Hotels in Charleston strike a harmonious blend of traditional Southern ambiance and contemporary design flair.
Hooray! Charleston's hospitality game is on 🔥. These new-fangled hotels are taking the city's reputation for old-school coziness and flipping it on its head. What was once only about warm Southern hospitalities and historic buildings is now all about sleek design, rooftop parties, and marble champagne lounges. These hotels in Charleston are walking the line between holding onto the city's storied past and stepping steamily into the future of fancy vacays.
High-Design Hotels that Balance History and High-end Aesthetics in Charleston
Hotel Bennett 👑
This grand dame rules them all. Hotel Bennett brings together historic vibes with a designer's keen eye for detail. From the rooftop to the fancy French restaurant, it's all about showing off both old and new Charleston.
Charleston's Rising Star ☆ Entertaining the masses
Hotel Bennett takes center stage in Charleston's tourism scene, standing out as a symbol and catalyst of the city's modern hospitality renaissance. As the city welcomes more and more visitors and experiences a building boom, Hotel Bennett reflects the evolution of Charleston's travel appeal: sophisticated, design-driven, and ridiculously charming.
In 2024, Charleston reported an economic impact of a whopping $14.03 billion, a 7% increase over the previous year. These kinds of big economic numbers don't happen by magic, but thanks to revitalized historic properties, a mouthwatering food scene, and improved global access.
With new direct flights like Air Canada's Toronto route, Charleston is becoming a top-of-mind destination for travelers. And for many, the Hotel Bennett is where the action begins, with its blend of Old World sensibilities, cultural sensitivity, and stylish design.
Location and Legacy 🏛️ King Street royalty
The Hotel Bennett towers majestically over Marion Square from its primo spot on King Street, earning the moniker "Queen of King Street." It struts its stuff by combining Charleston's cultural groove with architectural finesse.
Built on top of the former Charleston County Library, the hotel keeps its historical bones intact while pumping it up with modern design and luxurious touches. Its prime location at the intersection of King Street and Marion Square lets guests tap into Charleston's cultural pulse effortlessly, from weekend festivals in the park to gallery strolls and boutique shopping.
Architecture and Interiors 🌟 Grand design
The atmosphere unfolds harmoniously in thoughtful layers that echo the building's storied past while embracing modern sensibilities. Neoclassical detailing and sleek finishes work together, lending the interiors an elegance that's refined yet laid-back.
Rooms feature custom furnishings modeled after historic silhouettes, with high ceilings and big windows letting in lots of natural light. The result is a space where craftsmanship takes center stage, with everyone appreciating beauty and practicality.
Personal Storytelling 📚 Honoring the past
Walking into the Hotel Bennett, visitors can't help but notice the odes to the Bennett family, the local doughazillionaires with deep Charleston ties. Throughout the hotel, there are oil portraits of the Benjamins, whose faces seem to be whispering secrets about the city's history.
That theme of thoughtful homage continues throughout, with a subtle library motif found in the rooms, lobby, and public spaces. Just across the street, Virginia's on King, a casual Southern restaurant named after Michael Bennett's mom, reinforces the personal narrative woven into the hotel's foundation.
Dining and Social Spaces 🍾 Getting fancy
The hotel's rooftop pool is a subtle hint of the overall, relaxed yet luxurious vibe; a tranquil oasis with city views, comfy loungers, and fancy cocktails from Fiat Lux. Downstairs, Gabrielle offers upscale Lowcountry cuisine with a French twist, served in a sunlit dining room that opens to the square.
On a recent visit, Executive Chef Edgar Kano shared how local ingredients and traditional flavors shape his menu, and how he gets inspired by Charleston standbys like shrimp and grits, benne seed crackers, and Carolina Gold rice. Every dish gets a fancy makeover with French techniques, but you'll never lose that sense of place or home-cooking flair.
That commitment to atmosphere extends beyond the dining room. Just steps away, Camellias, a pink marble champagne bar sparkling with brass accents and mirrored walls, looks like a fancy jewel box. Its petite scale and lavish finishes create a chill and celebratory mood, serving bubbles and small bites with impeccable panache.
The Charleston Place 🌺 Flower power!
Nestled right in the heart of Charleston's historic district, The Charleston Place offers guests instant access to some of the city's most iconic landmarks, such as Rainbow Row, the Battery, and the Charleston City Market. This central location makes it the perfect base for exploring the city on foot, surrounded by the charm and architecture that define downtown Charleston.
