When my husband made the suggestion that we stop overnight in Roanoke on the way to Asheville and said that the place to stay (according to the local Reddit threads) was a B&B I was admittedly unsure. We had never stayed at a traditional bed and breakfast and while the idea was charming (I've seen my share of Hallmark movies), thought that the experience was reserved for a different demographic...I thought the rooms were going to be dated and filled with frilly lace, that the dynamic with the owners was going to be awkward, that we would have to engage in forced conversation with other guests. It's not that we're antisocial, on the contrary, I just had a lot of misconceptions swirling around my head. I trust my husband though, he went ahead and booked it. I can't speak highly enough of our experience with Chris, Jayne, and their little pup Jax. When we mentioned that we would be getting to Roanoke a bit earlier than their check-in time, they were available to welcome us with smiling faces. Chris showed us the before/after of the home's renovations and how it was salvaged, the only one of four houses on the block where the other three were condemned. The home itself is gorgeous, they have put a lot of thought and care into how the rooms are decorated - the photos on this Yelp page are outdated, their website (blacklanterninn.com) does a better job of showcasing their beautiful accommodations. Chris and Jayne live on the first floor with 2 rooms and a shared kitchen on the second floor and a suite on the third floor. We were one of only two rooms booked for the evening, we never saw the other couple as they arrived later and left earlier than us - it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. Chris recommended a number of local breweries, bars, and restaurants for us to explore - he pointed out their 2nd floor deck, complete with cozy blankets and a fireplace heater (perfect for us to share a late night glass of wine). We stayed in the Black Lantern Room which was bright and cheerful, it looked like a page straight out of a restoration hardware catalog. The bed was incredibly comfortable and a welcome sight after a 5 hour drive and an afternoon/evening of eating/drinking our way through downtown Roanoke. In the morning we enjoyed a delicious all-organic breakfast crafted by Jayne. We were treated to yogurt sourced from New Hampshire, an incredible gluten-free coffee cake made with sweet potato flour (that Chris has gone on quite the goose chase to track down), and a veggie filled egg frittata on an english muffin with swiss cheese and bacon. I typically have to hide vegetables into my husbands food, but even knowing what was baked into his breakfast he hummed his way through (a sign he is enjoying his meal) the sandwich; we were also treated to Roanoke's own H&C coffee. We enjoyed our breakfast along with the company of Jax and the kind and genuine conversation of Jayne and Chris - they truly put a lot of love into the experience they provide their guests. As we were leaving, Jayne handed us 2 little baggies with locally baked croissants for our 4 1/2 drive down to North Carolina - they really do think of everything. I can't speak highly enough of our short stay here and would absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend the Black Lantern Inn and our gracious hosts to anyone looking for a place to stay in the area. read more

We had such an amazing stay at the Black Lantern Inn. I would give it 10 stars, if I could! We were in town for the Virginia bar exam and Jayne and Chris both went above and beyond to make our stay stress-free and enjoyable. Jayne is an fantastic chef and makes a delicious breakfast. They are also both incredibly thoughtful and surprised us with cookies after the exam and a bag of snacks for our drive home. The inn itself is beautiful and conveniently located. Highly, highly recommend this place if you are ever in Roanoke. read more

I absolutely loved this place! Jayne and Chris were excellent hosts and the food was amazing. Everything about this place was top notch.

Fantastic place to stay. Very neat and clean, nicely decorated. Friendly innkeepers and excellent breakfast. Roanoke is a fun little town, lots of shopping and restaurants. This is a great place to stay. read more

I had never stayed at a B&B before and reluctantly agreed with my wife to try it while visiting Roanoke. To say we were blown away would be an understatement. Chris, Jayne, and Jax set the bar really high and I'm not quite sure if any other location could match it. They are very wonderful hosts and will do whatever they can to accommodate your needs. Their home is very spacious, clean, and quiet. Other than the very comfortable bed (Best sleep I have had in months) the breakfast was the best part! Their home is located right in downtown and is a short ride to restaurants, breweries, and the mountains. Five star visit, for sure! Thank you! read more

