We spent our anniversary at BlackBerry Farm and had the most wonderful time. Farm to table dishes for all three meals is something I could get used to. The beautiful fresh produce complimented the expertly cooked and seasoned proteins. There wasn't a single thing we ate that we didn't enjoy. In between meals, we made sure to stay active to earn our appetite. The property offers access to great trails in the Smokies which we took advantage of as well as a lovely outdoor pool with a view. The room itself was pleasant as well. It was hard to leave the luxurious king bed every morning. The heated floors in the bathroom and the comfy sitting area made our Holly Springs cottage suite the perfect home base. We were also assigned our own golf cart to get around the property (although we chose to walk mostly to take in the views). Service was top notch and the staff were wonderful. Every evening they surprised us with a little treat for our anniversary which was very thoughtful. We couldn't have asked for a better stay! read more

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We have talking about BlackBerry Farms for years and that we needed to go. We knew it was expensive, but the recounting of our friends kept drawing our interest back in. We decided to take the plunge and we are so happy we did. It's a 3 night minimum and frankly a great idea to take it all in. We enjoyed the following activities ; Fly Fishing, wine tasting , the spa , a farm tour , & tomato tasting. All were spectacular and unique to themselves. The culinary experience is nothing short of a Michelin experience for dinner. The price is all inclusive , sans your alcohol. The service is world class and the staff makes you feel so welcome. Whether it's a special occasion or a bucket list item , I would say it's a must in your lifetime !! Side note- We thought this would be a one and done. However, the level of experience and ability to unplug was extremely therapeutic. Hope you enjoy the review by LIKING it and sharing feedback :). read more

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Here on a gift for my wife's retirement from her former boss. It is springtime. Getting here is a bit of a drive it is private and Uber lux. A three day adventure. Our accommodation was a cottage "Indigo Bunting" in the Glades. Similar to half a small house with a full sized covered porch. A dedicated golf cart is provided as the grounds are expansive. Our vehicle was taken away and our bags were brought to our cottage by a delightful fellow. To commence our first evening Emma, the barkeep at the Main House prepared perfect cocktails Blackberry Bumpkin and a Vesper. Dinner was in the Barn, an Amish structure from PA that was purchased by the owner of this place, and rebuilt by the Amish here. We drove our golf cart ~5 minutes to get there. My trout was perfectly smoked and larger than any trout I can recall. The whole dinner experience was great and somewhat formal. Breakfast is in the Main House. Service and food top notch. Ambiance is a lodge or farm. Breakfast and lunch are casual. We have horseback riding and wine tasting planned and a couple of formal dinners. On our third day after an hour of Pickleball we had our breakfast at the Main House. There was a fancy Bar-B-Que at the Dogwood in the main house that day which was Memorial Day. Blackberry brewery Pilsner was sampled and it was very goodThey have their own brewery a few mile away. The beer was tasty and refreshing. Final dinner at the Dogwood after two dinners in the Barn. More trout and shrimp. Even with the gift the extras added up. A 20% service fee is automatically added no problem as all service was top notch but with the denominator for the base cost being what it was the service charge was very large. Not a great value for money but to be fair, folks who stay here likely do not care about that. This is a very expensive but worth it place for a special occasion or treat. We loved the place. Mark & Nancy. read more

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There is a reason that a Relais Chateaux designation carries a lot of weight. Member properties are among the finest in the world. It is the primary reason I selected Blackberry Farm for a vacation. It was southern hospitality at its finest. Never stuffy. Always accommodating. The rolling hills and rural surroundings set the tone before you arrive. You become aware that this destination will offer you the opportunity to step back from the pressures of everyday life, unplug, recharge, oh... and eat! I recommend you reserve a cottage so you have a true home away from home. Sit in the rocking chairs. Listen to the birds. Meditate on the view. Sign up for some fun classes... we did a wine tasting and a cooking demonstration. Tour the property in your personal golf cart, or pick up the phone and ask to be chauffeured. The meals are next level. I. Was. Impressed. Just stellar. I will dream about some of the inventive dishes for some time. read more

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If I could give this place 10 out of 5 stars I would! My husband and I snuck away for a last-minute anniversary trip and it was incredibly romantic. Everything about our experience here, from booking to checking out, was outstanding and met every aspect of our expectations. There is nothing about this place that I couldn't rave about, from the gardens to the farm-to-table-meals to the exceptional staff, everything was above par. We cannot wait to go back! read more

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I wish it were possible to give more than five stars. We have stayed on property once, and dined three times now, and each experience is better than the last. The attention to detail their team has shown is meticulous; every room set with a warm, welcoming ambiance and every experience fine-tuned to create lasting memories. Our stay: Our cabin, The Wood Shed, was well-appointed and exceeded our (already high) expectations in every way. It felt rustic and cozy without sacrificing the quality - from the wood-burning fireplace, to the enclosed porch opening onto the herb gardens, to the buttery linens on the bed. Even the coffee mug was sourced from a local ceramics artist. We settled in and got changed for dinner at The Barn, hopped into our golf cart, and were off! The short drive through the gorgeous property was indulgent in itself, but dinner was incredible. Our sommelier gave us an impromptu underground wine cellar tour, and we came up in Bramble Hall, just in time for an intimate outdoor concert! With the music, fresh night air, and fireflies all around us, it truly felt like our own slice of magic. Our dinners: Chef Cassidee is a culinary genius, and any time I apprehensively read the description of the next course I was immediately proven how masterful she is with her rich flavors and combinations. If you visit, absolutely go for the tasting menu and trust her vision - you won't regret it! Of all the meals I have had, the ones at The Barn are the ones I find myself dying to revisit. The food is always vibrant, flavorful, beautifully prepared, and served by a waitstaff that was both knowledgeable and personable. Blackberry does so much right, but nothing more than it's staffing. Every person seems genuinely happy to meet you and dote in you throughout your visit. Overall: If you'd like to treat yourself to luxury stay deep in the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains, there is no better option than this Relais & Chateaux. The Farm is what most accommodations strive to be, and I've yet to experience a place that even holds a candle to my stay here. Typically when staying in luxury accommodations there is a slight underlying feeling of pretentiousness: of expense simply for the sake of appearing luxe. Blackberry Farm dispels that feeling entirely, clearly showing they painstakingly strive to deliver the utmost quality in all aspects, not just a flashy pricetag. read more

