TL;DR

Cozy & stylish: Modern mid-century motor inn vibe on Raleigh outskirts
Renovation: Carefully updated by Loden Properties with sophistication and charm
Lounge: Chic, outdoorsy design with sultry lighting and glamorous touches
Atmosphere: Fresh, open, and welcoming for short stays
Check prices here

This cozy, modern hotel on the outskirts of Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina is a friendly, stylish place to spend an evening or two.

Another one for the mid-century motor inn crowd, The Longleaf Hotel has been refurbished a number of times, and brought to its current evolution by a local property management firm.

Loden Properties is the firm in question, and the mastermind behind The Longleaf, the Guest House, and even the Aloft in Downtown Durham, NC.

This, we might argue, is their best work to date. It’s a veritable 60s motel that had been completely stuccoed over before they unearthed it, and it’s clear that they’ve put a lot of care into the renovation.

It’s a fresh, open atmosphere, in both architecture and vibe.

Yet, there’s a definite sophistication to the lounge area of the hotel that’s a definite upgrade from your typical motel.

The lighting is pretty sultry, the decor just a little bit glamorous. Everything’s a sort of outdoorsy chic that fits well with Raleigh and the surrounding area.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 56
Room types: King Singles to Double Doubles; Deluxe Kings with patios recommended
Decor: Wood furnishings, blocky prints, woolen throws; bathrooms with white & green touches
Amenities: Malin+Goetz products, bathrobes, mini fridge, working area, Bluetooth speaker, TV
Vibe: Laid-back yet stylish, outdoorsy-chic aesthetic
See each room in detail here

Rooms range from 250 square foot King Singles to Double Doubles. Our personal favs are the Deluxe Kings on the second floor, with a little bit of extra room and patios.

The vibe is laid-back yet stylish, like your cousin who taught English in Vietnam before moving back to the mountains and becoming a gardener.

Like, her grandparents are still super-rich, but she’s more or less down to earth and absolutely loves shibori dye work and pine imagery.

It means genuine wood furnishings, blocky prints and woolen throws. Bathrooms are bright white with touches of green and feel like they should be full of ferns and tropical plants.

Plus, they all have combination bathtubs and showers, boasting the best in Malin+Goetz products.

Every room includes a plush bathrobe, well-stocked mini fridge, working area, Bluetooth speaker, and TV.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Breakfast: Espresso bar with local pastries and Counter Culture coffee
Lounge: Longleaf Lounge open to guests & public; extensive bar menu and snacks
Non-alcoholic options: Impressive cocktail list
Outdoor space: Fire pit and seating area
Other facilities: 24-hour front desk, free parking

For breakfast, you’ll find a cute espresso bar in the lobby, serving up local pastries and complimentary Counter Culture coffee (say that five times fast).

It’s a nice place to start your day, but if you want a full-on breakfast’s breakfast you’ll have to seek one out.

The rest of the property is well-suited to relaxation and fun. The main hangout is the Longleaf Lounge, open to guests and the general public.

The nicest bit is that the general public has good reason for wanting to go there.

We’ve talked before about the *vibessss* of it all, and that’s definitely part of it. Another part, though, is a pretty extensive bar menu, punctuated by just a couple of snacks.

The non-alcoholic cocktail list is seriously impressive, though the boozy bevvies themselves are nothing to scoff at either.

Once you’ve a drink in hand, you can enjoy the lounge, but it’s working taking a peek outside at the outdoor fire.

If there are any issues, you’ll be able to resolve them at the 24-hour front desk. There’s also free parking for guests.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Green space: Dix Park (10 min), Fred Fletcher (6 min), Lake Johnson/Neuse River Trail (15 min)
Cultural spots: North Carolina Museum of Art (13 min), Museum of Natural Sciences, State House, Marble Kid’s Museum
Walkability: Downtown attractions within a 10-15 min walk; highways nearby

The location, despite not being fully central, is pretty great.

Raleigh is a great place for green space, and you’ll be in the perfect place to catch Route 401 towards any of the many excellent parks nearby.

It’s under 10 minutes to Dix Park, 6 to Fred Fletcher, and 15 to Lake Johnson or Neuse River Trail for some real walking.

If you want some culture, there’s plenty, and right nearby!

The North Carolina Museum of Art is a fantastic spot with a large campus (also full of trails) just 13 minutes from the hotel.

If you’d rather stay within walking distance, there’s plenty downtown. The walk is a bit odd given the location of the hotel (between two highways), but not impossible.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, for example, is a lovely museum tucked into what amounts to a pretty solid campus of local attractions.

The State House, the Marble Kid’s Museum, and plenty of cool historical sites are all within a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Staff were very friendly. Room was nice and neat. Lounge/bar open until 12am. Location was great!…”

“Cool “vintage motel” in downtown Raleigh. Great location. Free parking. Walkable to most places we wanted to go. Exceptional staff….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”I was expecting breakfast to be available and a fitness room, which I thought I’d seen mentioned online but perhaps I was mistaken. Or as the front desk person said, maybe the info from when it was a days inn. The bar was quite nice but shut at 10 pm. My general impression was that the owners’ ambitions for the place hadn’t quite been realised fully….”

”The lobby could use a little sprucing up….”

> Read all the reviews right here