32 Best Hotels in Charleston, South Carolina

Nestled in the heart of Charleston, this West Indies–inspired inn offers a range of accommodations, from charming rooms perfect for couples to two-level suites big enough for the whole family. A heavenly breakfast with fresh-baked pastries and biscuits with sausage gravy is offered in the fourth-floor solarium, which overlooks the church spires. Parking is valet only, at $25a day. It's in the bustling Market area, so ask for an interior room.

At this boutique hotel you can relax in your comfortable suite or indulge in evening wine and cheese on the expansive rooftop terrace while enjoying views of the city and Cooper River. The architectural details of this early-1900s building—a former stationer's warehouse—have been emphasized by leaving brick walls exposed and designing around the grand heart-pine beams and wood ceilings. Oil paintings of hunting dogs hang above clubby leather chairs and sofas around the fireplace. The classy British pub downstairs is perfect for a nightcap. Self-parking is $20 at an open lot across the street—a bargain among downtown hotels.

Guests and casual passersby alike enjoy gazing up at the immense handblown Murano glass chandelier in this hotel's open lobby, clicking across the Italian marble floors, and browsing the gallery of upscale shops that completes the ground-floor offerings of this landmark hotel with bright, modern rooms. Should you need more enticements, there is also a deluxe day spa, a fitness center, and an inviting indoor salt-and-mineral-water pool with an illuminated skylight for night swimming, along with four fantastic restaurants and bars that include the equestrian-theme Thoroughbred Club, known for their top-shelf whisky selection. The service is impeccable, particularly on the club level, where you receive a breakfast spread, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and pastries.

This company's inventory of privately owned beach homes ranges from a two-bedroom apartment over a gallery to one-bedroom condos and six-bedroom manses smack-dab on the beach. Units are furnished, with one to several TVs and DVD players, and their kitchens are stocked with pots and pans, dishes, cutlery, and microwaves. During peak summer months, most properties require one-week minimum stays.

A courtyard where cadets once marched is now a soaring atrium—complete with a glass ceiling, frilly palm trees, and a babbling fountain—in this 1822 building that once served as the Old Citadel. The restored brick walls of the breakfast room and some guest rooms contain original gun ports. Handsome teak and mahogany furniture and sisal rugs in the common areas recall the British-colonial era. Guest rooms are not nearly as chic, but are comfortable and serviceable. The wall of the tiny pool literally backs up to Marion Square.

Wrought-iron railings, crown moldings, and decorative plasterwork speak of the elegance of 1924, when the Francis Marion was the largest hotel in the Carolinas. Still the tallest downtown hotel, it's a National Historic Trust property. In the handsome guest rooms—many of which overlook Marion Square—bountiful throw pillows and billowy curtains add flair. For the best views and the most serenity, ask for an upper-floor room facing King Street. Flavorful Lowcountry cuisine is served at the Swamp Fox restaurant, and a Starbucks is on the ground floor.

A grand circular staircase under a light-filled cupola—with a wrought-iron banister embellished with iron leaves by a local blacksmith—sets the lavish tone at this boutique hotel steps from the City Market. Breakfast, afternoon wine-and-cheese, and evening milk and cookies are all part of standard service, and can be enjoyed on the charming terraces on each floor. The pillow menu is hard to beat; for an extra bit of luxury, try the big body pillows. Some rooms have fireplaces (yes, it does get cold enough for these October to February) and private balconies. Among the best rooms are No. 220, a suite with an office niche overlooking the courtyard, and No. 104, with a spacious L-shape design.

This inn is both lovely and quirky: its Victorian-dressed rooms (some with four-poster beds, handsome fireplaces, and jetted tubs) are laid out in a bit of a floor-creaking maze, but it adds to its individuality. Enjoy the appetizers and wine at the daily happy hour offered at neighboring property Kings Courtyard Inn. Fulton Lane Inn is run by the same folks who operate gems like the Wentworth Mansion and the John Rutledge House Inn.

