There is arguably no hospitality in America more welcoming than what you’ll find in South Carolina. There, time seems to have stood still where the sounds of horse-drawn carriages echo off the cobblestone streets as they pass magnificent old pillared mansions of the region’s antebellum past. Nearby, the aroma of good ‘ol Southern cooking fills the air while the sounds of jazz music sets the mood. This is Charleston and a hint of what the South Carolina Lowcountry has to offer.

Founded in 1670, Charleston is arguably the most charming port town in South Carolina. It’s signature cobblestone streets still offer horse-drawn carriages for visitors to take in the sites.  Pastel antebellum homes along Rainbow Row as well as historical mansions in the elegant French Quarter and Battery District are worth strolling by. Both the Battery promenade and Waterfront Park overlook Charleston harbor with Fort Sumter as its centrepiece and where the first shots of the Civil War broke out.  

Hospitality choices for accommodations and dining are diverse in this historic town.  Magnificent mansions from bygone eras are today boutique hotels for twentieth Century travelers.  Old buildings have been converted into hip hotels as well as contemporary branded shops. A special standout is the Wentworth Mansion with 21 guest rooms including working fireplaces along with its Circa 1886 restaurant in the former carriage house. Another is a more hipster-style place, with both hotel rooms and residences, called The Restoration Hotel with saddles on the walls as art and The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits serving fun Lowcountry food with 360 views. Hotel Bennett is a newcomer in town with art deco touches. 

Lowcountry culinary cuisine paired with local live jazz music is a prominent part of the fabric of this society. Halls Chophouse is a scenester spot for locals and tourists alike, offering hearty food in a lively atmosphere that includes a Sunday Gospel Brunch. A few other popular places include The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue and High Cotton as well as Magnolias for Southern cooking.  Fried Green Tomatoes, she-crab soup, crab cakes and of course oysters are a must while in Charleston and don’t forget about grits!

What better place to welcome you than the Belmond Charleston Place, a luxury landmark hotel in the center of historic Charleston.  This hotel is like a city within a city with almost everything you could need or want on the premises. Outside the hotel, guests are greeted by a monumental sculpture of galloping bronze horses at the circular driveway and once inside wowed by the five-ton Murano glass chandelier under the double grand staircase in the Georgian-style lobby. Newly renovated rooms including the private Club Level, plus a rooftop pool and jacuzzi, a full-service spa and award-winning dining await visitors. Additionally, there are arcades of luxury shops and a salon on the lobby level along with award-winning dining options. Meeting and special occasion venues are also available on site.

With 434 rooms and suites including 72 on the Club Level, the Belmond Charleston Place seems to cover a whole city block.  Especially noteworthy in today’s times, are the guest rooms sanitized and sealed before each new guest’s arrival with door signage saying it’s been “Cleaned, Sanitized and Sealed”.  Staff do not enter rooms unless requested by a guest nowadays.  Other modifications have been made like preparing and serving personal plates of hors d’ouvres on the Club Level rather than self-service buffets.  Similarly, the Palmetto Cafe no longer has their breakfast buffet, but still serves up gourmet dishes like their signature omelette stuffed with lobster, crab and gruyere cheese accompanied by biscuits or grits.  The spa and fitness center are open by reservation only to allow social distancing in these amenities.  

When it’s time for some pampering, The Belmond Charleston Place Signature facial is an ideal choice of service from professional and knowledgeable aestheticians as well as wonderful massages. Beyond the spa treatments, the wellness facility offers a saltwater infinity pool with a retractable roof and a decadent jacuzzi under a glistening glass dome with sunlight filtering through its porthole windows. The Clocktower Terrace offers hunger loungers casual snacks like their famous truffle fries and shrimp Caesar salad. Peloton bikes, Life Fitness and Cybex machines are available at the well-equipped gym by appointment.  

Dining is divine at Belmond Charleston Place, where classic Southern cooking is combined with a contemporary twist.  Charleston Grill has been voted the “Most Romantic Restaurant in America” several years in a row.  It also has been given the esteemed Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four Diamond Award for Food Excellence and is a must on any visit to Charleston.  Chef Michelle Weaver takes local culinary delicacies to new levels served in the dining room on crisp linen table clothes in an atmosphere where gastronomy meets world-class jazz. The daring dishes are divided into four quadrants: Social & Shared, Roots & Stems, Waves & Marshes and Field & Pasture.  A long-standing favorite is the signature crab cakes generously packed with fresh crabmeat and a unique blend of herbs and spices.   

Other dining and entertainment options include the Thoroughbred Club, a refined and relaxing lobby bar offering live jazz music nightly.  Comfortable leather couches invite guests to stay for hours enjoying cocktails and cuisine at their leisure.  The Palmetto Café is also a AAA Four Diamond dining room at Belmond Charleston Place.  Meeting at Market is their upscale sporting pub.  

A stone’s throw away from Belmond’s Charleston Place hotel is the famous Charleston City Market, as well as King Street,  filled with shops and galleries galore.   Seeing Charleston by water is also something for the “To Do” list.  Belmond Charleston Place offers a sail on 84ft Schooner Pride across the Cooper and Ashley rivers.  Watching the frolicking dolphins along Sham Creek aboard a kayak or paddleboard is another fun outdoor activity.  Additionally, a gourmet picnic basket can be prepared at the hotel for a day away at one of the nearby beaches.  Lowcountry culinary tours to other famed kitchens are available to satisfy curious taste buds. And for the golfer, tee-time at one of the many highly rated courses is another day under the Charleston sun to consider.

Business gatherings, celebratory weddings as well as bachelorette parties seem to be a big draw in Charleston and especially at Belmond Charleston Place. With Charleston being one of the most spellbinding cities in America, it’s also a great place for honeymoons and new beginnings.  

So whether you are headed to the historic city of Charleston for business, pleasure, partying or nuptials, you are sure to be charmed by your visit.