With one part mountains and one part city, it’s hard not to fall in love with Asheville, North Carolina. But making my trip even better, was a stay in the charming Cambria Hotel right in the heart of it all. Trust me, just because you’re having a mountain weekend, does not mean you have to rough it in the middle of nowhere.
The Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville is known for its upscale and stylish rooms and amenities that complement the casual and artsy vibe of the surrounding city perfectly. All while having the most unbelievable view of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains. You’ll have a hard time not falling in love with the Cambria Hotel as you’re also falling in love with the individualistic, artsy city that is Asheville, North Carolina. I was lucky enough to have the Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville sponsor my trip this year, but believe me when I say I’ll be staying at the Cambria Hotel with every visit to Asheville from this point forward.
Asheville is known as “the Land of the Sky,” probably due to its proximity to the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway which drives you through the beautiful North Carolina mountains. But Asheville is also famous for its award-winning breweries, restaurants, and art galleries. While staying at the Cambria Hotel, I was a walking distance from it all! The Cambria Hotel is next door to Asheville’s famous Grove Arcade, which is one of Asheville’s most sought after destinations. The Grove Arcade is a historic building that opened as an inn and public market in the 1920s.
These days, it remains as a gathering place for Asheville tourists and locals alike with plenty of shopping and restaurants. But my personal favorite part about the Grove Arcade, is the outdoor artist’s market that’s right outside the door! If you’ve been to this city, you know that art is Asheville’s main attraction. You can spend an entire day just perusing around the city, strolling in and out of its numerous art galleries. Not to mention the Asheville Art Museum and the River Arts District, which has the working studios of hundreds of Asheville artists. Art in Asheville consists of everything from pottery and woodworking to jewelry and paintings. When you stay at the Cambria, you have access to all of the art Asheville has to offer practically at your fingertips.
And who doesn’t like sipping some wine with gorgeous mountain views? The Cambria Hotel is also just a short distance from the famous Biltmore Estates, making it an easy afternoon destination. Beyond Biltmore’s delicious wines, you can rent bikes, Land Rovers, or ride horses around the Biltmore property. Most famously, you can spend an afternoon touring the world-renowned Biltmore gardens which are a mix of structured Italian gardens and the natural American landscape. All while being surrounded by beautiful North Carolina mountains. Not to mention, the Biltmore gardens were designed by the same landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York City, Frederick Law Olmsted. When I say a trip to Asheville makes for a dreamy vacation, I am not exaggerating.
With all of these amenities so close to the Cambria Hotel, it’s easy to imagine a day of adventure exploring the city. However, when you see the Cambria’s breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountain ranges, you may never want to leave the hotel. You can take in all of the views on Cambria’s open-air terrace (which I did, and wow!) Or spend an evening in Hemingway’s Cuba, Cambria’s very own restaurant and bar. Either way, you will not be disappointed. I felt like I could enjoy everything Asheville had to offer right from my hotel room.
You may be wondering how Cambria’s restaurant, Hemingway’s Cuba, got its name. The founder of the restaurant, Tony Fraga, grew up in Havana going to El Floridita, a restaurant known for having “the best daiquiri in the world.” On top of that, El Floridita was also known for being one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite restaurants in the world. When Fraga returned to Havana on a family trip in 2016, he had not been to Cuba since 1960. At that very moment, he knew it was time to bring his personal take on all of his Cuban favorites back to the States. And what better namesake for the restaurant than Hemingway himself, a lover of Cuban cuisine.
The menu at Hemingway’s Cuba was absolutely incredible. The menu had everything from numerous paellas to bistec de palomilla (a sirloin steak with vidalia onions, yum!) to, of course, a classic Cubano sandwich. And don’t even get me started on the small plates. Hemingway’s Cuba offers 13 different small plates and it’s seriously impossible to pick just one. So just to name a few: alitas de pollo a mojo, which is mojo marinated chicken wings with mojito sauce, mejillones, amazing pan-roasted mussels with chorizo and coconut sofrito broth, and ceviche misto, which features gulf shrimp and local fresh catch marinated in lime juice, cilantro, red onions, and avocado. I mean C’MON. This trip could not get any dreamier.
All around, this trip felt like an upgrade. My room was the epitome of sophistication and the spa-style bathroom made me feel elegant and fully rested for a night out on the town. Cambria Hotels are known for their state-of-the-art amenities, I just didn’t know just how much I would enjoy them! My mirror even played MUSIC so it’s safe to say that this trip could not have gotten any better.
Although I know it’s hard to imagine taking a dream vacation this year, Cambria makes sure to go above and beyond to make its guests feel safe. The Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville is participating in Commitment to Clean, a program that commits itself to a high standard of cleanliness and enhanced training for staff in relation to cleaning, disinfecting, and social distancing. When it comes to their guest safety, Cambria Hotels does not skimp around!
If you’re planning your own trip to Asheville, I cannot recommend the Cambria Hotel enough! Trust me, if anything, do it for the food, views, and brews. You won’t regret it! But if you want to learn more about Cambria Hotels and everything they have to offer, they even have a podcast you can listen to called Travel Inspired with Cambria Hotels which gives you the best insight on how to make the most of your next trip. Happy travels!
You may be wondering how Cambria’s restaurant, Hemingway’s Cuba, got its name. The founder of the restaurant, Tony Fraga, grew up in Havana going to El Floridita, a restaurant known for having “the best daiquiri in the world.” On top of that, El Floridita was also known for being one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite restaurants in the world. When Fraga returned to Havana on a family trip in 2016, he had not been to Cuba since 1960. At that very moment, he knew it was time to bring his personal take on all of his Cuban favorites back to the States. And what better namesake for the restaurant than Hemingway himself, a lover of Cuban cuisine.
The menu at Hemingway’s Cuba was absolutely incredible. The menu had everything from numerous paellas to bistec de palomilla (a sirloin steak with vidalia onions, yum!) to, of course, a classic Cubano sandwich. And don’t even get me started on the small plates. Hemingway’s Cuba offers 13 different small plates and it’s seriously impossible to pick just one. So just to name a few: alitas de pollo a mojo, which is mojo marinated chicken wings with mojito sauce, mejillones, amazing pan-roasted mussels with chorizo and coconut sofrito broth, and ceviche misto, which features gulf shrimp and local fresh catch marinated in lime juice, cilantro, red onions, and avocado. I mean C’MON. This trip could not get any dreamier.
All around, this trip felt like an upgrade. My room was the epitome of sophistication and the spa-style bathroom made me feel elegant and fully rested for a night out on the town. Cambria Hotels are known for their state-of-the-art amenities, I just didn’t know just how much I would enjoy them! My mirror even played MUSIC so it’s safe to say that this trip could not have gotten any better.
Although I know it’s hard to imagine taking a dream vacation this year, Cambria makes sure to go above and beyond to make its guests feel safe. The Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville is participating in Commitment to Clean, a program that commits itself to a high standard of cleanliness and enhanced training for staff in relation to cleaning, disinfecting, and social distancing. When it comes to their guest safety, Cambria Hotels does not skimp around!
If you’re planning your own trip to Asheville, I cannot recommend the Cambria Hotel enough! Trust me, if anything, do it for the food, views, and brews. You won’t regret it! But if you want to learn more about Cambria Hotels and everything they have to offer, they even have a podcast you can listen to called Travel Inspired with Cambria Hotels which gives you the best insight on how to make the most of your next trip. Happy travels!