Review and Ghost Stories from the Dunhill Hotel in Charlotte

Hello everyone! Welcome to another installment of spooky, must-visit hotels in the USA. In today’s post I will be sharing a review of the historic Dunhill Hotel in Charlotte, NC. In addition to being a beautiful, historic hotel, the Dunhill is also said to be haunted by a ghost named Dusty.

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the Dunhill Hotel is a lovely place to stay when visiting Charlotte. The location in Uptown Charlotte is phenomenal and the 100 year old hotel retains much of its antique and historic charm.

Ready to learn more about the Dunhill Hotel in Charlotte?

Keep reading for my full review as well as information about the hotel’s haunted history (and present!)

History of the Dunhill Hotel

The Dunhill Hotel opened its doors in 1929 and was originally named the Mayfair Manor Apartment Hotel. The luxurious hotel was home to permanent residents and also welcomed nightly guests.

In the 1960s the hotel went bankrupt and closed. It remained vacant for 20 years when it was then purchased, remodeled and reopened as the Dunhill Hotel.

Currently, the Dunhill Hotel is the only historic, boutique hotel in Charlotte and belongs to the Historic Hotels of America.

Although the hotel has been remodeled and updated, the old world feel remains and staying at the Dunhill feels a little like stepping back in time – in a good way!

Dunhill Hotel Location

Located in the center of Uptown Charlotte, the Dunhill Hotel is right in the middle of all the city’s action.

From the hotel, you can easily walk to many museums, shops, restaurants and bars. The location is perfect for those visiting Charlotte for a weekend getaway, or business travelers attending conferences and meetings.

While Charlotte isn’t necessarily a busy city when compared to places like New York or London, there is certainly a lot to do and see.

The Uptown neighborhood is a great area to base yourself during your stay in Charlotte. From Uptown, you can easily access Charlotte’s other neighborhoods and explore the surrounding areas.

Rooms at the Dunhill Hotel

The Dunhill Hotel is a boutique hotel with 60 guest rooms. The guest rooms are charming, cozy and completely functional. I appreciate that the rooms have many modern conveniences while also feeling historic.

There are plenty of outlets to charge your devices, a TV, and a Keurig coffee machine for in-room use.

The guest rooms and bathrooms are very clean and well organized and there is plenty of space for guests to relax, read or get work done.

What I love most about the rooms at the Dunhill is how comfortable the beds and pillows are! I slept so well, even though I was planning on waking up a few times during the night to check for ghosts.

We were told that visitors who would like to stay in a haunted room should request the 9th floor! Apparently this is where the majority of the spooky action takes place. Our room was on the 3rd floor, and although I was hopeful, I did not encounter any ghosts or spirit like occurrences.

Lastly, if you’re hoping to get some work done while staying at the Dunhill, this is definitely a possibility.

Guests can work from their rooms, which come with a comfortable chair and small table. There’s also a small room off of the lobby with tables and chairs that are lovely for reading or working on a laptop.

Most importantly, the wifi is fast and free!

Lobby and Hotel Bar

The Dunhill Hotel features a large, comfortable lobby with numerous seating areas. Like in the guest rooms, the decor of the lobby is charming and timeless.

In the center of the lobby you’ll find the hotel bar, which is open every evening for guests. Both nights we stayed at the Dunhill Hotel, the bar was lively in the evening hours and it had a fun and welcoming feel!

Parking at the Dunhill Hotel

When visiting Charlotte, having a car is quite helpful in order to drive around the city and explore the many neighborhoods.

Directly behind the Dunhill Hotel you will find a parking garage that is easily accessible for guests. Rates for self parking are currently $23 per night and include unlimited in and out privileges.

Currently, valet parking is closed due to ongoing Covid-19 prevention efforts – but it is set to reopen in the near future.

The Asbury Restaurant

On site at the Dunhill Hotel you’ll find the Asbury Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Asbury is open both to hotel guests and the public – so it’s a great option for all travelers!

The Asbury offers a Southern themed menu and sources many of its ingredients from local farmers! I love the farm to table focus and the effort to support local farmers.

Breakfast at the Asbury was a great experience. The restaurant is clean and modern and our servers were very helpful and attentive!

For breakfast or brunch, I definitely recommend the yogurt parfait and anything that is served with grits – they’re so good!

Ghosts and Spooky Occurrences

As mentioned above, the Dunhill Hotel is said to be haunted by Dusty the ghost.

The story goes that while performing renovations on the hotel in the 1980s, and subsequently moving the elevator shaft, a human skeleton was recovered. The skeleton belonged to an unidentified man whose cause of death was and is unknown.

Perhaps seeking justice, or to ensure he was not forgotten despite never being identified, the ghost at the Dunhill has resided there ever since.

Dusty the ghost is regarded as mischievous but not harmful or scary. Most interactions with Dusty consist of lights turning on or off, loud knocking noises or items moving from one place to another.

Hot spots for ghost activity are the 9th and 2nd floors of the hotel and I recommend walking around these floors to see if you pick up any spooky vibes.

The most haunted room, we’ve been told, is room 906. We booked a ghost tour during our time in Charlotte, and the tour guide shared numerous ghost stories from the Dunhill.

One of the most riveting was the story of room 906, and how the housekeeper who was assigned to it always felt like there was someone there watching her – despite no one being in the room. She shared her experiences of hearing noises, water turning on and off on its own, and feeling like she was being watched. Nothing bad ever happened to the housekeeper (of course), but she said she could definitely feel the ghostly presence.

Overall Experience at the Dunhill Hotel

Overall, I highly recommend staying at the Dunhill Hotel! The location, right in the action of Uptown Charlotte, is perfect for exploring the city and the hotel is so charming and welcoming.

I loved the historic feel of the hotel. It really did feel like stepping back in time. The rooms were comfortable and cozy, and it really makes a great place to spend a night or weekend!

Ready to book your stay?

Click here for current rates and to book!

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I hope you enjoyed my review of the Dunhill Hotel in Charlotte, NC – and that I’ve inspired you to book it for your next visit to the Charlotte area.

The beautiful and historic hotel is definitely the ideal place to stay when visiting the Queen City!

Now that you know all about the Dunhill Hotel, be sure to check out my recommendations for fun things to do on a trip to Charlotte!

For even more fun things to do in the Queen City, and recommendations for places to eat and drink, check out The Abroad Blog’s guide for a weekend in Charlotte!

Lastly, please share this post with someone you know who is visiting Charlotte – or who loves a good haunted hotel!

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♡Kate

Note: The Dunhill Hotel hosted me during my stay, however, all opinions are always and completely my own. This post also includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.