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Pros: Beautiful property Wood Shed cottage was so quaint and beautiful ! Lexus high performance cars to take out for the day Very friendly staff Good food Cons: Very young inexperienced staff. They try but some do not have the experience to justify the cost ! $2000 per day does not make sense for most $400 dinners , why ? We had 4 dinners and 2 of those were subpar service with wait staff. One dinner we were not greeted by our waiter and when we were after a very long wait, even though it was not that busy , first thing she said was sorry it took so long ! The same waiter , took ten minutes to talk to another table but did not return to ask about our meal till my last bite and once again said sorry I took so long ! Not acceptable for the level of stars or cost. Another dinner at the barn, my wife took 1 bite of her dinner and did not like it. Our waiter never came back to ask us how our dinners were. Someone else came by and took her dinner and showed our waiter her plate ... You would think any professional come back immediately and ask, but our waiter never returned and not one person asked about her dinner. The food was good, sometimes, but others it was just ok, not at a five star rating unless you have never been anywhere else ! I can think of 20 places off the top of my head that have much better food Would I go back or recommend, NO ! Also you will get a $329 /20% service charge for everyday you stay read more

Could not have been more perfect. We came at a time when the puppies, the chickens, a very large turkey and dozens of sheep. But we really loved the wonderful kitty cats!! The best one was at the culinary garden. We spent 45 minutes resting on rocking chairs and enjoying lap time with kitty. The food- off the charts. Wellhouse- visited every day! Golf carts- zooming around was a blast. Took tons of pictures and met some great people and the crew is par excellence. Thank you again for this trip of a lifetime. We will hold all the memories in our hearts. read more

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This was a two night stay (during the pandemic) in the fall. We have been social distancing, not going anywhere for months, and decided to book this in celebration of our wedding anniversary. They are taking every precaution and masks are required everywhere, all the time, unless you are actively eating. Location The resort is very close to Knoxville (30-45 min) and a 3.5 hour drive from Atlanta. It is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's neighbor and it is also very close (about an hour) to the North Carolina Border. Atmosphere The resort is spread out over several buildings, cottages, a main house, a check-in building, a relaxing lounge and a Wellhouse (the spa). The grounds and buildings are exquisitely maintained. The views and decor are beautiful. There is a casual welcoming air, not stuffy or overbearing. Golf carts are *the* mode of transportation. We had a king room in the main house(Hearts a Bustin). There are only about 8 rooms located here, but this is also where the main meals are served for breakfast lunch and dinner. We actually had to walk through the dining room to get to our room. Speaking of the room, it's well appointed with nice linens, comfortable furnishings, but two things are glaringly missing: 1. a bidet in the bathroom. I mean this is a 5 star luxury hotel so it's reasonable to think they would understand and appreciate the importance of a bidet (even a simple hand held feature). 2. USB outlets. There are no USB outlets provided, but I had to actually move furniture to install my own outlet near the bed. I would think a place that pays such attention to detail would have USB outlets available in guest rooms. Service Once you check-in everyone refers to you by name and everything is handled for you. Everyone is very attentive. It's really amazing and lovely. We brought our own bikes (the resort does provide loaners) and the cycling guy serviced our bikes for us. What a nice touch! There are absolutely no problems in the service area. Everyone is on top of their game and you really feel as if you are being catered to. Cell service is poor here. There are 'boosters' in one building, but overall cell and wifi connection is spotty. Food Please note: this is an all inclusive property. Your room rate includes all meals from dinner on the day of arrival to lunch on the day of departure. You need to pace yourself here because every meal is at least a minimum of three courses. We had some outstanding dishes, I thought the brussels sprout clementine salad was inspired. We enjoyed our dinner in the Dogwood (main house) more than our dinner in the Barn, but the Barn dining experience is definitely a must do. Recommendation This is an an expensive place to stay. But it seems clear that they cater to those for whom the cost is not an issue. So that being said, it's an exquisite experience. read more

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We finally got to dine at Blackberry Farm! Since this kitchen is world renowned I'm getting critical in my yelp review. There's been so much hype I was let down by the simplicity of the estate. Where is the grandiose? We drove by 1-2 little cottages (and I thought..okay..that's quaint) and drove up to a barn (and I thought..well..that looks just like any other barn). And we strolled on for dinner. Honestly, the grounds weren't much to me. All of Tennessee has some gorgeous scenic barns..just hop on the road and you'll see one. What is the distinction here? Surely I'm missing something. I think the registered guests get to see the whole schabaang at the other end of the property maybe. We only came for dinner so that must be it. In the dining area the ambience is very charming. And the service is outstanding. I can't tell you how many servers waited on us to fill our drinks, gives us suggestions, fix our napkins or just clear up the crumbs. I love that they brought the car around like our own private valet service. Food was good. But not 5-star knock-out-good. For $125 the food really needed to knock my socks off. The ramp and drum were new to us so props to Blackberry for dishing some totally different plates. Everything was teeny tiny. This is the kind of food served like art so if you are looking for hearty meatloaf don't even think about coming here. Our plates were served a little too cold and they didn't fill me enough. I'm a total foodie and yet I felt like every dish was a finger food without enough substance. My favorite dishes were the beet & cheese starter and the hearth roasted shrimp. Oh and the cultured butter and bread is soo good! Just give me bread and butter for the table with my red wine and I'll be happy with this last supper. Yum! They do drinks very well. Try the bumpkin! Oh, it's so delicious. And the sommelier is a funny guy. He'll come by your table and pair you anything you like. He gave us some serious wine and port history. And actually he took us down to the wine cellar for a mini-tour. read more

