Our top 5 luxury hotels in Charleston we’re chosen for their impeccable blend of elegance with top-notch amenities, as well as how these stately accommodations augment the cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and pastel antebellum houses in a city that’s rich with history and culture.
These luxury hotels ensure you’ll enjoy a hip vibe with lounges and bars helmed by skilled mixologists, creating hand-crafted cocktails. Of course, we know why you’re really in Charleston in the first place – the lively food scene.
The distinct architectural styles of these hotels vary from the classical southern antebellum, accented with historic 18th-century design to the dramatic spaces of mid-century modern.
With most of these located in the heart of Charleston Historic District, you’ll find yourself within walking distance of shopping along quaint cobblestone streets, and world-class restaurants, which of course include the legendary oyster bars. You are in a seaside town after all.
The Dewberry Charleston – Mid-Century Modern
334 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 558-8000
Located in what was once a John F. Kennedy-commissioned Federal building, this mid-century modern structure is located on two acres across from Marion Square on Meeting Street.
Outside you may think of Federalism in style, and rightfully so. But inside it is mid-century stunning from the lobby to the room. They also offer complimentary bicycles for cruising around the peninsula. You’ll feel like you’re on one of these top enjoyable seaside bike trails we mentioned.
With 155 guest rooms, luxury is the task at hand. Rooms are adorned with Stickley armoires with Luxurious Irish linen bedding, hand-painted wallpaper with botanical patterns, and marble bathrooms.
You’ll also find seasonal in-room bars curated by the chef. Fun fact – people actually try to forge Stickley armoires because of their value as collectibles.
If you’re looking for a luxury spa with customized treatments using elements from the Lowcountry, you’ve already arrived when staying at the Dewberry.
The chairs alone are worth a visit, looking like off-the-charts cozy, puffy pillows. More importantly, you’ll be reminded that your skin was meant to glow.
Cocktails & Food – The Living Room
When it’s time to chill, we recommend hitting the Living Room. Just an FYI, there’s a reason they call this The Living Room.
With the true-to-form ambiance of a Charleston living room, this may become your home away from home, at least during your stay.
Filled with mid-century furniture and a curated reading library, this would be the place to nibble on smoked tomato mussels paired with an Old-Fashioned. There is also the Citrus Club located on the roof, and both of these are James Beard Award semifinalists.
Hotel Bennett – Grandiose Guest Rooms
404 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(833) 313-1798
There’s a reason USA Today named Hotel Bennett the number 1 luxury hotel in the U.S. so let’s dive right in and see what makes this the lap of luxury when it comes to our top hotels in Charleston.
We’ll start with the King’s Club, dubbed Hotel Bennett’s exclusive club-level experience. This upgrade gives you VIP treatment that includes customized itineraries, a dedicated concierge (across the pond we call those butlers, and King’s Club access with stunning terrace views of King Street.
You also get the Chef de cuisine’s food and beverage presentations throughout the day and evening. But go easy, remember Charleston is a foodies paradise!
There’s also a complimentary facial at their spa, so you’d be nuts not to splurge and jump on this VIP program.
The Presidential Suite
Time to go all out with this suite so you can take in the views of the wrap-around terrace. From this bird’s eye view, you’ll take in Ravenel Bridge, Cooper and Ashley Rivers, and the Holy City skyline.
With French doors to the terrace, a great room, a private bar, and an indoor dining area you’re on top of the world. Literally. This is a good thing since the pool is also on the rooftop.
Gabrielle – Cuisine That Showcases The South’s Fresh Bounty
Helmed by Chef Robert McGrattan, his accolades speak for themselves, which include a James Beard Foundation invitation for menu development, the Master Plater award in Native Magazine, and he had the opportunity to oversee the annual James Beard Foundation dinner. That had to be a tough crowd to please!
So what are some of the bounties offered at Gabrielle? Being by the sea, you can expect the shucked oysters and seared scallops to be stellar, but they’re also known for their signature steaks and locally sourced ingredients like the Carolina Gold Rice White Truffle Risotto.
The Restoration Hotel – Lofty Coolness
75 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 518-5100
Previously a 19th-century railroad warehouse, this 170-room hotel hasn’t missed a beat when it comes to keeping all its lofty charm, including brick walls that’ll warm the soul on a cold night and floor-to-ceiling warehouse-style windows.
Being one of our top luxury hotels in Charleston, you get the New York loft coolness, with Southern charm and hospitality.
Located in the Charleston Historic District, this historic hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Grace Episcopal Church and Charleston City Market. Designed by local architect Neil Stevenson, The Restoration consists of five restored warehouses.
Amenities include complimentary bicycles and the rooms come with an iPad in case you want to kill some time waiting for those delish oyster bars to open.
You can also kill time with one of these great murder mysteries. Yes, books still exist. Speaking of books, libraries go hand-in-hand with Charleston estates (we’re all about the charm, folks) and The Restoration keeps this tradition rolling with its own library.
Here you can mingle over cocktails or immerse yourself in a vintage art history guide hand-picked from an antique book collection, or sift through magazines and the eclectic assortment of other books.
Premier Balcony Suite
This one-bedroom suite has 1,000 square feet of elbow room, 1.5 bathrooms, a full kitchenette, and a sitting area. With a wine and cheese reception, it’s easy to indulge knowing there’s a gym that’s part of the package.
With brick walls and a sweeping view of Charleston from the balcony, this is one of our favorite rooms in Charleston. You might have trouble deciding whether to hit the rooftop restaurant.
