The Orchard Inn And Newman's - SALUDA

I realized I didn't do a review from my stay in Nov 2021. The visit was lovely so I wanted to share. Myself along with 8 other women attended a two day retreat hosted by a colleague and friend. The Orchard Inn accommodated us all. We utilized a room in the Spa as our meeting area each day which is more recently built building than the Inn as a reference. You reach the Spa via a short stone step walk with trickling water. Sooooo peaceful. It also has balcony chairs to take in the peace and beauty. The views from both the Spa and the Inn, especially in early November, was filled with multiple colors and hawks flying overhead. The breakfast and lunch area is filled with windows and you can certainly take in the views as well as local birds. We had a gathering by the large gas firepit one night. There are rocking chairs and swings and little places here and there to read a book. There is a sprawling front porch that welcomed you. I stayed in the large cottage with one of the other retreat guests. It was really too large for our needs but we thought we'd have a third person when registering. It worked perfectly for us to chat at night after the days events and was only a short walk to thr main part of the Inn. The furniture is indeed rustic (I saw a negative comment in another review) however it is well taken care of and very comfy. My vanity appeared to be antique and quite beautiful. I slept like a baby which is unusual for me when I travel. I was enthralled by the number of plants including the large and heavy blooming Christmas cacti. I share this as it shows the love and daily care that goes into the Inn. The town of Saluda is lovely and filled with shops that welcome you as a friend, not a stranger just as they did at The Orchard Inn. I really need to schedule a visit and bring my husband.

The dogs are cute and the grounds and dining deck are beautiful. The accommodations are too rustic for us and too small. The dinner staff were excellent as was the meal that night, breakfast was decent, but nothing special. They desperately need to renovate the bathrooms and update the gross, worn furniture. I am truly surprised to read all of the perfect reviews, our stay was pretty bad and I wouldn’t return. The innkeepers turned sour when we complained about the room being small and didn’t feel comfortable staying there. We said we’d like a refund and we’re going to stay somewhere else. The wife begged us to stay and said she’d give us an upgrade to a cottage as a gift. She was insistent and this was a kind gesture, so we stayed. The cottage also had old eclectic furniture (looks like it’s from the side of the road), a window air conditioning unit, and a cracked vanity, but it was much bigger and we appreciated her gesture. Upon checkout the husband presented us with a bill for dinner and the room upgrade. We were surprised given she had stated the room upgrade was a gift to us. We let him know what had happened, and he responded that he knew our situation, but that they do not give free room upgrades for instances where we find the room unsatisfactory (he said it was the first time he’d had a complaint about the room furniture and size, which I highly doubt). We asked to speak with his wife, who he said was out, so he called someone (presumably her) and walked away. He came back and said that they are only willing to cover half the upgrade. We agreed because it was really awkward and I guess she didn’t explicitly state that it was free, but we did feel misled given she had said it was a gift to us. UPDATE: our stay was recent. We most certainly did not have an updated bathroom. Rooms: Old, eclectic furniture, window AC units, outdated bathrooms with staining in grout. Very small.

Made a last minute reservation on our trip to western NC. Fortunately we were able to secure a reservation for Friday night September 22. This place is magical. Food and service are outstanding. Can’t wait to return next year and stay in one of the rooms. Absolutely no complaints. Everything was perfect which is very hard to achieve. Service: 5 Location: 5

I’ve been blessed to eat in wonderful restaurants in San Francisco, New York, France, Italy and around the world. I’m proud to have “The Orchard Inn” here in Saluda, NC just 3 miles from my home. Service was professional, friendly and personable. The food was simply outstanding! And, the venue of eating in a beautiful historic peaceful restaurant like “Newmans” at the Orchard Inn is like no other place I’ve been. Trust me, you need to try it to believe it.

We came for the play so we didn't see the rooms. Service: 4 Location: 5