Charleston, South Carolina, has a lot to offer. The “Holy City” is classic and dynamic, with cobblestoned lanes flanked by brightly colored buildings.

Don’t forget the Ravenel Bridge towering over the port and the newest hip restaurants, hotels, and rooftop clubs.

There are many things this city is known for, but the charm is the best of them. Visitors fall in love with its sweet-talking Southern culture, stunning architecture, soul-satisfying cuisine, and historic districts every year.

This selection of the top Charleston, SC hotels includes everything from vibrant boutique hotels to rich, art-filled structures.

We’ve put together a list of the top eight hotels in Charleston to assist you in creating your own Charleston travel guide.

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Best Neighborhoods in Charleston, SC

While the districts near downtown Charleston have a lot to offer, some of the most intriguing places are outside that historical peninsula.

Visitors love the sights and flavors found in the barrier islands, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, and North Charleston.

Charleston is a multifaceted city, though. Every neighborhood has a distinct charm of its own.

This guide will give you a taste of some of Charleston, South Carolina’s top areas to stay in.

Historic District

The Historic District of Charleston is home to most of the city’s top hotels.

The Historic Charleston City Market, the Charleston Museum, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Joe Riley Waterfront Park are just a few of the main tourist attractions in the area.

While many charming neighborhoods in Charleston are worth seeing, we suggest making the Charleston Historic District your center of operations.

Fantastic restaurants, bustling pubs, and adorable boutiques are all around.

South of Broad

The area south of Broad Street between the Cooper River to the north and the Ashley River to the south makes up this distinctly Charleston neighborhood.

At the southernmost point of the Charleston Peninsula is Battery Park, a stunning area to relax in.

Rainbow Row, one of the city’s most well-known streets, is also in the South of Broad.

South of Broad is a fantastic place to start if you want to find an area with charm, history, and character.

8 Best Hotels in Charleston, SC

1. The Ryder Hotel
2. The Loutrel
3. French Quarter Inn
4. Hotel Emeline
5. The Dewberry Charleston
6. Hotel Bennett Charleston
7. Zero George Street
8. Belmond Charleston Place

Despite being the biggest city in the state, Charleston features a charming tiny downtown district (known as the Charleston Historic District).

It is great for pedestrians and teeming with exciting things to see and do.

Fortunately for you, this list of the top hotels in Charleston includes a wide variety of delightful places to stay, from charming boutique hotels with individualized service to luxurious hotels situated right in the middle of the city.

The Ryder Hotel

• Hotel Class: 3-Stars
• Price Range: $300 – $420 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 237 Meeting Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 11 AM

This hotel in Charleston, SC, named after the semi-fictional figure Japhy Ryder created by Jack Kerouac, is all about mixing things up and savoring the voyage.

At check-in, you receive a complimentary homemade cocktail blended to order.

Whether you’re wearing flip-flops, acrylic heels, or barefoot, cocktail shakers and Motown beats keep toes tapping at the indoor/outdoor poolside venue, Little Palm.

The La Bottega robes, walk-in showers, and airy decor in the suites will help you unwind when the time comes.

The Loutrel

• Hotel Class: 4-Stars
• Price Range: $340 – $560 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 61 State Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
• Check-in: 3 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 11 AM

Although Charleston is home to several notable buildings, the Loutrel has established a reputation as the city’s favorite new hotel.

The boutique hotel’s 50 rooms have a sleek, modern feel, and it continuously strives to bring the outside in. 

Living orchids adorn each space, along with calamondin-orange topiaries, exquisite cherry blossom branches, and seasonal floral arrangements.

The Loutrel, which calls itself “Charleston’s Finest Hour,” mixes traditional South Carolina friendliness with a fresh interpretation of upscale Lowcountry design. 

The Loutrel’s rooftop patio, which crests the established tree line of Charleston’s historic French Quarter, gives it its “wow” quality.

Early risers enjoy their morning coffee up here as they watch the sun light up a portion of the bay little by little.

French Quarter Inn

• Hotel Class: 4-Stars
• Price Range: $311 – $630 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 166 Church Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 12 PM

One of Charleston’s most renowned luxury hotels, The French Quarter Inn, is famous for its superior service, attention to detail, and Southern hospitality.

It will amaze you if you’re searching for a little bit of history and a whole lot of luxury when visiting Charleston. 

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with a glass of champagne and pampered like royalty for the rest of your stay.

Without the typical modern ambiance, this 50-room resort portrays itself as an expensive boutique hotel.

It provides an opulent, Parisian, almost-regal environment that blends in perfectly with its historic surroundings.

The rooms are roomy and flawlessly furnished with antique furniture and accents.

After a long day, you’ll appreciate unwinding in your comfortable bed while watching a movie on the big flat screen. Or even better, schedule a massage in your room!

Hotel Emeline

• Hotel Class: 4-Stars
• Price Range: $330– $495 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 181 Church Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 11 AM
• Think of Hotel Emeline as a fashionable Southern aunt who enjoys everything vintage.

She likes jazz, organizes wild parties, pours stiff drinks, and takes pleasure in pruning the jasmine in her garden.

The Makeready hospitality group has designed this 212-room hotel to make you feel at home. 

That is the mixture of wicker, velvet, palm-print wallpaper, and craftsman woodwork at Emeline’s house.

Working record players in each suite, a resident chef specializing in chocolate truffles, and other small surprises make the place special. 

