The Shaffner Inn

The staff were genuinely friendly and seemed to be trying their best. The historic building has a lot of character, and breakfast was decent, one of the few parts of the stay that felt straightforward. But getting checked in felt disorganized and more complicated than it needed to be, and privacy is poor: gaps around the doors work almost like viewing windows. The shower curtains had visible mold, and the soap dispensers were either empty or leaking enough to leave slippery floors. Sleeping wasn’t easy either. There are no proper curtains, so streetlights shine into the room all night, while traffic from the nearby highway and exit ramp keeps up constantly. Many rooms also lack private bathrooms, so expect hallway trips. It’s a cool old property with nice staff, but the inconvenience made the stay feel like a test of patience.

We enjoyed our stay in the Falls Room on 2/7/26. It’s spacious and comfortable, with a large bathroom, and breakfast was great. The Shaffner is close enough to walk to 4th street and its restaurants. Highway 421 next door does bring traffic noise, but using the in-room sound machine along with a fan I brought reduced it to an acceptable level. A very nice bed and breakfast overall.

We’re still talking about how good the biscuits and gravy were at breakfast. The Wachovia room was clean and comfortable, and I loved the tub. The innkeeper was attentive and helpful, too. Their clear directions made it easy to check in late on Christmas Eve without a hitch.

The breakfast was wonderful, and eating from the sideboard with the lovely china made me feel fancy. Staff were very helpful and reachable at the desk or by text whenever I had a question. The house has all the charm of an old place and was exactly as advertised, at a great price. It’s right beside a busy highway, though there was a white noise machine in the room if I wanted it. Downtown Winston-Salem is about a 15-minute walk, and Old Salem about 20 minutes. Thanks for a great stay.