If you ask for a room with a view or even a private balcony here, you can gaze out over Charleston Harbor and on to the fountain at the center of Waterfront Park. Some of the rooms are in a former 19th-century shipping warehouse with exposed brick walls, plantation shutters, and whirlpool tubs. Four-poster beds and sea-grass rugs complete the Lowcountry look. Afternoon wine and cheese and evening milk and cookies are included. Parking is valet-only for $32 a day. A new hotel is planned across the street that may block some views by 2022, so ask before you book.

Just a five-minute drive over the scenic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from downtown Charleston, this is the perfect outpost for those who plan to explore the city for hours on end but want a quiet, modern, and economical spot to lay their heads. The snap-to-it staff is most helpful and professional, and the decor is contemporary, including sleek public spaces and meeting rooms galore. An on-site restaurant includes breakfast service, but is not complimentary.

Repeat guests are the norm thanks to the convenient setting of this family-owned former warehouse with a peaceful vibe, despite its central location near Market Street. Guest rooms are done in period reproductions and all have four-poster beds—some have writing desks. Take your complimentary "hunt breakfast" or the nightly wine and cheese in the lovely courtyard adorned with greenery and a fountain. Self-parking is $16 a day in the adjacent lot.

This glorious 1843 Greek revival mansion—yellow with white columns—feels like a private gem; the front desk, parking lot, and other amenities are at the Indigo Inn, across the $16 a day self-park lot. The main house has royally large rooms; several, including the Canton Room—which opens to the second-story veranda—have sitting rooms. A third-floor apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and views of the city. The carriage house, or "dependency," which looks out to a courtyard, has four cozy rooms of its own.

The New Orleans–esque exterior of this National Historic Landmark (the former residence of politician and slaveholder John Rutledge) has wrought-iron architectural details, and inside, parquet floors sit beneath 14-foot ceilings adorned with plaster moldings. Families gravitate to the privacy and quiet of the two carriage houses overlooking the shaded brick courtyard. Breakfast—continental as well as at least one hot item—can be taken in the ballroom, the elegant but simple courtyard, or your room.

The three delightful courtyards at this centrally located circa-1853 inn are great places to enjoy your continental breakfast, afternoon sherry, or evening wine and cheese in the open air courtyard. Numerous windows give some of the guest rooms—filled with antique reproductions and Oriental rugs on the original hardwood floors—great views of busy King Street. Despite the historic touches, rooms still feel modern. Working fireplaces add romance to a selection of rooms, and the two-room suites give families ample space.

The hustle and bustle of one of the city's busiest corners vanishes as soon as the uniformed bellman opens the lobby door of the Market Pavilion Hotel to reveal wood-paneled walls, antique furnishings, and chandeliers hung from high ceilings; it resembles a European grand hotel from the 19th century, and you'll feel like you're visiting royalty. Big-name celebrities and politicos have been known to stay here, especially in the presidential suite. Rooms are decadent (almost to the point of overkill) with French-style chaises and marble baths. One of Charleston's most prestigious fine-dining spots, Grill 225, famed for its steaks, is on the ground floor. All guests are served a continental breakfast, and those on the concierge level also enjoy afternoon tea and a beer, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres reception in an exquisitely dressed parlor. Join sharp-looking Charlestonians on the rooftop Pavilion Bar (gents, be sure to wear a collared shirt).

Part of the Relais & Châteaux group, this boutique property with well-appointed, expansive, and beautifully maintained rooms is a stately sanctuary amid the bustle of Charleston's City Market. Light streams into the Victorian front parlor with its rich velvets, 19th-century portraits, and Asian antiques. Rooms in the historic main building (versus those in the newer Piazza Building, which overlook a tranquil garden courtyard) have more atmosphere and a more residential feel. Service is unobtrusive, but not stuffy. The best rooms have fireplaces and verandas; all have four-poster beds. Top-tier suites are suitably over the top in terms of comfort. Packages with breakfast and/or dinner at the amazing on-site Peninsula Grill are a good value.

