41 Best Hotels in Charleston, South Carolina

Five restored 19th-century residences have been joined together to create this hideaway in the heart of the Ansonborough neighborhood that's surrounded by well-heeled homes. The 16 studios and suites are spread out among the interconnected historic structures—three former homes and two brick carriage houses, with private piazzas throughout—and many feature original elements like pine floors or millwork details. Rooms have a varied decor inspired by different elements of Charleston's past—tailored British trade, airy French romantic, and nautical yachting design—and feature natural linens and fabrics, marble bathrooms, and custom furniture. The superb Restaurant + Bar at Zero George serves breakfast and $145 prix-fixe dinners; libations can also be enjoyed in the garden courtyard.

Facing White Point Garden, this 11-room inn within a five-story 1843 mansion makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. Gaze up at the ceiling in the massive ballroom or relax in the sitting room with views of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. Five of the inn's rooms are built into the carriage house of an adjacent 19th-century home, overlooking the magically pleasant courtyard and garden. Two rooms are in the former basement but are surprisingly light and welcoming. Breakfasts often include local treats from Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, and the evening wine and charcuterie gatherings on the front porch are Charleston living at its finest.

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 $25 at an open lot across the street.

Mount Pleasant's finest hotel sits on Charleston Harbor, so you can gaze at the city's skyline with your feet on this resort's sandy beach or from the waterfront pool. The Beach Club's spacious rooms all sport oversized balconies overlooking the pool and harbor. Grounds include a bocce court, life-size chessboard, and a private movie theater. The resort's original hotel, the adjacent Harborside, shares the grounds and includes an additional 125 rooms and the Estuary Spa. A lot goes on here, from splashy boat shows at the marina and wedding celebrations to summertime concerts on Friday evenings. Children can jump into the mini-mariners' program, and parents can learn to navigate a sailboat. A number of annual sailing events are held here, and the bar scene at the three on-site restaurants is fun. Get here via a 10-minute ride on the Charleston Water Taxi (bikes are welcome) or on a trolley that runs to the Market area.

Gaze up at the immense handblown Murano glass chandelier in the open lobby, click across the Italian marble floors, and browse the gallery of upscale shops that complete 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 whiskey selection. 

Built in the renovated Federal Building overlooking Marion Square, the Dewberry exudes style and sophistication from the travertine marble to the mahogany and walnut that adorn the lobby and in-house bar and restaurant. Rooms are among the city's priciest and most luxurious, from the Irish linens to the original local art. The reservations-only rooftop Citrus Club has enviable views of the city.

This former DoubleTree feels like a boutique hotel despite its size, thanks to an endless array of thoughtful touches, from welcome cocktails and staff who remember your name to in-room record players with classic albums like Piano Man and Pet Sounds. Although some rooms are small, the smart use of space, custom furnishings, and hip art and fixtures convey pure luxury. Interior rooms open to a lengthy courtyard, where fountains, a brick fireplace, and ample greenery set the mood. Two terrific on-site restaurants bustle with activity and are popular with locals, especially on weekends.

With a swing bed, wicker furniture, and a wall-sized landscape painting of a Southern estate, the lobby of this fresh-faced newcomer is designed to feel like you're entering a stately mansion. Spacious, simple but tastefully adorned rooms—many with private balconies or views to the nearby St. Philip's Church steeple—sustain the Southern Living aesthetic. The rooftop lounge and bar may be the city's best, with complimentary cocktails each evening and live music on weekends. There's a fitness center, free bike rentals, nightly turndown service, and an impressive breakfast spread in the lobby bar each morning. 

The Mills House, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2023 with a multimillion-dollar renovation. This modern iteration of Charleston's most iconic hotel feels shiny and fresh, yet rooted in history. The lobby sports high ceilings, an elaborate crystal chandelier, and marble floors, while all guest rooms feature art with female subjects by female artists. The terrace and delightful rooftop pool are among the Peninsula's best escapes, and the excellent Iron Rose restaurant, with its concise surf-and-turf menu, is a local destination for special occasions. Dine or sip cocktails in the courtyard or the comfortable porch and dining room filled with natural light.

From raffia ceilings to elaborate molding to light fixtures fashioned from seagrass baskets, Lowcountry-inspired design surrounds you at this high-end newcomer. Most rooms are designed for couples—king beds, elaborate showerheads, in-room wet bars—but a few have pullouts for families. Balconies overlook East Bay and side streets, but the action is in the lobby, where the bar draws both visitors and locals for inspired, international spins on classic cocktails. 

