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The Shakespeare - Three Bedroom Luxury Retreat Steps from Main Street Highlands

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A modern kitchen with a central island, bar stools, and pendant lighting.
A modern kitchen with a bar area, wooden flooring, and a staircase leading to a loft.
A kitchen with a long island, wooden shelves, hanging lights, and a bookshelf filled with books.
A modern kitchen with a wooden accent wall, a dining area with a gray sofa, and a kitchen island with a sink and storage.
A bedroom with a bed, bookshelves, a ceiling fan, and large windows.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire apartment

3 bedrooms3 bathrooms

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Highlands, NC
  • Place, Highlands Playhouse
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Cullasaja River Gorge
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts
    ‪14 min walk‬

Room options

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Highlands

With a stay at this apartment in Highlands, you'll be just steps from Nantahala National Forest and Highlands Playhouse. .This apartment is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Highlands Art Gallery and 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Cullasaja River Gorge.

What's nearby

  • Highlands Playhouse - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Highlands Art Gallery - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Cullasaja River Gorge - 9 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts - 14 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • Highlands Biological Station - 17 min walk - 0.9 miles

Restaurants

  • ‪The Pizza Place - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Wildcat Cliffs Country Club - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Oak Steakhouse - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Ugly Dog Public House - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Highlander Mountain House & The Ruffed Grouse Tavern - ‬4 min walk

About this property

The Shakespeare - Three Bedroom Luxury Retreat Steps from Main Street Highlands

Welcome to The Shakespeare, one of Highlands' most distinctive luxury accommodations. Located adjacent to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park and just one block from Main Street, this beautifully designed three-bedroom, three-bathroom retreat pays homage to the beloved Shakespeare bookstore that occupied this location for more than 25 years. Walk to award-winning restaurants, charming boutiques, galleries, parks, and seasonal events. Wedding venues, rehearsal dinners, and celebrations are all easily accessible, making The Shakespeare an ideal home base for wedding weekends and special occasions.

Whether you're visiting for a romantic getaway, mountain adventure, family gathering, or wedding celebration, The Shakespeare offers a truly unique Highlands’s experience where luxury accommodations and local history come together beautifully.

More than simply a place to stay, The Shakespeare is an experience. Original books used in creative ways, curated artwork, and thoughtful touches are woven throughout the space, creating a warm and sophisticated atmosphere that celebrates the history of this cherished Highlands landmark. Shelves of carefully selected volumes, original bookstore-inspired elements, and literary details throughout the property create a sense of place unlike any other vacation rental in Highlands. Guests often find themselves lingering over coffee with a favorite novel, discovering unexpected titles tucked throughout the space. Every detail has been carefully considered to honor the bookstore's legacy while providing the elevated comforts of a luxury mountain getaway.

The Space
Designed with both luxury and comfort in mind, The Shakespeare features an open-concept, vaulted ceiling living space perfect for gathering after a day exploring town. The inviting living room offers ample seating, an electric fireplace, and plenty of space to unwind with a good book or enjoy an evening together.

The fully equipped kitchen features a 12-foot island with 7 bar stools, quartz countertops, wine refrigerator, generous workspace, and everything needed to prepare meals at home. Adjacent dining and gathering spaces make entertaining effortless, whether you're hosting family breakfast before a wedding or enjoying wine and conversation after dinner downtown.

Step outside to the small porch off the kitchen and dining area, where you can enjoy Highlands' cool mountain air and peaceful surroundings.

Sleeping Arrangements
The Shakespeare comfortably accommodates up to 8 guests:
• Primary Suite – King bed with en-suite bathroom
• Guest Suite – King bed with en-suite bathroom
• Third Bedroom – King bed with access to a full bathroom with an oversized tub/shower
• Premium Queen Sleeper Sofa – Ideal for additional guests

Every bedroom is designed as a relaxing retreat, featuring luxury Italian Frette sheets and towels to provide the comfort and quality of a boutique hotel. Every bathroom has hair dryers and mirrored makeup tables.

Luxury Amenities
Guests enjoy an elevated hospitality experience with thoughtful touches throughout:
• Heated bathroom floors
• Heated towel racks
• Zweisel stemware
• Complimentary bottle of prosecco, dishwasher pods, laundry pods, coffee pods and bath bomb
• 4 65-inch TV’s
• Molton Brown shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion
• Frette Italian luxury sheets and towels
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Full size washer and dryer
• 2 work desks
• Private porch with seating
• High-speed Wi-Fi
• Kid-friendly loft game area with board games and activities
• Mahjong card table
• Safe
• Keurig, drip coffee maker and tea kettle

COME WRITE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER AT THE SHAKESPEARE!

ACCEPTANCE OF RENTAL CONSTITUES ACCEPTANCE OF THESE ADDITIONAL TERMS:
The unit contains a ladder to a loft area. You agree to use the ladder and loft at your own risk. Take extra care if you use the ladder to climb up to the loft or climb down from the loft. Do not permit children to use the loft or the ladder without the supervision of an adult. Owner disclaims any liability to the fullest extent of the law for use of the ladder or loft. Guests assume all responsibility for use of the ladder or loft by themselves or by their guests, including any children.

Check out our sister property, The Fifth. Located less than a block from The Shakespeare this stunning luxury 2 bedroom / 2 bath apartment is perfect for a trip to Highlands with family or friends. https://www.vrbo.com/3112240?dateless=true
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned apartment, which has a kitchen. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a washing machine and an iron/ironing board.
Guests will find features like internet access.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

The Shakespeare - Three Bedroom Luxury Retreat Steps from Main Street Highlands Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean, roomy great location
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great spot!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a gem! This place was absolute perfection for our girls’ weekend! The location couldn’t be better—right downtown and within walking distance of everything. We loved all the thoughtful touches, from the beautiful wine glasses and cozy robes to the incredibly comfortable beds. And I have to mention the pull-out sofa—hands down the most comfortable one I’ve ever slept on! The heated floors, towel warmer, and amazing showers made everything feel extra luxurious. Additional parking was also super easy and convenient, which was a huge plus for our group. Every detail was so well thought out, and the entire place was charming, cozy, and comfortable. Truly, no notes—just perfection! We would stay here again in a heartbeat!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Beautiful property, very clean and amazing decorations.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2026