Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern

We felt extremely welcome and loved hanging by the fire in the common area. We met so many new friends, enjoyed some lovely drinks and live music, and did not want to leave at the end of our stay. Our dinner at the Ruffed Grouse was so good. Man this place is magical - it feels right out of a fairytale. Our room was cozy and clean and we had a great view of Frank the bear when he swung by to visit

Having visiting Highlands many times, I had an eye on HMH for a weekend getaway and decided our 25th wedding anniversary was the perfect opportunity. We had a fabulous stay! Loved our room and appreciated the refinement and detail in the decor all around. Bluegrass brunch at the restaurant was wonderful as well - a top ten brunch experience! Thanks to the staff for being so friendly and accommodating - we can't wait to return!

I recently stayed at the Highlander Mountain House for three nights, and it was truly one of the best experiences. While the room itself was on the smaller side, it was incredibly quaint and cozy, with luxurious amenities that made it feel so special. And the bed—hands down the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in, and I travel a lot! The staff was beyond wonderful—so warm, welcoming, and attentive every step of the way. Housekeeping kept everything spotless, and the food was absolutely delicious. Every detail of the stay felt thoughtful and inviting. A few helpful notes if you’re planning a visit: the experience feels much like staying in a charming bed-and-breakfast in Ireland. You will be carrying your bags upstairs, so pack accordingly. The in-room fridges are small, so I wouldn’t recommend bringing your own food. And from time to time, the inn hosts live musicians or celebratory events. If you prefer a quieter stay, it’s worth asking about their event calendar ahead of time. Personally, I loved the energy and coziness these gatherings brought—it made the whole place feel full of life! Overall, I couldn’t have enjoyed my stay more and would highly, highly recommend Highlander Mountain House to anyone looking for a warm, welcoming, and memorable getaway.

The most picture perfect charming inn! You’re instantly transported to a slower way of life, sitting by the fire in the warm and cozy lobby. The rooms are a perfect cottage-core style and the location is perfectly located downtown and walkable to all the shops and restaurants. Couldn’t recommend this place more - we will be coming back for sure!

Wife and I stayed here 2 nights while visiting Highlands. Staff is very friendly and helpful, and the rooms are very quaint. We were in #6 which has a balcony right out in front on Main Street. Wife said there were people down in the courtyard talking until pretty late at night, but I use earplugs so I didn't hear them. Room was not big, but well appointed and clean. Bed was very comfortable. I had to unplug the mini fridge because it was kind of noisy. Would definitely stay here again.

We've been staying at the HMH for many years and highly recommend it. It's quaint, charming, and feels like you are staying at the home of a well-traveled friend. The wood-burning fireplace in the lobby is our favorite spot to sit with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The Ruffed Grouse is also wonderful - be sure you make your reservation in advance to get a spot. We prefer the main house to the bunkhouse, but the bunkhouse is probably best if you are looking for a more private get away. The main house is abuzz with people coming and going, which we prefer. We've met people there from all over the world at HMH. The only reason we did not give five stars is primarily because we had a few issues that while they were quickly resolved, were a bit of an inconvenience for the short period of time we were there. Jason and his team do a wonderful job!

The team at the highlander house have provided the best service we could ever ask for. Coming as newlyweds, my wife and I loved the quaint, cozy rooms and intimate common areas. The staff is the most accommodating we have ever seen, helping us with rides and recommendations throughout highlands. Finally, I cannot speak highly enough for their dinner service. The food at the ruffed grouse was phenomenal, and left us excited formour next trip to the mountains. I cannot say enough about the experience we had, and would recommend highlander mountain house to anyone wishing to experience the best service in the highlamds

The Ruffed Grouse Tavern’s food was amazing! We ended up going back twice during our stay in Highlands NC because the food was so great. They accommodated our large party with ease. Every appetizer on the menu was awesome. Dates are 10/10! The airline chicken and the trout are what brought us back a second time during our week stay. The atmosphere and service are bar-none! Especially the bartender Danielle who was so friendly and pays attention to the small details. Chefs kiss to all the employees who made everything flawless 😘.