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What a special place. From our arrival to departure our experience was wonderful. The property is stunning and well kept. Nestled in mountains, the views from our room, the spa, restaurants, everywhere were so calming. You can chose to walk the property or if preferred the staff will gladly transport you via golf cart or Lexus. Golf carts are always available for use by the guests. We were greeted upon our arrival by multiple staff members and from then on they referred to us by name and all made our stay special. It was wonderful to hear stories from the employees about the Farm and it's history. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. One chilly afternoon I inquired with the bartender regarding the fire pit and whether it would be lit in the evening. Her answer surprised me, "we can light it right now if you like, we'll even bring you s'mores. We're here to make this a wonderful experience." The culinary experiences were also wonderful. I can't say enough about Chef Alex, the fresh foods he chose for us and his demonstration. I learned some great tricks of the trade. The Barn is a delight not only the food, but they offer tours of the 160,000 bottle wine cellar. Finally, the spa was a wonderful way to wrap up our trip. We will definitely be returning and look forward to chatting with the staff who made us feel so special. I'll be taking advantage of the concierge to help plan those things we didn't get to this trip. read more

An ultra high end luxury retreat in the middle of rural Tennessee. The farm is just that, a huge property with its own gardens, sheep, truffle hunting dogs across hundreds of acres adjacent to the great smoky mountains park. A quiet spot to getaway. Pros: -our room in a glade cottage suite (Robin) was really spacious and oh so cozy and even had a wood burning fireplace -large updated bathroom with double sinks, heated floor and high end bath products -service and staff-you are literally surrounded by eager, young, enthusiastic staff everywhere from the moment you arrive on the property -our room was literally perched on the edge of the forest and was very quiet -while our short stay didn't allow us to take full advantage of all the various activities, we did have an outstanding wine tasting experience with Greg for 2 hours and learned a TON. About wine appreciation and even had a glimpse at the more than 14,000 wines in their collection -property itself is immaculate-like Disney world where everywhere you look things are in perfect condition and beautifully landscaped -Meals are include starting with dinner on the first day of your stay-high end, gourmet chow Opportunities: (since nobody's perfect) -electric outlets by the bed were not all that accessible-usbs on the end tables would be a nice update -rinky-dink shower head in our room (Robin)- more like something from a Hampton inn-time for an upgrade perhaps -place is crazy pricey (but it keeps out the riff raff), in fact we paid more here for 1-night than we did for a deluxe ocean view overwater bungalow in bora Bora just two weeks prior at one of the high end spots -silly outdated dress code (jackets for men) to dine at the hotel restaurant (The Barn)-why not just let the food speak for itself and allow guests to be more comfortable? Bottom line: this place is special, it exudes serenity and is a must do getaway for people interested in food and wine. read more

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I came across this property on a varities of namable magazines. Someone on the PR team must've purged lots of effort into the ads. After our trip to Toronto went miscarraged, I thought, why not save the flight tickets and give this place a try? Long story short, it would probably the last time we visit it, but we definitely didn't regret spending the money. Blackberry Farm is in a very seculeded area right next to the Smokey Mt. NP, so for those who don't want to deal with the October crowds at the park and have (lots of) cash to spare, you will be seeing the park EVERY SINGLE DAY. On our way into the property, it was beyond difficult to locate the check-in desk. The road wasn't exactly fit for backing and turning because of the slope. Anywho, we struggled and found it. It was to my serious curious that how the desk staff were exclusive young people (and mostly very lean and attractive IMO). Their demenors were not out of line, but it surly seemed strange that such a high class resort used this type of staffing strategy, because in my book they were very green and needed lots of polishing. Dinner at the Dogwood per reservation was a...hmm. Tennessee did not strike me as a high-quality ag land with lots of top notch produces, since I grew up in the Mid-West with plenty access to fresh goods. And it must be a regional thing, because everything was beyond salty. Now first kudos to the resort, because it was rather child friendly. We had a toddler tagged along and it was very well accommodated. I would say that we got a few stares from the guests while we dined, because somehow the staff decided to place us right next to someone instead of away from others. While we got mostly complements on our beautiful child, we were still highly concious about the baby-tagging and was very appreciative for what the resort did to help out. Our little cottage was beyond gourgeous. Lots and lots of design elements would be forseeably introduced to my own house. However, it was also notably outdated as you see the green nickle started to stain the caulking with green from the faucets. I was quite obssessed with bathroom cleaning and you could also spot yellow stains on the shower tile. Overall the minimalist design using simply black and white was expertly executed and highly tasteful. Additionally, the little patio with screen and fireplace was such a nice touch to give you the modern yet sense to wildness of the beautiful TN woods. We signed up for 2 activities per day, which proved to be somewhat overwhelming. The property was quite large, and the layout invited lots of lost trip and delays to the events. Blackberry Farm proudly catered itself as a "working farm", though to us who grew on a real farm, it would be more appropriate to call it a garden with a chicken ranch. It was still cute to see different birds and witness my kid freaked out by the proud and the lone dude turkey. We also signed up for a carriage ride. Our guide Rachel was highly knowledgable about the history of the properties. A few of family tragics happened on this beautiful piece of land, with the current owner's son died in a ski trip. The son supposedly introduced the west coast French Laundry style of living into the farm, and I can certainly see how the resort shouted California instead of Tennessee. For those who would be highly interested in the history of the hotel, I strongly recommend to check the carriage ride out. Food wise, again, we weren't terribly impressed consider we were pretty much trapped in the resort. It must be the season of beets because I had never in my life had this much beets (and I really didn't care for the taste since I was a child). I could understand the focus on enhence the nature flavor and using the seasonal ingredients, but the amount of abuse on these ingredents repetitively had me raised my eyebrow. The Barn is a different story. Kudos #2, goes to the breakfast. It was fresh, simple, and truly embraced what farm-borne ingredrents should taste. Excellent flavor on pretty much everything. Do they use different chefs at different meals????? Hotel service was a little subpar. Our ipad in the room were broke, and it tooke 24 hours and 3 calls to finally get it back. The concerige service was mostly adequate. Again, I am not sure if I got the consistent type of attitude and needs some whipping there. Afterall, I felt somewhat obligated to give 4 stars, while the whole package really only would been a solid 3, with my major disappointment on the meals outside of breakfast. It was not a cheap vaca, and we were frequently reminded by countless lawyers, doctors and hedgefund raisers around us bragging about their meaning of being. We even had some doc dude came by and said something about "Your daughter is very lucky." I received that with a very mixed feeling but we are not here to talk about life. We did adore the beauty of the land, and will treasure most of the moments. read more

