Why did this hotel catch your attention?
Hotel Bennett feels utterly fresh and spotless. In the entry foyer, there's nary a scuff in the white marble flooring or the tufted, white-leather banquettes. Jacketed doormen usher you inside, through a rotunda hand-painted with an artist’s rendering of colonial Charles Towne’s 18th-century harbor and skyline, including one panel devoted to the Richmond plantation purchased several years ago by hotelier and businessman Michael Bennett. You can’t help but linger here, marveling at the detailed mural, the petal-like chandelier, and the over-the-top flower arrangements. But the siren call of soft jazzy riffs from a grand piano beckons you towards reception.
What's the backstory?
Decades in the planning, this property is personal for hotelier and businessman Michael Bennett whose Charleston family roots stretch back to the 1850s. During the Great Depression, his father shined shoes catty-corner to the hotel’s entrance, thus the carefully chosen positioning of the opening doors to face that very spot. For Bennett, this luxurious hotel is a bit of a “thank you” to his late father and a gift to the community. Bennett’s 96-year-old mother Virginia participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony in February 2019.
Tell us all about the rooms. Any tips on what to book?
In the herringbone marble entryway of my Premier King room, two things caught my eye: an awaiting fur-lined robe cinched at the waist, and an oversized, polished stone, oval pedestal tub beneath a crystal teardrop chandelier. The message was clear: “You’ve arrived. Slow down. Indulge. That’s an order.” The silver bath tray contained a satchel of verbena-scented sea salts, plus a dissolvable “bath truffle” made with shea butter, bay laurel, cloves, and lotus. Strong water pressure filled the tub in no time at all. Two wall panels glided open to unify the bed and bath areas, so I was able to watch a movie on the flatscreen TV from the luxury of the deep soaking tub. As for the spacious bedroom itself, it was decorated in hues of soft sage and burnished gold. Built-in bookcases brimmed with reading material, a nod to the public library that was once on the site, but also a touch of home. I didn’t take the time to figure out the high-tech lighting controls (instead I took the caveman approach of obstinately punching at switches), but more patient people may want to master the room’s remote to control the lights, temperature, blinds, and drapery from the comfort of the cozy bed.
Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is free and fast.
Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?
In the Grand Hotel tradition, there are numerous onsite venues from which to choose. Gabrielle, the hotel’s signature restaurant, fills two stories, and boasts a private dining room, and a wide al fresco patio. On Saturdays, when the farmers market is in full swing just across the street, diners sink into velvet cushions amid planters filled with marigolds and butterflies. Room service ranges from avocado toast to hearty burgers to shrimp and grits. In the morning, walk through the lobby to the sunny La Pâtisserie bakeshop helmed by James Beard Award-nominated French Pastry Chef Chef Rémy Fünfrock. There’s also a handsome ninth floor rooftop lounge, Fiat Lux, with adjacent poolside cabanas, for cocktails and tasty bites. And the most decadent choice of all, wildly popular among women, mothers, and daughters, but welcome to all, is Hotel Bennett’s Afternoon Tea (weekends, by reservation) in the unapologetically pink, champagne-rich Camellias Bar.
And the service?
Service was smooth and friendly. Everyone we spoke to was genuinely conversant but not overly chatty.
What type of travelers will you find here?
Smartly attired businesswomen; young honeymooners; and wealthy international visitors.
What about the neighborhood? What else will we find here?
Not only is Hotel Bennett smack on a park, but it fronts King Street, a major shopping artery. The hotel is within easy walking distance of many restaurants, including Hall's Chophouse, The Grocery, and The Ordinary, plus cocktail bars like Proof, The Belmont, The Cocktail Club, and Felix.
Any other hotel features worth noting?
Schedule some recuperative time by booking one of the hotel’s Signature Spa’s five treatment rooms, either solo or as a couple. Peruse the hotel’s gift shop for luxury brands such as Emerson Fry, Prada, and Brackish Bowties. Visit the second floor of the entrance rotunda to see the continuation of the ground-floor mural by Georgia-based artist Jill Biskin. There's also a lesser-known third-floor piazza overlooking the treetops of Marion Square.
Bottom line: Why are we staying here?
Where else can you reserve a private cabana by the rooftop pool, equipped with L-shaped sofa, minibar, and your own flat-screen TV, with a views of the harbor and shipping channel?
404 King St., Charleston, South Carolina 29403
United States
https://www.hotelbennett.com/
(833) 313-1798