The Clifton Inn

I have never written a review for any establishment until I experienced the Clifton Inn. If my experience at a place was great I thank them personally before leaving. If my experience was negative I just don’t go back.
My experience with the Clifton Inn began the first week of May to set up a meeting with their event planner, I am in the process of choosing a wedding venue. We agreed to meet Saturday ⁶⁄₁₈ and I booked a room for that Saturday and a dinner reservation. Three weeks before the appointment the planner calls and attempts to move the appointment a week later, something about her moving and a lease problem. She finally agreed to meet on Sun ⁶⁄₁₉.
Upon arrival I found areas of the property you could actually use for an event very small and the gravel driveway tacky. When we checked in there was no folder of venue information as promised. We stayed in the main house and the room was nice until you entered the bathroom and you could see where the tile and grout had not been cleaned in years. The shower had moldy tile and grout up to about knee high.
The dinner was the worst dining experience I have had in at least ten years. So bad that I felt the need to write this review. We were seated outside and waited 25 minutes for our server to bring a drink menu, we were seated without menus. 45 minutes after being seated my cocktail finally arrived. The menu wasn’t very interesting. My fiancé started with the scallop app and they gritty and very fishy. She didn’t touch them and the server didn’t even ask why. We both ordered the strip sous vide, both arrived well done when requested medium rare. The manager stopped past for about ten seconds and removed the plates. The new steaks arrived within 25 minutes or so.
The place was extremely short staffed, our server had ten tables. The chef would do much better with a menu he could ACTUALLY execute instead of trying to be something he isn’t.
Not one person apologized for the dirty bathroom, the long server greet, the long drink delivery, the old dirty scallops, the overcooked steak, the 80 year old woman next to us that had her birthday ruined, the fact that no one but us poured wine, the wrong bill we received, that no welcome venue packet was there upon arrival.
They don’t care about you or your money, their too good for some reason and for that reason I’ll spend my 30k-​40k for my wedding elsewhere. They probably will be out of business or sell to new owners within a year anyway, headed down fast.

My husband and I were fortunate to have stayed and dined at the Clifton Inn on June 5, 2016
We had a mishap shortly after arriving that was no fault of the Inn’s, and because maintenance had already left for the day, Maggie upgraded us instantly to a suite. She was friendly, professional, and made us feel very welcome.
We inquired on the history of the Inn and were given a thorough history by Brianne. She was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and warm.
Our room was absolutely lovely and the furnishings were very much in keeping with the period of the home. If was spacious, yet cozy, and inviting. The bed, pillows, and linens were extremely comfortable. The gardens were in full bloom and meticulously cared for, and the views from every window were breathtaking.
We enjoyed a creative, beautifully presented, and wonderfully flavored 7 course tasting menu for dinner. Every course was a delight and the wine pours were extremely generous.
Upon our departure, Ann spent time explaining a detailed map, discussing lunch possibilities, and providing excellent driving direction. The parting cookies were the icing on the cake.
We really can’t say enough about the staff at this amazing little gem! Everyone was friendly, down to earth, and made us feel very much at home. We would highly recommend the Clifton Inn.

This was probably the worst meal I’ve ever eaten in my life. Not only was the service terrible — it seems to be that maybe the chef is a bit pretentious and just can’t deliver on a quality dish (how do you mess up Sorbet?).
The atmosphere was nice once we removed a giant plant in the center of our table but it took over 20 minutes for us to even get a drink order. Highly recommend steering clear of the restaurant and saving your money.

I can’t even begin to describe how terrible our experience at the Dining Room was recently. There was also no one in the restaurant at peak hours on a Friday evening, so I know we can’t be the only ones that had a negative experience.

Had a great dinning experience at the Inn last night. The staff was friendly and attentive at just the right times. Ali you made it a joy… The food was scrumptious from start to finish. And where else can you dine in a beautiful home that was built in 1760 and at one time Thomas Jefferson and John Singleton Mosby once slept? My wife and I will return… and stay a night or two. The food the ambiance… a dining experience memory for life.

