21 Best Hotels in Lower King and the Market, Charleston

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Repeat guests are the norm thanks to the central setting—and $20 self-parking—at this newly renovated, family-owned inn with a peaceful vibe. Take your complimentary "hunt breakfast" or the nightly wine and cheese in the lovely courtyard adorned with greenery and a fountain. 

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 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.

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. Vivian 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 hustle and bustle of one of the city's busiest corners vanishes as soon as the uniformed bellman opens the lobby door 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. Rooms are lavishly decorated (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).

Guest rooms in this 1874 stucco mansion, with porches on the second, third, and fourth floors, overlook a lovely courtyard with fountains and a hot tub. The nightly wine-and-cheese reception in the lobby is the reincarnation of a more genteel time. Four-poster or canopy beds, chair rails, and patterned wallpaper create a period feel, and many rooms have hardwood floors and oriental rugs.

Tucked just off King Street in the heart of the College of Charleston district, this upscale 24-room inn offers spacious rooms with king beds and in-room laundry, plus suites with full kitchens. From the muted natural tones of the lobby to Instagram-worthy linens and wallpaper in rooms, The Pinch embodies the beautiful South of the city's favorite magazine, Garden & Gun. The ground floor features two restaurants—the Quinte Oyster Bar and Lowland, a 2024 opening from James Beard award–winning chef Jason Stanhope, formerly of FIG. 

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.

When The Ryder opened in 2021, repurposing the old King Charles Inn, it immediately endeared itself to locals thanks to its poolside bar, Little Palm. On steamy summer days, it's the place to kick back with a cocktail. A stay here puts you close to the action—and the City Market. Rooms sport natural and muted tones, and furniture with surprisingly few right angles, creating a relaxed aura. 

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.