Southall Farm & Inn — Hotel Review

amenities

rooms

Reviewed by Margaret Littman

Why book?

Southall is an experience unto itself—with 325 acres of rolling Middle Tennessee hills, impeccable service, and every imaginable amenity—designed as a destination on its own, not a place to sleep while entertaining yourself elsewhere.

Set the scene

Nestled in historic Franklin, 25 miles south of downtown Nashville, Southall is a sustainable getaway from Music City. As soon as you enter the property's gates, you’ll leave your car. For the entirety of your stay you’ll walk, bike, borrow an ATV, or be shuttled in a cart. This car-less experience contributes to the bucolic experience of the environs. The crowd here has an easy elegance: folks who came to Nashville on business first and this is the casual portion of the trip. Couple and family getaways, wedding guests, anyone could be wandering along the paths. But you might not see them. Even when most of the rooms are booked at Southall, thanks to its design you feel like you have a resort of your own.

The backstory

On what was unremarked upon farmland a few years ago, Southall was built from the ground up, now with 16 different guest cottages, an inn, a restaurant (with a second in the works), a spa, a pool, an orchard, greenhouses, farm stands, gardens, hiking trails, beekeeping facilities, demonstration kitchens, and more, all with an eye toward sustainable use. For example, the pond (called Lake Mishkin) was needed to irrigate that orchard. So, it is used for complimentary kayaking and paddleboarding.

The rooms

The cottages on the hillside are cleverly designed, so despite being relatively close to one another, you can't hear or see the folks next door. Instead you can soak in a giant bathtub, looking out on the trees, or sit on your porch swing or in your screened-in porch. Rooms in the inn may be in a more traditional hotel format, but they are no less luxurious. Soaker bathtubs, gas fireplaces, sofas for curling up with a good book are found here, too. Check out the custom-made wallpaper; it's designed to mimic the scenery out the window.

Food and drink

Southall is a working farm first, so the majority of ingredients on the plate are grown on premises, including in one of two greenhouses that make it possible to grow citrus and other more tropical fruits and herbs in Tennessee. Local honey and jams are made on-site; you can participate in classes and tastings. Most meals are taken at Sojourner, the three-meals-a-day option, cooking up Southall-raised eggs for breakfast and seasonal entrees with local vegetables at night under the direction of Executive Chef Andrew Klamar. Room service is available (delivered in the golf cart) if you prefer to eat on your cottage porch, and you’ll get a live potted plant to admire on your tray. A fine dining restaurant, January, is in the works.

The spa

Like all of Southall, the spa is an oasis of calm. Connected to the main lodge, it features traditional spa treatment rooms and gender-segregated locker rooms. An unusual treat is the co-ed soaking pool, overlooking Lake Mishkin, which allows families to plunge and relax together before or after their treatments, which run the gamut from massage to sound bath to tea ceremonies. Many of the botanicals used in the medicinal treatments are grown onsite.

The neighborhood/area

While Southall is just four miles from historic downtown Franklin, it is designed to feel like there's nothing else around. From the moment you enter the gates, your experience is Southall-centric. The only neighbors you’ll see are the birds and the only traffic is the staff golf carts unless you choose to leave the property.

The service

Whatever you need, you can get at Southall; there's a team of attentive staff who know your name and will be there to make it happen, whether you want s’mores supplies for your fire pit, a ride to the zipline course, or a dinner reservation. While the staff is professional and ubiquitous (even during national staffing shortages), they are not formal, and you get the laid-back vibes of being at your summer house in the mountains…if your summer house was 325 acres.

For families

Many of the planned activities, including the aerial course and ziplining, jam- and honey-tasting classes, falconry, fly fishing, ATV experiences, and guided hikes are designed to do with or without kids. Southall is the kind of resort where you can have some quality time with the kids, enjoying experiences instead of screens. But if you are traveling without your kids, you won't feel surrounded by other people's families. Couples-time and family-friendly activities co-exist well here.

Eco effort

Southall is trying to walk the talk when it comes to sustainability, from removing invasive species of plants on the property to seed saving to composting. Tours of the land, with explanations of the conservation efforts, are available for interested guests.

Accessibility

The property meets ADA standards. Some cottages and hiking trails may not be as accessible as others. Discuss any concerns before booking specific rooms.

Anything left to mention?

Southall is a resort unlike others, luxury and casual at the same time, of Tennessee but also of the world. No detail has been overlooked. If you get parched while walking the trails, pop into a resting station with bathrooms, coffee, water, snacks, books, and magazines.

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By Margaret Littman