Fabulous evening at Clifton Inn! We’re locals and went out for a romantic evening on a snowy night and it all coincided with us being able to take advantage of Charlottesville Restaurant Week so we were looking to indulge and be pampered. First, I must say that the food was sumptuous and we did the three course menu and had the sommelier pair wines with each course. His choices were spot on. The course presentations were gorgeous and everything we tried was packed with flavors that danced and mingled perfectly! The pork belly was my favorite!
We were thrilled with the suite which was super quiet, the bed and linens were perfect. The wait staff was gracious and (Ali) went beyond the call of duty in bringing our wine, coffee and dessert to the room as we were caught in the romance of the evening and lost track of time. We only wished we could have stayed in bed all day, but alas had to get home to our dog! I am also thrilled to find a place for visitors to stay that is just down the street from our home and yet will allow them more privacy and the convenience of being just a bit closer to town, especially on weekends that family may need a wee bit more space and the adults will be thrilled to enjoy an escape. We’ll be back when the pool opens or perhaps the next snow storm! The office staff was perfect and exceptionally gracious and helpful in every way. Thanks!

I had heard about the Clifton Inn and was looking forward to an elegant, delicious dinner. The restaurant is certainly elegant and has wonderful ambiance. But, the most important thing, the food, was just satisfactory. With another couple, we ordered the four course meal. The appetizer was so small it fit on a tablespoon, the soup was delicious, the ham was tough and the chocolate cake was still semi frozen.
But the real turn off for me was getting the bill and realizing they overcharged us by $ 80. The bill included a service charge and a gratuity. When we called attention to this, the waiter corrected the bill. When we asked the waiter how this could happen, he said, nonchalantly, the «machine sometimes makes mistakes. «He did not apologize for the overcharge. I guess it was because it was the machine’s fault.

The setting is gorgeous and the room where we stayed (one of the suites in the separate cottage by the river) was quite lovely. That said, the pillows are absolutely awful, flat and old and need to be replaced like, yesterday.
Little stinkbugs kept showing up all over the room, which we were totally fine with because we aren’t bothered by critters but if you are, i would advise you to be on the lookout.
Staff is polite but not particularly warm, especially when one is not super poshly dressed because one was surprised by one’s husband and did not bring nice clothes…
One small comment about dinner: we are both french, and when we ask for a 34 dollar duck breast, we expect to get something a little more substantial than one tiny sliver. I get the minimalist thing, i understand the concept of small elegant portions, but come on! I suggest maybe two tiny slivers?
Overall its a gorgeous location though, worth the little duck slivers and horrible pillows, what can I say, its hard to find a really tasteful country inn and this is one of the best… just dont order the duck if youre hungry. Really. Don’t.

My sister who is local to Charlottesville took me to the Chef’s Counter for the tasting menu when I visited from SF. Honestly, it was absolutely memorable in every way. The new Exec Chef, Yannick, Sous Chef David and chef Steven made the whole «dining in the kitchen» experience comfortable and special.
The food was complex yet straight forward the freshest of local farm ingredients yet rich in flavor and diversity. The 10 course with wine pairing 3 hour dinner was one of the loveliest I have had and made for great finish to our weekend. I highly recommend this unique foodie experience. You won’t regret it.

