Fact Friday 451 - The Historic Dunhill Hotel turns 95

The Dunhill Hotel houses 60 rooms + its on-site restaurant, The Asbury.
Photo by Anna Routh Barzin via The Dunhill Hotel.

Be a part of history. For nearly 100 years, The Dunhill Hotel has welcomed travelers and locals to its corner on N. Tryon Street. Now, the city’s only historic boutique hotel is celebrating 95 years in the Queen City.

Fun fact: The Dunhill, formerly known as The Mayfair Hotel, used to be the the city’s tallest building.

The hotel opened on Nov. 15, 1929, boasting 100 rooms, neoclassical architecture, and hosting some of the greatest musicians of all time — Elvis Presley, Sir Paul McCartney, and more.

"[Guests] remember coming here and seeing Elvis Presley, staying at the hotel, hearing stories of the Beatles when they made their tour in the city,” said Jordan Kayser, General Manager of The Dunhill Hotel. “It’s amazing to hear those kind of stories from around the monumental occasions.”

As you can see, much of the exterior of The Dunhill has not changed drastically over time.
Photo via The Dunhill Hotel.

After renovations in the 1980s and again in 2019, the hotel now has 60 rooms, each maintaining unique historical features, transporting guests back in time.

“We made sure to keep a lot of the classical aspects of the properties,” explained Kayser. “We have these beautiful four-post beds that we maintained within all the rooms, the cabinetry, and a lot of original marble so people can come in and understand they’re still a part of the experience.”

But that’s not all.

“Another really cool feature is our penthouse, it’s the only hotel room with two balconies in the city,” explained Kayser. Talk about unparalleled views.

The Dunhill’s bar area does not feature a television, encouraging guests to interact with each other.
Photo by Anna Routh Barzin via The Dunhill Hotel.

Want to celebrate history? Here’s how.

• Toast to 95 Years | Wednesday, Nov. 13 | 5-7 p.m. | Guests are invited to savor a complimentary sparkling wine toast to commemorate this landmark’s rich 95-year history.
• Cocktails & Cuisine Class: A Taste of 1929 | Saturday, Nov. 23 | 4 p.m. | $55 | Craft three cocktails from the Prohibition era + savor small bites.
• Fourth Ward Sip & Stroll | Thursday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 7 | 5-9 p.m. | $30+ | Purchase your tickets to stroll through Uptown’s Fourth Ward + taste the hotel’s signature “1929" cocktail along the way.

“The Dunhill is more than just a hotel. We’re here to continue to build relationships and celebrate the history of who we’ve always been,” Kayser said proudly.