Hotel Snapshot
At the apex of Boylan Heights, a cozy and spunky residential neighborhood in Raleigh, an Italianate villa dating back to 1858 rests, obsidian, at the end of a manicured lawn. Bold in its facade, Heights House Hotel is a contemporary and stylish boutique property that honors the site’s history with swagger.
Purchased by husband-wife team Sarah and Jim Shepherd in 2018, the villa was restored to its former glory by a team of Raleigh architects and designers, guided by Sarah’s eye for blending vintage and modern touches. The adults-only property makes for a swanky introduction to North Carolina’s capital or a quiet staycation for locals. With community-minded programming and a cheeky bar menu, Heights House welcomes you in with Carolinian hospitality. It vaguely fulfilled my fantasy of staying in the house from American Horror Story: Coven.
Design & Character
Think chic millennial with an eye for antiques: modern chairs, limewash paint in the bedrooms, board games piled inside a salvaged dresser from Winston Churchill’s room at the Waldorf Astoria. Sarah Shepherd long dreamed of renovating the disused Italianate mansion in her own neighborhood and took pains to preserve the building’s charms while modernizing it for the contemporary traveler. She thrifted many of the eclectic adornments from around the Carolinas, and some objects are even her own family heirlooms.
The Rooms
The property’s nine rooms are peaceful and well-appointed. Across the five historic and four standard rooms, vintage rugs, old-fashioned room keys, and high ceilings confer a historic air without sacrificing comfort. The bathroom is done up with vertical subway tile and products from Grown Alchemist.
The Food & Drink Situation
The centerpiece of the hotel’s food and beverage program is The Parlor, which serves up flirty cocktails––Ciao Diego, Have a Kiki––and charcuterie. Always community-minded, Heights House hosts events for both locals and guests, including afternoon tea every weekend and Sunday Sauce twice a month, which brings in rotating chefs from around North Carolina’s cultural and creative hub, the Triangle. The continental breakfast features quiches and pastries from local bakeries.
Amenities
Heights House’s location is prime. Boylan Heights is a comfortable and eclectic neighborhood that’s walkable to both Dorothea Dix Park one way and downtown Raleigh the other. The property is big on events–they’re a popular wedding venue and also host a Pride party open to the community on their sprawling front lawn. For those inspired to thrift by the hotel’s design, the lounge downstairs houses Honed Home, a boutique full of vintage furniture, jewelry, and decor.
Spa & Wellness Scoop
Sauna culture is on the rise in North Carolina, and Heights House is partnering with their new neighbors at Sauna House Raleigh to offer wellness packages and massages in the facilities, opening across the street this winter. Additionally, in-room massages are available at Heights House in select suites.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Boulted Bread is an ideal pit stop for a stroll through the neighborhood with coffee and a morning bun. The nearby Dorothea Dix Park welcomed some special guests last year: five larger-than-life trolls from Thomas Dambo’s whimsical and repurposed art series hide throughout the 308-acre park. For dinner, Figulina serves handmade pasta and cocktails inspired by Italian aperitivo culture.
Less than a mile’s walk from downtown Raleigh, it’s easy to enjoy the city’s excellent culinary scene at Michelin restaurants from North Carolina style barbeque at The Pit to dim sum, books, and craft IPAs at Brewery Bhavana. Come summer, find live music on the weekends or head to Fayetteville Street for the Food Truck Rodeo series.
Fast Facts
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Vibe: Charming, vintage but contemporary Southern house hotel
Rating: Four-star
Room Count: 9
Pricing: From $300 per night
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The loyalty to community seeps through every part of a stay, from its design to its programming and breezy hospitality
Dining: The Parlor, European breakfast, Sunday Sauce, and afternoon tea
Amenities: European breakfast in the dining room, 24 hour coffee and espresso bar, complimentary bicycles, free class pass, cocktail lounge, Honed Home boutique
Nearby Attractions: Dix Park’s Thomas Dambo’s trolls, Wye Hill Brewing, Father and Son Antiques
Airport: Approximately 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