Marriott aimed for the feel of a boutique hotel with their renovation of this upscale stalwart in the heart of town. The welcoming lobby, furnished with a modern take on traditional decor, has an atmospheric fireplace to keep you toasty on cooler days. Vivan Howard has two restaurants here—the upscale Lenoir and Hot & Handy, a grab-and-go spot for coffee and delectable biscuits. Guests rave about the inviting rooftop pool and comfortable beds, but the downside is that many rooms offer views only of neighboring buildings.

The cozy rooms—all updated with modern beds and furnishings—at this quaint, central inn surround a greenery-laden courtyard where you can sip a glass of wine and listen to the chimes of nearby churches. Although some consider the best rooms to be those on the second or third floor overlooking the courtyard, guests who enjoy more privacy might opt for the ground-level rooms along the back of the inn, which each have their own small patio.

The stately architecture of this quintessential Charleston lodging radiates the grandeur, romance, and civility of the city's bountiful colonial era. A National Historic Landmark, the 1760 property is filled with antiques and period reproductions in the public rooms and the high-ceilinged guest rooms, some of which have whirlpool tubs. Nice touches include a proper afternoon tea, where wine and cheese are also served. You can take breakfast on either floor's wide, inviting piazza, in the dining room, or have it delivered to your room.

Built in 1912 by the patriarch of the prominent Fishburne family, this B&B has all of the accoutrements of a Lowcountry mansion, from its high ceilings to the charming literary nook, as well as modern-day luxuries like a crescent-shape pool. Guest rooms have canopied or four-poster queen-size beds. There's even a garden pergola tucked among the greenery, and the country breakfast can be taken in the formal dining room or outdoors. The gracious owners, Henry and Diane, relocated to Walterboro from Long Island, and quickly adopted Southern hospitality. Diane's contemporary artwork is juxtaposed with the heirloom antiques that furnish the home (one room upstairs houses her gallery, with original paintings, jewelry and handbags for sale). The home's Forde Doll & Doll House Collection may be the largest such display in the South. The exhibit is open to guests and available to nonguests by prearranged tour.

Thanks to its gorgeous art-filled space, the Vendue feels as much like a contemporary art museum as it does a boutique hotel. Little evidence of this pair of 19th-century warehouses remains, but you will find white marble and hardwood floors, flowing chandeliers, and an eccentric collection of modern art and a rotating artist-in-residence program (there's a daily art reception at 4 with the hotel's in-house art director). There’s an inspired on-site restaurant, Revival, and the ever-popular Rooftop, an adjoining double-terrace bar with soaring views of the city and harbor. Rooms maintain a classic style with exposed brick and four-poster beds. If you're willing to sacrifice windows, the interior rooms are a bargain for a luxury hotel in the heart of town.

As pretty as a wedding cake, this 1892 Queen Anne–style mansion wears overhanging bays, colonnades, balustrades, and a turret; two original Tiffany stained-glass windows (worth as much as the house itself), carved-oak paneling, and a crystal chandelier dress up the public spaces. While rocking on the front porch you can look through soaring arches to White Point Garden with the Ashley River beyond. Some guest rooms have verandas and working fireplaces. Expect to be treated to afternoon high tea as well as a delightful, creative Southern breakfast that includes specialties like crème brûlée French toast.

The grandest inn in town features Second Empire antiques and reproductions, elaborate woodwork, and original stained-glass windows, as well as sweeping views from the rooftop cupola. In the colder months, the staff draws the velvet drapes and lights the gas fireplaces of the baronial, high-ceilinged guest rooms. Italian linens and down pillows add to the opulence. The complimentary evening wine and delectable hors d'oeuvres are served in the sunny, glass-enclosed parlor. The hot breakfast is made in the inn's laudable restaurant, Circa 1886, which shares the former carriage house with a spa, where treatments include couples massages.

With the distinct feel of an English country estate, Woodlands offers 18 suites in a modernized 1906 Greek-revival-style inn. The grounds invite a leisurely stroll under grand live oaks and soaring magnolia trees. Immaculate and beautifully maintained, each guest room is individually decorated but all share elegant touches. Some rooms feature private patios, marble bathrooms, whirlpool tubs, and fireplaces.