Review: Switzerland Inn—Little Switzerland, NC
Growing up in Austria, I spent a ton of time at my aunts’ hotels. If you’ve ever been to my little home country in the middle of the Alps, you know about the high standard of quality.
Now, after more than 25 years as a travel journalist, I have seen my fair share of hotels in the U.S. and abroad. The experience has made me, admittedly, ridiculously opinionated about accommodations.
America is well known for franchises. It doesn’t matter if you check in to your hotel in North Carolina or California, you’ll mostly get the same standardized experience.
Sorry, but that just doesn’t do it for me when out on a motorcycle tour or vacationing with my family. Plus, the best motorcycling destinations are usually far away from Main Street America. Finding unique lodging has become sort of a personal quest for me.
My absolute favorite hotel is just two hours from my house. However, I am there at least once or twice a year, whether it’s on two wheels or four.
There are many reasons why the Switzerland Inn is my go-to place. This is my breakdown of them, in no particular order of importance.
Altitude
Life at home in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, at around 775 feet, gets oh-so-delightfully hot and humid in the summer. I can only take it for so long.
Little Switzerland, NC, sits at almost 3,500 feet, safely above my 3K comfort line. Here, you can breathe during the day and the nights actually get cool.
The funny thing is, this part of the North Carolina mountains rises much higher than some of western North Carolina’s most famous places. For example, Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort is located at less than 2,000 feet.
I visited that area immediately after our stay at the Switzerland Inn, and the difference was quite noticeable. Even my boys asked why it’s so hot in the mountains.
Scenery
The Switzerland Inn is situated on a special piece of land. It’s not on a steep mountainside, which probably saved it from much of the damage Hurricane Helene wrought in the area in late 2024.
The view to the southeast stretches on for miles and miles. The gorgeous patio, restaurant, lobby, lodge room, suites, and the pool all share this breathtaking vista. It just never gets old.
The large, rectangular fire pit area with rocking chairs is a wonderful place to wind down. The Diamondback (SR 226A) runs right below the property, and it’s always fun watching what motorcycles and sports cars come by.
People
After several years of visiting this unique place, it’s nice to see familiar faces. Whether I’m checking in, getting a drink at the bar, or sitting down to order food, I’m delighted to see the same friendly folks from all of my previous visits.
Not only does it make a guest feel welcome, but as a business owner myself, I’m willing to bet that the Switzerland Inn takes great care of its staff. If you take care of your people, they’ll take care of the guests.
It’s evident that everybody you meet here takes pride in their work. Nowadays, that’s more of an exception than the norm.
Lodging Options
The Switzerland Inn offers several types of accommodations. The Main Lodge is connected to the lobby and features what I’d call the most familiar room layout.
Half of the rooms come with far-reaching views through the windows. Others look onto the parking lot and the shops, but are no less comfortable. The rooms are quite large, and I appreciate the modern updates without any tacky decorations some mountain hotels feel the need to incorporate.
The two Chanticleer buildings are freestanding structures that also feature standard room layouts. They are more vanilla, without the log cabin feel, so if you like traditional hotels, these rooms are for you.
The Heidi and Alpine suites are my favorites. Each has four spacious units and features a very large deck with Adirondack chairs to enjoy the absolutely jaw-dropping scenery.
On your after-dinner walk behind the shops, you’ll find the A-frame cottages tucked away in a forested setting. On the other side of the property are the Diamondback, Caprice, and Balsam cottages. All of these are perfect for larger families—or riders who want to unpack every last item from their panniers every night.
Food
I wouldn’t call Switzerland Inn my favorite hotel in North Carolina if the food wasn’t any good. It’s not so easy finding really good food away from major urban areas, but Little Switzerland is a rare exception.
The breakfast is a sit-down affair with all the usual suspects. It’s a great start to the day at the Chalet Restaurant with giant windows keeping the incredible scenery in your view.
The second place to dine is the Fowl Play Pub which is connected to the Chalet Restaurant. The pub features an inviting bar, stained-glass windows, old-world charm, and a more casual menu.
To get from the restaurant to the pub and back, you’ll have to pass through what I call the barrel room or wine cellar. A massive table fills the room, and above it, the arched ceiling makes you feel like you’re inside a barrel. The far side of the space is a glass-enclosed wine cellar.
I want to have my next quarterly meeting there—and you should too!
Roads and Nearby Attractions
The Diamondback (SR 266A) is the best way to arrive at the Switzerland Inn. That’s saying something, as the inn is the only commercial property on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Diamondback is a road full of twists and turns, and I’ve never encountered any traffic to speak of. While it has been around for years, I still consider it my favorite known secret.
Once you reach the top of 226A, an inviting row of shops begs you to explore them. Little Switzerland Books and Beans, a bookstore and cafe, is the main attraction, in my opinion. You can also find a little store and a barbecue restaurant.
On the lower side is a tiny structure with local art. It’s well worth your time.
At the time of writing this, the Parkway is closed due to repairs after damage caused by Helene. Crews are working hard to have the road open again in 2026. Mount Mitchell is also currently closed. You can easily reach Little Switzerland from the south on SR 226/A, and the road is clear to the north to reach Spruce Pine.
Facts & Info
Amenities
- Spacious rooms
- Parking lot(s) close to your room
- 2 on-site restaurants, outside seating with mountain views, long range views
- 6 pickleball courts (super important these days)
- Refreshing outdoor pool and two hot tubs
- Large gas fire pit area with rocking chairs
- Spa
Nearby Attractions
- Tom’s Creek Falls
- Linville Caverns
- Grandfather Mountain
- Mount Mitchell (Currently closed. Please check before visiting.)
- Museum of North Carolina Minerals
Price
$118/night in the Diamondback
$269/night in the Main Lodge
$419/night in a suite
Location
Find it at 86 High Ridge Rd, Little Switzerland, NC.
Contact them at (828) 385-4500 or info@switzerlandinn.com.