Charleston, America’s darling city of the moment, is beloved for its Southern charm, historic homes, music and arts and, of course, booming culinary scene. Hotels in the city aren’t lacking either, but many of the well-respected properties such as Charleston Place have been around for decades or even longer.
Today, however, travelers to the city are in for a slew of new, eye-catching choices when it comes to deciding where they want to hang their hat. “There has been a huge tourism boom in Charleston in recent years, and the hotel development that’s happening now is a response to that,” says Ian Sanchez, a guide who offers private insider tours of Charleston. “These properties are adding freshness to a city hotel landscape that’s largely remained the same for a while.”
The Dewberry Hotel inhabits a one-time local office building.
The change started with The Dewberry, fully open since fall 2018. Overlooking Marion Square in downtown Charleston, the property is located in a midcentury building that was originally a federal office building commissioned by President John F. Kennedy. The new owner, John Dewberry, was intent on creating a contemporary, vibrant hotel that is his vision of “Southern reimagined.”
Definitely the buzziest property in town, The Dewberry has a lobby bar and a chic rooftop venue called The Citrus Club that’s a hot-ticket reservation known for its creative cocktails. The spa is a draw too, with treatments that highlight Lowcountry elements such as the dewberry plant and sea extracts.
Inside a swanky dining area of the Hotel Bennett.
