Wilmington, NC is an ever-evolving coastal city located on the Cape Fear River and has long been an important part of North Carolina’s economy as a port city. There is so much to see and do while visiting the area, making it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. One of the important considerations we make when picking a place to stay is walkability because I firmly believe the best way to explore a city is by walking and finding hidden gems.
A few years ago, we stumbled upon ARRIVE Hotel by Palisociety and immediately added it to our wishlist of places to stay in Wilmington because of its amazing courtyard setup. We recently stayed here and let me tell you, it lived up to all the hype I expected based off of my initial impressions from having drinks in the courtyard. Today, I am sharing my honest review of the hotel and an emphatic recommendation of staying here on your next visit to the Port City.
photo via ARRIVE Hotel
My Honest Review of ARRIVE Hotel in Wilmington, NC
Check-In & Lobby
The ARRIVE Hotel offers valet parking right at the walkway entrance to the hotel lobby. The hotel’s set-up is a courtyard setting and the lobby is located in the courtyard right across from the Gazebo Bar. There is a bellhop service, which may be helpful if you are on a higher floor with substantial luggage as there are no elevators. Checking in is easy and the lobby is gorgeous. You’ll just need a card for incidentals and to pay if you did not pay in advance online and your ID. Customer service at the ARRIVE Hotel is also exceptional. The staff is friendly and helpful, valet service is quick and efficient, and the front desk provides you a number to text if you need anything.
Rooms & Suites
photos via ARRIVE Hotel
The ARRIVE Hotel offers four unique rooms: King, Suite, Loft, and Accessible Rooms. We stayed in a King Room and found it to be the perfect space for a weekend stay. Rooms are beautifully appointed and yet incredibly comfortable thanks to Bellino Fine Linens on the bed, plush robes, and features like marble-accented bathrooms, Victrola Bluetooth speakers, Apple TV, and rocking chairs with courtyard views.
We enjoyed sitting outside our room in the rockers with a drink to relax after a day of exploring because the courtyard views are so great! There is natural light and the rooms are serene with the muted color palette. Rooms also feature a fridge and mini bar stocked with favorite snacks and drinks and also leave room for your own beverages or snacks. I recommend bringing your own bottled water unless you plan on purchasing some from a local market or the ones in the room.
Hotel Amenities & Services
In addition to the number to text for any questions or services you may need, the hotel also offers a local field guide in every room. Rooms come with a hair dryer, an iron, the fridge I mentioned above, and great toiletries and personal care kits. One thing I noted in particular that I wish all hotels offered were earplugs. In addition to having the Gazebo Bar in the courtyard, and the onsite restaurant, Dram Yard, which offers Barista and Breakfast Service, Dinner, and Weekend Brunch, there is also a room service menu available.
The ARRIVE Hotel and Dram Yard are located in the Eureka Dye Company which was built in 1915. The company sustained major losses in 1922 when. a four-ton elephant escaped from the Hagenback-Wallace Circus, busted into the building, and hurled large quantities of dye, which destroyed clothing and equipment. The building remained within the family who owned the Eureka Dye Company until 1942 and then continued as Eureka Cleaners until 1961.
Dram Yard & the Gazebo Bar
photo by Dram Yard
David & I first discovered ARRIVE Hotel thanks to the Gazebo Bar. We had a dinner reservation across the street at Tarrantelli’s, so we stopped for a pre-dinner drink at the Gazebo Bar. We loved it so much that we went back to the Gazebo Bar after dinner to sit in front of one of the fireplaces. So, even if you are not a guest at the hotel, you can enjoy the courtyard amenities, including lawn games and fireplaces after grabbing a drink from the bar.
Dram Yard is the onsite restaurant that services coffee and breakfast during the week, a delicious weekend brunch, and a coastal dinner menu. We grabbed Saturday brunch here during our recent stay and started with the milk donuts. David got OG breakfast while I ordered the avocado toast with a fried egg. It was seasoned incredibly well and quite delicious. I recommend making a reservation in advance, especially for weekend brunch as it is a popular spot. There is quite a bit of seating at the bar for walk-ins.
For more things to do in Wilmington, check out these 10 awesome things to do in Wilmington here.
