By Winston-Salem rewards travelers who stay close to the action, and the city makes that easy with a cluster of distinctive hotels packed into a walkable downtown plus a grand historic estate tucked into the leafy northwest side. Whether you are coming for a Wake Forest football weekend, a wine-and-arts crawl through the Downtown Arts District, or a day wandering the cobblestones of Old Salem, the right hotel turns a Twin City trip into something memorable. Here are the best places to stay in Winston-Salem, from a slide-equipped boutique landmark to a 55-acre Norman-style manor.
The Best Hotels in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is compact enough that almost everything worth doing sits within a short drive, but where you sleep still shapes the trip. Downtown puts you within walking distance of restaurants, breweries, and the Stevens Center; the Reynolda and Reynolda Village area leans quieter and more residential; and Old Salem anchors the historic south end. The hotels below are all bookable through standard travel sites including Expedia, and each brings something genuinely different to the table.
Kimpton Cardinal Hotel: the downtown showpiece
If you only know one Winston-Salem hotel, it is probably this one. The Kimpton Cardinal occupies the 1929 R.J. Reynolds Building, an Art Deco tower so striking that it served as the design inspiration for the Empire State Building (the two buildings are close cousins in profile). Inside, the boutique rooms balance heritage detailing with Kimpton’s playful, comfortable style, and the on-site restaurant, The Katharine, serves French-inspired brasserie fare and craft cocktails.
The signature feature, and the reason families and groups love it, is the nearly 2,000-square-foot Rec Room: a two-story indoor spiral slide, a bowling lane, a basketball hoop, shuffleboard, foosball, ping-pong, card tables, and an oversized flat-screen. Kimpton’s pet policy is among the most generous around, with no extra fees and no weight limits, so dogs of any size are welcome. There is also a fitness center and a nightly social hour, a Kimpton signature.
- Address: 51 East Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Phone: (336) 724-1009
- Website: thecardinalhotel.com
- Good for: design lovers, families, dog owners, anyone who wants to walk to dinner
The Historic Brookstown Inn: character near Old Salem
For travelers who want their lodging to feel like part of the story, the Historic Brookstown Inn delivers. The building began life in 1837 as the Salem Manufacturing Company, one of the first mills in the South to use electric lighting, and the exposed brick, heavy timber, and high ceilings still tell that tale. Today it is a 70-room inn (with 28 suites) operated under Wyndham’s Trademark Collection, blending historic bones with modern comfort and a pair of inviting courtyards.
The location is a quiet win: it sits within an easy stroll of Old Salem Museums and Gardens and just minutes from the Benton Convention Center and downtown dining. Evening wine and cheese receptions and warm cookies are part of the inn’s old-fashioned hospitality.
- Address: 200 Brookstown Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Phone: (336) 701-3904
- Website: brookstowninn.com
- Good for: history buffs, Old Salem visitors, couples wanting atmosphere over flash
Hotel Indigo Winston-Salem Downtown: art deco style on a budget
Another adaptive reuse of a downtown landmark, Hotel Indigo lives inside the 1928 Pepper Building, an Art Deco gem at Fourth and Liberty Streets. The boutique IHG brand leans into bright, quirky, locally inspired design, and the rooms feel fresh without the premium price tag of the Cardinal a block away. On-site dining comes from Sir Winston Restaurant and Wine Loft, and there is a fitness center on property.
Its position in the heart of the Downtown Arts District is the real draw. You can walk to the Stevens Center, gallery hops on the first Friday of the month, and a long list of restaurants and breweries without ever moving your car. It is pet-friendly, too.
- Address: 104 West Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Phone: (336) 722-0720
- Website: ihg.com (Hotel Indigo)
- Good for: value-minded travelers, arts-district explorers, walkable weekends
Graylyn Estate: a 55-acre escape on the northwest side
Graylyn is unlike anything else in the Triad. Built in the late 1920s as the country estate of an R.J. Reynolds Tobacco executive, this Norman Revival manor now operates as a luxury hotel and conference center owned by Wake Forest University. The 85 guest rooms are spread across the main manor house, the Mews, and other historic buildings on 55 manicured acres along Reynolda Road, near Reynolda Village and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
It is the place to stay for a special-occasion weekend, a wedding, or simply a quiet retreat with grounds to wander. The setting feels worlds away from downtown even though it is only about a 10-minute drive, and the service skews attentive and traditional.
- Address: 1900 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106
- Phone: (336) 758-2425
- Website: graylyn.com
- Good for: romantic getaways, weddings, anyone who wants grounds and grandeur
Hampton Inn and Suites Winston-Salem Downtown: dependable and central
Sometimes you just want a reliable, comfortable base at a fair price, and the Hampton Inn and Suites covers that without sacrificing location. It sits right in the heart of downtown on North Cherry Street, an easy walk to Mast General Store, Foothills Brewing’s brewpub, the Stevens Center, and the restaurants of Fourth Street. Expect the dependable Hilton-brand essentials: free WiFi, a complimentary hot breakfast, and a fitness center.
For business travelers, families on a budget, or anyone who values predictability, it is one of the most practical downtown choices.
- Address: 235 North Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- Phone: (336) 276-1010
- Website: hilton.com (Hampton Inn and Suites)
- Good for: business trips, families, free-breakfast fans, value seekers
How to Choose Where to Stay
Match the hotel to the trip. Here is a quick way to narrow it down:
- Want to walk everywhere? The Kimpton Cardinal, Hotel Indigo, and Hampton Inn all sit downtown within blocks of dining, breweries, and the Stevens Center.
- Visiting Old Salem? The Historic Brookstown Inn is the closest character stay to the cobblestones of the historic district.
- Celebrating something? Graylyn Estate is the splurge for anniversaries, weddings, and quiet luxury on the northwest side.
- Traveling with a dog? The Kimpton Cardinal’s no-fee, no-weight-limit pet policy is hard to beat, and Hotel Indigo is also pet-friendly.
- Bringing kids? The Cardinal’s Rec Room (yes, an indoor spiral slide) makes a rainy afternoon a non-issue.
When to Visit and What to Do Nearby
Spring and fall are the sweet spots in Winston-Salem, with mild weather ideal for strolling Old Salem or the Reynolda gardens. Wake Forest home football weekends in autumn and graduation in May are the busiest stretches, so book early and expect higher rates around those dates. Summer brings festivals and patio season downtown, while the holidays light up Old Salem with candlelight programming.
Wherever you stay, build in time for the essentials: the cobblestone living-history district at Old Salem Museums and Gardens, the gardens and American-art collection at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and the bars, galleries, and restaurants of the Downtown Arts District. For current events, festival dates, and a full lodging directory, the official tourism site is the best starting point.
Plan Your Visit
For the complete, regularly updated list of hotels, inns, and bed-and-breakfasts in the Twin City, plus seasonal events and itineraries, visit Visit Winston-Salem. Statewide trip ideas and travel deals are available through Visit NC.
Planning tip: if your visit lands on a Wake Forest football Saturday, a Reynolda event, or graduation weekend, reserve your room four to six weeks ahead and confirm parking with the hotel directly, since several downtown properties use valet or garage parking rather than a free surface lot.