Serenbe Trip including Brunch at The Hil

Entrance to the farmer's market.



Idyllic market.

Last weekend my dad visited and we rode out to Serenbe in Palmetto, Georgia on Saturday morning. This community had been on my radar for several months but I had not yet taken the time to check it out. Finding the place is a bit tough, so definitely take directions. There is not a lot of signage on the way, which is a good thing for residents who do not want excess traffic in the area. We found out that the founder of this planned community linked the two words "serene" and "being" to form the community name, Serenbe. The idea was to create a community of residences and businesses, without the urban or suburban sprawl that so often comes as a result of development. Thus, the residences are focused in clusters, leaving lots of open spaces and trees.

One of the highlights of the visit was the farmer's market, where produce grown right on the property is sold. Baked goods, homemade soaps, plants and other gifts were also available. We lucked out and had a chance to sample some barbecue, a special tasting going on just this week.

Map of the community.



Path through the woods.

After we perused the market and bought some items for dinner, we walked along several trails and drove around the whole community. At this time of year the heat made too much walking unpleasant but this place will be great come fall. I was a little perplexed as to how the shops make it here - the restaurants I can see since there is an Inn (see below) but I wonder what sort of business the shops experience. We stopped in the Blue Eyed Daisy bake shop, which also serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Everything looked delicious but we held out our appetites for brunch at The Hil.

Tasty treats.



Horses - we saw donkeys and goats, too.



The Inn at Serenbe.

On the property there is a quaint inn, offering various rooms and apartments. Near the Inn is another restaurant called The Farmhouse. This is a definite pick for a one night getaway from Atlanta.

The Hil restaurant.



Brunch menu from The Hil.

Our brunch was very pleasant as we dined in the airy restaurant. I tried the smoked salmon flatbread with goat cheese and my dad ordered the chicken salad open faced sandwich. What stood out the most were the tomatoes - so fresh and tasty. The Hil highlights produce grown in the community and dinner is also offered Wednesday through Sunday.

Overall I recommend Serenbe as a Saturday or multi-day excursion for those who like low-key, outdoorsy yet high-class destinations. I will certainly be back!

Smoked salmon flatbread.



Chicken salad sandwich with egg and green salad - great tomatoes.