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This is a beautiful property that offers exceptional service. The rooms are clean and well presented, the food is bountiful, and the atmosphere is friendly. There are long walking paths that lead to various interesting places on property and I recommend getting a golf cart or a bicycle if you plan to explore. The spa offers a heated pool and hot tub as well as a gift shop. There are Stave puzzles in the Main and the Hickory buildings which are just begging to be put together and the property is also dog friendly! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the Dogwood daily and the food is fantastic. Dinners are also served in the Barn, which takes additional reservations for non-guests of the property. The Dogwood is a little more casual, while the Barn requires that men wear a jacket and the food is considered more "upscale" and "inventive". If you stay I recommend trying both as they are very different, but the Dogwood was our favorite. We did not participate in any paid activities as they are very expensive (ex: 5 wine and cheese tasting is $250 a person) but we did borrow a Lexus and take a tour of the Blackberry Mountain property which is gorgeous. It's more of a wellness oriented resort with guest cottages situated around the property. It's less walkable but the views are amazing... maybe we'll stay there next! read more

I am a rather grumpy critical person, especial when I pay a lot for something, I'd like it to be perfect. But I cannot complain about my experience at Blackberry Farm. Work has sent me to some nice hotels around the world, but this place is unique. I say this even though this place is way more expensive for me to probably ever go back (unless I'll win a lottery or two; fingers crossed; who more deserving than me? ;-) ). Basically, it worth the price, if you have the money. This place is as beautiful as magazine advertisements. Maybe even more. Great for relaxing.Staff are super nice and attentive. Seem happy working there and did their best to make feel most welcome. Amenities are great (you can borrow their Lexus SUVs to drive around for free or just have them drive you; you want to ride a golf cart? no problem two hours free. Ohh, you want to feed the horsey? Take these apples to feed him, oh while you are there here is some sheep food to give to the horsey's woolly friends). You can sign up for many activities (extra $$$), which seemed fun, but we did not do any as we enjoyed walking around and just enjoying the place (I could not get bored there). Food, which this place is known for, was great, especially at the Barn. Does not disappoint. Now did I absolutely loved everything that I ate there? No, but but I can understand that another person might have loved that particular dish. In conclusion, I do not regret the money that I spent or the pounds that I gained in Blackberry Farm. read more

Such a great place to unwind for a few days to enjoy nature and all the great amenities on the farm like the spa and pool. It's so pretty on the farm and I've never returned from a vacation so relaxed. Would love to go back! read more

Blackberry Farm - Resorts Near Me - Walland, Tennessee

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* a stunning backdrop of the gorgeous Smoky Mountains (nearby Great Smoky National Park). * exquisite and award-winning cuisine by James Beard Chef Joseph Lenn. * luxurious accommodations and facilities on a 4,200 acree resort. * world-class service and unmatched Southern Hospitality. All of the above perfectly describe Blackberry Farm, but for those fortunate to visit, it clearly is something very much more and more special. With accolades like being named Bon Appetit Magazine's #1 Hotel for Food Lovers in America and Travel + Leisure Magazine's #1 Resort in the Continental United States, it's hard to argue that Blackberry Farm is a hidden gem, but given the low guest count, the expansive property and the friendly service and hospitality, it's easy to understand why it still feels very much so. While critics may point to the high prices (that include the decadent meals including those cooked by James Beard Best Chef Southeast Joseph Lenn), you can't walk away without feeling as if you've left with something much more. Blackberry Farm was a trip of a lifetime and I feel lucky to have visited. It truly was a rare chance to escape, to relax, and to enjoy. ** For Californians, the lack of a direct flight to the nearest airport Knoxville is a tad inconvenient, but sometimes to escape, sacrifices must be made. read more

