Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern

From our arrival at Highlander Mountain House and after our very first night, we can already say this has been a truly exceptional experience. From the drive up to Highlands through check-in, the hotel staff has been incredibly attentive, responsive, and genuinely welcoming. They made us feel less like first-time guests and more like returning regulars. Every interaction has been warm, helpful, and professional. Dinner at the Ruffed Grouse Tavern completely sealed the deal. Our server, Samantha, delivered top-notch service — attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly paced. The cocktail program is thoughtfully curated and the drinks were outstanding. The menu feels seasonal, location-appropriate, and creative, with enough variety that it was honestly hard to choose. Each course we ordered was distinct and delicious, and by the end of the meal we were so impressed that we booked another reservation for the following night just to try more of the menu. Elisa, the manager, was also very present and personable and clearly invested in the guest experience. So far, everything has been seamless and memorable. Easily a 5 out of 5 experience — we’re already looking forward to the rest of our stay.

Our recent trip to Highlander Mountain House was the perfect weekend away. The front desk staff was incredibly helpful with helping me book one of their Main House Deluxe King Rooms. We had never been to Highlands and timed our trip with a big snow storm. When we arrived we were welcomed and settled into our beautiful room. The room was the perfect size, with a balcony overlooking Main Street, and a very nice bathroom. We had a delicious dinner at The Ruffed Grouse Tavern. Because of the snow, many shops and restaurants in Highlands were closed for the weekend but we strolled around the picturesque streets and came back to Highlander to warm up by the fire and have some drinks at the bar. The staff was extremely friendly and many of them stayed at the hotel over the weekend to make the guest's experiences even better. Sam, our very attentive and personable waitress was a highlight! This hotel is the perfect place for a romantic weekend away, with beautiful rooms, a great restaurant, and all the cozy cabin getaway vibes that we were looking for. We will definitely be back to visit again soon!

The Highland Mountain House and Ruffed Grouse has been one of our favorite stays of all our travels. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by Sarah and the staff. The eclectic, English decor was welcoming and impressive. There were multiple lobby and cozy seating areas with sofas, chairs, pillows, blankets and fireplaces. Outside seating areas were heated with perfect views of downtown. The bar area was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we enjoyed our drinks. The music and lighting were set for a just right atmosphere. Our walk to the room was also impressive with a wood carved staircase and artwork displays. The room itself was gorgeous! We loved the boutique antique aesthetic and our bed was heavenly for a peaceful night’s sleep. Thank you HMH for a memorable experience. We look forward to a return trip! Richie and Jennifer Morrison

While we (Pat and Lisa) are frequent guests at both the Highlander and the Outpost and always enjoy our stays, I (Lisa)want to send special thanks to two employees who made my stay worry free this past weekend after a snowfall. I enjoyed chatting with Deanna while I enjoyed the complimentary and delicious banana bread and coffee while waiting for the roads to clear before check-out. She offered an extended check- out, if needed. Deanna added extra logs to the fire to keep the sitting area cozy and relaxing. And then there was Dave, the inn’s chef, who saw me maneuvering my exit from the parking lot. He came outside ,on his own, and offered assistance- much appreciated! As I told several first-time guests before a delicious dinner at the Ruffed Grouse, your first visit will not be your last!

I've just returned from an evening at this charming hotel. While I was only there for one night, I would definitely return. I stayed in Room 8, and while the rooms are on the smaller side, it was perfectly comfortable, cozy and appointed. A truly considered space with lovely design details and thoughtful touches. Bed was very comfortable with crisp linens. I enjoyed dinner at The Ruffed Grouse and it was absolutely delicious (Airline Chicken, FTW). The real shining star of the HMH are the shared lobby areas, especially in the winter. Roaring fires and well-worn leather club chairs are welcome after a day exploring Highlands. Location is right in the middle of town (walkable to just about everything) and the vibe is laid back and unpretentious. If a Scottish/British inn had a baby with an Appalachian lodge, you have HMH.

We really enjoyed our stay at Highlander Mountain House. You can tell that a lot of thoughtful design and curation went into the property & rooms both internally & externally. We stayed for two nights over New Year's Eve. The property & town were lively and well decorated for the holidays. The staff was incredibly helpful and welcoming. Will definitely come back for a weekend getaway in the future.

This hotel is very cozy and charming. We stayed a few days after Christmas and it was decorated and festive. Our room was beautifully decorated but small, which was fine for us. We loved the balcony that overlooked the town. It would be wonderful in warmer weather to sit out there, with coffee or wine. The location is very good. You can easily walk to shops and restaurants. The staff was friendly and helpful. We will be back to experience this beautiful place in all seasons!

Recently stayed here for a girls weekend! We had the best time! Room 6 is absolutely beautiful and the perfect size, cozy and quaint! The trout at the Ruffed Grouse is some of the best I have ever had! We enjoyed our time in Highlands and look forward to coming back to stay at HMH again!

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.