You’ll adore all the amenities at the Hotel Emeline, and the staff will go above and beyond to ensure you have a wonderful visit.

The amenities are limitless, ranging from luxurious towels and bathrobes to a lovely outdoor fire pit and complimentary morning coffee deliveries.

Additionally, this hotel in Charleston welcomes pets, so feel free to bring your furry friend along.

The Dewberry Charleston

• Hotel Class: 5-Stars
• Price Range: $410 – $615 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 334 Meeting Street, Historic District, Charleston, 29403, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Between 11 AM and 12 PM

The Dewberry Charleston is a charming boutique hotel with excellent amenities and the most welcoming staff.

The fig ivy at The Dewberry’s base has steadily grown since it opened its doors in the fall of 2016, clinging tenaciously to the ground-floor columns.

The hotel now seems to be floating above a garden.

Its JFK-era cool factor will win you over.

The famous Living Room is located past the warm cherry wood paneling with unlacquered brass inlay and across the enormous slabs of polished marble. It’s where visitors can relax in a plush high-back leather chair.

Locals crowd the patio for Saturday brunch and drop into the quiet spa for Natura Bissé facials.

However, the rooftop, with its views of Charleston’s harbor, sunset cocktails, small bites, and sea breezes, will always be the main attraction.

It’s the perfect spot to stay if you’re in Charleston for a weekend.

Rooms are well furnished and immaculately maintained.

The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows keep the room light and cheerful, providing stunning city views. Make use of the minibar and the delicious-smelling Dewberry products.

Hotel Bennett Charleston

• Hotel Class: 5-Stars
• Price Range: $420 – $680 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 404 King Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29403, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 12 PM

The Hotel Bennett Charleston is a fantastic option if you want to stay at a glitzy hotel while visiting the city.

Both inside and out, the hotel is gorgeous. You might not even want to leave the hotel while you’re there.

The view is unparalleled from its rooftop bar and pool.

On the horizon, the sky meets a ribbon of the shimmering bay around the lower peninsula.

As the sun sets, clever visitors park themselves up here and settle into cushioned wicker furniture with a craft drink to observe snowy egrets migrating during the winter.

The spacious second-floor ballroom lounge and Camellias, a pink champagne bar, are just two of the lower levels of this large hotel that are worth carefully exploring.

Fresh pastries, strong coffee, and stacks of newspapers are among the draws of the sunny corner bakery La Pâtisserie, which draws both locals and tourists.

One extra benefit of staying here is that the hotel spills out directly onto Marion Square, a public park famous for its Saturday farmers market.

The rooms are spacious and pleasant, with a terrace and sleek, classic décor.

The big immaculate bathroom in your room with its soaking tub is its true centerpiece. After a long day of touring, it’s the ideal spot to unwind with a bottle of wine.

Zero George Street

• Hotel Class: 4-Stars
• Price Range: $410 – $665 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 0 George Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 12 PM

Consider renting a few nights at Zero George Street to experience authentic Southern charm when visiting Charleston.

The property’s ambiance gives you the impression that you have traveled back in time.

The four early-19th-century in-town “singles” and two carriage homes that makeup Zero George will also amaze you.

The 16 rooms feature a simple color scheme of cream, gray, and sage with no kitsch whatsoever.

The kitchen is the center of this home, as it should be in the South, and the garden suites are charming with heartwood floors and antique millwork.

With plenty of pig fat on the side, royal crimson shrimp are prepared by Chef Vinson Petrillo without pretense or fancy sauces.

The Zero Restaurant is a stand-alone attraction. This is an excellent example of Charleston, right down to the delightful crunch of oyster shells beneath your feet in your shady courtyard nook.

Does it even get more down-home than spending your afternoons unwinding on the cozy wicker rockers on the wraparound porch with a drink of sweet tea?

Every morning you’ll be treated to a great breakfast, and you may enjoy their wine and cheese hour while you’re there.

Belmond Charleston Place

• Hotel Class: 4-Stars
• Price Range: $450 – $805 (based on avg. standard room rates)
• Address: 205 Meeting Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
• Check-in: 4 PM-midnight
• Check-out: Until 12 PM

The historic Charleston Place, a Belmond Hotel, pours glitz from top to bottom.

You’ll adore unwinding in the lovely saltwater pools, getting pampered at the full-service spa, and sipping a beverage at the rooftop bar as the sun sets.

The Belmond Charleston Place has luxury boutiques bordering both sides of the marble-strewn lobby.

It also features a large double spiral staircase, making it just as elegant and striking from the outside as it is within.

Dark oak furniture and clean white linens make rooms sophisticated and cozy.

You might never want to leave your room once you’ve slipped into your comfy bathrobe.

And you don’t need to with Wi-Fi, television, 24-hour room service, and all the amenities you could need throughout your stay.

Request a Club Level Suite on the top two floors for a rich experience.

You can get private concierge service, a continental breakfast, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the evening, and more.

Final Thought on Best Places to Stay in Charleston, SC

Charleston’s hotels are among the best locations to stay in the area and are just one of the many attractions of this city in South Carolina.

Any of these top Charleston, South Carolina hotels will ensure a fantastic stay, whether you’re enjoying some Lowcountry fare or sightseeing before nightfall.

Did you enjoy learning about these fascinating and distinctive hotels?

See this guide to the best food in Charleston to find out how to make the most of your vacation in this enchanting city.