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Life changing. The best part is the farm tour Amazing people. Add to that the books the owners have written. I will never forget this trip! read more

Despite being charged a service fee at the restaurants, the servers don't get any of it! We were mortified! Our server slipped us a note letting us know and we gave them $200 our last day. read more

I am having a hard time deciding what to rate this place. I am stuck between a 3 and a 4 over-all. A solid 5 for atmosphere. A 4 or 5 for the food. A 5 for the service. And like a 1 for value. The tasting menu is $125 a head, not including drinks or tax or gratuity. You get just three courses, an amuse bouche or two, and dessert. Drinks were 15 bucks a pop. We are not strangers to pricey restaurants, but the value here may be the problem. It was a special occasion of sorts, and this must have been the most expensive dinner we've ever eaten. Don't get me wrong. The food was sooooooo good. We've been wanting to come here for a long time. It is a fairly unique venue on The Daily Meal's list of "101 best restaurants in the US" and pretty off-the-beaten-path. It is a very strange, strange system. You arrive at the check-in building for the resort. They take your credit card in advance. They take your car. They take you in a mini van to the barn, where the restaurant is. The barn is quite lovely, and it reminded me of Artisanal, a restaurant in Banner Elk, NC. We were given a 6 PM reservation. (On that note, I had a hard time getting in touch with a live person to make the reservation. I had called a month out, and we played phone tag for a couple weeks.) They really cater to guests who are staying at the resort. We almost felt like aliens, not staying here. Guests' meals are included in the rate of accommodation, and while it is high, we were both calculating in our heads whether we should have stayed here or not. Ultimately, I think we made the right choice, if only for the fact that this property doesn't have private outdoor hot tubs for guests, and the cabin where we decided to stay *did*. Everyone here is very happy. The women look a little bit like Stepford Wives. I felt like I was in a cross between the movie "Pleasantville" and the Twilight Zone. The entire property is sort of an enigma, with this seemingly cheerful and simple facade. At the end of your meal, there is no check. You get up and leave, they page for the minivan, and you check out at the main lodge of the resort where you initially checked in. They hand you a receipt with a (shocking) summary of your dinner. Again, I knew it wouldn't be cheap, but I just think that we have had so many more enjoyable dinners for a fraction of the cost in an atmosphere just as beautiful. read more

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We were so looking forward to booking accommodations and first spoke to the front desk, whose representative was very nice. However, the reservations individual was so self-important, unknowledgeable and frankly, unwelcoming, we decided there were other places to visit instead. read more

Whenever you seek a time away from home, it is important to ask yourself why, and what are you seeking? If you are seeking an opportunity to keep up some of your other life, wifi hotspot, good reception, etc, I would think again about this resort. If you are thinking you want to drop that stuff, and enjoy a beautiful time with wonderful staff and be taken care of, and you do not have cost accounting at the top of your list. This is your destination. I booked this visit with myself, and my brothers family. I had not seen my brother in some time, and I wanted to enjoy time with him and his family. I wanted them to be comfortable, and spoiled. We enjoyed, fly fishing, horseback riding, going down to visit puppies, a carriage ride, and a nature hike all with caring, knowledgable staff. Some of these staff members have been friends that we have now made and we get Christmas cards from them, because their interest and caring is at that incredible level. On our visit, one of our biggest highlights was a Thunderstorm that hit while we were coming back to the barn from horseback riding, and a power outage that resulted in some amazing cheeses and champagnes being delivered. I cannot tell you how much I treasure that time, and the Christmas ornament my brother sent me from the gift shop. read more

My husband and I stayed at Blackberry Farm last year for Halloween. We have stayed at a number of a 5-star resorts and what we encountered was unacceptable. I'm honestly not sure how to explain what happened: either Blackberry is just very inconsistent in how it trains its staff (although some come from professional hotelier schools) or we were discriminated against. I honestly felt it was a mix of these two things because we were absolutely some of the youngest people at the resort and I got the feeling that there was a perception we could not afford to be there. 1) Inadequate pre-stay experience. Prior to check in, someone is supposed to contact you to explain to how to fully enjoy the property because it is huge and there are tons of activities to do. Especially if you've never stayed there before (like us), the list of activities is dizzying. No one explained to us that we should book activities in advance and no one explained that we needed to book The Barn, their 5-star restaurant, in advance. We had I ssues booking dinner and other activities because no one gave us a heads up about the booking process. 2) Poor check-in service. The concierge at check in really didn't tell us much about anything except to tell us we could book activities if we wanted. My husband asked if we could book the whiskey tasting and we were told it was full and that we should have booked it in advance. While she was checking us in, I overheard the other concierge tell another guest about all the types of activities they could do. I was really taken aback and confused about why our concierge didn't bother to tell us any of this or give us recommendations. 3) Inattention to detail. From not being given water for a 2-hour hike (even though other guests were handed bottles) to issues ordering drinks (no menu, no pricing, wrong drinks, mistakes on final bill). 4) Issues with dining. The first night we ate at The Barn was disappointing because of the sommelier and the car service back at the end of dinner. I asked the sommelier if they could cater the wine pairing to include sweeter wines for me. I like dessert wine and I don't make excuses about it; I've had other restaurants/sommeliers cater wine pairings in this way for me without issues. The somm, instead of offering to find a solution, told me initially that she couldn't do that because the wine pairings were pre-set. She eventually told me she could offer me a few substitutions, but the way she handled it wasn't acceptable to me. In addition, The Barn has a 100+ page wine list and 160,000 bottles of wine to choose from (they have the largest wine cellar in the country); the somm didn't explain the wine list to my husband, who was clearly very lost in the list, or make proactive recommendations to him. We finally finished dinner as one of the last tables to wrap up and went upstairs to get a car back to the main property (they provide free shuttle service for the guests). No one was around, so we waited...and we waited...and we waited some more. I finally picked up the phone behind the desk and called myself to ask for a car to come get us. 5. A weird incident. When we were ready to check out, we went to ask for our car and one of the valets said "yes, for Chang right?"...which is not our name... My husband and I rarely ever experience any racial problems (he is Korean and I am white)...but for a staff member at a resort like Blackberry Farm to assume our last name, and incorrectly at that, based on my husband's race was absolutely unacceptable. I think it was genuinely an honest mistake and not racism, either way it is very problematic it happened at all. Blackberry Farms has a breath-taking property and an exceptional star rating, so the fact that we had so many service issues was mind-blowing. On top of that, we never once during our short stay had anyone approach us to ask how our stay was - although I certainly saw managers ask other hotel guests how their stays were going. Again, I'm at a complete loss to explain how it's possible we experienced so many problems during our time there. My husband ended up emailing management afterwards to explain how disappointed we were with our stay with a brief explanation of why; we got a response a couple days later that apologized, but mostly blamed COVID, which I laughed at because face masks don't impede the delivery of excellent service, especially when you see staff everywhere and other hotel guests being treated differently or better than you. They also offered us a complimentary stay to make it up to us, which we were NOT interested in and will not accept. To me, exceptional service should be there in the first place for every guest at a 5-star resort and the fact that they think they can "re-do" that doesn't fix the underlying issue which is that their staff needs better training. I'm not sure if anything has markedly changed since we stayed there almost a year ago...but I'm hoping other guests are having a better. read more

