The Best Hotels in South Carolina

The Montage Palmetto Bluff makes the most of its Lowcountry setting, covering more than 20,000 acres between Savannah and Hilton Head Island. Outdoor activities like fishing, stand-up paddle boarding, shooting, horseback riding, and world-class golf are a huge draw. Guests can explore the idyllic property by bicycle or kayak along the May River, perhaps stopping for refreshments at one of the resort’s restaurants or to savor s’mores at one of the fire pits dotting the grounds. But visitors can also luxuriate indoors in one of the inn’s rooms overlooking the lagoon or in a cottage on the village green. Watching the sunset from the patio is such a staple of Palmetto Bluff that “porching” with cocktails is a nightly event. The hotel takes its heritage and legacy seriously, presiding over a nature conservancy and wildlife preserve as well as sharing the cultural and culinary traditions of the region and its people. Stay out late for a summer concert overlooking the ruins of the original plantation house or hide out in the five-story treehouse and plan your return.

The Willcox has been an institution for more than a hundred years—so much so that it dropped the “hotel” designation from its name. Located just steps from the sprawling urban forest of Hitchcock Woods, The Willcox caters to the horsey set, with an equestrian theme throughout the rooms and even a horse concierge. Old-fashioned keys open the doors to the 22 rooms, each with with four-poster beds warmed by cashmere-covered hot water bottles, and pets are welcomed with their own “Guest of Willcox” tag. It’s not uncommon to see horses prancing down the streets of Aiken, once the headquarters for the wealthy Winter Colony riders of the 19th century, and the hotel is happy to indulge your passion to gallop, trot, or just enjoy a carriage ride. A saltwater pool and a range of spa services soothe tired muscles after a day in the saddle or tooling around the small-town center. The lobby bar and restaurant are favorites with locals, serving an American menu with a few Kiwi touches from the New Zealand–born chef.

Occupying a full block in the heart of downtown, Belmond Charleston Place is the largest luxury hotel in the city and has all the perks a seasoned traveler might require, from a saltwater pool with retractable glass roof to old-school shoe shine services. The Market Street entrance leads right to the grand lobby, with its imperial open-arm staircase, 12-foot crystal chandelier, and Italian marble floors. The old-fashioned Southern elegance is echoed in the guest rooms, done up in mahogany and damask.

The property’s ground floor is the closest thing downtown Charleston has to a mall, hosting some 26 stores and boutiques including Kate Spade and Louis Vuitton. It’s a great home base for exploring the city, with additional entrances on Meeting and King streets. And don’t forget to scope out the gorgeous Art Deco Riviera Theater across King Street—a 1930s movie palace turned event space.

Why we love it: A historic building turned stylish hotel with a buzzy restaurant and lavish spa

The Highlights:
- Chic decor that mixes historic preservation with contemporary style
- A rooftop cocktail bar with citrus-inspired drinks
- Amenities like an on-site boutique, open-air yoga, and house car service

The Review:
Much has been written about Charleston’s antebellum charms, but modernists seeking respite need look no further than The Dewberry, a 1960s federal building on Marion Square that’s now one of the city’s coolest hotels. Here, a wood-paneled lobby gives way to a cozy living room straight out of Mad Men, complete with mid-century furnishings, antiqued mirrors, live music, and a brass bar serving up deviled eggs and classic cocktails. Up a flight of stairs, the second-floor spa features tufted-velvet recliners and treatments that incorporate Lowcountry flora, plus a full-service fitness center and open-air yoga classes on the hotel rooftop.

The 155 light-filled guest rooms are equally stylish, with luxurious Irish linens, marble baths, and armoires clad in custom-printed linen by local illustrator Becca Barnet. Barnet’s work is also on display in the by-reservation-only Citrus Club, a rooftop lounge with craft cocktails and light bites overlooking the Holy City’s famed steeples. For a heartier meal, guests can head to on-site restaurant Henrietta’s, where traditional French brasserie fare meets local ingredients. Rounding things out are unique amenities like house car service in luxury Volvos, complimentary Papillionaire bicycles, and a boutique curated by Garden & Gun, with fashion, barware, jewelry, and more from Southern artisans and craftsmen.