Ah, what a difference a 19 months makes!
And new Chef Jarad Adams and his team.
I revisited Clifton and got a chance to try out their new a la carte menu. I’m very glad I did.
Generally, Clifton is rented out for big events and the kitchen usually works with a tasting menu for guests. But in an effort to entice local diners to their lovely surroundings, they have developed a concise, creative and sumptuous a la carte menu of small plates (including salad and soup) and entrees.
Chef Adams is certainly a breath of fresh food.
If you’re a fan of farm to table you’ll be pleased to know that most of the vegetables and herbs are more an inn to table thing. The garden is just across from the dining room and kitchen. And this luxury is not lost on the kitchen, who respectfully and imaginatively use them throughout the menu.
As my previous review was particularly hard on the service, I will also say this time service was very good and the somm was extremely helpful an knowledgeable. Having a good somm in a top-​notch dining room is key and the restaurant has scored a good on in Francois.
I won’t give you a plate by plate breakdown, because of all the food on the table, every dish was strong. While I have only eaten here once since the installation of Chef Adams, I can comfortably say that whatever he puts on the menu is going to be a treat on your table and on your tongue. And since it’s constantly changing due to the availability of ingredients, what we had won’t be the same as what you get.
So, all this praise and only 4 stars? Well, while I’m generous with stars for more accessible dining, landmark spots or as a reward for new ideas in town, with quality restaurants that are competing with kitchens and serving diners used to food in DC, Chicago, NYC, London, SF, Madrid, Eze, etc, I have a slightly more particular standard. And, I’ve only had the menu once, so I can’t see how the kitchen does consistently.
But that said, this is a restaurant that can compete with the best most cities have to offer.
Clifton has landed a gem in Chef Adams. And Clifton is a gem in and of itself. It’s well worth a trip out for either a great meal or simply to welcome in fall with some small plates and your favorite beverage.

Traveling Foodies say this is a must do for any burgeoning foodie or any foodie for that matter. We of coarse are speaking about the chefs pairing. This was one of the quietest, most organized, in control kitchens I’ve ever been in during the dinner crush.
We watched attentively as they rolled out dinner for a large corporate event and the rest of the dining room simultaneously. All the while enjoying our own 9 course tasting meal that included almost their entire menu for the evening.
The only small hiccups. A pasta dish that included lamb that was a bit too spicy for the flavor profile of the overall dish and a beet salad that was perhaps a bit too deconstructed; coming off as just a plate of interestingly flavored raw vegetables. Otherwise, the entire meal was a hit. Including the Moscow Mule, Dark and Stormy and a take on a French 75 they called the French 1705.
Our best meal in Charlottesville so far, including several lunches we will not be reviewing. After all, this was just supposed to be a pleasure trip.

This is only for the recent Swine and Dine event. Sadly, it did not come close to my expectations especially since I brought my family last year and had a blast. The food selection this year was half as much and left me yearning for a lot more. For the main dish, your choices were either a pulled chicken or pork. The rest of the food were sides… beans, slaw and pasta salad. Where was the fried chicken from last year?! If this was suppose to be a sample of the fine dining coming out of its kitchen, it fell short. However, the staff was friendly as usual.

Located just outside beautiful Charlottesville, the Clifton Inn in is a hotel amongst hotels. Designed like a cozy home, the hotel is luxurious in every aspect. I flew in from Europe where I am based to Charlottesville for a week and the Clifton was everything I had hoped for (and more).
For starters, the atmosphere (as indicated by the calm décor and welcoming staff) is one that is built to complement my experience. We stayed in one of the suites on the second floor of the main house and it was nothing short of gorgeous.
I had been tired and fighting a cold when I first arrived– I found the hotel (and Charlottesville in general) to be the perfect antidote to my tiredness and the busy world I came from. Clifton has tea time every day– something akin to what the Dorchester serves– we enjoyed their teas and baked goods every day
It is difficult to truly relax and unwind in today’s world. It is filled with distractions and obligations. We found the Clifton to challenge that notion– with its picturesque surroundings, delicious dinner offerings and welcoming staff.
Whether you’re looking for a retreat away from the city, a staycation or a place to have dinner, the Clifton ought to be your choice in Charlottesville. It is simply unparalleled and comparable to a cottage in the South of France than other hotels in the area.

