Downtown Raleigh’s most iconic building is entering a new era. Originally slated for demolition, the affectionately dubbed “hair curler” got a chance at a second life after it was acquired by Tidal Real Estate Partners in 2021. And come October, the longtime landmark will reopen as a 204-room boutique Hotel Indigo following a $36 million renovation that honors its backstory while bringing it firmly into the present.
While the former round Holiday Inn’s exterior was preserved to a tee from its original 1969 design, every aspect of the interior will be almost unrecognizable—from the parking deck to the lobby and guest rooms to the 20th-floor bar.
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“It’s quite a specific building, with a lot of idiosyncrasies,” maintains Tidal Principal Eyal Einik. “And what we tried to do is explore ways to promote them and have them come through in the design while at the same time bringing everything in the interior up to what a modern traveler would be looking for.”
Crowning the renovation is the new public-facing 20th-floor cocktail bar and gathering space managed by Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group—which will dish food, including breakfast, and local brews—plus a private dining area and flexible event space, all serving up views unlike anything else in the city. And while Tidal toyed with the idea of making the space into a larger restaurant, notes Einik, keeping the event venue was an important decision for both the hotel and the community.
“Talking to folks that have lived in Raleigh for a long time, the story more often than not was something like ‘I had my prom up there,’ or ‘I went to a friend’s wedding up there,’” he reflects. “We just felt like we couldn’t lose that.”
But how you pull up has gotten a modern upgrade. Rather than arriving by car via the ’60s drive-up entrance, the lobby is reconfigured to open up onto Hillsborough Street, with guests entering through a striking glass entrance—while parking will now be valet only. A new lush courtyard with seating will give both guests and locals another place to linger—think local vendors slinging drinks from an Airstream in the summertime and other events.
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Einik reassures that though the inside of the hotel has been dramatically transformed, it will still be very much Raleigh—bringing the icon into the modern era while still nodding to its OG flair. “The location is a pillar of the brand,” he says, also noting that it won’t just be a pastiche of what a 1960s hotel is.
You’ll see those idiosyncrasies in the furniture, which echo the original design; the new coffered ceiling referencing the building’s architecture; and geometric patterns in carpeting that speak to the organization of the rooms—in addition to a largely locally rooted art program (see sidebar) and pantry featuring local vendors.
“The goal was to bring as much of Raleigh into the hotel and let the building speak for itself,” emphasizes Einik. “We just tried to pick out little moments that let design decisions influenced by the hotel, the city and the neighborhood float through.”
The result is a hotel that feels familiar and entirely new at the same time—preserving what Raleigh loved about the landmark while reimagining nearly everything else. And with Hotel Indigo’s primo location in one of DTR’s most rapidly changing corridors, the hotel is poised to become a destination once again.
“Every bit of that building has been reimagined,” reiterates Einik, “and we’re just really excited to share that with everyone and see how surprised everybody is going to be when they walk through those front doors.”
House Guests
From guest rooms to public spaces, Hotel Indigo’s art collection is almost entirely homegrown. Meet a few of the NC artists checking in.
Guest Rooms:
Josie George (Elkin)
Skillet Gilmore (Raleigh)
Jeiel Shamblee (Wake Forest)
Public Spaces:
Caitlin Cary (Raleigh)
Darrell Dean (Winston-Salem)
Gabe Fonorow (Kernersville)
Katie Hatfield (Durham)
Micah Mullen (Raleigh)
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Timeline
Full Circle
1969: Raleigh’s iconic round Holiday Inn opens
2000s–early 2010s: The DTR fixture operated as a Clarion Hotel
2012: A Miami developer renovated the hotel and brought it back under Holiday Inn management.
2021: Tidal Real Estate Partners acquires the property, initially planning to demolish it.
June 2025: Tidal pivots its plans, saving the structure and converting it into a Hotel Indigo.
Dec. 2025: The building is officially designated a historic landmark.
A trio of high-end hotels serves as a harbinger for Raleigh’s escalating rank as a top U.S. destination—for tourists, business travelers and locals alike.
A mere six years ago, Raleigh was void of the kind of high-end hotels that decorate—and define—such urban destinations as Atlanta and Chicago. But the tide is changing. Adding to the boutique birth beginning circa 2018 of such vibey resting spots as Guest House, The Casso, Longleaf Hotel and AC Hotel locales is a new wave of luxe lodgings well positioned for our booming tourism. In 2022, 17.8 million visitors flocked to our capital city—a ~13% leap over the year prior—and spent $3 billion, a near return to prepandemic levels.
