Downtown Asheville's Historic Biltmore Village; Griffin's Lair, shopping, walk.
About this cottage rental
Situated in Biltmore Forest, this lovely cottage for $340 per night is a great option for your next vacation. Location: Cozy, sophisticated, and conveniently located, this historic apartment is in the Biltmore Village Historic District. Built in 1895 and designed by R.S. Smith, the supervising architect for The Biltmore House, Griffin's Lair is located on an upper terrace bordered on the West by the 8,000 acre Biltmore Estate grounds. Views from the private terrace overlook Biltmore Village, The Cathedral of All Souls, designed by Richard Morris Hunt and peek a boo view of Grandfather Mountain. Griffin's Lair is located next door to Ruth's Chris steakhouse and is just 3 doors away from Starbucks cafe and the entrance to the Biltmore Estate, North Carolina's most popular tourist attraction. Bring your bicycles to explore the estate after touring the largest French Revival Castle in the U.S. Griffin's Lair is located upstairs above Biltmore Lamp and Shade and next door to the Gardener's Cottage, Mountain Oak Realty and Peace and Nice Boutique which are also located in the same complex. Accommodations: (Sleeps 5) Historic Cottage 1-bedroom Apartment 810 sq ft, 1 bath Occupancy Summary / Sleeps in beds: 5 Max. Occupancy: 5 Description: The apartment has been fully restored and enhanced by owner Robert S. Griffin, AIA of Griffin Architects PA . Griffin and his partner Ron Clemmer moved the cottage to its current location 30 years ago to save it from demolition. Griffin personally petitioned The City of Asheville to create the Biltmore Village Historic District, was Co-chairman of the Biltmore Village Historic museum (which raised private funds to restore and add brick sidewalks and historic street lights to the village), and authored the Biltmore Village development plan for the city of Asheville Historic Resources Commission and The State of NC Department of Archives and History. Griffin's Lair located in Historic Biltmore Village is in the perfect location for guests, moments to downtown, 15 minutes by car from Asheville's Regional Airport and within a few minutes walking distance from City and Trolly bus stops and all of Biltmore Village's attractions. One luxuriously comfortable king bed in private bedroom complete with blackout curtains, custom lighting and a 40" LED smart tv. A queen sleeper sofa with custom air mattress a 50" LED smart tv and a twin daybed with a view of The Cathedral of All Souls. All sleeping areas are equipped with blackout shades or curtains. Serenity and a peaceful stay at Griffin's Lair is assured by the recent installment of sound deadening glass panels on all windows. The apartment features numerous works of art from local artists such as Ann Vasilik, Bee Sieburg, Wendy Whitson, Lisa Oberreuter, Scott Lowrey, Lucy DeLaugerburg Wallace, and more. These works of art include paintings, prints, and Appalachian pottery. Stay here to enjoy an interior of local artistic flair. Other specially shopping experiences in Biltmore Village include The New Morning Gallery, The Grand Bohemian Gallery, Southern Highland Craft Gallery and Dwellings. Restaurants within walking distance include Starbucks, The Red Stag Grille, Rezazs Restaurant, Ruth's Chris, The Corner Kitchen, Fig, and the Well Bred Bakery and Cafe. Nearby Ingles Grocery offers local and natural foods, and delicious prepared foods for takeout. Apparel shopping within the Village includes Peace and Nice (Downstairs), Bellagio, Lilly Pulitzer, Ann Taylor, Chicos, Joseph A. Banks and much more! Biltmore village offers shops featuring antiques, books, art, children's apparel, home accents and furniture, jewelry, nature and outdoors, and speciality gift items. Come Stay in the one of George Vanderbilt's original Cottages restored and furnished by Robert S. Griffin, Asheville's Noted Architect and Interior Designer. Regrettably the quality, location and luxurious furnishings of this unique property are not child or pet friendly. Access to the adjoining rooftops is not allowed, yet possible, so care must be given to monitor & supervise children, as is direct proximity to 8,000 acres of wilderness of the Biltmore Estate, creating hazards for the unsupervised child. The entrance to the historic Biltmore Estate, Asheville's most popular tourist attraction is just outside your door and literally bordering the massive estate. Bring your bicycles to explore the grounds, or have a picnic after touring the Vanderbilt family's picturesque estate. Set right in the heart of Biltmore Village, Griffin's Lair affords all the highlights of downtown Asheville within minutes of your front door. Fine dining like Corner Kitchen & Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is just a few steps away for an evening out on the town without the hassles of parking, traffic, or being unable to enjoy a cocktail (or two) with dinner. Awaken to fresh mountain air and take a leisurely stroll down to Starbucks or Well Bred Bakery for the New York Times, Asheville Citizen Times, or just to relax and watch the passersby. You deserve to