Inside, the hotel serves up elegance and comfort, creating a polished yet relaxed environment. Guests can unwind at the full-service spa, which dished out treatments like a 100-minute transformative facial and a wellness pedicure. The experience continues at The Charleston Grill, where Southern fine dining and live jazz set the mood in a space defined by local sourcing and regional culinary traditions.
Guest rooms feature a sophisticated mix of materials and textures that mirror the hotel's overall design philosophy. The signature double staircase and grand chandelier at the entrance add a dramatic yet classic welcome that ties the whole shebang together.
The Dewberry 🌳 Mid-Century Mod
The Dewberry goes for a mid-century vibe, moving into a restored federal building from the 1960s. Its interiors focus on clean lines and warm wood tones, blending Southern quirkiness with vintage modern aesthetics.
The Citrus Club rooftop bar sits atop the hotel, giving stunning views of Charleston's skyline where historic spires rise above treetops. The hotel's spa treatments manufacture some magic using regional botanicals, sourced from local herbs and rice extracts, offering a unique take on wellness.
For art enthusiasts, The Dewberry's curated collection of works by Southern artists adds to the hotel's charm and fits seamlessly with its mid-century aesthetic. Situated next to Marion Square, The Dewberry drops guests right in the heart of downtown Charleston's cultural scene.
Emeline 🌸 Bohemian Style
Emeline serves up a bohemian twist, nestled cozily in the Historic District with a fresh take on Southern hospitality. The hotel aims for a vibe that feels personal and inviting, blending warm wood tones and soft textiles with modern touches that easily impress design-conscious travelers. Guest rooms are styled with custom furnishings and local art, emphasizing the hotel's funky personality and attention to detail.
Emeline's outdoor gathering spot, The Courtyard, offers a private, open-air environment for socializing and relaxation. During the day, it operates as a communal lounge area, but at night, it transforms into a stylish event venue, just a short stroll from the energy of King Street.
Inside, Frannie & The Fox dishes up wood-fired, Italian-inspired fare with a shared-plates approach that encourages conversation and connection. The place is often bustling with locals and travelers looking for a relaxed yet polished meal.
Emeline's boutique charm and proximity to King Street and Waterfront Park give it a distinctly local vibe. Emeline represents Charleston's evolving hospitality scene, not leaning too heavily on nostalgia, but building on it with thoughtful, design-driven flair.
Where hospitality and heritage collide
Charleston's hottest hotels in 2025 are taking Southern hospitality to new heights. Across the city, travelers are checking into spaces that double as chic design showcases and cultural storytelling platforms. With fancy rooftop lounges, repurposed landmarks, and gorgeously designed interiors, these hotels show what it means to evolve with class.
Traveler, writer, and self-proclaimed foodie extraordinaire Jennifer Allen shares her adventures and travel tips at AllTheBestSpots.com. After living with her family (and the cats who rule them all), her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN, and more.
- Hotel Bennett, the grand dame of Charleston's hotels, combines historic vibes with designer detail, showcasing both old and new Charleston in its rooftop and French restaurant.
- In 2024, Hotel Bennett took center stage in Charleston's tourism scene, symbolizing and catalyzing the city's modern hospitality renaissance with a blend of Old World sensibilities, cultural sensitivity, and stylish design.
- The Hotel Bennett towers over Marion Square from its prime spot on King Street, combining Charleston's cultural groove with architectural finesse, offering guests easy access to the city's cultural pulse.
- Gabrielle, the upscale Lowcountry restaurant at Hotel Bennett, serves a fusion of French and Southern cuisine, with Chef Edgar Kano using local ingredients and traditional flavors to create dishes with a fancy makeover and a sense of home-cooking flair.
- The Charleston Place offers guests immediate access to the city's iconic landmarks and serves elegance and comfort with a full-service spa, live jazz, and a sophisticated mix of materials and textures in its guest rooms.
- Emeline, nestled in the Historic District, offers a bohemian twist on Southern hospitality with a funky personality, custom furnishings, local art, and an outdoor gathering spot, The Courtyard, that transforms into a stylish event venue at night.
- Frannie & The Fox, the Italian-inspired restaurant at Emeline, serves wood-fired shared plates, encourages conversation and connection, and is often bustling with locals and travelers looking for a relaxed yet polished meal.
