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Top-rated hotels in Charleston
A shortlist of Charleston's top-rated hotels, ordered by guest score weighted by how many verified stays stand behind it. Every property here carries a 4- or 5-star class from the supplier and sits in the historic heart of the city.
Staying in Charleston
Charleston is a South Carolina city whose historic core is compact and walkable, and this shortlist keeps you inside it. The addresses run along George St, Church St, State St, Wentworth St, Market St, Meeting St, King St, Cannon Street, Hasell Street, Pinckney St and Vendue Range, so the hotels sit among the streets and squares visitors come to Charleston for rather than out on its edges.
The list is built for people who care about how a stay was rated rather than how many rooms a property has. Five of the properties carry a 5-star class and the rest 4-star, and guest scores run from 4.5 up to 5.0, so it suits couples, families and business travellers who want proven quality and little distance between the hotel door and the city.
The shortlist
Ranked by guest rating, then number of reviews.
The Pinch Hotel
40 George St
Why stay hereA 4-star address on George St with a perfect guest rating of 5.0 from 250 reviews, the highest score on this list. Guests consistently rate it at the top of its class, which suits travellers who want a small, highly regarded downtown base and are guided by other people's verdicts. Anyone comparing Charleston's 4-star houses should start here.
See The Pinch HotelFrench Quarter Inn
166 Church St
Why stay hereOn Church St, this 4-star hotel pairs a 4.9 guest rating with 581 reviews, the largest review count among the top-scoring houses here. That volume of consistent praise makes it a sensible choice for first-time visitors who want reassurance before booking. Couples and solo travellers alike can settle in knowing hundreds of guests have rated it near the top.
See French Quarter InnThe Loutrel
61 State St
Why stay hereThe Loutrel on State Street holds the highest guest rating on this list at 4.9 out of 5, earned across 296 reviews, and carries 4 stars. Guests consistently rate it at the very top of the city's options, which makes it a confident choice for travellers who want their Charleston base to be the standout part of the trip. Its State Street address places it among the historic streets of the downtown peninsula.
See The LoutrelThe Spectator Hotel
67 State Street
Why stay hereWith 550 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 guest rating, The Spectator Hotel on State Street is one of the most reviewed of Charleston's 4-star properties, so a large body of guests has already weighed in on it. That volume of feedback makes it a sensible pick for first-time visitors who want reassurance before booking. It sits on the same downtown street as The Loutrel, keeping you within the historic core.
See The Spectator HotelHarbourView Inn
2 Vendue Range
Why stay hereHarbourView Inn stands at 2 Vendue Range, a 4-star property rated 4.8 out of 5 by 499 guests. Its position at the eastern edge of the downtown peninsula puts it in the waterfront quarter of the historic district, an area known for its proximity to the harbour and its waterfront parks. Couples and travellers who want to spend their days on foot in the old city will find the setting convenient.
See HarbourView InnWentworth Mansion
149 Wentworth St
Why stay hereA 5-star address on 149 Wentworth St, Wentworth Mansion earns a 4.8 out of 5 from 415 guest reviews, which places it among the most consistently praised stays in Charleston. Couples and travellers who want a small, high-class base close to the city's historic core will find it suits them well. Ratings of this level reflect a property guests return from satisfied, so it rewards booking early.
See Wentworth MansionZero George Street
0 George St
Why stay hereZero George Street carries 5 stars and a 4.8 out of 5 rating across 325 reviews, making it the other top-class property here. Smaller in review volume than several of its neighbours, it appeals to travellers who prefer an intimate address over a large one. The George Street location puts you in the heart of the historic district, close to the peninsula's churches, gardens and old commercial streets.
See Zero George StreetThe Charleston Place
130 Market St
Why stay hereThe Charleston Place on Market St is a 5-star hotel with a 4.7 rating drawn from 2283 reviews, by far the largest review base on this list. That volume suits travellers who prefer a verdict shaped by thousands of guests. Anyone wanting a 5-star stay in the heart of downtown Charleston has a clear, heavily reviewed option here.
See The Charleston Place86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only
86 Cannon Street
Why stay here86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only is a 4-star hotel on Cannon Street rated 4.9 from 89 reviews. The adults-only policy and a near-perfect score make it a fit for couples seeking a quieter, grown-up atmosphere. Its small review count reflects a more intimate property, so it rewards guests who value exclusivity over scale.
See 86 Cannon Charleston Adults OnlyThe Dewberry Charleston
334 Meeting Street
Why stay hereThe Dewberry Charleston is a 5-star hotel at 334 Meeting Street with a 4.6 rating from 1263 reviews. The large review base gives a broad picture of what to expect, which helps travellers booking a 5-star stay downtown. It suits guests who want top-class billing backed by more than a thousand assessments.
See The Dewberry CharlestonHotel Bennett
404 King St
Why stay hereHotel Bennett on King St is a 5-star property rated 4.6 by 855 guests. Its King St address places it on one of downtown's principal shopping streets, and the review volume gives a solid basis for booking. It fits visitors who want a 5-star base in the commercial heart of the city.
See Hotel BennettThe Ansonborough
21 Hasell Street
Why stay hereThe Ansonborough is a 4-star hotel on Hasell Street with a 4.6 out of 5 guest rating from 463 reviews. It suits travellers who want a well-reviewed downtown base without moving into the 5-star tier. Hasell Street sits in the Ansonborough neighbourhood, a quieter residential part of the historic peninsula, which makes it a calmer choice for guests who want to retreat from the busier visitor streets at the end of the day.