vacation where you can relax, unwind, & be absolutely spoiled! Griffin's Lair is that vacation of indulgence. Bedroom/Bath Layout: 1 king bedroom, 1 queen luxury sleeper sofa with integral air mattress, 1 twin daybed. Microfiber sheets and both feather and foam pillows provided for all beds. 1 Full bath, with tub/shower with Garden View Occupancy Summary / Sleeps in beds: 5 Max. Occupancy: 5 Kitchen & Dining: Refrigerator, range, microwave, dishwasher, dishes and utensils, art pottery place settings for 6, dinning area seats 6, coffee maker, toaster and a magic bullet blender. Additional Features: On Site Dedicated parking for 1 car 24/7 and 1 evening parking for guest. Additional parking may be arranged at 1 Village Lane as a courtesy. WiFi Cable/Direct TV/Satellite 50" diagonal smart TV on lift DVD/CD Player Smart TV, iTV, Free Amazon Prime Expansive porch/deck & private outdoor patio & gardens Dining Table Air Conditioning Washer/Dryer Linens provided Ironing Board Hair Dryer Free long distance phone calls Additional Rate And Fees information: *3 night minimum required for all holidays & special events *3 night minimum stay if a Saturday is one of the nights. Holidays require a 3-night minimum and have a $300/night rental rate. These observed holidays and occasions are subject to holiday rates: New Years, MLK, Valentines, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas PETS: Many of our guests have allergies so we have maintained a pet-free environment so they can enjoy their vacation without the potential of an allergic reaction. If you have a pet we can recommend some alternatives nearby. $120.00 Cleaning Fee** ** - Griffin's Lair openly shares & clearly posts our Cleaning Fees in a manner of full disclosure, as we think this is the most honest and forthright approach with respect to our guests. Our Cleaning Fees are backed by our Clean Guarantee, which reflects the highest level of standards, pristine environments for our guests, and a level of clean that surpasses any other vacation homes; we literally guarantee it! 3.45% processing fee Current local tax rate 13% $1,000 Refundable Security Deposit Early Check In and/or Late Check Out may be possible, depending on cleaning schedules and other reservations. If it is possible, there may be an additional fee that would be determined based on the time that you wish to check in or out and the seasonal rates.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Map of Biltmore Forest, NC
Reviews
4.9/5.0
Outstanding(163 Reviews)
10.0
Well appointed and so cozy. This Asheville gem is located right in the heart of the cIty and so close to everything. I enjoyed my stay and had everything I needed. I would stay here again and would recommend to anyone. A+
5.0
We had a great time, the place was well furnished, and instructions are set out for almost EVERYTHING.
Be advised though--DO NOT SHUT THE FRONT DOOR WITHOUT THE KEY. We learned that the hard way. To be clear, it was totally on us for having a momentary lapse in thought, but we're just not used to doors automatically locking. Perhaps an updated electronic lock would prevent this from happening again, but it is what it is.
Overall a wonderful stay at a cute little place.
4.0
Property was as-advertised. It’s an older building but still clean. The traffic can be busy at times making it difficult to get out of the parking lot. Despite the traffic, it was still quiet.
5.0
Absolute gem. Close but very private. Lots of stairs, but worth the effort once you get to the cottage. We would definitely stay again.
5.0
This site was excellent for us (three 70-year old women who were childhood friends in NJ, but now coming from Missouri, North Carolina, and South Carolina). Griffin's Lair is clean, tastefully decorated, and complete with all of the amenities needed. The private outdoor patio is pleasant. Location is very convenient for Biltmore estate and village, local arboretum, and Lake Lure. Highly recommend without hesitation.
5.0
Everything was just as listed. We couldn’t wait to get back at the end of our day just to relax and enjoy the space. We recommend this to anyone traveling with two or three, it’s perfect and we loved that we could park the car and just walk through the village. Side note…most amazing bed pillows EVER!
5.0
This property is clean, comfortable, and in a great location. This was our second time renting and we would definitely stay here again.
5.0
The detail, historical preservation , art and garden of this home is amazing.
5.0
I’m always complaining to my hubby of 32 yrs we never go or do anything! Well, recently our son & his girlfriend went to Biltmore & my husband suggested we go for our anniversary. I looked into Vbro’s & found your beautiful place & hated to leave. Thank you for all the comforts of home & walking distance to restaurants & shops.
5.0
We totally enjoyed 1 month stay. The unit is perfectly located in the Biltmore Village with its shops and restaurants. You can drive downtown in 10 minutes or so. The owner provided all the creature comforts you could want, plus you have your own private outdoor garden area to enjoy eating outdoors. Highly recommend it.
