Pick of the Month: Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant
Spring bloom at Lake Rabun Hotel’s charming front entrance Photo: Lake Rabun Hotel
AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER
Pick of the Month
LAKE RABUN HOTEL & RESTAURANT
Where do you go for a busy Easter holiday to relax, have dinner and enjoy some beautiful scenery? We didn’t want to drive far so that meant two hours or less and Lake Rabun popped into my head. I had heard some good things about Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant.
I had mentioned them in an earlier blog as wanting to plan a visit soon so we snagged a room and an early dinner reservation and hit the road. This post will give you all the info on this quirky little property with personality and why you should plan a visit soon.
CHECK IN
After winding around large properties on a small two-lane road that made me more than a little nervous, the property signage popped into view. The day was absolutely gorgeous with blue skies and quiet breezes. We were instantly charmed as the hotel looked like a treehouse that landed on a hill in the forest.
We stepped down stone stairs with pots of pretty flowers and stopped to look at the koi pond and listen to the soft gurgles of the water feature. Little two tops with chairs and benches were sprinkled all around the front patio to sit and watch nature, read or get in some journaling time.
We popped into the front lobby where folks were coming and going. Comfy chairs and sofas were all around with wood beams and ceilings. A fireplace held down one corner spot and a lovely baby grand the other. I hoped that meant we might have music that evening.
A nice girl named Beth got us quickly checked in and offered to carry our bag upstairs for us. I was very happy she did once I found out we were on the third floor with no elevator! A word about that: the stairs throughout this property are not for the faint of heart. If you are not completely mobile this is not the place for you.
Front lobby is comfortable and sports both a fireplace and a baby grand
CLIMBING STAIRS
You climb the first flight of stairs to the second floor and see a comfy little sitting rooms on both ends for the rooms. Everything had that lodge like cabin feel with sofas made of twigs, antique pieces and artwork you might expect at your grandparents house.
The second set of stairs to the third floor rooms is a bit steeper, less wide and requires a tad more fortitude to ascend. Once there though you can see the door to the outside and a nice coffee station that was right outside our room.
Signs were posted about sanitizing your hands before use with a container of gel for convenience. Masks were required everywhere on property as well. I noticed they had Keurig coffee and tea, nutrition bars and a fresh bottled water station.
DELUXE ROOM
We rented the Cherokee Room for the night. Beth opened the door and handed us our keys. She showed us the luggage rack in the little closet and left us to settle in. This particular room was on the smaller side with a queen size bed and a view out the big window to the back of the property.
I noticed the windows opened and had screens so I cranked them open to let the nice breezes in. The bed was high with a thick comfy mattress and bedding. Nightstands and a small chair and table pretty much completed the furniture.
The art and accessories were of an American Indian type and a sliding barn door gave some privacy to the bathroom. I say some because it was not completely sound proof for those that might bother. A nice sink with amenities and storage, a step in shower and hair dryer were on offer and that’s where we stashed our toiletries.
A lovely Queen bed in our deluxe Cherokee Room
NICE DETAILS
I took the luggage rack out and put our small suitcase on it. Lamps were located all around for good lighting. I went to go forage for ice and Beth brought us up a pretty bucket with tongs.
I like to travel with my own plastic wine cups as opposed to using the ones normally supplied. However they weren’t stingy with those for getting your water at the station outside. My husband suddenly noticed there was not a TV or a phone in the room. He gave me the look.
I know it seems a little weird in this day and age to not have any tech in your room at all but come on people! You are there to commune with nature and that’s just what this property wants you to do. Tune out. Turn off. Listen to the “tray in the win’ ”. You know what I mean?
OUTDOOR SPACES PLENTIFUL
We made ourselves a drink from our own stash and set out to explore what might be outside. A private little two top awaited us with a view to the lake. Looking down I saw another four top with a couple quietly enjoying a glass of wine and their view as well.
I asked them where they were from and they said Blue Ridge. I told them I loved that place and liked to have Sunday brunch at The Black Sheep. They said they liked it as well and asked me how I liked my room. I said it was cute and a little quirky just like me. They laughed and we both agreed that the stairs were a challenge.
