Chateau Elan

If you are in need of a weekend getaway, an overnight staycation, or just a day to relax and unwind, Chateau Elan has everything you’re looking for.

Nestled just off of I-85 in Braselton Ga, about 40 minutes north of Atlanta, Chateau Elan is a resort and winery modeled after 16th-century French design.

The property is home to a 200-acre vineyard, a luxurious spa with accompanying villas, pristine golf courses, an equestrian center, a tennis complex, a conference center, and more.

Needless to say, it’s your one-stop-shop for a luxury weekend or overnight getaway whether you’re a local or out-of-towner.

The Chateau itself is the centerpiece of the property and holds the winery, The Marc steakhouse, and a small shop of wines and gifts.

Outside you’ll find Adirondack chairs around fire pits, cornhole, oversized games, and hammocks, making it the perfect place to hang out with friends or sit quietly and relax.

The Inn at Chateau Elan

A short walk from the Chateau is the Inn at Chateau Elan. Inside you’ll find the Versailles restaurant and Louis’ House of Bourbon, along with a cafe for your morning coffee, and plenty of plush leather couches to kick back, relax and enjoy time with your travel companions.

Everything about the Inn is inviting. From the friendly resort staff to the cozy fireplaces, once you check in you won’t want to leave!

Activities

Apart from the obvious amenities, Chateau Elan offers a variety of events and activities on the property that you’ll definitely want to check out.

Some of these include wine tastings, fireside s’mores, painting classes, culinary classes, mixology demonstrations, charcuterie workshops, bike rentals, and the list goes on and on.

Needless to say, FOMO is a real thing when you’re here. There’s so much to do, it’s hard to make time for it all!

All activities can be found on Chateau Elan’s calendar here.

Some activities require a reservation and come at an additional cost, even if you are staying on the property. Be sure to make a reservation prior to your trip to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the festivities that pique your interest!

Afternoon Tea

($65/person)

With the growing popularity of shows like Downton Abby and Bridgerton, Afternoon Tea, also called High Tea, is making its way into American culture and I’m so excited it is!

It was Chateau Elan’s Afternoon Tea that first got me interested in visiting the resort.

What is Afternoon Tea exactly? It is a selection of hot teas served with all the acompaniments (sugar, milk, honey), along with a tower of treats such as mini quiche, finger sandwiches, macaroons, and other sweet and savory bites.

Jamie

The Off-Day Adventurer

Upon arrival, guests are given a tea menu curated by Ikaati and offered their own individual pot of tea.

I chose the Black Orchid (HIGHLY recommend) and Mitchell chose the Royal Breakfast. The tea is prepared tableside and served in the china teapots.

I was a little apprehensive about having my own teapot, fearing it would be WAY too much tea.

However, it was SO good I couldn’t stop topping off my cup.

I’m not a tea fanatic. I drink it from time to time but don’t crazy about it or anything.

This was different.

I drank AT LEAST 4 cups before I cut myself off for fear of caffeine overload! Did I mention it was so good? It was SO good! 😛

The server delivered our tower of treats and everything was so delicious.

It was the perfect paring and, although small bites, the perfect snack for the afternoon prior to our 7pm dinner reservation.

I cannot recommend this Afternoon Tea enough. I just kept saying over and over to Mitchell, “This is so fun!” and “Isn’t this so fun?!”

I think I loved the experience so much because it was so out of the ordinary from how I would otherwise spend an afternoon at a hotel or resort.

Americans don’t routinely partake in afternoon tea/high tea, and getting to have this experience was more fun than I realized it would be.

Pro Tip: We also had the opportunity to sit in a private little nook that was decorated like an affluent library. If you can request this little spot, I highly recommend it. Not only does it give some privacy, the colors and decor provide the perfect backdrop for gorgeous photos of your date.

Jamie

The Off-Day Adventurer

If you need a date idea, a gift for someone, a bachelorette weekend event, or just a girls’ day, this is the perfect thing.

It’s a great out-of-the-box idea that whoever is on the receiving end will be so happy you thought of it.

Accommodations: The Elan Escape Package

For our overnight stay, we opted to do the Escape package which included a complimentary bottle of wine at check-in, dinner for two at the Versaille restaurant, our room reservation, and breakfast the next morning at Versaille.

(The Chateau called us and asked if we wanted to upgrade our reservation to have dinner at the Chateau’s steakhouse, The Marc, for an additional $100/person. We opted against this and decided to continue with our reservation at Versaille, but know this is an option.)

The dinner included a soup or salad and an entree for each person, and a dessert. Breakfast included an entree for each person. Gratuities and alcoholic beverages are not included in the package price.

I loved having the option to do a package because I knew that everything was already taken care of once I booked.

If the Escape package isn’t what you’re looking for, know they have a variety of other options that include amenities such as the spa, golf, and pet accommodations.

The Takeaway

Overall, we were so pleased with our overnight stay at Chateau Elan. Like I said before, this hidden gem makes for a great staycation or actual getaway.

Another important note is that you can spend the day at Chateau Elan, schedule a wine tasting or class, have dinner, but then not actually stay overnight.

This eliminates the expense of a room and allows you to enjoy the property all while keeping costs to a minimum.