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One of our daughters and her family live outside the Roanoke, Virginia area, so when we visit, we stay either in a hotel or an Airbnb close by. On our last visit, we had the privilege of staying at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. David and I have stayed here before, so when we were invited to stay for a long weekend in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, we gladly accepted. This hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, and is a luxury hotel; however it’s interesting beginning and rich history is what makes this little piece of heaven a must see on any “history buff’s” list.
Early Beginnings
The Hotel Roanoke (as it was called then) was originally built in 1882 by the Norfolk and Western Railway to coincide with it’s administrative offices occupied in the city of Roanoke. The original structure was designed in Tudor-style fashion, and it officially opened on Christmas Day, 1882. The hotel was donated to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1989, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Read more about the history here.
walkway over train tracks 
train tracks by hotel
Entrance and Lobby area
Upon entering the hotel, you can’t help but feel taken back to an era that was luxurious and rich, but simple. From the beautiful fireplace on one end to strategically placed “sitting areas” throughout the space, the lobby is thoughtfully decorated and makes for a cozy spot to relax after a day out or while waiting for friends to arrive before heading to your room. I could almost imagine the guests arriving by train all those years ago and entering the grand lobby of the hotel, ready to socialize or rest after their journey. Our check-in agent was Taylor, and she was most helpful!
Room Accommodations
The rooms are elegantly decorated in traditional-style decor, and very spacious. There are 330 room, including 18 suites. There are standard guest rooms with 1 king-sized bed, or 1 queen-sized bed, or 2 doubles. There are also “Pure” guestrooms, which are allergy-friendly rooms for those with sensitivities. The Executive Suite, along with a few others, has a working fireplace and a rooftop terrace!
view from our room
The Regency Room
The main dining area in The Hotel Roanoke is the elegant Regency Room. It rates by AAA as Four Diamonds, and it lives up to it’s rating. From the intricate details in the beautiful carpet, to the french door openings and over-sized windows all around, they make for a bright, yet warm ambience. On the weekends, a breakfast buffet is served. Due to Covid-19, hand sanitizer and disposable gloves were provided before entering the buffet room, in order to safely, minimally touch the food serving utensils and other dining ware. Employees were available for assistance, kept everything clean, and ensured only a few people were in the area at a time. Each table in the dining room had a server also– to bring water, coffee, and other items upon request. We had two very friendly servers, who we got to know a little better each morning. Robbie, who has been an employee of The Hotel Roanoke for 14 years, had a sweet voice and a bright smile we could see even behind her mask! She was a delight to talk to! Another, Bobby Wells, has 26 years of service at the hotel, and also shared that prior to his employment at The Hotel Roanoke, he was in the military for 8 years. Thank you, Bobby, for your service to both!! These two employees are definitely dedicated to this hotel establishment and are an asset for sure! We so enjoyed our mornings in The Regency Room with Robbie and Bobby!
one area of dining in The Regency Room 
Buffet Breakfast! 
our beautiful granddaughter at the “fancy” table
Other dining areas
While we mainly dined in The Regency Room (breakfast and lunch served there daily), there are a few other areas in the hotel to dine worth mentioning. The Pine Room is a smaller, cozy restaurant off the front lobby, where dinner is served daily. It has patio seating as well, and in the cooler months, patio heaters are dispersed among the outdoor seating, making for a romantic setting. The Pine Room gets it’s name from the “exposed historic pine wood paneling” that is immediately noticed upon entering the dining area. The Pine Room is a brand new addition to dining at The Hotel Roanoke, being reinvented from a writing room, a pub, and a World War II Officer’s Club! Such history!
The 1882 Lobby Bar is located adjacent to The Pine Room, and seemed to be a favorite hangout of guests, we noticed, each time we passed through the lobby in the afternoon. It is also open daily, where one can order from The Pine Room menu, or relax with an afternoon drink of choice. Live entertainment is often heard in The Pine Room, and we were fortunate enough to stop and hear a few tunes being played on the gorgeous baby grand piano during our stay.
The STEAM Coffee & Eatery is a walk-in quick service coffee shop, serving Starbucks coffee. It has outdoor seating available, and we did visit a time or two! There is also a small room behind the check-in desk in the lobby where sundries and snacks can be purchased. Lastly, in-room service is available, during certain hours.
1882 Lobby Bar 
STEAM Coffee & Eatery 
Fitness Center, Pool, and Spa & Adventure Center
While at The Hotel Roanoke, we visited the Fitness Center, outdoor pool area, and Spa & Adventure Center. The Spa is called Salt Foot Sanctuary, and you can find more info about the services they have to offer here. The Adventure Center is where you can visit to book excursions and tours of a variety of interests within the Roanoke Valley area and Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. Such a nice feature of the hotel!
Hotel Hidden Gems–Inside and Out
David and I loved exploring the nooks and crannies of the establishment, reading about the history of the hotel and the surrounding area, and walking around the grounds outside. There is so much to see and do at The Hotel Roanoke. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and are especially grateful to The Hotel Roanoke and their staff for welcoming us and taking such good care of us during our short visit. We highly recommend putting this on your “to-do” list if ever in the Roanoke, VA or surrounding areas! Please contact us or The Hotel Roanoke if you need additional information.
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