Fredericksburg’s famed White Elephant Saloon. Retire to its handsome, rugged interior and down a pour from the watering hole’s robust bourbon list, a tangy margarita, or a bourbon and Coke slushy with a dirty dog (a hot dog blanketed in chili and house-made queso) on the side.