4.0
NA
5.0
Griffin’s Lair is a unique and well equipped rental within a few minutes of everything Asheville to offer. It is right next to the Biltmore Estate and has shops and dining within a short walk. The owners provide a beautiful place with art and comfortable surroundings.
4.0
Griffin’s Lair is a wonderful accommodation!
Absolutely Perfect in every way!
Can’t wait to visit again!
5.0
Great property indoors and out. Great location in the historic village.
4.0
Overall great place. Good location in Village. Apartment very nice. Spotless clean. Decor top notch. We were in town for a wedding so we were busy with wedding stuff, but the shops downstairs looked worthy of a visit.
A couple suggestions that would’ve made a big difference in our stay:
*have a pull out bed with a working mattress. The air mattress wouldn’t hold any air. There was a note saying we could find a spare air mattress in the laundry room, but we didn’t feel comfortable dismantling everything and trying to replace with a working one. That should already be done. We did send a msg to the property mgr about it but didn’t get a reply.
*the mattress on bed in sleeping alcove is far beyond needing to be replaced. Unless you’re under 5, it’s really not a viable bed. The cost of a twin box spring/mattress is minimal, and Griffin’s Lair is billed as a luxury vacation rental. Beds really need to be sleepable.
* the binder with info about the unit (including tvs, pull out air bed, check-out instructions) is essential in this rental and much appreciated! The only problem is that many of the pages have been torn out & are all out of order, making it tough to follow. We never were able to get the tv to work in the bedroom unfortunately. No problems with living room one.
The rest of the place was truly beautiful, and we enjoyed it.
5.0
The apartment was very clean, well appointed and beautifully decorated. The location was great for accessing the city and highways. Instructions were clear and transitions went smoothly. I would highly recommend.
4.0
Very nice place to stay. Updated and fully equipped with everything needed. Only issues were the checkin/getting into the place. They needed to be more specific about how to get into the place. We ended up finding someone in a neighboring business that was extremely helpful in showing us how to get into the gate and where to get in. It was hard to carry the luggage up all the steps and rolling across all the rocks. But it was a very nice place to stay and being next to Starbucks and literally around the corner from the Biltmore Mansion.
5.0
We had a wonderful stay at Griffin's Lair. The location is an easy drive into downtown Asheville and the proximity to the Biltmore Estate is fabulous. The apartment is warm and welcoming, the bed was very comfortable, the kitchen was well-stocked, and we loved spending time out on the terrace. The only negative was that the locks to the gate and to the apartment door are very finicky. We struggled several times to get them unlocked.
5.0
Property was clean and and comfortable. Kitchen was well enough equipped and laundry was a plus.
I would suggest removal of the glass shelf above the sink in the bathroom in order to make the sink more accessible.
Good restaurants in the area and easy access to the Biltmore House.
5.0
Thank you
5.0
The location is perfect if you are in Asheville to see the Biltmore House. It was very close to the entrance gate. Also close to the lovely area with all sorts of speciality shops. It was a great 2 day trip. Thanks.
5.0
Excellent location right outside of Biltmore.
5.0
Apartment was beautiful and location was perfect. Everything we needed was supplied and we really enjoyed our 3 nights here.
5.0
Location location location
Perfect setting, charming cottage
Historical home with all the necessary amenities! Kitchen and laundry a plus!
A wee bit of traffic noise and needs upgraded coffee machine.
5.0
The apartment was very nice and cozy. Any questions we had were resolved in a timely manner. We definitely enjoyed our time there
5.0
The location of Griffin’s Lair could not be better. Such a lovely spot for a ladies’ weekend away. We enjoyed the walk-ability and convenience of the location; the attention to detail in the design of the property; the authentic artwork; the functional, full-size kitchen and the quaint gingerbread house appeal of this little cottage. We will definitely be back.
5.0
Griffin’s Lair is the perfect village location for visiting Biltmore Estate. The village is a fun place to shop and dine. Griffin’s Lair is a luxury apartment sure to meet your every need.
5.0
Beautiful property & just a 3 minute drive to Biltmore Estate.
5.0
We celebrated with our 22 year old daughter for her graduation from UNC Chapel Hill in Griffin’s Lair. It was perfect for us and our petite daughter slept well in the extra twin bed. The location is superb with shops just downstairs, a Starbucks next door and Ruth Chris Steakhouse sharing the parking lot. We spent a full day at Biltmore Estate and the entry gate as around the corner. If we return to Asheville, we will be happy to stay in Griffin’s Lair again.
5.0
Great stay
5.0
Fantastic quiet spot in Biltmore Village. We drove up to downtown Asheville one day and spent another walking around Biltmore Village. Loved the town Holiday decorations.