We have been coming here for several years now. Blackberry has had a lot of nice upgrades since we started coming. They now brew there own beer that is really outstanding. They have added a new spa that is really beautiful. The chefs continue to put out southern food with an elegant flair. The staff take care of your every wish in a professional way. read more

Blackberry Farm - Checkin flowers are a nice touch! - Resorts Near Me - Walland, Tennessee

I had been looking forward to staying at Blackberry Farm for such a long time and we finally made it happen this September after our visit for the Battle at Bristol and to celebrate our anniversary. The food experience is 5+ stars all of the way...every single thing I ate was absolutely divine and something I will never forget. Honestly, the accommodations and level of service were 3 star, which was somewhat disappointing - from lack of communication upon check-in when our room wasn't ready even though we had a guaranteed check-in time (for that much money you expect your room to be ready on time) to the less than polished staff members that we encountered (not all of them, but again they should be recruiting top talent at this type of establishment not the college kids that we encountered many places)...just not the 5 star level of service you would expect for the money you are paying. The views of the Smoky Mountains are amazing and make sure you don't miss the sunrise...so serene and otherworldly! We enjoyed our breakfast on the patio and enjoyed the sunrise each morning. I completed the survey upon check-out and no one contacted me even though I brought up several issues we encountered and asked to be contacted...again, not what you would expect for the price we paid! Not sure if losing the owner a while back has played a part in the drop in service, but I certainly hope they can get it together because we would love to visit again for the food and wine experience alone. read more

Just celebrated our wedding anniversary and here am having a difficult time coming up with the appropriate adjectives. Superb all around!! The cuisine, the staff, the setting, all over the top! Not cheap but worth the splurge for special occasions. We'll be back! #makeagreatday read more

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This property is a little piece of heaven. Before visiting, I read through some historical reviews which alarmed me. After spending three nights and 4 days there, I can attest to excellent food, excellent service and that it is place to unwind and recharge. Also, I visited with my 4 yr old daughter and found that it was very family friendly whilst still balancing the needs and wishes of the other patrons who maybe wanted to "avoid" children/families and have their romantic weekends. The only complaint was that as people mentioned below, 19% gratuity is tacked on to the aggregate bill. Its a lofty sum so that with taxes kind of triples your original bill. I have no problem handing out gratuity and I would say that every single employee we interacted with was worthy of gratuity however, despite Blackberry's claim that they don't accept cash tips since its already added to the bill, they very well do. You can tell and I found myself tipping certain people and not others, trying to asses how other patrons were handling this. Finally, one evening I spoke with a few other guests and they were all in the same camp - that the gratuity situation is just plain awkward. I wish that the property would reassess how they handle this because it is a bit much to tack on an automatic 19% and then pass out cash tips as well. Outside of this, absolutely exquisite place and I look forward to visiting again. read more

This is a very special place. We visited Blackberry Farm for our first time on an unusually chilly weekend. The mountains, the landscape, the buildings, the grounds are all immaculate. Such a beautiful place, even during the cold winter. Before you come, you work with the concierge on your personalized itinerary. You can do as much or as little as you like. Being foodies, we chose a cooking demonstration and a wine and cheese tasting for one day. Another day we chose horseback riding and a Farm tour, but we canceled those due to a very rainy day. As disappointing as that was to miss those activities, we substituted for some spa services instead. The spa! Wow! It was fabulous! Over the weekend we had massages, facials, body scrubs, steam showers & hair services. Yes, very indulgent, but that's the point. The spa, as everywhere else on the Farm, was clean and luxurious. The locker rooms are equipped with amenities you would need as well as robes & slippers. Our cottage was cozy and perfect and we had access to our own golf cart to get around. There's a lot more I can say, but I'll end by mentioning the food. In a few words: artistic, amazingly delicious, made with love. No matter what you eat, you won't be disappointed!! This place is award-winning for good reason. I can't wait to come back again. read more

