My husband and I were recently invited to take a quick getaway at the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia. While we received a complementary stay and experience, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you ever REALLY needed a getaway?
Have you ever felt the difference that ONE night away can make?
The relaxation. The decompression.
I needed this trip.
And the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia was the perfect place for everything that I needed. The food was some of the best I’ve had. Not just lately. EVER. Some of the best food of my entire life (my husband would not stop raving about the food to everyone he ran into for days.
The hotel was both luxurious and comfortable. We felt completely at home. The staff was the most welcoming and friendly I’ve come across in all of my travels.
In other words, I can’t say enough about our stay at the Clifton Inn.
About the Clifton Inn
Clifton was built by Thomas Mann Randolph Jr, son-in-law of Thomas Jefferson (yes, Monticello is right down the street – a very convenient and highly recommended stop while you’re in town!). Randolph served as Governor of Virginia and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates as well as a member of the U.S. Congress.
Clifton was originally built as a place for Randolph to conduct business in trade. In the years since Randolph used Clifton, it has been through several owners, but in 1985, the current owner restored it and opened Clifton as a five-bedroom bed and breakfast. The estate has since added additional guest accommodations (there are now 17 unique suites and guest rooms) and a restaurant. Clifton also boasts 100 gorgeous acres, a pool and hot tub, a small lake, and plenty of places to walk and enjoy the outdoors.
We weren’t surprised to learn that the Clifton Inn will be busy hosting weddings all season long, starting shortly. Unfortunately, the day we arrived in Charlottesville was not just cloudy. We had heavy rain during our whole ride down to Charlottesville, and then as we headed to lunch, we were bombarded with tornado warnings. We had to change our afternoon plans at the last minute (more on that later) but we were happy to relax in our room. No complaints there!
Dining at The Clifton Inn
Executive Chef Yannick Fayolle is not only a talented chef (we tasted many of his culinary creations while we were there!) but he’s also a body builder. My husband and I enjoyed watching Yannick and his sous chef work in the kitchen while we enjoyed our dinner at the Chef’s Counter.
TIP: If you are ever in Charlottesville, you must make reservations to dine at the Chef’s Counter at the Clifton Inn. It was one of my favorite dining experiences ever, not only for the taste (everything was incredible) but for the experience of watching two talented chefs at work during the dinner hour. Throughout the time we were there, I was struck by how peaceful their kitchen was. No music. No shouting orders. No mess. Just two men concentrating on making delicious, beautiful food.
Guests of the Clifton Inn can also enjoy afternoon tea in the front room as well as breakfast served on the Veranda. We loved our breakfast – gorgeous views and sunlight streaming in through the windows. It was a serene ending to our stay at Clifton.
ANOTHER TIP: While you’re at Clifton, be sure to stop by the kitchen anytime of the day to grab a free cookie from the cookie jar. We grabbed a few for the drive home…
Speaking of amazing dining and unforgettable experiences, you can NOT miss lunch at Salt or a visit to Montpelier. See why…
© 2016, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Thank you Lolli for the article. I can’t wait to have you guys at the chef’s counter in summer