The Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill/Carrboro
is a perfect getaway for summertime lounging around the rooftop outdoor pool and just steps away from shopping, dining, arts and entertainment and a short drive to a community park with amenities for sports enthusiasts and dog lovers. Apart from the Anderson Community Park, all other locations are within a mile walking distance.
This ‘Feel Free’ small town is as friendly to its visitors as it is to its locals. During your stay, you’ll want to check out these local favorites for a sense of place, Carrboronian style.
Recognized as one of the oldest and most established producer-only markets in the state, market visitors can expect every purchase to be locally grown or crafted within a 50-mile radius by growers, producers, cheesemakers, and artisans that are based within a 50- miles radius of Carrboro. Just look for the crowds of locals on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons (seasonally), they’ll be heading to Town Commons at 301 W. Main Street.
Morning, noon and night, this Women owned, and community driven café has all the small-town vibes serving up coffees, teas, pastries savory snacks and hearty meals inside or out on their garden patio. Live music, board games, Trivia, Tarot readings, comedy and chime in poetry nights are just some of the events you’ll happen upon. For the 21 and up crowd, they offer a full bar. You’ll find this local favorite at 601 W Main Street.
Elizabeth (Libba) Cotten Mural
Just a few blocks away at 11 North Merritt Mill Road on the Carrboro-Chapel Hill line, legendary folk and blues musician Elizabeth Cotten comes to life. Painted by local artist, Scott Nurkin, the mural is part of the statewide North Carolina Musicians Murals Project honoring legendary state musicians in their hometowns.
Step out the front doors of the Hampton and hang a right past Brus’ Public House for some amazing art and craftmanship. Originally located in Chapel Hill on Franklin Street, Franklin Street Arts Collective known as FRANK features works by local artists through artists exhibits & receptions. Worthy events to attend include Second Friday Artwalk and the Off the Wall Gala 2026 to be held October 17th. Open Sunday Noon to 4pm, Tue-Thu 11 am to 5 pm and Friday-Saturday 11 am to 7pm and extended hours during special events.
Shopping & dining at the Historic Carr Mill Mall
Just a few blocks west of the Hampton Inn is Carr Mill Mall. The mall stands as a captivating fusion of history and community life. Housed in the former Alberta Cotton Mill which was built in 1898 by Thomas F. Lloyd and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site originally churned out textiles and hardwood railroad crossties shipped on the adjacent train tracks to Chapel Hill. After closing in the early 1960s, the mill faced demolition in 1974. But passionate locals rallied to save it, transforming it into a vibrant retail and cultural hub by the late 1970s. Today, this beautifully preserved brick complex features locally owned shops, cafés, and restaurants. If you drive and park here please note, the mall enforces a strict park and stay policy.
Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro is a vibrant, seasonally focused restaurant founded in 2016 by Chef Gabe Barker. Situated just steps from the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, whose ingredients inspire much of its menu, the restaurant is known for its Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in brick-lined ovens, handmade pastas, lively vegetable-forward dishes, robust salads, and artisan gelato.
Just a short drive from Hampton Inn & Suites, Henry Anderson III Community Park is a fantastic off-leash haven where guests can bring their dogs to enjoy a spacious, fenced dog park. The park offers a scenic fishing pond (complete with walking trail circling it) and an 18‑hole disc golf course that welcomes players of all levels. Beyond these pet-friendly highlights, the park also features picnic pavilions, charcoal grills, playgrounds, and courts for basketball, tennis, sand volleyball, horseshoes, and more.
Notable:
The 29th annual Carrboro Music Festival takes place on Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday the 27th. The main festival features numerous live musical performances across various indoor and outdoor venues in Carrboro. The main event is free and open to the public.