5.0
Beautiful property & just a 3 minute drive to Biltmore Estate.
5.0
This property was stunning and fantastic. It was exactly as pictured and yet - the pictures didn’t do it justice. It was amazing. We felt like we were sleeping in an art museum. Every wall was covered with beautiful art or handcrafted pottery. We loved the cozy apartment, the wooden floors, the careful attention to detail. It was spotlessly clean and welcoming. The instructions in the user manual were so helpful. The linens were luxurious and well appointed. The sound-proof windows kept it very quiet. We loved the 2 sets of locking gates, the pot ate patio and the location. We loved being able to walk within Biltmore Village. It was a perfect stay. While the listing noted that it was not suitable for children, I would say that respectful and well-behaved children would do fine. We came with our 3- and 9-yr old and they regarded the art and the apartment with the same reverence and respect that we did. It was a wonderful long weekend.
5.0
This is the perfection location of you’re visiting the Biltmore. Also, very close to airport and downtown Asheville. The apartment was exactly how it’s described in listing and was very clean.
5.0
My husband and I booked this property for a week in October and it did not disappoint. Clearly well-thought of in design, architecturally, and with loads of history behind it - we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. You'll access via a flight of stairs - keep that in mind if you have heavy suitcases or a lot of stuff, as it's situated over a shop. But as soon as you walk up those stairs and then through the gate and into your own personal space, you'll admire the views and the landscaping right up to the front door. You'll walk through a fairly wide galley and well-stocked galley kitchen - very well done, into a dining area that backs up into the very comfortable living room with plenty of seating and a big screen TV that raises up from a cabinet - nice touch! From there you can enter into a smaller middle room where you'll find a comfy daybed and a bathroom. While small - the bathroom serves it's purpose and is still nicely done - my only complaint was that there was only one bulb working in the light fixture above the sink. Still, we had lots of light filtering in from the window over the tub/shower. The bedroom is in the next room with plenty of ambiance lighting (under the platform bed, over the platform bed, lamps, overhead, etc.). Another TV here for those late night TV watchers. Furnishings were very nice and really gave a specific "feel" to the place - we will definitely be back. Communications with the owners came very swiftly upon booking and with all of the information necessary for our stay - didn't hear anything beyond that, which had me a tad concerned, but they were right on point from the beginning so know that you're in good hands either way. Again, a lovely stay - highly recommended neighborhood - Biltmore Village with so many nice little shops and great restaurants that you can easily walk to. Just perfect!
5.0
great property for adult couple. central location. very comfortable and well appointed
5.0
Excellent location in Biltmore Village. Close to shops and restaurants. Would highly recommend.
5.0
Property is just as pictured if not better. Exceptionally clean. Elegantly appointed. Location is ideal. Biltmore Village is a lovely walkable district right outside the front door. Biltmore itself is literally just around the corner and Chimney Rock, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and numerous hiking destinations are all in easy reach. Asheville's center is easily accessible when you desire the liveliness of the downtown scene, and Griffin's Lair is the perfect calming retreat when you are finished. The owner is not intrusive yet was amazingly quick to respond when we locked ourselves out loading our car to leave on a Saturday morning. All in all, a perfect stay at a nearly perfect property.
3.0
Our experience with booking and checking in were very easy…we didn’t have any communication with the owner as it wasn’t necessary.
The pros included proximity to the airport and Biltmore Estate. The cons were the dank feeling of the unit and the noise. We fully understood that the building is historic, however, I would not describe this property as “luxury”.
5.0
Griffin's Lair was a great place to stay for our trip to Biltmore House! Delicious restaurants were within walking distance, as was a convenience store, art galleries, and shopping. We were right next to the entrance to the Biltmore property, too.
The owners made wonderful use of the space and decorated it beautifully! We loved sitting in the courtyard and appreciated the lovely art in the home.
The owner graciously shared the link to the Griffin's Lair manual, which provided lots of wonderful information regarding the unit and the area. It also provided the code for the key box.
We truly enjoyed our stay and wouldn't hesitate to stay at this beautiful space in the future!
FAQs
How much does this cottage cost compared to others in Biltmore Forest?
The average price for a rental in Biltmore Forest is $199 per night. This rental is $141 above the average.
Is parking included with this cottage?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Downtown Asheville's Historic Biltmore Village; Griffin's Lair, shopping, walk.. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this cottage?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this cottage. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Downtown Asheville's Historic Biltmore Village; Griffin's Lair, shopping, walk. pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this cottage is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Downtown Asheville's Historic Biltmore Village; Griffin's Lair, shopping, walk.?
We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.
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