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If you’re planning to stay at one of Charleston’s top luxury hotels, hospitality is sure to be one of the most distinguishing factors. You’ll find everything from boutique hotels with rich history and character in the heart of the historic district to seaside resorts with a wealth of activity options. No matter which you choose on this list, odds are, it’s going to be an exceptional stay, and in a trending destination, according to TripAdvisor.
Zero George
With just 16 rooms, Zero George offers personalized service that almost feels like you’re staying with a wealthy friend. It has a dreamy atmosphere that will take you back in time to the early 19th century, with rooms spread throughout restored townhouses and carriage homes. All have an old-world historic character with modern amenities like Keurig coffee machines and flat-screen TVs. The Zero Restaurant + Bar on-site offers fine dining, and every evening complimentary wine and a specialty cheese board are offered.
The Charleston Place
Set along a leafy downtown street, this Historic District hotel is just a 3-minute walk from the City Market. The Charleston Place impresses from the moment you step into the lobby with its hand-blown Venetian chandelier and sweeping Georgian staircase. It offers a long list of luxuries, including a spa for decadent treatments, a hair salon, and a gorgeous saltwater pool. It’s a blissful retreat (or make it a Charleston staycation) where you can even order the property’s famous truffle fries for poolside delivery. It hosts some of Charleston’s best restaurants, including the Charleston Grill, for dining with live jazz. Rooms feature Italian marble bathrooms with luxe towels, robes, slippers, plush beds with deluxe mattresses, coffeemakers, and minibars.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
If you want easy access to Charleston while enjoying the delights of an upscale Charleston beach resort with a golf course, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort may be your ideal pick. It not only includes a 90-hole course but a wide range of activity options, from swimming or lounging around two pools and open-air painting to kayaking and tennis. There’s a lavish spa and 11 restaurants, while accommodation is in rooms, independent villas, and freestanding homes.
The Dewberry Charleston
A mid-century gem, The Dewberry Charleston overlooks Marion Square, which hosts the weekly farmer’s market and many of the city’s festivals and events. It was designed with the goal of creating “Southern Reimagined” with a mix of historical and contemporary. The tranquil spa is popular with guests and locals alike. You can enjoy pampering botanical treatments while The Living Room Bar is a swanky space for signature and classic cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, or tea, along with light bites. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch can be enjoyed at Henrietta’s, a brasserie-style restaurant. Rooms include beds with Irish linens, seasonal in-room refreshment bars, and cozy robes. Guests also have access to a personal concierge team, bicycle rentals, and use of the property’s house cars.
Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina
Located just outside Charleston proper, Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina is a nautical-themed resort with picturesque views of the Charleston Harbor with the downtown city skyline as the backdrop. You’ll have easy access to a water taxi that will bring you to some of the best things to do in Charleston, like Waterfront Park and Aquarium Wharf, while the free trolley can bring you right downtown. If you have your own boat, there are over 450 slips in the marina too. The property has multiple pools, a huge party deck with cabanas, fire pits, a full-service spa, and a fitness center, while rooms include 42″ flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, and coffeemakers.
The Spectator Hotel
Evoking the feel of the Roaring 20s, The Spectator Hotel at the intersection of the City Market and the historic French Quarter is renowned for its exceptional service that includes classically trained butlers that will deliver a gourmet breakfast to your room every morning. Enjoy the VIP treatment with a swanky Art Deco aesthetic, complimentary bike rentals, and a trendy bar that serves 20s-inspired libations. Rooms include locally made snacks, a mini-fridge filled with local sodas, sparkling and still water, along with Nespresso machines and Carrera marble bathrooms. Some have private balconies too.
The Wentworth Mansion
Located just four blocks from the heart of downtown, The Wentworth Mansion has retained many of its original features from 1886, including Tiffany windows and a beautiful cupola with sweeping views over the city. There are also luxe amenities like a spa with a menu of blissful treatments, including wraps and facials. Guests can enjoy afternoon wine, hors d’oeuvres, and after-dinner “help yourself” port, brandy, and sherry. The Circa 1886 restaurant in the carriage serves classic Lowcountry cuisine, while rooms include mahogany armoires, original gas fireplaces, minifridges with complimentary beverages, an outstanding sound system, robes, and marble bathrooms with oversized tubs.
