Southall Farm & Inn delivers memorable moments!
A quick getaway with my husband isn’t easy to execute, thanks to having three kids and lots of responsibilities. So when we do decide to go away, we select our destination carefully to make it worth our while.
Our two night stay at Southall Farm & Inn in Franklin, Tennessee surpassed our expectations. The property, a 12-minute drive from downtown, is set on a working farm. Opened in 2022, accommodations include 62 guestrooms and suites, as well as 16 separate cottages sprinkled among the rolling hills. The farm also has a 15,000-squarefoot spa, 7-acre lake and eight-plus miles of trails through old-growth forests. On-property activities run the gamut from adventurous (aerial ropes course, axe throwing, falconry) to educational (a beekeeper tour and guided nature hike). Two restaurants incorporate ingredients grown, raised and foraged on the farm. Two nights wasn’t enough to experience it all, but here are some highlights that made our visit more than worthwhile.
Design
The property’s design offers visual interest at every turn. The rustic modern interior by LA-based Indidesign includes locally crafted furniture, with some pieces built from lumber sourced on the property. Pops of color are introduced through textiles and wallcoverings featuring local flora and fauna. Our guestroom followed suit with sleek wood furnishings, dark green floral upholstery on window side chairs and modern light fixtures. After settling in, we took a walk around the lake then sat in Adirondacks on the lobby’s back patio and sipped wine fireside while taking in the views.
Dining
Dinner at January was a top priority. The restaurant earned a 2025 Michelin Green Star for its sustainable gastronomy and a menu shaped by the local harvest. Our meal began with wood grilled oysters topped with tomato, preserved lemon and pink peppercorn, and a dumpling filled with nduja, a piquant spreadable, fermented Italian pork. Our mains of diver scallops and short rib were delicious and rich. Another culinary adventure was a “Food Fables” dinner at The Jammery, an on-site preservation kitchen. Hosted by Chef Richard Jones, the coursed meal offers a themed seasonal menu that explores a chapter in culinary history. Our visit took place in early March, so the dinner was Irishthemed with courses of reinvented corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew and black pudding accompanied with root vegetables and potatoes. As each course was served, Jones shared the historical origins of the dish and the sourcing of each ingredient used to make it.
Dottie’s
A stay at Southall isn’t complete without a late-night visit to Dottie’s Speakeasy. A shuttle transported us into the dark hills behind Southall to a living-room-meets-bar gathering spot for music lovers. We listened to country tunes and sipped old fashioneds in the dimly lit space done in velvet and jewel tones. When the resident musician took a break, an audience member, who turned out to be Effie Passero of musical group Postmodern Jukebox, took the stage on a whim and belted out a goose bump-inducing rendition of an Adele song. We felt lucky to have been there to enjoy Passero’s talent and to have made the effort to spend a weekend at Southall. I have no doubt I’ll move mountains once again to revisit this special property’s gorgeous surroundings, stellar gastronomy and one-of-a-kind experiences.
SOUTHALL FARM & INN
southalltn.com
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