Why we love it: A Historic District hotel where 1920s glamour meets Southern hospitality

The Highlights:
- Personal butler service
- Complimentary amenities, including a daily artisanal breakfast
- An acclaimed craft cocktail program at The Bar

The Review:
Located in Charleston’s bustling Historic District, The Spectator Hotel blends Jazz Age luxury with Southern charm. Local interior designer Jenny Keenan spearheaded the property’s Art Deco-inspired aesthetic, which features thoughtful details throughout, from hand-painted wallpaper to the lobby’s focal point—a three-tiered chandelier that sparkles with 1,800 hand-strung glass crystals.

The four-story hotel houses more than 40 rooms, all of which boast locally designed bedding and products from Deep Steep, a vegan and cruelty-free line of bathroom amenities. Should any needs arise, sit back and relax—personal butlers are at the beck and call of every guest and will take care of anything from drawing a bath to making dinner reservations. For the latter, consider staying on site at The Bar, a Prohibition-inspired spot with creative cocktails and an array of flavor-forward bites (caramelized onion tarts, deviled hen eggs, gorgonzola-mascarpone cheesecake). When morning rolls around, it’s best to stay in bed—a locally sourced in-room breakfast is provided with each night’s stay.

After a multi-phase expansion completed in 2016, the former Restoration on King dropped “the King” from its name and gained a new restaurant, spa, coffee shop, and several dozen more suites. The sleek and modern rooms at the boutique Restoration are spread over five historic buildings at King and Wentworth, linked by a courtyard with its own wishing fountain. Exposed brick, high ceilings, and dark wood add to the suites’ loft feel, and amenities such as kitchenettes and breakfast baskets delivered to your room from the on-site Rise Coffee Bar beg a longer stay. Seasonal “happenings” at the property include yoga classes, movie nights, and fashion pop-ups at the Port Mercantile retail store. The Amethyst Spa and Nail Bar uses charged gemstones and essential oils in their massages and treatments, and the jewel-box rooftop pool provides refreshment on a hot day and has panoramic views. After a swim, the Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits serves farm-to-table Lowcountry dishes and cocktails inspired by the city, such as the seasonal, bright tequila-and-watermelon-infused Charleston Brick. The Restoration understands the need for speed and style, and offers to hook up guests with vintage car rentals or even help serious riders design and commission their own custom-built motorcycle (a favorite subject of the hotel’s artist-in-residence, photographer Gately Williams) to pick up on a return trip to Charleston.

This Gilded Age residence, built for a cotton merchant and his bride in the 1880s, was renovated and opened as a hotel in 1998 after stints as a masonic meeting place and an insurance office. It’s a testament to some serious preservation and restoration that stepping onto the property feels akin to stepping back in time. Intricate wood paneling, Tiffany-style stained glass, and period furniture that might feel stuffy in another building feel perfectly proportioned and at home in the Wentworth Mansion’s large, airy rooms. And all but two of the rooms have their own gas fireplaces.

Modern conveniences for guests include wireless access throughout the property, oversized whirlpool bathtubs, and free on-site parking. Visit Harleston Parlor for wine in the afternoon and sherry in the evening, or settle down in a cozy wicker chair in the sunroom. And feel free to bring the family dog along, as the hotel welcomes pets in most of its rooms.

Zero George consists of five structures: the main building fronting George Street, built in the early 1800s as two separate structures; two additional examples of the “Charleston single house,” a long and narrow building with an open-air porch along its length; and one carriage house. Formerly a French-style inn, Zero George was purchased, renovated, and reopened under a new name by a local hotels veteran in early 2013. Its architecture is pure Charleston, and the garden courtyard at the heart of the property, with its palmettos and hand-laid brick walkways, is a welcome oasis. Rooms are bright and airy, with elegant period-style furniture decked out in neutral fabrics and patterns.

Food is a way of life in the Carolina Lowcountry, but in the past five years Charleston’s culinary scene has exploded with new producers and restaurateurs focusing on local ingredients prepared in dynamic ways. Zero George fits right in with the new food trends. It’s a property that uses its classically Charleston setting as a site for intimate cooking classes and Southern-infused craft cocktails.