Hi, friends! I’m back with more from our Virginia minimoon. (Check out last week’s post on the Jefferson in DC here!) After an hour or so spent exploring Luray Caverns (have y’all been??), which is about halfway between DC and Charlottesville, we arrived at our lodgings for the evening – the Clifton Inn!
Prior to our visit, I had heard many wonderful things about the Clifton Inn from several friends. In fact, my buddy Meredith actually texted me earlier this summer while she was staying at the Inn, suggesting that John and I look into it if we hadn’t finalized our minimoon plans. Little did she know that we had already made arrangements for our September stay! (You can read her excellent review here!)
Happily, all of the hype turned out to be well-deserved. This was our first time visiting Charlottesville, and we now can’t imagine staying anywhere else!
We arrived around 6pm in drizzling rain — not the best conditions, but they did make the Inn look even warmer, cozier, and more welcoming in contrast! I loved that Clifton doesn’t really have a traditional check-in center, just two wooden desks tucked into the parlor next to the front door. With only 17 rooms and suites, they don’t exactly need to be worrying about a flood of guests, and I loved how homey and casual this made things feel!
A little bit of history: the property that the Clifton Inn sits on was originally owned by Thomas Mann Randolph, a governer of Virginia, member of the US Congress, and son-in-law of Thomas Jefferson. The original 2400 acres changed hands and were sold off over the years, until the current owners purchased the remaining 95 acres in 1983. It opened as a bed and breakfast in 1985 with five rooms. Outbuildings on the property were restored over several years, and a restaurant was opened in 1991.
The main room of the Inn, where we stayed, now houses just three guest rooms (I believe) in addition to the dining room, parlor, living room, and main hallway/entry. It really does feel like you’re in someone’s (very nice) house, in the best way possible. We were given a brief tour of the house, including the available-24-hours-a-day cookie jar in the kitchen (!), before being shown to our room. We stayed in the Monticello suite, and it was lovely! I apparently didn’t take any photos of our room, so here’s a little collage from the Clifton site:
We absolutely adored the sitting room, and the bed was also extremely comfortable. While I loved the design of the bathroom (and the water pressure in the shower, and the darling claw foot tub!), it was a bit on the small side. I think that has to be my only drawback to the entire property, though, so I’d still say they’re doing pretty well!
Moving on to food! It was our GREAT pleasure to dine at the Chef’s Counter that night. And it was a pleasure, indeed: in fact, I would rank that meal as the coolest dining experience of my life. To start, here was our view for the evening:
Yes, at the Chef’s Counter, you are literally sitting in the kitchen!! There were three chefs at work that evening, and we chatted with them throughout our meal, asking them any question we could think up. They were all delightful! The Clifton’s menu is made up of small plates, and they recommend guests order four, which includes one sweet course. We followed their recommendation, and here’s just a small peek at some of the deliciousness we sampled!
In addition to the courses we ordered, we were brought little treats throughout the night — just bites of things they were preparing for other guests, or samples of things they thought we might like! For example, we mentioned that John loves anything pickled, and so one of the chefs made him a whole plate of pickled things to try as he was packing up for the night. So nice!!
Everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Also, it was so neat to hear about how they source food, and their commitment to local farms and resources. For example, the AMAZING treat below (on the rock — yes, a real rock) is sprouts and greens gathered from just outside the kitchen door and presented together with lettuce mousse and cocoa dust. Blew my mind!! In addition, the chefs forage their own mushrooms a few miles away, along Skyline Drive!
If you visit the Clifton Inn, be sure to request a seat at the Chef’s Counter — it serves the same menu as and is no more expensive than the restaurant, and is available on a first come, first served basis!
The delicious food continued in the morning, with breakfast on the back porch. The continental breakfast is included, and on this morning, it included overnight oats with stone fruits and berries, and an assortment of muffins, breads, and pastries. Yum!
After breakfast, we had a little time to walk around the property, and despite the rain, everything was picturesque. I’m just sad we didn’t get a chance to swim in the pool!
Ah, well, I’ll just count it as extra motivation to make a return trip oh so soon. I can’t recommend the Clifton Inn highly enough for a romantic getaway or a wedding celebration. Be sure to check out more information about both on their website!
Tell me: Have you ever stayed at the Clifton Inn? Did you adore it as much as I did??
I am loving all of the bright yellow ones. They are perfect.
