How did it strike you on arrival?
In its three decades of existence, The Charleston Place has become a sort of opulent living room for locals. It’s in the heart of the city. People love to pass through its lobby to check out seasonally themed exhibits, to grab a drink at the Thoroughbred Club, or to celebrate milestones, even if they are not staying here. When you arrive, you’ll notice a new fleet of bicycles strapped with oversized clasped baskets designed by Tara Guerard of Soirée for your picnicking enjoyment in one of the city’s many parks. Valets and door greeters welcome you with enthusiasm as you settle in, admire the artwork, and ponder the hidden engineering that keeps that 2.5-ton chandelier in place.
What’s the crowd like?
Eclectic and fun, young and old. European travelers feel at home here, but so do locals. Families are most welcome, especially given the spacious conjoined suite option on the 8th floor. Sadly, the on-site pool is currently closed for renovations, but we eagerly await the results of that spare-no-expense project. Best of all, pets are welcome, with no hidden fees, no weight restrictions, pet sitters on call, and custom designed doggy beds.
The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
I was lucky enough to snag a "Club Level" room, which isn't entirely representative of a typical hotel stay because of its many perks at a premium rate. There's little reason to want to leave the two top floors that comprise the Club Level, given complimentary meals practically round-the-clock (until 10pm), revolving snacks and drinks, views over the city, a decadent evening dessert spread. Those special perks aside, all of the hotel's 433 guest rooms have a comfortable, traditional mahogany bed, free-standing armoires, Carrara marble shower with striking herringbone accents, and a refreshed color scheme of soft grays, subtle blues and greens. The effect is one of tranquility. New owner Beemok Hospitality Collection is currently unfolding a 150 million dollar renovation of the entire hotel, floor by floor so that guests won’t be disturbed. It’s hard to imagine improving this hotel, but I’m excited to see their vision unfold.
How about the little details, any of that worth a mention?
Things I loved: adjustable reading lamps attached to bed posts; remote control of room lighting; convenient USB charging outlets. Design-wise, I loved the subtle wallpaper at each landing reproduced from a 19th-century map of Charleston. The revamped ground level boutique stocks lots of interesting local keepsakes (definitely not your typical hotel chotskies). And I stumbled on a pop-up ping-pong challenge in the hotel’s lush internal courtyard.
Food and drink: What's the story here?
The place is home to some of the best restaurants in the city, Palmetto Café and live-jazz-playing Charleston Grill with advanced sommeliers, smoothly choreographed French-style service, and not a drop of stuffiness. There's also tapas at the Thoroughbred Club just off the lobby, plus a sports bar called Meeting at Market with excellent charcuterie boards, local brews, fish & chips, and wrap-around windows fronting the historic market (position A for people watching). If room service is your thing, all guest rooms enjoy room-service access to both Palmetto and Charleston Grill. I recommend the Palmetto's crab salad (in-room $40), a tower of jumbo lump crab meat, whipped avocado, and zingy golden tomato vinaigrette, topped with shatteringly thin shards of multigrain cracker (enough crab for two hungry people).
Anything else we should have asked about?
At Charleston Place, the answer is always yes. If you need childcare, they have sitters on call. Need someone to watch your pup? They've got that, too. Private or group yoga instructors are a phone call away. One important heads-up: the hotel’s pool and gym and spa and rooftop terrace are currently undergoing a fabulous renovation, so I can’t yet properly sing those praises. The result will be grand, no doubt. The gym is large and full of state-of-the-art equipment. Chilled towels and complimentary headphones are a plus. Private or group yoga instructors are a phone call away.
Bottom line: Why are we staying here?
Stately European elegance with a heap of Southern charm.
205 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina 29401
United States
https://charlestonplace.com/
(843) 722-4900