With all eyes on Raleigh—from topping perennial Best Place to Live charts to drawing the likes of Apple and VinFast to scoring such globally reaching events as the massively successful Stadium Series—the hospitality industry is responding and upping our city’s appeal with a trio of luxe high-end hotels set to bow beginning in first quarter 2024.
Slated to open first is one of Hilton’s newest and most innovative lifestyle brands, the thoughtfully designed Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown, only its second U.S. outpost. “We couldn’t have chosen a better city than Raleigh for the brand’s second locale,” says Seraj Patel, VP of Greensboro-based CN Hotels, which owns the property.
“Raleigh has garnered an impressive list of accolades in recent years, including being named one of the top three hottest job markets in America by The Wall Street Journal, as well as one of the biggest boomtowns in America,” he adds. “We are excited to add to the city’s growth and build on that reputation by bringing a new, stylish and contemporary lifestyle hotel to the Downtown area.”
Elevating the allure with the Triangle’s tallest lounge and bar, Urban Oak promises to please the palate, while a lobby cafe will keep travelers grounded—from breakfast and coffee to spirited and zero-proof evening cocktails and small plates.
And adding to the rest-and-rejuvenate DTR roster, highly esteemed global boutique hotel brand Kimpton, known for its sophisticated mod art deco-meets-classic luxe design, is slated to bow in late 2025, marking the brand’s fourth NC property. Part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle Collection portfolio and owned by Tidal Real Estate Partners, the vibey stayover spaces will span the first six floors of a 20-story mixed-use building that will include high-end residences and replace the historic-yet-infamous (read: iconic but not ideal to maneuver) round Holiday Inn on Hillsborough Street.
“We’ve had great success with our Kimptons in North Carolina,” says Mike DeFrino, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ CEO, “and we look forward to offering Raleigh as a new destination in our portfolio. We think our design-led brand and welcoming, innovative restaurants and bars will really resonate with the city’s locals and visitors alike.”
From retreat to revive, the luxe accommodations will be accompanied by three unique restaurant and bar concepts, including a rooftop bar and lounge. “Downtown Raleigh has long awaited a luxury hotel experience like Kimpton delivers,” adds Mick Walsdorf, CEO of Tidal Real Estate Partners. “The amenities, restaurants and event spaces will raise the bar for hotel properties in Downtown and establish the Kimpton as a sought-after destination. Our continued investments in Downtown Raleigh reflects our confidence and commitment to this market.”
Rounding out the trio is the area’s first Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel grab: Oberlin Hotel, which broke ground this summer. Leaning into the brand’s MO of boasting a global portfolio of handpicked hotels “for the curious,” with “no two Curio experiences the same,” the hotel is uniquely Raleigh. Situated in the now-defunct K&W locale, family-owned Winston-Salem-based Quality Oil Company LLC’s unique boutique concept at once takes Raleigh’s sojourn selects next level while upping Village District’s hip factor via its first hotel.
Slated for 2025 completion and standing seven stories, the Oberlin serves up 153 well-appointed guest rooms, including presidential suites. Guests and locals alike can sate morning-to-night cravings via a lobby-level market-style cafe dishing breakfast, plus a spacious lounge and full cocktail bar. Or take to the large courtyard, complete with a covered patio featuring a soundstage for live tunes, beverage service and event catering. And taking the experience to new heights, a signature high-end restaurant and rooftop bar, also open to the public, will showcase spectacular DTR vistas.
“Oberlin Hotel’s arrival to Village District is not only a great addition to our existing lineup, but also an overall benefit to the corridor,” said Chris Widmayer, senior VP of investments at Regency Centers. “This center is the beating heart of the market and now has a fantastic overnight option that helps make Village District a true 18-hour destination.”
Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown | 260 W. Davie St.
126 rooms
Dual-brand Homewood, 134 suites with kitchen, totaling 260 rooms
Peloton-equipped wellness rooms
Lobby cafe
Urban Oak rooftop bar & restaurant
The Oberlin | Village District
153 guest rooms
Presidential suites
Courtyard with soundstage
Cafe, cocktail bar & meeting spaces
Rooftop bar & restaurant
Kimpton | 320 Hillsborough St.
179 guest rooms
~20 suites
Complimentary bikes
Meeting & event space
3 restaurant & bar concepts, including rooftop bar & lounge