See The AnsonboroughGrand Bohemian Charleston Autograph Collection
55 Wentworth Street
Why stay hereGrand Bohemian Charleston Autograph Collection on Wentworth Street is the most reviewed hotel on this list, with 693 guest reviews and a 4.5 out of 5 rating. That volume of feedback gives a broad picture of what to expect from this 4-star property. It is a good fit for travellers who value a large, established hotel over a small one, and its Wentworth Street address keeps it inside the historic downtown.
See Grand Bohemian Charleston Autograph CollectionThe Restoration
75 Wentworth Street
Why stay hereThe Restoration on Wentworth Street is a 4-star hotel with a 4.5 rating from 593 reviews. A substantial review base makes it a straightforward choice for visitors who want a downtown stay with plenty of guest feedback behind it. It suits travellers comparing several 4-star options in the same part of the city.
See The RestorationAndrew Pinckney Inn
40 Pinckney St
Why stay hereAndrew Pinckney Inn, a 4-star hotel at 40 Pinckney Street, is rated 4.5 out of 5 by 542 guests. The Pinckney Street setting sits in the historic district, an area of Charleston known for its preserved houses and church spires, and suits visitors who plan to spend their stay walking the old streets. Families and couples looking for a mid-sized downtown property with plenty of guest feedback will find it a reasonable contender.
See Andrew Pinckney Inn
How to choose
For couples
86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only, 86 Cannon Street, admits no children at all, which makes it the obvious pick for a quiet two-person stay, and its 4.9 score across 89 reviews backs that up. The Pinch Hotel, The Loutrel and Wentworth Mansion all score 4.8 or better, with the mansion the only 5-star among them.
The Pinch Hotel · The Loutrel · Wentworth Mansion · 86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only
Best guest scores
Four properties score 4.9 or above: The Pinch Hotel at 5.0 from 250 reviews, then French Quarter Inn at 4.9 from 581, 86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only at 4.9 from 89 and The Loutrel at 4.9 from 296. French Quarter Inn and 86 Cannon are 4-star; The Pinch and The Loutrel are 4-star as well, so top scores are not reserved for the 5-star class.
The Pinch Hotel · French Quarter Inn · The Loutrel · 86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only
For families
The properties with the deepest review histories are the safest bet when more than two people are travelling: The Charleston Place, The Dewberry Charleston, Hotel Bennett and Grand Bohemian Charleston Autograph Collection together account for thousands of verified stays, on 130 Market St, 334 Meeting Street, 404 King St and 55 Wentworth Street. Note that 86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only should be avoided with children.
The Charleston Place · The Dewberry Charleston · Hotel Bennett · Grand Bohemian Charleston Autograph Collection
Where to stay in Charleston
George St
Two of the shortlist's highest-scoring addresses sit on this street: The Pinch Hotel at number 40 and Zero George Street at 0. Both are 4-star or 5-star and neither scores below 4.8. The street runs through the historic core, so a stay here keeps you on foot among the streets the city is known for.
Our picks here: The Pinch Hotel · Zero George Street
State St
The Loutrel at 61 State St and The Spectator Hotel at 67 State Street put you side by side on the same block, both 4-star, both rated 4.8 or better from 296 and 550 verified stays. Picking between them comes down to whether you want the higher score or the longer track record.
Our picks here: The Loutrel
Wentworth St
Grand Bohemian Charleston Autograph Collection and The Restoration are both 4-star and both score 4.5, so the mansion is the standout on score and class.
Our picks here: Wentworth Mansion
Meeting Street
The Dewberry Charleston at 334 Meeting Street is the single shortlist entry here, a 5-star property with 1263 reviews and a 4.6 score. It is one of the most-reviewed hotels on the list, so the rating rests on a broad base of guests rather than a handful.
Our picks here: The Dewberry Charleston
Questions, answered
Which hotel on this shortlist has the highest guest score?
The Pinch Hotel, on 40 George St, scores 5.0 out of 5 from 250 verified stays. It is a 4-star property and the only hotel here with a perfect score, ahead of French Quarter Inn, The Loutrel and 86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only, all of which score 4.9.
Which of these hotels is closest to the centre?
The addresses in the data do not include distances to the centre, so no hotel here can be ranked on that basis. What the addresses do show is that all of them sit in the historic core, on streets such as George St, Church St, State St, Wentworth St, Market St, Meeting St, King St, Cannon Street, Hasell Street, Pinckney St and Vendue Range.
Which of these hotels is best for families?
86 Cannon Charleston Adults Only on 86 Cannon Street does not admit children, so it should be ruled out. The most-reviewed properties are the safer choice with children: The Charleston Place on 130 Market St, The Dewberry Charleston on 334 Meeting Street and Hotel Bennett on 404 King St.
Do any of these hotels have a pool or a spa?
The booking supplier's records for these hotels list no facilities, so no pool or spa can be confirmed for any of them from this data. Check the individual hotel page for the facilities recorded for the property you are considering.
Is parking available at these hotels?
No facilities are recorded for the properties on this shortlist, so parking cannot be confirmed from the data here. The facilities listed for each hotel come from the booking supplier and appear on its own page.
Can I bring a pet to any of these hotels?
The supplier's records for these hotels list no facilities, and pets are not among them, so no pet policy can be confirmed here. Look at the facilities section of the individual hotel page before booking if travelling with an animal.
Which are the 5-star hotels on this shortlist?
Five properties carry a 5-star class: Wentworth Mansion on 149 Wentworth St, Zero George Street on 0 George St, The Charleston Place on 130 Market St, The Dewberry Charleston on 334 Meeting Street and Hotel Bennett on 404 King St. Their guest scores range from 4.6 to 4.8.
What do the guest scores mean?
Scores come from verified stays and are shown out of 5. The properties here range from 4.5 to 5.0, and the list is ordered by score weighted by how many stays stand behind it, so The Charleston Place's 4.7 from 2283 reviews carries more weight than a 4.9 from 89.