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Just returned from a 5 day stay with my family. This TN gem was extraordinary in every way. The grounds, the staff, the food and wine, all excellent. *********** We stayed in the Elkmont. It was very roomy for our group of 8. I must say it was hard to leave the beautiful screen porch, but we did enjoy the entire home. Staff was great about cleaning and replenishing everything. Decor was warm and inviting. Everyone we met was kind and considerate and just plain friendly. Love that! The food was divine, everything just as expected from such an acclaimed spot. The wine selection was amazing and we enjoyed many bottles with our dinner, the Somm was very good at advising. A special shout out to Randy in the gift shop. Very fun personality and knowledgeable on products. Sam Beall and family have created something very special here, I tip my hat to you all. Well done. :) We look forward to another trip there soon. read more

Best of the best. The people, the nature, the food, wine, spa. Need to relax and get away? No better place. Period.

*Can we have more stars, Yelp? Please? A hidden gem in my backyard. *The food here is in a category of its own. *It's incomparable to anything I've ever had, in Knoxville or the rest of this Country. *It's likely on par with some 7-star resort in Dubai or Fiji that I've never even heard about. *I cannot tell you how delicious the food is. *EVERYTHING is amazing. *You cannot go wrong at Blackberry Farm. (Originally Posted on April 7, 2011) I'm ashamed to admit for the 1+ year I've been living in East TN, I thought this place was a farm that grows blackberries. It's amazing to me, still, how many people (locals and tourists alike) don't know about this incredible piece of heaven that abuts the Great Smoky Mountains. Even if people do know about it, ask any Knoxville local and I almost guarantee they've never been here! This is the definition of real hidden gem. And it's only 30 minutes outside Knoxville! It's hard to explain Blackberry Farm in words but let me try... 9000+ acres of land (4200+ 5000 additional acres) that includes a breathtaking array of flowers, trees, homegrown vegetables, fruits, herbs, farms, cozy & elegant hideaway cottages, restaurants with first class food, lounging areas, activities like horseback riding, shooting, fly fishing plus more...and just pure magnificent scenery. This just does it no justice...You. Must. Go. Tip: Locals, I am talking to you especially- There's no need to get on a plane to get away. BB Farm makes a great retreat and it's right in our backyard. Even if you cannot spend a weekend, go eat at The Barn, where dynamite Chef Joseph Lenn creates his own specialty versions of Southern cuisine. Tip: Go in the Fall when the weather is perfect and the tree leaves are a multitude of colors. There is no place in this country as gorgeous as East TN in the Autumn. Tip: Ride around the 9000+ acre property in golf carts and horseback into the Smokies. Note: A place so special cannot be cheap. Expect to pay a pretty dollar for your BB Farm experience. I promise you it's worth it! read more

What I liked (in this case LOVED): 1. Everything- I've been to a lot of hotels and restaurants that claim to be "luxury" establishments, but this embodies what I might call casual or welcome luxury in every sense of the word from the James Beard award winning Chef and wine program to Frette sheets on the bed to the supremely attentive service- this place has the WOW factor. 2. PUPPIES! As if this couldn't get better, you can visit the award winning truffle hunting dog's puppies- who can resist? What I didn't like: 1. Be prepared to shell out $200+/person (plus service fee of 20% that auto included) for EVERY activity 2. There was a snafu in the billing system when we reserved our prepaid room - while we were told we were charged, it was an unpleasant surpirse when we checked out that we owed a significant balance. The Verdict- If you can swing the cost, this is a truly special place to spend a weekend. read more

Items selected: Farmstead Firecracker - Blackberry Farm Strawberry Jam, Light Rum, Garden Mint, Jalapeno, Ginger, Lemon Lime Soda Spring Onion Brioche, Honey Wheat Whole Grain, Butter, Brebis Chive Cream Cheese Spread Egg Yolk, Caviar, Crème Fraiche Panna Cotta, Chives, Potato Chip, Flowering Blossom Bean and Cucumber Salad - Pole beans, blackberries, Pickled Onions, Mint, Cucumber Emulsion Hearth Fried Farm Egg - Fried Egg, Chicken Cracklins', Watercress, Garlic Confit, Chili Oil North Carolina Mountain Trout - Garden Tomatoes, Cornbread, Wax Bean, Basil Grilled Peking Duck Breast - Garden Beets, Bacon Braised Cabbage, Arugula, Honey Duck Jus Painted Hills Beef - Buttermilk Potatoes, Carrots, Roasted Onion, King Trumpet Mushrooms Marinated Blackberry Farm Feta, Tomato Consomme, Basil Granita Praline Crumble, local peaches, bourbon infused crème anglaise Farmstead Brebis Semifreddo - Blackberry Paper, Peaches in forms, Corn Flour Crumbs, Sweet Pesto Caramel Macaron Located in Walland, amidst the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, Blackberry Farm is an icon of American Luxury - a Relais & Chateax property with true sense of history that every single employee on the 4,200 acre estate will be happy to share with you as you tour the grounds by foot, golf cart, or private car. To those who know, in addition to being a beautiful resort full of bucolic scenery, outdoor activities, and zen-like quiet Blackberry Farm is also a dining destination - dinner in The Barn a jacket-required affair focused on locally sourced proteins and produce, antique linens, china, and silver, plus lavish service befitting the formal environs to all who stay at the resort and a limited number of persons not taking up residence on the property each night, myself the only one on a Thursday in early August when I sat down for Chef Joseph Lenn's nightly tasting menu. A lovely space with high ceilings and a personal escort to and from The Barn a pure focus on the food served at Blackberry Farm that evening would fall far short of the experience of place because although each item served was perfectly prepared and made of the highest quality ingredients none save for the impeccable Brebis dessert and a perfectly prepared piece of trout stood out from the pack as particularly 'memorable' and focusing on precision as opposed to innovation much of the food was nothing one couldn't find at a local farm-to-table restaurant, though I'm certain this was not the case when the restaurant opened so many years ago. A magical place well worth its destination status for dinner or an extended stay, go early for tea and cookies in the main house and stay late for toasted marshmallows and s'mores, and don't forget to wander the grounds absorbing the history and serenity. read more