They were only staying a night and heading out for business the next day and I told them I was a travel writer and was there to do a review on the property and the restaurant. The lady gave me the name of a place for glamping with cabins up on the Tennessee line that a friend of hers owned and told me I should go for a visit.
I did some writing and made notes for this post while enjoying the day that was fast coming to an end. We finished our drinks and headed in to change for dinner.
OTHER ROOM AND COTTAGE CHOICES
Coming back in, I noticed the door at the end of the hall was open and there were two big wing chairs and a table on view. I walked down to see if the room was occupied and since it wasn’t yet I snapped a few pics. The Witham Point room is the one I would choose next time for a stay.
It was on the front of the property with a view of the lake. The bed was king size with a dresser and a two bowl sink in the bathroom. The room and bath were both larger than ours and the dresser made for better storage. This would be a lot more comfortable for a longer stay. The Lake Rabun room below it on the 2nd floor would also be a good choice.
There are also the Innkeepers Cottage and The Fish Camp Cottages for larger parties. All are well appointed and offer more spots to gather with decks, firepits and picnic tables.
The Witham Suite is on front of the property with lake view and nice chairs for reading
RESTAURANT & BAR
After changing clothes we walked down to dinner. The hostess greeted us warmly and gave us a table with a forest view. The screened in porch was already busy and several people were having drinks at the bar.
They both had a cozy casual vibe with all the wood and low lighting. Small canoes sported patches of pathos plants and there were warming towers for heating the porch on colder nights.
We ordered an excellent wine from a pretty nice selection and looked over the menu. There was a Southern flair to it and we were looking forward to trying some seafood. I wrote a review on the food at the property which you can read to get a more detailed idea of what to expect.
Cute bar is the perfect pop in spot before or after dinner
We enjoyed our meal and it seemed like the other diners did as well. The Chef did a tasting menu for us that included land and sea with several courses that our young energetic server was bringing back and forth for us. He was also good at helping me pose items for pics.
The 2nd floor patio serves as their outdoor dining option in season as well as a nice spot to just hang and sip on a chilled bottle of white wine while enjoying nature.
WORD ABOUT CHEF
What we enjoyed most was getting the opportunity to meet the Chef. He came out to get our opinions as this was only his third day on property and he was working on ideas for a new menu.
He was testing a tile fish dish with black beans, a stuffed collard leaves dish and scallops with pimento cheese gnocchi which you see below. I am pretty certain you are going to like Chef Donnie Simmons new menu…don’t ya think? You eat with your eyes first! 🙌😉👏👏👏
Chef is testing Scallops with Pimento Cheese Gnocchi for the new menu
BIG HOMES AND WALK ABOUTS
We always take time to do a walk about when visiting the properties I review and write about. Lake Rabun has some big homes for big money on it. There are a lot of large compounds like the one across the road called Then and Now with circular driveways, sculpture and mechanical gates.
But there are also sweet little tiny homes with steep stairs and nice boat docks. One person had purchased a lot just to build a party spot to hang out with friends, barbecue and ski with only a day bed swing for sleeping.
Louie’s on the Lake is around the corner from the property offering pizzas, pastas, salad and sandwiches with some killer lake views as well. It’s a casual spot to hit for a break from your day adventures.
CONCLUSION
You are close to many of those day adventures such as horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, golfing, boating and more. Just check with the front desk to help you line up whatever you would like to do. Oh and did I mention the place has a spa too? The perfect place to work out those sore spots after all day skiing amma right?
Spa services offered for your relaxation and comfort
Lake Rabun Hotel is all about your comfort and relaxation
We enjoyed our short stay at Lake Rabun Hotel and would definitely go back for a longer stay and some outdoor dining after the long days of the hot summer are over. We’re looking forward to sweater weather and another cold bottle of Riesling shared on the porch with a quiet pink sunset.
If you liked what you read, you may enjoy reading other posts under Explore the World. As usual, don’t be a stranger and give me a holla back! Have you been to Lake Rabun? What’s your favorite thing about it? Look for another upcoming post on places to eat while on the road around North Georgia. Until then…
Cheers,
ArtsyChowRoamer
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