They are ALL calling to me in a way! So bright and fun! Guess I’d have to pick the tealish blue striped one if I had to though!
Seersucker in any color!
I love the Mint Julep bowtie! I am getting married the weekend after the Kentucky Derby and mint juleps are the drink of choice!
I am a sucker for a southern guy in a bow tie! My guy would be happy with any of these options, but I am drawn to the second one from the bottom in the left column– the purplish/blue plaid. Thanks for sharing these with your readers!
I like the 14th one in the left column.
I love the red and navy with polka dots!!
Y’all I LOVE the green seersucker Bowtie! It would be perfect for my to be groom in our pink and green southern wedding (eek less than 10 months). Carolina here we come!
I think he would love them all. :)
But since he is quite the bow tie man I would say second from the bottom right or any of the yellows.
Being from the south you definitely have to represent your Alma Mater and my fiance would look totally dapper in the red gingham or polka dot bow tie to represent NC State!!! (How bout that win Saturday?!) I love those two the most!! SO cute! I also think the red and white floral is so sweet!!
LOVING the gingham bow tie or the blue/green checked one (5th from the top)! We just got engaged (eeek! I’m getting MARRIED!) and are trying to decide on our colors and ties vs. bow ties so this would certainly help with the decision making as well as making my groom-to-be look handsome while we decide!
So many daper bow ties! Although, I must say my eyes are drawn to that blue gingham beauty. What a more southern way to bring out my beau’s blue eyes than with gingham!?
congrats on V5 ladies! can’t wait to add the fifth to my collection!
Oooo! I love both of the skinny ties! (the light blue and peach one). Can’t wait for the magazine!
I’d take them all :)…but I do need some more green in my life…4th one from the top left = AMAZING! :)
The Mint Julep bowtie is just adorable!
They are just adorable! I would say anything red would be perfect for my husband! I see a few Southern Proper ones in the photos, these are my husbands favorite!
They are all so beautiful, but I do love those bright red ones!
My man has been wanting a diamond tipped bow tie for a while now! The green stripped one would look wonderful on him! The bottom right bow tie also has his name written all over it.
What fun! I love the any of the blue or navy ties with stripes!
I would love to win the light blue seersucker bow tie! It’s is one of his favorite colors, brings out his eyes, and works perfectly for Tarheel football games!!
Carolina Blue- can’t get better than that!
These ties are DIVINE! I married my sweet hubs Evan in June and we are set to attend a bunch more weddings for our sweet friends this Fall! I am dying over the red/orange & blue medallion beau second from the bottom right! He would look oh so dapper in it!
I love the tiny plaid green and white bow tie, for my boyfriend!
My Southern gent loves all things houndstooth (to my UTK-loving chagrin, roll tide…) — so that first one on the top left corner would make him swoon!!
I’m an artist, and any of the peachy pinks or yellows are lovely…they’re such fresh, bright hues. Any of the peaches would be really pretty paired with cobalt blue bridesmaid dresses.
I absolutely love the pink and green striped one! My Fiance would love this!
THIS IS SO HARD! I love all the plaids…ginghams….seersucker…ahh the bright yellows the mellow blues! But I do have to say…. the fiance would probably love the houndstooth bow-tie the best!!
LOVE, love, love those teal blue striped ties, and the yellow gingham of course! Early Christmas gift for the boy? I think so!! –can’t wait for V5 :)
I love love love the green seersucker!
I love the pink and white bow tie! So cute!
I love the light blue tie! My honey has blue eyes and I think it’d be perfect for him!!
The red plaid pattern would be perfect for my hub’s black tie Christmas party…and I love the blue/green checked print right across the “aisle” from it….I could definitely plan my Easter dress around that beauty!!!
I love them all! I think my husbands favorite would be that teal gingham tie though! So fun! he would be thrilled with such a fun and southern prize!
They’re all adorable, but the blue bow ties that are sixth, seventh, and eighth from the bottom in the left column are my favorites!
I love love love the plaid blue and grey neck tie, but they are all so colorful and fun!
I LOVE that plaid blue necktie! My fiancé would look so handsome sporting that at our shower coming up :) it matches his eyes perfectly!