I got married at the Clifton Inn in December of 2014, and have nothing but good things to say about it. Throughout the wedding process, we were well taken care of and assisted by several members of the staff.
We first stayed at the Inn in November for a birthday celebration and wedding food & drink tasting. The meal was delicious and the staff spent a good deal of time sitting, talking & planning with us. There were many options for us to pick from, all with a consistency of style and quality. The staff was able to address a few customizations that we wanted easily and without making it an issue.
The weekend of our wedding, we hosted a rehearsal dinner in the wine cellar. The staff was very attentive and the food (the southern style bbq meal) was absolutely delicious. Both my family (who are particular about food) and my in-​laws (who are true southerners) thought it was a top notch meal. I highly recommend this meal for anyone who hosts an informal dinner at the Clifton Inn.
The day of our wedding was flawless. We had a few day-​of changes, and the staff was very helpful in changing things around last minute. We felt totally comfortable not hiring a wedding planner because of the organization of the Inn’s two wedding planners (Chelsea & Isabel). They coordinated with several vendors to make sure we could stay totally relaxed and just «show up» to the wedding.
Our wedding dinner was family style, but still maintained a semi-​formality and elegance that didn’t make it feel too casual. The kitchen staff coordinated the dinner for about 75 people in a way that had the courses properly spaced. The bartenders stayed up with us all night and made sure our guests’ glasses were properly filled and addressed several special requests.
The Inn itself is NOT an über-​fancy hotel. It is a historic building that creaks and has character. That is the exact reason that we selected it: Its charm and warmth. I found the staff of the inn attentive, the little extras (e.g. madeira wine in the rooms) fun and the décor comfortable. It’s not the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond or the Omni in Charlottesville, and we were glad it wasn’t.
I’m looking forward to spending many anniversary dinners at the Clifton Inn in the years to come!

Awful. All the negative things written by other patrons still ring true. In the six hours we’ve been here we’ve been ignored, had our dinner reservation changed on us and experienced stink bugs in the dining area and our suite.
We had made a reservation for the date night offering … 4 course meal plus a half bottle of wine with a personalized menu. Surprisingly, we were told alcohol would be extra. When we shared what was advertised, we were told they started something new that day. They left a bottle of sparkling wine in our room as a substitute instead of having wine with dinner. What? If we hadn’t stayed, how would they have handled this change to their offering? No one was aware of our «date night» reservation. It took several attempts to get things straight. We asked them to remove the sparkling wine from our room so that we would receive what was advertised. After 30 minutes we were ready to enjoy dinner somewhere else. The resolution offered was that they would honor what was advertised and that we could keep the sparkling wine. Wanting to have an enjoyable evening, we thanked them for the resolution and tried to move past the negative start.
The dinner food was delicious and things had positively turned around until dessert. We were not asked if we’d like coffee with our dessert. Not what to expect from this supposedly highly rated restaurant. Then I was brought 2 incorrect desserts. There are 4 dessert items on the menu, only 1 is dark chocolate. The restaurant was not busy. This is unacceptable. To make up for this last mishap, they offered chocolate covered strawberries. We can recommend the food, but not the service nor the establishment. To me, that all goes hand-​in-​hand so if you only want good food and don’t mind mediocre service and changes to advertised offerings, then support this establishment.
Now about the room. The Martha Jefferson suite is quaint. The sheets on the bed were crisp and high threads. The floor was filthy — dirt, crumbs and dead stink bugs around the room. There was a live stink bug on the headboard and one of the chairs. There was even a dead stink bug in the champagne bucket. The closet door didn’t close all the way so we propped a chair against it to keep it closed when we slept. Where the ironing board is stored there is a door to the adjacent room which has a big gap at the bottom of the door that doesn’t support privacy of the guests. The kitchen must be right below the bathroom because the food being fried wafted into the room. It was a good thing that I brought slippers to walk around the dirty floor and a candle to diffuse the grease smell.
I keep an open mind, even when I read negative reviews, but the negative things written by others are spot on. If we didn’t have a hefty gift certificate to use, we would have checked out by now. Hopefully we can shared some positive aspects by the end of our stay, but it’s off to a terrible start.
24 hours later we definitely cannot support this establishment. Although some of the staff was pleasant (Kirsten, who waited on us the first breakfast and was sorely missed the next morning), the majority of them lack professionalism, polish and customer service. No one offered their name, we continually asked just to have that personable interaction with them.
While trying to enjoy tea in the living room, different staff came through to take away coffee tables and bring back coffe tables. We found that disruptive and rude, but continued to smile at the staff who paraded through. The individual who waited on us took our tea order, hastily made room for the tea from all the books on the tuffet, brought in our food and never came back in to check on us.
During breakfast the second morning, we were getting ready to sit at a table when the waitperson told us to sit at another table right beside the only other couple in the breakfast area. The table was not completely set and the tablecloth had coffee stains on it. The waitperson dropped off the rolls and walked away. When she finally came back, we had to ask for plates and a butter knife. Unapologetic, she pulled settings off another table. She brought us yogurt, but no spoons. We ended up using our coffee spoons. I could not wait to depart the Inn. The rudeness of the staff was just too much to continue to overcome.
We really wanted to enjoy the Clifton Inn and share positive experiences with our friends, but there is little that would encourage us to recommend it to others. Not at all Relais & Chateaux worthiness. It should be re-​evaluated/​audited for association with Relais & Chateaux properties.