We absolutely loved our stay here! Great atmosphere and amazing location. Everything was clean and comfortable and staff were extremely friendly. Drinks and lunch were wonderful as well. Can't recommend enough and would love to stay here again!

Lovely, quaint, period inn! (Some comments complain the lobby furniture is "old." IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!! I Jost love this place and the entire staff. Couldn't be friendlier or more accommodating!

Real cool spot to walk in highlands. We enjoyed the lights surrounding the building in the misty cold. We will definitely be back

Dreaming of my next stay at the HMH. Each room has unique decor and every single one is memorable in their own right. This bed and breakfast/inn is in a historic house in downtown Highlands, NC. As soon as you walk in, your transported to a cozy ski lodge in Europe. Large fireplaces in each room, funky wallpaper, and plush velvet couches make you want to order a glass of whiskey and settle in for the weekend. As you're brought up to your room, you'll notice updated, modern decor that matches the eclectic ski lodge feel downstairs. Honestly, I didn't want to leave my room the entire weekend because it was so cozy and comfortable. BUT, the bar was too cool not to head downstairs for a drink. Skip the hotels and absolutely book a room at this special place.

We enjoyed the most wonderful staycation at the Highlander Mountain House for a Tyler Ramsey concert last night. The accommodations, dinner by Chef Rodney, drinks by Michaela, and new friendships that were made will definitely bring us back to this Jason's adorable mountain house!

The room we stayed in was smaller than most of the smallest New York City hotel rooms. you have to crawl over your bed partner to get out of bed. I asked to speak to the manager with no response. The welcome letter in the room was signed by and Sutton, the general manager, which I was told by the receptionist had been gone for over two years. Great attention to details? There were workmen outside our room on the roof until after 5:30 in the afternoon. While it is a charming tavern along with that comes the Tavern noise. I think that there are better options at this price point in Highlands. I called and asked to speak to the owner again with no response.

I was very excited to stay at HMH after being inside the bar area about 8 months ago and enjoying the space. My boyfriend and I planned a last minute stay here for one night over Memorial Day weekend. Our only option was a queen room and to book was over $300 for one night. I was already aware the rooms were small. I wasn't surprised but just be aware as other reviewers have stated. We returned to the hotel from dinner on Sunday night at 7:30 pm to find the bar area closed already. It says on the website "bar area open daily 4:30pm-10 pm". I am aware it was a holiday weekend however there was no signage or other communication upon our check-in notifying us of an early close. There were still people in the bar area but we were told specifically all tabs had been closed. That was disappointing to say the least. After waking up to a really stormy day, we headed downstairs to get a cup of coffee, a pastry, and to sit by the fire in the lobby. 8 am and no fire. We asked the woman at the front desk if we could start it or what needed to be done to get one going. She told us that there was no "fire starter" available and the wood was too fresh to light without some. Another guest down there even offered to start the fire but again, wood wasn't dry enough. The lady at the front (apologies I do not know her name) was nice and apologized and said she had told "them" (I assume management) before the weekend that they were running low on the starter and to replace. Clearly, it had not been replaced. It was cooler, rainy, windy- perfect weather for a fire but alas... No pastries or any other food was offered. The coffee tasted like it was old and had been reheated to the point of being burnt. It was truly awful and I could only have one sip. Thinking I was being ridiculous, my boyfriend tried his cup. Still awful. I hate to write this review for a place I was incredibly excited to stay at. They do not have any water stations that we saw, the only bottle of water in the room was $6, and of course, the bar was closed and we couldn't get any there. Also, very slight detail, the toiletries are a different brand than what is listed on the website. I feel like we were extremely misled by the website and their social media. I also wanted to let other potential travelers know what our stay was lacking compared to other reviewers. Again, this one night cost over $300 for us.

Didn't live up to the hype. Stayed in the bunk house; to say these rooms are tight would be an understatement. Staff was not overly friendly or helpful. The hotel is conveniently located on Main Street so easy walking distance to shopping, restaurants, etc.

The fire lit in the gathering space and the charming room in the bunk house with beamed raised roof made it sooo very charming. Walking distance to everything. Plus close to Tesla chargers. We'll be back!

Had a drink in the bar. Lived Nathan the bar tender. Great ambiance. Very cozy inn. Feels warm and inviting.