Loving the classic simplicity of the blue seersucker for my favorite guy. :)
I think that those yellow/gold ones are amazing! especially for my App State loving Fiancé…and the fact that our colors incorporate our love of our colleges into the design! Just got engaged and am so excited about V5!
love the navy diagonal stripe, simple and versatile
So hard to pick, they are all so fun! My fiancé would most likely wear the blue seersucker stripe one but is that a purple one with penguins that I see?! LOVE.
omg I love them all!!!!! But maybe number 9 from the top, that lovely aqua one!
The green with the cotton on it. I will be using cotton in my flower arrangements. My wedding is in Charleston, South Carolina on March, 16, 2013. I went to College of Charleston and loved all the southern charm and can not wait to have my southern wedding there. Christina Setser
Either the lime green with navy stripes or the orange and white seersucker – both would compliment our wedding colors perfectly!
I would love to get my hubby into the blue madras tie! I’d have a harder time with a bowtie unless it was orange.
I love all of the orange and red shades!
I love them all! If I had to pick I’d pick the madras bright color one!
bow ties are awesome! i love that dark blue one with the tiny white spots all over!
So many great ties! I really like the red gingham, the pink and green stripe, the green one with cotton bolls, and the blue and green gingham. Great giveaway!
Oh man, all of them? But I think my man, a soon to be UNC alum, would look quite dapper in the Tarheel blue. :o)
I am OBSESSED with the bowtie 7th from the top in the first column. My bridesmaids are wearing J Crew “Dusty Shale” dresses for my April wedding and I have been having the toughest time finding the perfect bow tie that matches the girls dresses. This one looks PERFECT and adds in another pop of color which I love!!
Even if I wasn’t selected as a winner…could someone kindly tell me who makes this bow tie? It is amazing!!!
Love Love Love!
Hey Katie! The bow tie 7th from the top on the right column is made by Mr. Mustache Bow Tie Co!
I love them all! I’m getting married next June and my future hubby will be wearing a seersucker suit. We are looking for a good bow tie to coordinate with his suit :)
I’m a sucker for anything polka dot, especially a bow tie!!
Any of the blue ones :)
I love the mint julep bowtie! We are getting married the day of the Kentucky Derby, and it would be so handsome for my groom! Any of the green shades are great though!
i LOVE the cream and green bowtie and would have my groomsmen wear it!
I am planning on using cotton stems in my floral arrangements and the green bow ties with cotton would be great. My wedding is in Charleston,South Carolina on March 16,2013. I graduated from College of Charleston and love the southern charm of the city. Me and my mom thought the green cotton bow ties would be great. I can not wait for my southern wedding. Thank you so much. Christina Setser
I like that snappy lime green tie with the stripe. It would look fabulous on my new son-in-law, (Kyle, a Southern Monogram Wedding Blog from May 5 2012 wedding). He is a lawyer in Elizabethtown, NC and all Southern gentlemen lawyers need to make a fashion statement!
I’m partial to that purple plaid number :-)
The gray with white dots is to die for! I am getting married out side in may, and this will blend in with our blue/gray/green theme perfectly!
I’m a sucker for the seersucker ones :)
I love them all!!!!!!!
I am loving the tie with the light blue check design!
I love bowties! If I had to pick just one, it has to be the orange plaid.
I will be getting married on March 16,2013 in Charleston,South Carolina. I graduated from College of Charleston and love the southern charm of the city. I will be using cotton in my floral arrangements and I love the green cotton bow tie and that is one of the colors I will be using. It would be great for the wedding. I love your web site with so many cool ideas. Thank you very much. Christina Setser
My fiance is in love with this blog, and she directed me to this contest! My favorite bowtie is 18 down from the left. I would really like it – thanks for doing this!
I am loving all of them, so bright and fun! My favorite is the 5th one down the blue and green one!
I absolutley love the light green stripe bow tie (1st column 2nd row). It is very versatile with different colored suits, very simple but elegant
So hard to choose….I think the one that best embodies our wedding theme is the bow tie 2nd from the bottom on the right, a combination of southern sophistication for Charleston where my fiance is a chef and English hunt country for Charlottesville where I am in school at UVA.
Either the solid yellow or yellow diagonal stripe tie would be a wonderful surprise for my groom for our yellow and gray oceanfront wedding in May! Something about a pop of yellow against a gray suit will add a little spring sunshine to my groomsmen!
They’re all amazing! The green bow tie with the thin blue diagonal stripes would be perfect for our garden themed wedding next year.
the green and salmon bow tie is swaggarific. love it.
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