Planters Inn
This luxury boutique hotel offers plenty of historic charms, set in a building that dates back to 1844, complete with antique-style furnishings. Planters Inn also offers an ideal location across from City Market, close to shopping, dining, and many other attractions. Free coffee is available every morning in the parlor, while the highly acclaimed Peninsula Grill serves memorable upscale Southern fare for dinner. There’s a bar for evening cocktails, and guests who want to keep up with their workout routine can enjoy discount passes to nearby Eco Fitness. Rooms and suites include four-poster mahogany beds with Italian linens, while some have courtyard views, terraces, and working gas fireplaces.
French Quarter Inn
One of the most popular luxury hotels in the city (and one of the best Charleston hotels, too), French Quarter Inn offers traditional Southern hospitality in a regal setting with Parisian-inspired touches. Guests are welcomed with a flute of champagne that can be enjoyed by the warmth of the fireplace, and beverages like lavender lemonade, peach tea, and coffee can be enjoyed throughout the day. You’ll get a free European-style continental breakfast every morning and fresh-baked cookies in the evening too. For a romantic stay, rose petal turndowns, chocolate-covered strawberries, and in-room massages are also available. Rooms include marble bathrooms, some with soaking tubs. Suites with fireplaces or private balconies are available too.
Market Pavilion Hotel
Situated at the corner of East Bay and Market Streets, the Market Pavilion Hotel offers a prime location just steps from some of the city’s best galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. The highlight is the rooftop bar and pool where you can swim or unwind with a drink and a fabulous view of the harbor. The on-site Grill 225 is one of the best fine-dining steakhouses in the city, while the opulent rooms feature mahogany beds with 600-thread count linens, marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers, and spa robes. Book a suite for a whirlpool tub and concierge service.
The Restoration Hotel
Nestled in the heart of the historic district in one of America’s most walkable cities, The Restoration Hotel offers home-like accommodation with one- and two-bedroom suites that include full kitchens, flat-screen TVs, white noise machines, washer/dryers, private patios, and bathrooms with high-end toiletries and spa robes. While there isn’t a restaurant on-site, room service is available via four restaurants nearby, and continental breakfasts can be enjoyed in the lobby or delivered to your suite. Complimentary bikes are available, and a free wine and cheese reception is hosted every evening.
Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel
Enjoy an upscale hotel experience at the Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel, one of the best boutique hotels in the city. The hotel features an open-air rooftop pool deck with a saltwater pool. There’s a well-equipped fitness center that overlooks the pool, while the on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu that features New Southern cuisine, with many dishes that include local, farm-fresh ingredients. Rooms have comfy beds with down comforters, minifridges, 55″ flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms.
HarbourView Inn
Enjoy some of the best water views from the HarbourView Inn right from the balcony of your room. You’ll be right across from Waterfront Park, steps from shops, restaurants, and nightlife. The luxurious accommodation includes four-poster beds with high-end mattresses, flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels, minifridges, waffle weave bathrobes, and many other upscale perks. There’s plenty of Southern hospitality, too, including complimentary cheese and wine and nighttime cookies.
John Rutledge House Inn
John Rutledge, the state’s first governor and one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution, built the mansion this B&B hotel sits within in 1763. Now a National Historic Landmark, guests at the John Rutledge House Inn can enjoy its rich character with period furnishings, and many rooms have original functioning marble fireplaces and canopied four-poster beds. A delicious complimentary hot breakfast can be enjoyed in your room, the open-air courtyard, or the ballroom, which even has a self-serve brandy, sherry, and port station.
Wild Dunes Resort
If you’re looking for a beachfront resort, Wild Dunes Resort is just a short drive from downtown Charleston. Located right on the beach in Isle of Palms, it provides the best of both worlds with a long list of things to do right on-site. There are five pools, including oceanfront and Olympic-sized pools, a golf course, tennis courts, a fitness center, and bike rentals. Families with children can take advantage of the kids’ club and activities for all ages, like kayaking trips. Multiple dining options are available, serving everything from fresh seafood to southern fare, while the many varied accommodation options include penthouses, one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites with ocean views, full kitchens, and large patios.
