Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Highlander Mountain House and Outpost Inn in Highlands, and I can confidently say it was an outstanding experience. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, blending rustic charm with modern elegance. The attention to detail in every aspect, from the cozy yet refined decor to the impeccable service, truly sets this place apart. The culinary experience, under the expertise of Executive Chef Adam Bresnahan, was nothing short of phenomenal. Every dish was thoughtfully crafted, highlighting fresh, high-quality ingredients with flavors that were both innovative and deeply comforting. You can tell there’s real passion behind the food. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or a memorable dining experience, this is the place to be. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to return!

Wonderful experience from beginning to end . My husband and I frequent Highlands and this made our trip even better ! The room was cozy and clean , the food was yummy ( hats off to the chef!) and the atmosphere was a perfect setting for our getaway . We will be back and are looking forward to it !

I truly did not want to leave this magical place. The atmosphere and decor was beyond what photos can provide. So much detail put into this place- the stairwells, doors, lighting, art! No area left untouched in the best way. Our room was very, very small. The website is transparent about this though, down to the square footage. This did not take away from our experience! It was perfect for sleeping, relaxing in bed with a movie and getting ready for a wedding. Wall unit provided an easy adjustment to the temperature. We loved the lounge feeling in the cozy bar and had a delicious grilled chicken and goat cheese sandwich and perfect espresso martinis. Coffee and banana bread by the fire in the morning was such a nice treat. Every single staff member we spoke with was lovely and kind. Parking lot spots are limited but, there is parking to the back and it wasn’t an inconvenience at all. And to top it all off, what a convenient location!! I would like to go back.. immediately.

Quaint older inn located in the heart of Highlands, NC.  Staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was cozy.  Unfortunately there were a few drawbacks during our stay in room #2 on the first floor. The long weekend in January was COLD, our second night the temperatures dropped to 5 degrees.  That was when the in room heat went out.  We noticed the heat was not working prior to our reservations that evening at a nearby restaurant. We told the young man at the front desk who tried in vain to get the heat to work.  He asked when we would be back from dinner and stated he would get someone to look at the unit prior to our return.  When we returned at 9:30pm the entire place was locked up, thankfully they include a key to the front door with your room key.  As we entered the room we noticed it was very COLD and the heat was still not working.  Unfortunately, no one was available at the front desk as it appeared they were closed for the night.  An emergency number was listed and we left a message but no one returned our call or arrived at our room.  To top it off there were no extra blankets in the room either.  Needless to say, the night was very uncomfortable.  Around 3:30am in the morning a smoke detector started chirping due to a low battery.  Finally around 9:00am we got up and started packing as it was too cold to stay in bed or take a shower.  We notified the young lady at the front desk of our uncomfortable night but all she could offer was an apology. The location was great, the staff were friendly, but we will not stay there again.

This place is so cozy! Great date night spot with some amazing eats. It’s also a great brunch spot . My wife and I look forward to coming here again next time we’re in town.

We love the ambiance of the Highlander Mountain House. However, for the price-point, there are a few things lacking. The main lobby is cozy with a lovely fire, however the sofa has been missing its original cushions for at least the three years that we have been going there. It leaves the sofa very deep, uncomfortable and hard to get up and out of. We've heard lots of complaints from other guests sitting there. The other two chairs in that lobby have also seen better days with peeling leather and worn bottom cushions. This is not the equivalent of rustic charm as we were told when we mentioned it to the receptionist. For the comfort of the guests, the sofa and chairs should be replaced. Also, our bunk room had no dresser. There was ample room for one on two walls. We were two women staying for three nights with barely a place to store our clothing. It would cost very little to add a dresser and would make a tremendous difference. Again, when mentioning it, we were told about the age of the building and "rustic-charm". That has nothing to do with the functionality of the room. Storage is a basic need of customers and it would be so easy to add a dresser. The rooms are small, so unpacking efficiently is important. We ended up leaving most of our belongings in the car. We love the HMH and plan on returning. We do wish they would address these issues. It would make for a much more comfortable stay. You can't beat the location though.

Came for dinner and had a delicious meal! The dates were a great appetizer and the cocktails were amazing. The scallops and salmon special were both great. Service was overall good. We had an early reservation and there was only one other group there. We were at tables right next to each other. We asked if we could swap to another 2 person table but were told we couldn’t. Not the end of the world but just was a little odd. Overall great experience and can’t wait to come back.

This is a lovely place, but we had some not-so-great experiences. We rented the "Bunk House- Deluxe Queen." The bed is 54 inches wide-- that is defined as "full bed." When I asked about it, the lady said "okay, I tell the manager." Pretty much a deadend. Also, there was complimentary coffee in the lobby. When I asked where it was, I directed to the bar where I paid $5.00 for my black coffee. We did not receive any cleaning service during our stay. Honestly, my husband and I had a great time-- but do not love sleeping in small bed and wish the service was better. We go to this area a good bit and will be back at the Park on Main hotel next time.