Charleston has a definite “Southern time capsule” allure: flickering lanterns, clipped hedges, breezy verandas, walkable streets, and the aroma of grits, barbecue, and biscuits wafting through balmy air. And although the city boasts its fair share of grand hotels, sometimes visitors prefer to scale down, choosing smaller stays that feel more at home among the sun-dappled cobblestones and evergreen live oaks. Luckily, boutique hotels abound. I know this firsthand because I was a tourist myself for decades before becoming a permanent resident 22 years ago, following in the footsteps of my ancestors, who arrived in Charleston by ship in 1672.
Across the city, savvy hoteliers have reincarnated early historic houses, transforming them into garden-laced luxury inns with caviar service. Gilded Age mansions play host to eager adventurers, with fine dining venues tucked into repurposed carriage houses, and even newer builds are being designed to blend timelessly with the steeple-spiked city skyline. I adore the fact that 20 South Battery, where my grandfather courted his first love, is now a glitzy, hospitable bed-and-breakfast where you can sit for afternoon tea and chat it up with fellow travelers. And there’s so much more where that came from. Here are some of my favorite boutique hotels in Charleston, South Carolina, for visitors to call home.
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