This Asheville Hotel Combines Jazz Funk and Mountain Ambiance

“Disclaimer: I wrote this in August 2024 before Hurricane Helene wrecked a lot of Western North Carolina. The region is beloved to me, and in need of relief. I'll leave this review in the hopes that leisure travel to WNC may be possible and welcome at one point versus depriving residents of resources. To support in the meantime, you can contribute to funds like Always Asheville (and I recommend contributing directly to residents via mutual aid.)”

I spent nearly every summer close to Asheville growing up. I was lucky enough to attend and work at an all-girls camp nearby, so the Appalachian Mountains were formative to me. From June to August, I lingered in western North Carolina, collecting sensations that would forever then feel like summer; I first found out what patchouli was by googling "scent of Asheville."

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Needless to say, boutique hotel + Asheville? I'm instantly sold. This historic reuse property — The Flat Iron Hotel — opened in May 2024, and it's definitely near the top of my wishlist for stays.

I spent days off in Asheville.

As a summer camp counselor, I often spent days off with friends driving to Asheville. We sought out material pleasures like frosty AC and a blindly-chosen movie from the theater with lie-back seats, where we could sit in blissful silence for two hours, a rarity amidst dozens of frantic counselor questions. Afterwards, we might grab a bite at White Duck Taco Shop or Tupelo Honey for dinner, feeling dolled-up in any outfit that wasn't a clay-splattered t-shirt. I got my first and only tattoo at a parlor downtown and relished wandering through Malaprop's to wile away the hours.

My book takes place in the nearby mountains, in a fictional town based on Brevard. (Spoiler: it's called Mountain Sounds.) I pored through sketchbooks and journals, collecting sensations in my single-minded focus to build a story that felt like the area.

Asheville is big enough to have plenty to do, but small enough to traverse comfortably and get a feel for the richness of its identity. You can find the granola and the luxe.

While I'm devoted to Asheville in the summers, it's also absolutely gorgeous and cozy in the wintertime, too. The cluttered shops, comforting Southern food, and historical architecture make the season feel magical; Asheville has a certain smokiness. You need to visit Asheville at least once during each season, because the experience will be undoubtedly different based on the weather.

A few sensations from my Asheville sketchbooks —

SOUND / a man busking on a street corner with a violin

SIGHT / storm clouds building in the distance / blue, hazy mountain range / the condensation ring of a beer on the table

TOUCH / mist on your skin / sticky heat in August / the stumble as cobblestones turn into an uneven sidewalk

TASTE / fluffy biscuits / strong coffee / hazy beer

SCENT / patchouli / neroli

Asheville has long-embodied the pinnacle of my taste being "places with their own personality," so I was thrilled to see a boutique hotel open in May that promised to do justice to Asheville's history.

Where is The Flat Iron Hotel?

The Flat Iron Hotel was developed by The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, focused on the building's origin in 1927. I'd never made the connection between Asheville and Prohibition, but the hotel draws on the "Lost Generation" in a way that makes total sense; after all, Asheville is known for attracting plenty of artists and creatives.

The hotel's located in Downtown Asheville at the corner of Battery Park and Wall Street. (While you're there, absolutely visit Battery Park Book Exchange, a combination champagne bar and bookstore—two of my absolute favorite things.)

It's easy to access but difficult to park. The hotel offers valet parking—and there are paid city lots—so the stay might be best on an occasion you're passing through Asheville for business or a quick trip without a vehicle; it'll give you the prime location for exploring town on foot.

A Quick Overview of the Hotel & Rooms

The hotel has 71 rooms and six suites. Each is decked out in Bellino linens and towels, with accompanying robes and towels.

Personally, I love a hotel with a SmartTV and casting capabilities, since I usually tote a personal TV stick with me while I travel for access to streaming services. Of course, WiFi is free, and the complimentary beverage station includes coffee, tea, still, and sparkling water.

Rooms are definitely on the tinier side, so you might want to skip if small spaces make you feel crammed. They even offer a room with two queen bunk beds for families, a feature I've loved seeing in more hotels.

You can bring a dog (up to two, each weighing up to 50 pounds), but it will cost you a nonrefundable $150 fee.

Who Will Love It Most

• Interior design lovers — Of course, the concept of The Flat Iron Hotel is focused on its status as a historic reuse boutique hotel devoted to the Art Deco style. Prewar rooms include preserved windows, hand-drawn wallpapers, terrazzo floors, and original doors.
  
• Foodies — I'm dying to know more about Luminosa, the Italian-meets-Appalachian eatery headed by Executive Chef Graham House centered around a wood-burning fire and seasonal ingredients. The hotel also has a rooftop bar with local brews rotated on tap, plus live music opportunities with bluegrass and jazz bands.
  
• History buffs — The building itself is iconic as one of the defining features of Asheville's "skyline." In the 1920s, a WNC radio station occupied one floor. A cheeky speakeasy in the boiler room (open from Thursday to Sunday 'til midnight) — Red Ribbon Society — rounds out the homage.
  
• Hikers — The Flat Iron Hotel offers a Hiking Concierge to customize your outdoor experience to your fitness level and preferences. Seeking sunset views? You're set. Want something rigorous to double as a workout? All yours. I love this detail, as it honors Asheville's crunchy outdoorsy magnificence and accommodates every traveler. It feels so perfectly specific to the area.
  
• Business travelers — I'm picky about coworking spaces, but Iron Works Coworking looks right up my alley thanks to its extensive natural light. There are local members too, but hotel guests receive access during their stay.
  

Brunch from Luminosa / Credit: The Flat Iron Hotel.

A double queen room. / Credit: The Flat Iron Hotel.

This lobby! Credit: The Flat Iron Hotel.