Arrival/Check-In: I spent a long weekend in Charleston after a friend’s wedding on Folly Beach. I arrived at Belmond Charleston Place well before the official check-in time, so my room wasn’t ready. I decided to walk down King Street for brunch, but a sudden storm turned the short stroll into a soggy trek. After a rain-soaked meal, I was relieved when the hotel called to say my room was ready. I picked up my bags and keys and was in my third-floor room within minutes.
Guest Quarters: My club-level guestroom combined understated elegance with classic Southern charm. The room opened into a short hallway with the marble-accented bathroom to the left. The bathroom featured a roomy shower with a rainfall showerhead, which I particularly enjoyed. Club-level toiletries are exclusive to the property, and I loved the scent of the hand soap. The door design meant I sometimes had to prop it open with the trashcan to keep it from closing.
I was traveling with a friend, so I requested a room with two double beds. The beds were exceptionally comfortable and easy to sink into at the end of a busy day. A nightstand with good lighting and accessible outlets separated the beds. Opposite them, a credenza housed the minibar and a flat-screen TV. The room also included a small reading nook with two chairs and a desk, rounding out the practical and comfortable layout.
Services/Amenities: Belmond Charleston Place is known for strong service and an array of amenities. Although my stay was brief and I didn’t get to dine at Charleston Grill, it’s high on my list for a future visit. The restaurant’s menu reflects Executive Chef Michelle Weaver’s four inspirations: Southern, Pure, Lush and Cosmopolitan. Other dining options include the Palmetto Café, which focuses on American Lowcountry cuisine; the Thoroughbred Club, offering tapas-style dishes with live music; and Meeting at Market, an upscale pub-style venue.
The spa includes 10 treatment rooms, a pool, a eucalyptus dry sauna and a fitness center, and it’s likely my next stop on a return trip to Charleston, just after dining at Charleston Grill. The hotel also offers more than 40,000 square feet of recently renovated event space, from a grand ballroom to boardroom-style meeting rooms, suitable for weddings, corporate functions and other events.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ The accommodations were excellent, and the biggest perk of my room was club-level access, which I used for hot breakfast, afternoon snacks and evening cocktails.
◆ The hotel is ideally located for exploring Charleston on foot. From Belmond Charleston Place I could walk to King Street and many nearby attractions, once the weather cleared.
◆ The property completed a significant renovation of its guestrooms in early 2016.
◆ The Shops at Belmond Charleston Place feature a selection of high-end retailers, reflecting the hotel’s upscale setting.
Belmond Charleston Place
205 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29401
tel 843 722 4900