Charleston architect Neil Stevenson designed this boutique hotel to be swank and suave to the hilt, featuring several rooftop terraces with sleek sofas and prime views. Step inside the suites within this pair of 1800s buildings and you're in a world of exposed brick, warm wood floors, soaring ceilings, and swank decor. With its wine-and-cheese (plus mini-kegs of beer) cocktail hour each evening, a heated rooftop relaxation pool with views of the city, and the on-site Rise Coffee Bar, it offers the best of creature comforts. Set above the shops on King Street, the location is ideal for those who want to explore all aspects of the city. And no worries on the noise factor: most shops close by 7 pm and you're a few floors up, so any residual action is nicely buffered.

Guests at this 1,600-acre island beachfront resort can choose from two Tom Fazio–designed golf courses, a nationally ranked tennis program, and miles of paved trails to walk and jog. The focal points are the bright-and-airy Boardwalk Inn, which sits among a cluster of homes painted in pastels to resemble Charleston's Rainbow Row, and the Sweetgrass Inn, a 153-room hotel. Guests have access to multiple pools, including a heated adults-only enclave and two beachfront pools—and a bar and café—at the Grand Pavilion. Downtown-quality meals and drinks are served in myriad hot spots near (or in) the Sweetgrass Pavilion and beyond. The chef-driven Coastal Provisions restaurant serves date-night-worthy crab cakes and gnocchi, and Huey's, at the Links Course club house, offers hearty breakfasts and upscale pub grub.

Awash in style and modern luxury yet firmly rooted in historic authenticity, this boutique hotel caters to the well-to-do with a taste for understated class. The rooms each have a canopy bed but are otherwise unique, from hand-stenciled wallpaper to a stunning free-standing glass shower in the sole room on the top floor. Communal spaces are equally impressive, including a library with an honor bar, a salon where afternoon wine and cheese are served, and a kitchen where the Euro-Continental breakfast is served each morning. 

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 $28/day. It's in the bustling Market area, so ask for an interior room.

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.

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.

Hardwood floors, a central fireplace, and leather furnishings in the lobby of what was once an 1860s railroad warehouse help elevate this chain hotel. Rooms are fresh and inviting but not large, and many overlook the pleasant outdoor lawn, swimming pool, and sitting area that make for a relaxing haven amid downtown's bustle. The location—directly adjacent to the Charleston Visitor Center—is perfect for exploring.

If you ask for a room with a view or even a private balcony here, you can gaze out over Charleston Harbor and onto the fountain at the center of Waterfront Park. All of the rooms were updated in 2021, shedding some traditional decor for updated armoires, drapes, and new carpet, plus refreshed local art. Some rooms are in a former 19th-century shipping warehouse with exposed brick walls, plantation shutters, and whirlpool tubs. Afternoon wine and cheese and evening milk and cookies are included. Parking is valet-only for $40 a day. A new hotel, The Cooper, is scheduled to open across the street in 2025, so ask about the state of construction noise and current views of the waterfront before booking. 

Conveniently located to both the International African American Museum and Gaillard Center, the Hilton Club Liberty Place offers a selection of suites and studios. Meals aren't included in the price, but you can purchase continental breakfast. Better yet, walk to any number of local restaurants and cafés sited just minutes from this business-appropriate hotel's polished front door.

A sunny swimming pool and breezy patios overlooking the Ashley River are among the main attractions at this modern hotel that's a convenient stop for boaters docked at the nearby marinas. Guest rooms include docks for your electronic devices and 42-inch flat-screen HD TVs. There's also a fitness center and a 24-hour convenience store.

Despite its size, this pair of hotels (there's a Hyatt Place in the same complex) manages to feel tucked away amid the buzz of Upper King Street. Amenities like a heated indoor pool and 24-hour fitness center allow for a seamless transition from the convenience of a modern hotel into the heart of the city. A popular rooftop bar, Pour Taproom, boasts excellent views from the top floor.

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 $20/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.

Choose from one- to four-bedroom villas, three- to eight-bedroom private homes, or one of the ultraposh 255 rooms at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island at this luxury waterfront hotel and spa that is one of the most prestigious resorts in the country and yet still kid-friendly. Its vast lobby is stunning, with a wonderful collection of art and walnut floors covered with handwoven rugs. The West Indies theme is evident in the guest rooms, where bedposts are carved with impressionistic pineapple patterns and ceilings have exposed planks painted white. A top-rated steakhouse, the Ocean Room, has incredible architectural details, including wrought-iron gates and a stained-glass dome. Four rental cottages are located beside the Ocean Course's clubhouse, overlooking the driving range and the Atlantic Ocean. Along with the 10 miles of island beaches, recreational options include kayak and surfboard rentals, nature tours, and arts-and-crafts classes.

Prices can triple during high-season weekends, so book in advance, check the calendar, and book strategically if you're also planning to stay elsewhere in Charleston.

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.