hotel food review Archives | Adventures in Atlanta

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 7/3/26

Last weekend, John and I took a road trip up to the Blue Ridge Parkway on North Carolina. About 4 hours from ATL, perched on a slope on this parkway, Switzerland Inn is a testament to mountain retreats! Connect with nature starting with the breathtaking panoramic mountain view that greets you. I could literally sit on the property and just soak it in; it is the best amenity the resort offers! You really have to see this one to believe it!

Views:

The lobby is one part rustic mountain cabin, one part chalet and Bavarian architecture, so the entire property and the lobby give off Alpine vibes. Warm wood from floor to ceiling, stone accents, two fireplaces, cozy lounging areas with quilts, and large windows all to enjoy the Mountain View.

There are many room types from staying in the lodge to private cabins. We stayed on Heidi 4, just next to the lodge, a second-floor oasis all with those stunning property and mountains in the background. It is a two-room suite where a living area with fireplace greets. Hardwood floors flow throughout the room. Behind that is the cozy king bedroom and the spa-like bathroom with marble floor and rain shower head. It feels newly renovated and fresh!

Amenities abound at Switzerland in from fun for the whole family with lawn games from horseshoes to ping pong. Near the edge of the slope is a relaxing pool with a beautiful view of the mountains. Also on the edge of the slope is several Adirondack chairs to soak in those views by day and firepits by night. For further relaxation they offer a spa with an array of treatments. On-site shopping is just steps away with a gift shop in the lobby, provision haus, and other shops right on the property. And for Pickleball enthusiasts, six courts await.

One of the best amenities is the on-site dining options at the Switzerland Inn. Starting with the terrace dining. For lunch the first day, we sat on the patio just off the main lobby with sweeping mountain views right in front of us. There we enjoyed the Yard bird grilled chicken sando. It is a well-seasoned, herbaceous chicken that’s juicy and tender and loaded up with trimmings. It is served with sweet potato fries. John got the flatbread with pepperoni and sausage. It is a crunchy crust loaded with a boat load of cheese, hearty and spiced pepperoni, and savory sausage.

For dinner our first night we visited the Fowl Play Pub, where rustic mountain and Bavarian charm collide. The casual Alpine bar and dining area even have critters like a racoon with crackerjacks are in the ceiling. We got the smoked wings, the Chalet chop, and the Chalet cooler.

John devoured the smoky wings. They’re super meaty, crunchy outside, and tender inside with a generous amount of lemon pepper rub. I got the Chalet chop, a tender and juicy pork chop. It is grilled with a slight char and a hint of smoke topped with a light tangy BBQ sauce. Served with tangy caramelized onions, creamy herbaceous and decadent mashed potatoes, and crunchy snap peas to round out the meal. From the bar, we sipped on the Chalet cooler. Boozy cucumber vodka, earthy cucumber, and lime is refreshing and light.

For breakfast and the final night, we were treated to an elevated meal at the Chalet Restaurant. The main dining room is adorned with an antler chandelier and mountain decor all with a view from the large picture window. For breakfast I enjoyed the Deluxe Avocado toast, a crunchy wheat toast loaded with creamy avocado. On top is a savory poached egg and a sweet balsamic drizzle to bring it all together. John got a really big piece of country ham with his eggs, and it is large, salty and tender. I stole some.

As for dinner, we had the Swiss onion soup, Smoked Half Duck, and the Jefe Manhattan. The Manhattan is boozy Woodford rye with bitter vermouth and a hint of sweet. As for the Swiss onion soup, it is divine. Rich and deep herbaceous broth topped with floating garlicky baguettes and mild Swiss cheese. And the duck was the best dish of the weekend. Crunchy outside, smoky, tender inside doused in a delicious tangy and sweet, savory hoisin sauce. It is served with root vegetables and snap peas.

Another spot of note is the Provision Haus. They offer coffee, tea, and treats all right across from the lobby.