Chris and Jayne made my stay during my birthday week a pleasant and relaxing escape from the chaos of having 5 kids! My room was beautiful and when I arrived there was a beautiful birthday cupcake waiting in my room! The bed was amazing, the water pressure in the shower was divine and breakfast was simply heavenly! Jayne is an amazing chef and her attention to detail is impeccable. Chris and Jayne are amazing hosts with a wonderful knowledge of the home and area, they are truly wonderful people who were born to be innkeepers! They even sent me home with a bag of champagne grapes for my son who loves grapes....he keeps asking when I'm going back. Perfect stay and I can't wait to go back! read more

let me start by saying it's a beautiful inn and they take great pride in their home. unfortunately they were not aware of va law and ada. i have a service dog ( a small 12 pd, super well behaved and extremely friendly shih tzu). when i made the reservation i never mentioned the dog because i just assumed they knew a service dog has access to any and all businesses. the wife denied me occupancy and was screaming at me and called the humane society and was just dreadful. i dont need to provide any documentation or proof. by the time she was done her unproffesional and immature temper tantrum i was so upset. then she screams at me that she has cancer. i told her i was sorry she was dealing with this and i understand cuz i was traveling from md to al to see my neice who was just diagnosed with cancer and had 3 weeks to live. not to mention i worked for a oncologist for 9 years. i am a sympathetic, empathetic human. but to have to endure that behaviour from a grown woman not only made me terribly upset but ruined my stay at $190.00 a night. always be kind you dont know what someone is going thru​ read more

Black Lantern Inn is a truly quality BnB. The historic house has been lovingly and expertly remodeled completely to the highest standard by the owner, a contractor/remodeler of 40 years. The finishings and furnishings are beautiful - it is like staying in the Pottery Barn catalog. There are several porches both front and back, and lots of parking in their new lot. Although it is right on a main road near a highway, inside is very quiet - you'd never know. Breakfast was ready exactly when I requested it and delicious - an herb omelette, blueberry pancakes, and homemade sausage, and I was offered fruit and yogurt, too, though I was too stuffed to accept. Coffee, tea, juice all offered. Ron is the nicest, most helpful man, and he was holding down the fort alone while Claire was away. The Inn is close (walkable, and they have bikes available) to the busy downtown, with lots of shops, cafes, bars, and the excellent museum. I will definitely be back - I feel lucky to have found this. read more

These guys are great. Nice looking building, very comfortable. I highly recommend the top floor. Good location. Walkable to downtown and the greenway. Breakfast goes the extra mile. These guys do the little things. A couple nice beers available for 2 bucks. Good shower. read more

Our stay at the Black Lantern Inn began on a fateful Friday night as we wearily drove into the shining star city of the South, Roanoke, Virginia. Our energy wavering, we arrived upon the Inn. Cicadas chirped as the sunset upon the surrounding soft blue mountains. We were greeted by the lovely owners Ron and Claire, who provide a masterclass display of true Southern Hospitality. There are three or four beautiful bedrooms looking out upon lush greenery as well as a master suite. The thread counts on the sheets were of the highest caliber, one usually reserved for kings, queens, and rockstars. In the morning Ron and Claire served us a delicious breakfast on their outdoor patio consisting of coconut pancakes, yogurt, fruit, coffee, and bacon all cooked to glorious perfection. We left after breakfast deeply impressed and quenched by this remarkable little gem. read more

My wife and I stayed one night as a short getaway. We both liked the layout of the upper floor and being a Sunday night had this area to ourselves. The disadvantage to staying on a Sunday is that many of the local and unique restaurants in downtown Roanoke were not open, and we ended up going to Olive Garden as our second choice. We are still inexperienced at staying in B&B's but thought this was a positive experience. read more

The owners of the Black Lantern Inn are very hospitable and go out of their way to serve you. They even brought me coffee and something to eat when my vehicle broke down next door to them. I am very grateful for their kindness. read more

Beautiful suite! Great breakfast! Wonderful host and hostess! Very clean and cozy. Couldn't have imagined a nicer place to spend the weekend! read more

Ah our first b&b! We stayed there on a Monday night so it was just us in the room on the main floor. It was a very nice room, comfortable bed, love the sheets! The overall decor of the house is beautiful!! Breakfast portion was huge. The owner was really nice, he even sat down with us and showed us a few places to check out in the area. We would love to come back if ever in the area. read more

This place is amazing! Gorgeous, unique, scrumptious food, great location! The owner is very nice - you will not find a better place to stay in Roanoke! You will adore the Black Lantern Inn! read more