Historic Flat Iron Hotel, Luminosa restaurant open in downtown Asheville
Days before its public debut, The Flat Iron Hotel was abuzz with staff and contractors putting the finishing touches on the historic downtown landmark. A top coat of polish was worked into the preserved original lobby floors, new recipes were tested for dishes considered for the menu of the Italian-inspired restaurant, and final adjustments were underway in rooms and suites as the hospitality staff prepared to welcome the first guests.
It’s been years in the making but the Indigo Road Hospitality property will open an adaptive reuse boutique with awe-inspiring designs, views, and experiences for locals and guests to the city. On May 15, The Flat Iron Hotel will officially open at 20 Battery Park Ave. after construction delays.
“We’ve been training for a whole year for this part of it,” said Executive Chef Graham House, who is leading culinary operations with fellow Asheville local, Chef de Cuisine Sean McMullen. The hotel offers six guest floors with 71 rooms, three food and beverage concepts, a conference room, and a coworking office. Plus, amenities like the premium concierge services. The Flat Iron Building, constructed in 1926 and modeled after the famed flatiron-shaped building of the same name in New York, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Experience at The Flat Iron Hotel
The skyscraper was a retail and office building and home to WWNC, Asheville’s first radio station that broadcasted from the ninth floor. Interior architecture and design firm Mey & Co and local architecture firm Rowhouse Architects led the extensive renovation to preserve its original Art Deco design and transform it into The Flat Iron Hotel. The Flat Iron Hotel aims to awe visitors from its rooftop bar with vista views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown to its ground-level café and restaurant to the Prohibition Era-style speakeasy with secret entryways hidden in the former basement boiler room.
Exclusive Offerings Throughout the Hotel
“I’m super stoked. It’s been a long time coming,” McMullen said. “Having our live fire going and being able to work with local farmers again is awesome.” The Flat Iron Hotel team took the Citizen Times on a rooftop-to-basement tour of The Flat Iron Hotel and shared what makes the property a standout.
Enter The Flat Iron Hotel
The grand entrance on Battery Park Avenue leads to an intimate lobby where guests can check in and out, request a classic luggage cart, or receive guidance from the concierge at the reception desk. The Wedge Brewing Company has partnered with The Flat Iron Hotel to brew the Flat Iron Italian Pilsner, which will be offered to guests at check-in.
Stay, Work at The Flat Iron Hotel
General Manager Jeff Elstro said two original antique elevators ― expected to be active by September ― have been restored and fortified with modern components and will be manually operated by an elevator attendant. A modern automatic elevator is operational, too. Floors three to eight have guest rooms and suites positioned along the angular hallways of the triangular-shaped building.
Luminosa Restaurant and Café
Adjacent to the lobby is Luminosa ― an Italian-style restaurant by night and café by day with an open-air patio off Battery Park Avenue. The dining room is designed as a warm, chic tavern with classic tables, banquettes, and a bar.
Morning Pastries, After-Dinner Dessert
Executive Pastry Chef Mattie Grey curated the dessert menu with options including the “Secret Garden” made with a chicory and espresso sponge, mascarpone mousse, and a salted chocolate crumb. Stay longer for after-dinner coffee, tea, cocktails, dessert wines, and amaro.
The Rooftop Bar
Take a trip to the ninth floor for the chic hangout aptly named The Rooftop Bar. Opening May 17, The Rooftop Bar offers indoor seating, and three offshoot outdoor deck areas provide different panoramic views of the city and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Red Ribbon Society
The Red Ribbon Society, an exclusive speakeasy bar, is tucked away in the hotel’s basement. It’s named for “the anti-Prohibitionists of 1907, who boldly sported red ribbons as a symbol of defiance.” The Red Ribbon Society will be open on weekends from 7 p.m.-midnight on Thursday-Saturday.
The Flat Iron Hotel offers an array of unique experiences and unparalleled hospitality, making it a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike. With its rich history and modern amenities, the hotel is set to become a cornerstone of the vibrant Asheville community.
