I kicked off my Southern Tour with the FeedFeed and The Luxury Collection in Charlotte, North Carolina. My home while in town was The Ballantyne, a beautiful hotel with luxe accommodations. Located just south of Charlotte, the Ballantyne property is expansive, lush, and, well, gorgeous.
The minute I walked in I knew I would like it there. The staff was so friendly, and the vibe was totally cozy.
The lobby is GORGEOUS. From the Ryal bar to the fireside couches, there are countless nooks to curl up in and have a glass of wine or two.
When you’re ready for a bite, The Gallery restaurant has you covered. I arrived later in the day so my first experience at Gallery was dinner – and it didn’t disappoint. I ordered the scallops, but all of the dishes were stunning. So much so that we couldn’t help but have a mini photoshoot with all of them. The dessert alone was a work of art. Beautiful.
After the greatest night sleep, I rolled my self down to the Ryal bar for a cooking demo and breakfast. (Heads up, this is the first of many nods to The Luxury Collection beds because they are THE comfiest.) Chef Merck demonstrated to us how to make beet pickled salmon while we noshed on our eggs and french toast.
After a day out in Charlotte, the team at The Ballantyne hosted a really fun wine blending class. I don’t remember my exact ratios but I do remember that my head exploded at the combination of wines I preferred. Not what I would have guessed AT ALL. Regardless, the class was a blast and I learned so much from their in-house sommelier.
Once our wines were blended, we were led into the ballroom. Our jaws dropped at the sight of our dinner table. The Ballantyne team went above and beyond for the event.
The table stood alone in the middle of the room, covered in flowers, fruit and, greenery. It was stunning. We didn’t expect our dinner to be such a showstopper, but after 15 minutes of gawking and photographing, we finally sat down to eat.
As expected, dinner was phenomenal. Chef Merck and Pastry Chef Nogg outdid themselves yet again.
We moved into The Gallery restaurant for a post-dinner drink where all of the patrons were sitting in the chic bar watching Game 3 of the World Series. (Go Sox!)
My final morning at The Ballantyne, I walked the grounds taking in all of the gardens and flowers enjoying the chilly North Carolina air.
I didn’t know what to expect when visiting Charlotte for the first time, but I’ll admit, I’m very smitten. And The Ballantyne is the main reason for that.
A million thank yous to the FeedFeed, The Luxury Collection, and The Ballantyne in Charlotte, North Carolina for generously hosting me! If you’re interested in staying at The Ballantyne, visit their website at www.theballantynehotel.com or the-luxury-collection.marriott.com. All opinions and images are my own.
If you want to check out my other hotel adventures, head over to my Hotels section.