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/24/25

Come stay amongst the clouds at this lavish North Georgia Resort: Cloudland at McLemore! Recently, John and I escaped to the north Georgia mountains and were stunned by what we found there! About 2 hours north of Atlanta and situated on the brow of Lookout Mountain, John and I found Cloudland at McLemore to be a master class in elevated comfort, premium accommodations, white-glove service, and a pinnacle of resorts! But what stunned us most were the majestic mountain views from every window, even our room! It was a delight, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it!

The Resort

In the lobby you’re greeted by large wooden doors, opened for you, and walk into glass walls that show the mountain views right away! To the left is the reception area, the right is the beautiful library with sitting area and fireplace. It is stuffed with books for your enjoyment. In front of you is the den common area downstairs. It is lavish couches and intimate seating areas with a beautiful fireplace and a gorgeous topographical mural of the mountain. Outside you sit and watch the sunset from Adirondack chairs or fire pits areas during the day, for sunset, or at night!

And in the rooms, you’re in for a treat. These rooms are done to the nines. Marble and white subway tile spacious bathrooms, while wood and dark colors create a sense of calm in the bedroom area. A small seating area for gazing out the window at the best feature of the room, the views! You can see the entire pool area, outside bar, and the brow from there!

Experiences

Beyond the resort, Cloudland at McLemore has exquisite experiences. John and I did not know just how much there is to do in this mountain oasis! From restaurants options to an upscale spa to world-class golf to an epic Infiniti pool, and of course the best amenity: the mountain views are stunning.

As far as the experiences, we enjoyed a wine tasting, Magic of Napa Valley, a wine tasting with the Napa Valley collective. Small, unique wineries from Napa with excellent wines! Included were Impensata with a crisp sav Blanc, Allora Vineyards with my favorite, a sparkling brut, Zakin Wines with a bright Chardonnay, Parallel Wines with a floral rose, and St Helena Winery with a fantastic Chardonnay! Upcoming they have events for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

And Cloudland at McLemore has so many other amenities! It would not be a weekend at Cloudland without a soak in the beautifully heated Infiniti pool overlooking the brow or lounging by it. Nothing really beats peering over the pool edge into the views of the mountain. Plus, if golf is your thing, they have an award winning public golf course that you have to try! Plus, driving range and their small course is included in the stay. Did we mention the golf course even has its own view? If you need relaxation, they have a calm, inviting, upscale spa for you to relax.

Dining Options

One of the best amenities that Cloudland at McLemore is their dining options. Starting with Croft, a casual spot for Scottish fare. They have a delicious, tasty Cloudland deviled egg dish that I thoroughly enjoyed. John got the divine thick cut bacon, perfectly candied and spiced up with jalapenos. We loved they had two large projector TVs for the big game and a large bar!

Another casual spot is The Pocket Cafe, quick casual bites from pastries like croissants to bowls and salads. I really enjoyed their quinoa salad bowl. Next, if you prefer to dine on the brow, Skyside is your casual spot. Weather permitting, they have tiki drinks, spritzes, and a small food menu with handhelds, salads, and more.

Up at the golf clubhouse is the beautiful rustic, The Craeg. Outside they have patio seating to watch the golfers on the course and to take in the views. Inside, they have a great cocktail menu where I got a fantastic, boozy Manhattan.

Finally, last but not least of the dining options, is my favorite of them all, Alud Alliance. It is the best dinner and date night spot with views and upscale French country cuisine. To start, we tried the stuffed quail and were so glad we got it! It is tender, smoked quail, glazed with maple, then stuffed with earthy and creamy butternut squash with all the fall flavors. It is a top a heap of thick cut bacon. I paired this the Castle & Key Martini, a boozy vodka martin with a twist of lemon.

For dinner we decided to split the wood-grilled, dry-aged pork chop, which is cooked to perfection, tender, and juicy. It has a wonderful, tangy, tangy, apple butter underneath. We got the heirloom carrots on the side and found them amazing. Sweet and earthy, crunchy carrots with a decadent brown sugar and a creamy yogurt labneh. Finally, we also enjoyed the crunchy fried potato wedges, a crunchy wedge potato and perfectly paired with rosemary and olive oil. I paired dinner with an old-fashioned boasting with sweet, smooth scotch, sweet walnut bitters, smoke, and charred rosemary.