The Best Hotels to Book Near Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Virginia

Prepared to be wowed by this impeccable boutique hotel on the outskirts of Charlottesville. It was originally built as a classic colonial-style home for Thomas Jefferson’s daughter and husband – Martha and Thomas Mann Randolph – and the decor nods to its historical past. Expect flawless clawfoot tubs, original artwork and classy mid-century details in the bedrooms, while a renovation in 2003 added a large deck and a heated infinity pool. There’s also an on-site restaurant, 1799, specializing in seasonal dishes. You can even play croquet on the pristine lawns or enjoy a day out boating on the property’s private lake.

On a leafy residential street close to the university and in the heart of Charlottesville, the Oakhurst Inn features 36 rooms in three renovated 1920s houses. You’ll feel at home with comfortable furnishings and can enjoy the outdoor saltwater plunge pool and deck and the intimate Château Lobby Bar. Pets are also welcome in some rooms for a true home-away-from-home experience.

The unique Graduate Charlottesville sits on historic Main Street, overlooking the Corner – a shopping and dining hub – and just across from the University of Virginia Grounds. This boutique hotel is undeniably cool, where you can enjoy a game of ping-pong or foosball in the game room or a craft cocktail and dinner on the rooftop. The Trophy Room is a farm-to-table restaurant with uninterrupted views of the city’s night-time twinkling lights, and the lobby cafe serves Poindexter Coffee. With bikes available to rent, this hotel has the community at heart.

The Omni Charlottesville Hotel offers great amenities in an urban setting, including a rooftop plunge pool. However, the impressive seven-story glassed atrium lobby is the focal point, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Pointe Restaurant and Bar. The pool, gym and bathrooms may be on the stingy side – but how much time will you be spending indoors with a location like this? Uptown attractions are within a 20-minute walk, and the hotel is next to the Downtown Mall.

Designed with the modern traveler in mind, the Draftsman is cutting edge and classic at the same time, offering a laid-back vibe. Unwind in one of the 150 tasteful boutique bedrooms, complete with waterfall showers, fluffy bathrobes and slippers, mid-century modern furniture and local artwork to create a sense of cozy relaxation. Also, it is pet-friendly and has an on-site restaurant, Renewal Tavern, where you can enjoy farm-to-table cuisine.

Quirk Charlottesville is the first boutique art hotel built in the historic downtown and lives up to its name with a stylish and tasteful interior. Designed to inspire visitors to enjoy their surroundings and live in the present, the minimalist contemporary spaces – indoor and outdoor – are peppered with contemporary art and vintage pieces. In addition, the hotel has a rooftop bar, an impressively long lobby bar – which offers the most popular “Love and Happiness Hour” in the city – and the Bobboo whiskey bar. You’ll also find the Pink Grouse restaurant, the Quirk Café and private dining.

It took the new owners of Keswick Hall – formerly owned by the widower of Laura Ashley – two years to transform and renovate the property into the calming retreat it is today. The rooms are spacious and tasteful, with a more serene decor. Along with the peaceful surroundings, there are red-clay tennis courts, with tennis pros available for instruction. There’s also an 80ft infinity pool for adults only (another pool for families is available near the tennis courts), a petanque court and impressive grounds landscaped with seasonal plants and flowers.

The main draws at the Inn at Monticello are the friendly atmosphere and serene location. Within 5 acres (2ha) of mature trees, the sound from the creek offers a peaceful lullaby. With five guestrooms and a separate cottage, each accommodation is furnished with antique or reproduction pieces from the colonial era. You can socialize on the porch in the summer or spot birds, bunnies, woodchucks and deer in the fall. Year-round, you’re invited to enjoy the host’s living room and hang out by the fire.