An Honest Review of High Hampton in Cashier North Carolina

My husband recently accepting a new exciting job, so we decided to take a little getaway to High Hampton to celebrate. Being just under 3 hours away from the city, we knew it’d be the perfect place to relax and recharge for a few days. So we hopped in the car and went searching for Fall color, cooler temps, and exciting flavors. I’ve seen a few people say they don’t think High Hampton is worth the (not cheap 😵‍💫) price tag. So I wanted to share an honest review of High Hampton in Cashier North Carolina.

High Hampton is a historic family property in the beautiful Cashiers Valley. It has functioned as everything from a summer camp, inn, golf course, or personal family property over the last 100 years. In 2017, it was purchased by the folks behind Blackberry Farm. It was closed for three years while it underwent a design, culinary, and hospitality overhaul. The luxe mountain resort reopened in April 2021 to much acclaim, excitement, and high expectations.

Our Experience

We could not have been more impressed or happy with our experience at High Hampton. The property, staff, food and accommodations were all beyond our expectations. Our room, which was a King room in the Lake Cottage, was larger and more spacious than what we were expecting. It even had a porch overlooking the gorgeous lake! There are rooms in the Inn, which is the central building on the property with both restaurants in it. There’s also rooms in all the various cottages around the property.

Breakfast and dinner are included in your stay, and we loved the short walk to dinner each night! In the “common area” lounge of that main building, there is a ton of cozy seating, fireplaces, and games to enjoy. At 5:30 each evening, cocktail service begins, where you can enjoy a drink by the fire before your dinner reservation. We were there for a Fall cold snap — it even snowed! — so this felt so cozy and romantic.

Food

As restaurant lovers and passionate home cooks, we went into this trip VERY hopeful about the food, and it was so so amazing! There are several restaurants at the property, but the two we went to were The Dining Room, where we had breakfasts and dinners, and The Tavern, where we had lunch. I loved that the menu at The Dining Room changes every night, so there is a lot of variety. I’d describe the food as elevated, seasonal, creative, and classic. My favorite thing I ate was the roast chicken on our last night, and the bite I had of my husband’s beef tenderloin was also divine. I was also excited to see that HH’s pastry chef and beverage director are women — so great to see in such a male-dominated field.

Design

While it’s not my personal style at all, I loved the cozy mountain-modern style that the Blackberry Farm design team created. They mixed classic, muted plaid patterns with vintage florals, original oak wood furniture, and soft textile to create a truly unique and lived-in aesthetic. It felt so welcoming. I loved all the fireplaces and modern black-framed glass doors in the lounge. The team also did an amazing job with the art around the property, a lot of which I think was restored from the original property.

Hospitality

One of the most amazing things about visiting a place like High Hampton is getting to know the staff. The property is near Western Carolina University, so much of the staff is students. We loved getting to have the same server multiple times, and getting to know each other. We also got into several long conversations with various team members. It was great to ask questions about the property, history, and their experience working at HH. It feels very personal and wholesome, and makes it easy to form a natural connection with the property.

Things to Do

There are a number of things to do at High Hampton, including golf, visiting the pool during summer, wine tasting, and even a Kid’s Corner for the little ones. We chose to spend our time walking around the property, going in the hot tub, and playing games by the fire in the lounge. We also went to the gym, which was SO nice and had amazing equipment. There are also several gorgeous hikes that originate from the property! I’d love to visit in summer sometime and take advantage of the pool.

That’s my honest review of High Hampton in Cashier North Carolina. It was truly a memorable experience and we can’t wait to be back!