How did it strike you on arrival?
By Charleston height standards, the eight-story Dewberry towers over Marion Square with 200 west-facing windows. Its cool, lime-washed facade gives way to a sleek, marble-slabbed lobby flanked by warm wooden walls and accented with mid-century modern furniture. Veer left, and you're in the expansive Living Room, a space frequented by guests and locals alike, where leather wing backs and low-slung cane chairs double as reading and meeting nooks by day, then transition into happy hour haunts by night.
What’s the crowd like?
Discerning travelers, hipsters, trendsetters, and connoisseurs who appreciate the hotel’s fleet of luxury Volvo house cars.
The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
My "Charleston Flat" commanded wraparound corner views of a church steeple to the south, and skyline sunset views to the west. Extraordinarily tall windows date to when JFK originally commissioned this building, providing vertical frames of city views. Lofty drapery and gauzy blinds lend privacy. The canopy bed itself is feather soft with Irish linens—it's no wonder staff nicknamed it "the cloud." The bathroom feels regal and vogue, lined with polished Vermont marble and brass fixtures. A deep cast-iron soaking tub with a window view shares a platform with the glassed-in shower. Custom toiletries are on point: a unisex fragrance blend of cedar, palmarosa, and a touch of rosemary.
How about the little details? Any of that worth a mention?
I helped myself to a spicy Blenheim ginger ale with a pour of Maker's Mark and a bag of local Callie's cheese crisps from the mini-bar, then settled onto the soft velvet couch with a leather-bound book from the shelf. I seriously coveted the armoire flanked with indigenous Lowcountry flowers hand-painted by a local artist and printed on soft linen panels. I also ordered extra toiletries to take home for that sensory olfactory extended-vacation experience every time I lather up.
Food and drink: What do they have here?
The James Beard-nominated ground floor brass bar serves the classiest Old-Fashioned in town, sporting a monogrammed “D” ice block. Living Room seats spill out onto an open terrace where brunch runs the gamut from fresh pastries to lobster benedict to caviar service, with wooden bowls handcrafted by a local artist from a white oak that stood nearby. The hotel’s executive chef hails from Eleven Madison Park in New York but quickly dialed in to the local purveyor scene, sourcing fresh shrimp straight off the trawler “Miss Paula” docked on Shem Creek. Don’t miss pastry chef Jenn’s warm-baked cookies and Chantilly-laced six-layer chocolate cake kissed with orange zest and sea salt. At sunset, head high to the rooftop cocktail lounge, Citrus Club, for 360-degree views over the peninsula, plus smash burgers, salmon-belly tacos, and coconut-crab salad.
Anything we forgot to ask about?
The Spa is softly lit, cypress lined, curtain draped—truly a destination spa with thoughtful touches like aromatic neck pillows and custom tea blends. From Natura Bissé facials, to hot river stone massages, to detoxifying seaweed wraps, time truly stops within these walls. You must check out the ground floor gift shops, too, full of thoughtfully sourced local and regional art and accessories. Oh, and in good weather, rooftop yoga is a serious perk. There’s nothing like Shavasana at steeple height.
How about extras: Worth the splurge? The Dewberry partners with bespoke chartering club Barton & Gray, so when weather permits, hotel guests can reserve an outing aboard a classic Hinckley Talaria boat, fully captained for custom, catered excursions to remote beaches and intercoastal waterways.
Bottom line: Why will we love it here?
Owner and creator John Dewberry continues to preside over every detail of his namesake flagship, so you can rest assured your experience will live up to his exacting standards.
334 Meeting St, Charleston, South Carolina 29403
United States
https://www.thedewberrycharleston.com/
(843) 558-8000