Wow! What a major disappointment! Last time we ate here in 2010 we had a remarkable dinner – elegant, spectacular and romantic. So based on that experience we reserved a table for Thanksgiving. Prix fix can often spell doom but we were confident that the kitchen at Clifton could pull it off.
Boy were we wrong. First the pre appetizer was some little pumpkin bread item that was sweet and utterly unimpressive. Though we were hungry neither of us could stomach the thing.
Then out came the bread. Expecting some thing warm, our clutching hands were greeted with cold crusts. Though tasty, there is something unpleasant about cold bread on a cold rainy thanksgiving day.
Then our appetizer courses came out: one was a single ravioli with a few pieces of sun chokes garnished by a vinegary sauce that was nearly repulsive; the other was composed of four small cubes of duck of similarly unappetizing appeal. Thankfully i ordered a very nice glass of robust Bordeaux to help things along (and to cleanse our pallets).
Then our main courses arrived, a monkfish and a beef tenderloin. The monkfish was cold. So we shared my beef tenderloin from my plate like beggars while we awaited a fresh (and hopefully warm fish). The fish did come and we were pleased that it was warm this time. While serviceable there was nothing distinct, nuanced or special in either the beef or the fish – nothing that would befit a holiday meal at a so-​called fine establishment. Again the Bordeaux came to the rescue.
Then there was desert. A chocolate cake that was reminiscent of a Duncan Hines cupcake my sister might have made when she was 11 years old; and an apple thing, all doughy and non-​descript.
I must also note the rather condescending and unprofessional service (we had to guard out plates from the over eager wait staff who seemed eager to rob us of the final morsels of these already small plates).
The final insult was the check: $ 300 for a diminutive and thoroughly unimpressive dinner for two, and two and a half glasses of wine. A truly painful experience which we were lucky to remedy the next day with a vastly superior meal at Hamiltons on the downtown mall – at a fifth of the price to boot!
The chef ought to hang their head in shame. Never shall we step foot at this establishment again!

Not sure this is up to the Relais & Château brand. We stayed in the Shadwell Suite and although the room was large and bed was very comfortable there is attention to detail needed in many areas.
Pros: Ann at. Front desk, all white room décor, comfortable bed, hot water, music in room, turn down service, great grounds outdoors, beautiful pool area, great place for an outdoor or indoor wedding utilizing the main lobby and restaurant, fresh flowers and fire going in restaurant.
Cons: worn out rugs, dirty claw foot tub with a wonky shower curtain needing to be replaced, dusty in spots and a good deep clean needed in many areas, lamps that don’t work or hard to turn on, poor breakfast selection and slow restaurant service for breakfast, weak coffee.
The new Trump B&B will be a welcome addition to the area, or try Keswick Inn.