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After a weekend away, I'm usually more than happy to get home. Not this time... This was one of the most fantastic places I've ever been, and I didn't even stay as a guest! I was at BBF this past weekend for a wedding, but just couldn't spring for the $700/night. But it didn't matter, because the staff treated us just the same. Beautiful grounds, amazing food, and fun activities. The service was incredible. We were lucky enough to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main house, and then a subsequent dinner at the barn. Even casual meals like lunch and breakfast were carefully served and prepared. Dinner was nothing short of wonderful. I want to go back and never come home. read more

THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD........ THE NEW GREENBRIER.... with a culinary school that makes you wonder how the ......... did i just cook this THE food is an O in your mouth and the interior is simply beautiful ... They offer an amazing assortment of the best wines from across the world. The staff is beyond friendly The only complaint about the resort is you cant bring outside liquor on to the premises ..... Did not listen to that rule read more

I have been here twice. I do not know how NOT to give 5stars. Once I brought my elderly dog with us(golden) and they had all kinds of doggie friendly surprises for her. The rooms are impeccable. Service is superb, and dining experience is just top notch. Yes sure, four seasons and ritz carltons are nice, but at blackberry farm, EVERY staff go above and beyond their expectation. If one can afford it, there's no better place around this part of the United States for sure read more

A magical stay in the mountains. Not a single detail left unattended to. Exceptional service, amazing food, great fly fishing experience with Brandon, loved the hiking, most comfortable bed I've ever slept on. Thank you Blackberry Farm. Food for the soul. I'll be back. read more

My hometown is a little over an hour away from here, but I only first visited Blackberry last spring. I was fortunate enough to have my family take me here. I should state that my review is only based on the bar, the grounds, and the restaurant since we didn't spend the night here, although from my experience at these spots, I'm sure the rooms are lovely here as well. The property is rather large and you could spend some time just looking around. They'll even give you a little golf cart to do so. It's on a large tract of land near the Great Smoky Mountains. Blackberry Farms has all the luxuries of a high end place in the city, but with the addition of nature and a rustic touch to everything. Service was excellent! From the moment we entered the grounds, we were well taken care of. The drinks at the bar were top notch and the view from the porch of the green rolling hills and the mountains was spectacular. Their 2015 James Beard Award for excellent service is well-deserved. Dinner was quite good, but was a little disappointing for the price tag and didn't live up to some of my Michelin Star dining experiences. Strangely enough, the amuse bouche was the best part of the meal. It was a tiny quail leg and the smokiest thing I've ever eaten. It was packed with flavor and fall off the bone tender. I liked that you had choices on the three course menu for each course, which helped with picky eaters. I enjoyed my salad with snap peas and homemade cheese. It was super fresh. The shrimp and grits was excellent even without the pork, which they left out for me. They were creamy and there was a lot of flavor in the sauce. The poussin was a disappointment after the quail as it had less smoke and flavor, but was still tasty. The dessert was the biggest let down as the olive oil ice cream had no olive oil flavor what-so-ever. I think I made the wrong choice though as I tasted the dessert my mom got and it was quite flavorful. The portions are generous for high-end dining, and I walked away full. The wine program here is excellence! Don't miss out on the wine pairing that is a must-do. There isn't a pairing listed for the 4 course menu, but if you ask, they will do it based on your wine preferences and your entrees. I can't say enough about how good it was. We went for an off the wall pairing and we were surprised and delighted with the selections throughout the evening. If the review was based on the wine program alone, it's 5 stars all the way. Again, the wine program won a justly deserved James Beard Award in 2014, so this is the place to go for wine. When we finished our dinner, the valet had already brought our cars around and they were already temperature adjusted and waiting for us. I would return if I wanted a nice evening out in East Tennessee. Your options for fine dining are more limited here than where I live now in Philadelphia. Just be advised that Blackberry farms doesn't come cheap. Dinner for four with the 4 course meal (not the tasting) with two of us have wine pairings ran around $1,000. This is rather steep for Tennessee prices, but it's the unique experience in the countryside with a top notice service and wine program that makes it worth it. read more

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My wife and came here this past June. Nothing short of expectations across the board. Period. Above and beyond experiences, everything from fly fishing Hesse Creek, the spa and dining. Service and staff was exceptional in every aspect. Really, too many superlatives and positive details to be written here. Highly recommend. My wife and I plan on making a autumn visit next time around. read more

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Was able to eat at the barn it was nice. I had the trout it was very delicious however the portion was quite small my significant other had the beef not rememberingWhat the entrée was called but it was very good we also had some of their wine and beer which were quite delicious the environment was quite nice it was also nice that they show around in there Lexus GX SUVs however overpriced for quality and quantity of food you were getting. But blackberry farms pride them self on being a luxury resort all inclusive. It is just that a luxury resort and I would not recommend going just to eat at the barn however staying couple nights would probably give you the full effect of the resort and also the ability to try the other restaurant read more