My husband surprised me with a one-night getaway (stayaway?) in the Garden Cottage for our anniversary. We live in downtown Durham, so it was just a quick drive north before we arrived at the lovely landscaped property (flowers! figs!).
ACCOMMODATION
Private, as it's detached from the house, and charming. Has a fireplace and big, fluffy robes, a large whirlpool tub to fit two, and a shower with steam setting and dual heads. The sheets were so soft and cozy, I totally scoped the label and promptly ordered myself a set when we got home (psst, Charisma 400 thread count). Since we weren't staying in the main house, we didn't see much of it, although we did enjoy some time in the dining room which doubles as a common area during the day. Light snacks were set out mid-afternoon (scones, mixed nuts) and we grazed while battling it out with Bananagrams.
FOOD
The absolute highlight was the Inn dinner we booked for the evening of our stay. This was a four-course locally sourced meal whipped up by owner - and talented chef - Phil. We were seated in a cozy corner with candlelight and a personally printed menu congratulating us on our anniversary. Ours started with fried green tomatoes, then a salad. For my main, I enjoyed crab cakes, asparagus, and creamy risotto. Finished off with a rustic apple galette (but had a hard time choosing among two other decadent-sounding desserts!). Oh, and the focaccia - I couldn't get enough! The pace of the meal was perfect, and the owners have a solid wine list to accompany the food. Breakfast the next morning didn't disappoint either. The restaurant at Arrowhead Inn is undoubtedly a true "hidden gem" in Durham's burgeoning food scene.
HOSTS
This pair is a delight to talk to! Gloria and Phil are both accommodating and approachable. We really enjoyed swapping stories about our favorite "foodie" spots in Durham, Italy's treasures, and hearing about their adventures as B&B owners.
LOCATION
For out-of-towners, this may not be an obvious choice because it's not in the heart of downtown or in a "walkable" urban area. But others may favor it for that same reason: tucked a little away from the city, but still a very quick drive into town and all its attractions.
EXTRAS
The only part of our stay that wasn't perfect was the in-room massage. We'd arranged to have this take place shortly after our arrival. While the two masseuses were very nice and friendly, we weren't able to fully relax during our massage for a number of reasons... after moving furniture around in our room in order to set up their tables, one masseuse was overheated and out of breath (so, he was sweaty and breathing heavily). About halfway into the massage he asked if he could turn the AC on; I obliged I felt so badly for him. But it did leave me a little chilly! Meanwhile, my husband's masseuse forgot to bring the head cradle for her table, so when he was facedown, he had to twist his head to the side. They packed up and left, but forgot to move the furniture back in place, so after our massage hubby and I carried the little table and settee back where they belong (which was not a big deal for us to manage; but just felt notably not up to par with the excellence the Inn exudes everywhere else).
We've already recommended Arrowhead as a staycation to several of our local friends, and hope we'll be returning visitors soon! read more