When the red-brick Colonial Revival Carolina Inn opened in 1924, it became a gathering place for the University of North Carolina and the broader Chapel Hill community. Its origins trace to a restless night in 1921, when John Sprunt Hill — banker, philanthropist, and UNC Class of 1889 alumnus — returned to Chapel Hill for a Board of Trustees meeting. Finding lodging scarce, he stayed at a rundown hotel on Franklin Street. From his experience came a clear vision of what Chapel Hill needed: a welcoming inn for visitors, a town hall for the state, and a home for returning alumni. He commissioned architect Arthur C. Nash, who drew from Mount Vernon and 19th-century Louisiana plantation architecture to shape the design. What emerged was a dignified and inviting structure defined by a broad front porch, chimney stacks, and a commanding two-story portico. After a decade as a private enterprise, Hill gifted the property to UNC. Today, with 185 guest rooms and suites, an on-site restaurant, and more than 14,000 square feet of event space, the refined inn remains a home away from home.
“The hotel’s walkability to both UNC and downtown Chapel Hill make it a really great spot for exploring the area,” says Katherine Walsh, restaurant and special events coordinator for the hotel’s on-site dining establishment, Crossroads Barroom and Restaurant.
Wander the town in August to see its charm unfold: brick sidewalks bending gently around the corners of old shops and bookstores, Carolina blue flags snapping from balconies, families reading menu boards outside cafés and restaurants. They’re here for conferences and lectures, gamedays and tailgates, graduations and weddings. And if we are honest, they are here for something less tangible: a sense of place, a feeling of time slowing, and a slice of Chapel Hill’s everyday elegance.
Chic Retreat
Your first order of business: unpack and unwind. Each guest room and suite at The Carolina Inn is designed to honor the hotel’s historic legacy, with cozy bedding, elegant furnishings, and traces of Carolina Blue that feel both timeless and inviting.
Once you’ve settled in, let your curiosity lead you around the property. Meander through the gardens and courtyards, fill your belly with seasonal fare at Crossroads Barroom and Restaurant and, if you’re onsite August 21 or 28, don’t miss one of the Fridays on the Front Porch — an evening event series with food and live music. “In this series there’s going to be some new artists that we’ve never seen before here at the Carolina Inn,” Walsh says. “We’ll have some old familiar faces as well, including Counterclockwise String Band, Morgan Creek Bluegrass, and Barefoot Manner.”
Bespoke Bites
Next up: a culinary experience you won’t forget. After years of cooking around the world, UNC alumnus Brandon Sharp returned to Chapel Hill and opened Hawthorne & Wood. The restaurant is infused with California inspiration, reflecting his wife’s family roots — her father from Hawthorne and her mother from St. Francis Wood. Since opening in 2019, Hawthorne & Wood has combined a warm, inviting atmosphere — with cozy banquettes, a private dining room, and an outdoor patio — with a menu that changes frequently to highlight seasonal ingredients and global flavors. For first-time visitors, Chef Sharp recommends the five-course tasting menu, a “greatest hits” journey through the restaurant’s dishes.
Curated Harvest
Want to see where locals gather for fresh produce and homemade goods? Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market brings together artisans and producers from within 60 miles of town. Early August is an especially great time to visit, as National Farmers Market Week celebrates the farmers and farms that sustain the local community…