Belmond Charleston Place Hotel

I spent a long weekend in Charleston following a friend’s wedding on Folly Beach. As I arrived to Belmond Charleston Place Hotel well before check-in time, my room was not ready, so I ventured to brunch — a short walk down King Street that felt much longer when the skies opened up into a full-fledged storm. Needless to say, after a soggy meal, I was relieved to receive a call from the hotel telling me my room was ready. I picked up my bags and keys and was on my way to my third-floor room in a matter of minutes.

My club-level guestroom, with an understated but elegant décor reminiscent of old-fashioned Southern charm, opened into a short hallway with the bathroom to the left. The marble-accented bathroom featured a spacious shower with a rainfall showerhead — my favorite. The in-room toiletries in club-level rooms are exclusive for the Belmond Charleston Place, and I was obsessed with the smell of the hand soap. I had to stop the door with the trashcan if I wanted to keep the bathroom door open.

As I was traveling with a friend, I requested a room with two double beds, exceedingly comfortable to sink into at the end of the day. A nightstand with ample lighting and plugs separated the beds, situated across from a credenza housing the minibar and flat-screen TV. A reading nook with two chairs and a desk rounded out the offerings.

The multiple award-winning Belmond Charleston Place shines when it comes to services and amenities. While my stay wasn’t long enough to include a visit to Charleston Grill, it is on the top of my to-do list for a return stay. The menu is divided into Executive Chef Michelle Weaver’s four inspirations: Southern, Pure, Lush and Cosmopolitan. The Palmetto Café serves American Lowcountry cuisine, while Thoroughbred Club offers a tapas-style menu and live music. Meeting at Market is an upscale pub.

The spa boasts 10 treatment rooms, a pool, a eucalyptus dry sauna and a fitness center. I think this will be my second stop next time I visit Charleston, right behind Charleston Grill. More than 40,000 square feet of recently renovated event space ranges from a grand ballroom to boardroom-style meeting rooms, suited to host weddings, corporate functions and everything in between.

While the accommodations were tops, the real perk of my guestroom was the access to the club-level amenities, of which I made good use, including hot breakfast, afternoon snacks and cocktails.

Belmond Charleston Place

205 Meeting St.

Charleston, SC 29401

tel 843 722 4900

belmond.com