A round wooden door set into a Richmond hillside leads to a dining room lined with stone. At The Preserve's Hobbit Houses, the architecture is part of the meal: tree trunks are incorporated into the buildings, and carved entrances open onto intimate spaces with stone floors and candlelight.
The resort lists three Hobbit House dining spaces for lunch and dinner. Their setting among hillside boulders carries the storybook design beyond the doorway. Inside, guests gather at a custom Maker's Mark wooden table made from former whisky barrels. Bourbon pairings accompany a grill menu, with dishes prepared using Le Creuset cookware.
The original house's design included a grass roof and overhead skylights, along with a working fireplace. Paul Mihailides, chairman of The Preserve's design team, conceived the space. The resort announced its debut for October 31, 2020, pairing a multi-course meal with time outside around a fire pit. Its current dining description still includes a fireside finish after dinner.
The food follows the bourbon theme. A Winter 2025 menu linked from the dining page includes Maker's Mark-braised short ribs and hot honey salmon. Pheasant pot pie appears earlier in the meal, while an apple blossom dessert closes it. The document gives a sense of the kitchen's approach, although diners should confirm the current menu when booking.
The Hobbit House name is used under license from Middle-earth Enterprises. The experience centers on a reserved lunch or dinner, with the hillside room providing the setting for the group meal.
Reservations are available through The Preserve's Hobbit House dining page. Confirm the total cost and current menu before making plans; the linked menu is dated Winter 2025. The resort is at 1 Preserve Boulevard in Richmond and can be reached at 401-539-4653.
Sources:
https://www.thepreserveri.com/resort-spa/dine/makers-mark-hobbit-house/
https://www.thepreserveri.com/site/assets/files/1/menu-markers-mark.pdf