On the way home from a four-night stay in the GA mountains, my husband and I spent our one-year anniversary evening at the Black Walnut Inn. We were thrilled when we located the historic house on Montford Ave. Its grounds were perfectly manicured, and beautiful pansies and tulips were in abundance. The interior was no less impressive, as antique furnishings and tasteful paintings were placed throughout the home.

Our room (The Ivy Garden) was located on the first floor. Upon entering the room we were greeted by a magnificent king-sized bed, in fine linens and down pillows, a gorgeous fireplace, fresh flowers, water, chocolates, and an enormous 2-person spa tub. The room was elegant and warm. It had recently been painted.

The staff guaranteed our utmost comfort with Aveda bath products, a vanity kit, toothbrush and paste, the Wall Street Journal, several Asheville magazines, and a helpful and well assembled binder on the inn's history, maps of Asheville, and suggestions for area activities and restaurants. While TV was not our priority, we were excited to find a small TV in the room's armoire so that we could catch up on "The Bachelor" =) The home also offered a huge assortment of videos and games in a cabinet on the second floor.

The Black Walnut Inn holds a tea/wine hour from 5:30-6:30 each evening. Having come from a mediocre inn in Georgia, we were blown away by the presentation. The hors d'oeuvres were innovative (fresh potstickers, water chestnut wrapped in bacon, applesauce cake, etc..) The owner of the inn kindly introduced himself and offered us an assortment of fine wines which we could pour at will. I am not usually a wine drinker, but the chardonnay was one of the best I've tasted. The owner invited us to join him in the living room where we enjoyed conversation with most of the inn's guests. It was clear that everyone was having a fabulous experience, and the other guests gushed about how wonderful the breakfast had been. The owner also helped everyone with suggestions and maps to various dinner locales. My husband and I chose to have dinner at The Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village, which we highly recommend.

After a restful night we joined our hosts in the quaint, Victorian breakfast room for the most delicious meal. The host, who previously owned bakeries on Martha's Vineyard, prepared an incredible Apricot turnover, homemade Belgian waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, and a fresh assortment of cantaloupe, blackberries, and pineapple. We also enjoyed the fresh juices and coffee. We checked out soon after breakfast, our only regret being that we could not stay another night.

Of the bed and breakfasts we've experienced thus far, the Black Walnut Inn is at the top of our list.

This bed & breakfast is a 'must' when staying in Asheville. The room was beautifully decorated, scrupulously clean, and the breakfasts absolutely scrumptious! Our hosts were most accomodating and friendly - dispensing wonderful baked goodies along with great tips about the area - sharing with us where to go, what to see, and most importantly, where to have a great dinner in town! We will be sure to return when we visit Asheville again.

My fiance and I stayed at the Black Walnut for 3 nights during our spring break. We're in our early 20s and it was a special trip for us b/c my boyfriend proposed to me! We had a great time and it was a treat to stay at such a beautiful place. We are from the Philadelphia/DC area where everything is over-priced and The Black Walnut is truly a bargain for what you get! It's by far the most quality place I've stayed. They don't overlook any details. And the amount of food and wine they serve truly makes this place worth every penny. The day-time staff was also very nice and they kept the place spotless.
We stayed in the Dogwood Room--it was really adorable and the bed was very comfortable. Also, I am gluten-intolerant and the owners went above and beyond to make sure there was something I could eat at breakfast and afternoon tea every day. But, if you have any food intollerances you must let them know ahead of time of course. I let them know I was gluten-intolerant when we made our reservation and then I sent a reminder e-mail about a week before our stay just so they could be prepared. I think they really appreciated that.
The owners also got us discounted Biltmore tickets and had excellent advice about parking, etc which kept us away from the crowds.
Even though we were the youngest guests, I didn't feel at all out of place. There seemed to be a lot of other people our age out every night in Asheville, which has some great bars and restaurants which are all open late. Take the owners' advice on restaurants--they know what's good.
I definitely reccommend it!

I have stayed at a lot of bed and breakfasts and am very picky at the type of places I choose. The Black Walnut exceeded my expectations in every way! The pictures on the Web site do not do it justice! We stayed in the room on the bottom floor with the huge jacuzzi tub. It was so romantic to enter the room with a fire roaring in the fireplaces and a bottle of champagne and strawberries waiting for us. The jacuzzi itself was so huge, it felt like you could swim a lap in there! It was so relaxing to come back after a day out on the town and soak away the stress of the day. The innkeepers were very nice and helpful. The wine and appetizer hour was a bonus you don't want to miss. Breakfast was wonderful, and it was nice to sit at your own table with your significant other and not worry about making conversation with other people at the table. The house itself is decorated beautifully. We went at Christmas time and the attention to detail definitely put you in the holiday spirit. There were decorations everywhere, including in our room which was a nice touch.

The only downsides: the Web site made it seem like there were gardens all around. There is only one small part of the yard that has a garden and a fountain. Also, although we LOVED our room with the jacuzzi tub, there was no showerhead. The nozzle of the tub extended and you had to hold it to take a shower. Not a big deal, but it was kind of interesting to take a shower like that, balancing soap and shampoo and not having a shower curtain. Also, no robes, which I love to utilize at B&B's.

Regardless, the Black Walnut is definitely one of my favorite places. We normally try out different B&B's while in Asheville, but after staying here, nowhere else can compare. We are already planning a return trip for our wedding anniversary. Which brings me to say...my now husband took me to Black Walnut on this trip for a long weekend to propose to me. He couldn't have picked a more perfect place or experience. If you are looking for a romantic weekend, this is the place. Since our stay, we have sent two other couples here and recommended this same room. You won't be disappointed!