Called The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits, the food is farm-to-table, fresh cuisine. You can also just have the meals brought to your room. We live for tough decisions like these.
Indigo Pool
This hotel also has a pool that stays deep undercover. Inconspicuously tucked away on the rooftop, you get great views of downtown while being able to relax with small bites from the Watch restaurant.
The Rise Coffee Bar
A major bonus here, you can forget those hotel in-room packaged coffee drips, The Restoration has the real deal on the ground floor called The Rise.
Partnering with Springbok Coffee Roasters, a local small-batch, specialty coffee roaster located just a few blocks away, you’ll get fresh coffee roasted from notable growers found in Guatemala, Kenya, and El Salvador. Would it kill ya to grab a fresh-baked cookie while you’re there? Asking for a friend.
Charleston Place – Club Level Southern Hospitality
205 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-4900
Located in the heart of the downtown Historic District, The Charleston Place is a luxury hotel that offers elegance, blending seamlessly with Southern hospitality.
Once you enter past the large bronze horses out front, you’ll find yourself in a Georgian-style lobby that’ll stun your senses. Inside, you’ll also find luxury touches like the exclusive boutiques for shopping, appropriately named The Shops. Charleston likes to keep life simple.
They also have bicycles to get around the district and we like how they coined this as a “historical workout.” Nothing like NOT knowing that you’re working out when you’re working out. That might be a phrase we just coined.
What’s The Club Level at Charleston Place Hotel?
Available by private access only, the Club Level occupies the top two floors of the hotel with stunning city views.
Here you’ll find exquisite rooms and suites with a complimentary food and beverage service that goes all day. These rooms go from 400-1000 square feet with spectacular city views.
Club Premier Rooms
With separate living space and the amenities only offered on the Club levels, no detail is missed. Italian marble bathrooms, plush robes and slippers, and soaking tubs, this is the zenith of relaxation in luxury.
The interior design of the rooms is impressive in very a charming, cosmopolitan way. The fantastical rooftop pool is the crown jewel of the hotel, featuring a stunning retractable glass roof. Come in your robe and slippers. Nobody’s judging here.
Charleston Grill
If classic Southern cooking with a contemporary twist sounds inviting, then you’re in for a treat, where the cuisine is served with a touch of soft, atmospheric jazz.
Charleston Grill is a recipient of the Forbes Four-Star Award and AAA Four Diamond Award for Food Excellence, and their crab cakes are known from coast to coast.
This dish features a generously packed cake of fresh crab meat and a winning blend of herbs and spices. The cozy couches in the lounge area are so comfy they’ll also serve you dinner on the couch.
it wasn’t long before they discovered nobody wanted to get up once settling in. Now that’s how you do cocktails, friends.
Zero George – History And a Carriage House
The full complement of the Zero George boutique luxury hotel consists of 5 restored historic buildings and a private courtyard.
There are just 16 guest rooms and studios in three painstakingly restored historic residences and two brick carriage houses Trust us, they pack plenty of love into those 16 spaces.
Since this is a place you’ll want to indulge, the hotel accommodates you with an amenity list that is well-rounded, including complimentary bikes, award-winning cuisine, and upscale rooms.
Located just a couple of blocks from the harbor, the Zero George Hotel is filled with lore. Back in the late 1600s, a young sailor named Captain George Anson commandeered the H.M.S. Scarborough ship in order to protect Charleston from pirates.
During his stint keeping pirates from burying their treasures on the Charleston shores, he won at cards, bought this land, and fast forward to today – we now have one charming hotel called Zero George. Thanks, George! We’ll overlook the bit of history where you later lost your ship to the French.
History continues to hold its place here, with candlelit lanterns on the veranda and a rich, layered patina coloring covering the buildings.
You’ll be welcomed with a glass of wine with cheese on your piazza. If anyone gives you gruff for starting the day with wine, just tell them pirates are still a thing and you’ve been busy keeping them at bay. You’ve earned that drink for crying out loud.
Garden Suite
Nothing entices us more than a stay in the original carriage house, called the Garden Suite. This comes with a living parlor, a separate study area, a king bedroom, and lush, custom furnishings.
The suite also has marble-tiled bathrooms and countertops, and you also get your own private outdoor sitting area in a fully furnished oyster shell garden.
Zero Restaurant & Bar
Big things come out of what’s known as the tiniest professional kitchen around. This must be the true definition of an oxymoron.
To our point, Condé Nast named Zero George one of the Top 5 Foodie Hotels in the World, and Food Network named Zero George one of The Best Food Hotels in the Country.
This restaurant offers a creative mix of craft cocktails and wine pairings to go with each change of their daily menu.
The Multi-Course Chef’s Tasting Menu with wine pairings is a local favorite, but the Royal Red Prawn and Day Boat Scallop capitalizes on the bounties served up straight from the docks.
If you find yourself not wanting to leave the restaurant, just book a cooking class led by Executive Chef Vinson Petrillo and Sous Chef Tyler Chavis. You’ll find yourself back in the tiny kitchen where all the magic happens.
Conclusion
With Charleston being a foodies paradise, it’s no wonder the city is a mecca for hosting some of the top-rated luxury hotels in the country. Naturally, they’ve stayed the course, nabbing the best of the best chefs for their in-house fine dining restaurants.
Regardless of whether you want to explore downtown or just head to the rooftops of these hotels, you’re bound to find amazing food, spectacular pools, and hospitality second to none.