This place is gorgeous! I wish that I could have spent more time here and will definitely be staying here in the future! I reserved the Carriage House for myself and my bridesmaids to get ready in. It was the perfect backdrop for our getting ready photos and was the perfect amount of space since it has an upstairs loft area and a pullout couch. The bathroom had double showers and tons of wonderful toiletries. There is a huge armoire to store stuff in and a wonderful little table next to big windows. The table was the perfect landing spot for the mimosas, breakfast pasteries, and tea that we ordered as we got ready. Room service was wonderful.
After a hectic day of wedding organizing and the rehearsal, we were excited to wander over to the main building to relax in their lobby on the big comfy couches, browse through their books and sit by the fire. We took over the tiny bar (4 seats… it was meant to be!) and tried their girl scout martini trio. They made us Thin Mint, Samoa, and Tagalong martinis with homemade girl scout cookies to go along with them. All three were delicious! We had the cheese platter to go with it and even my Wisconsin born friend discovered cheeses that she had never tried and enjoyed.
This is a gorgeous, wonderful hotel and the staff went above and beyond! I loved every minute of my stay!

My partner and I stayed at The Clifton Inn for one night while we were in Charlottesville, and we had a very lovely stay in a historic little inn.
I will say that my experience at The Clifton Inn is somewhat colored by the fact that we were upgraded to one of the nicest rooms. We stayed in the Martha Jefferson room in the main house, and being so close to the restaurant and bar was a much better experience than staying in one of the outline cottages. Or else, I can imagine so.
The room itself was very nice. There was a large sitting area and a large closet. We had a lot of hanging clothes, so that was very convenient. The bathroom definitely was nice: there was a strong rainfall shower as well as his and hers sinks, which is relatively rare in these historic properties.
One issue I didn’t like about the room where that the television was very small and awkwardly placed in the room. If you’re watching television from the bed, because the furniture in the sitting area is in its line of sight, so we ultimately had to change around the furniture of the room. Also, there are some housekeeping issues, because there were long women’s hairs literally everywhere in this room, from the bed to the bathroom. I realize that happens sometimes, but we found a few. The bedside table next to me but also rather dirty, so it leads me to believe it is a housekeeping issue as supposed to just one isolated issue.
My partner and I enjoy the Relais & Chateaux association of hotels, and that is the main reason we stayed at The Clifton Inn. The teatime was very quaint, the little bit cramped in the study. I can imagine going here during the summer and having the tea out by the porch would make for a much more enjoyable experience when it wasn’t so cold.
I didn’t really enjoy the breakfast. They offer you a very measly «continental breakfast,» but it’s basically just bread and orange juice. They have five or six choices for breakfast you pay for, but none of them are inspired or something I could get out Waffle House, to be frank. And even when we did order breakfast options, they were very spartan and unadorned. I think breakfast was the weakest point of staying at The Clifton Inn.
Regardless of the issues, we had a very nice time at The Clifton Inn, and would not be opposed to staying there again. The price point is very low considering the service and property, so that is definitely a strong reason to stay again.

Hhhmmm, I was going to leave a gushing, superfluous review of my entire experience here for both lodging and dining but being charged $ 20 for a plain hamburger patty for my regal /​royal pooch is not leaving a good taste in my mouth.
I have never ever paid that much — not even at the Hay Adams across from the White House. Not even at five star establishments in NYC. Not anywhere ever. It is beyond out of line.
I mentioned this upon check out and the lovely girl did not have the authority to fix the price and said she’d pass it along to the manager. More than a week after checking out, there hasn’t been any communication or credit appearing on my charge card.