"How did it strike you on arrival?A large-scale photograph of an Icelandic horse at check-in is the first clue that the people at this hotel thinks outside the box, as do the floor-to-ceiling Angel Oak photos that make the elevator feel like a treehouse. A favorite, especially with New Yorkers, The Restoration's urban aesthetic, spacious rooms, and cutting-edge photography installations make it a trendy retreat. What’s the crowd like?City dwellers, international and business travelers. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.I chose a Signature Suite in The Restoration's newer addition. At 750 square feet, the combined living room, galley kitchen, 1.5 bathrooms, and king size bed were larger than many New York apartments. On my next visit, I'd love to book a Residence room for an audaciously roomy condo-style hotel experience (one with a full ping-pong table, another its own private rooftop deck!). Beds are super comfy, with giant shag throw pillows. Bathrooms are grey, with vertical "light saber" style lighting and herbal Beekman 1802 products that smelled so good I wanted to pour them in a martini glass and drink them. My suite also came with full soaking tub and separate glass shower. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies? Any of that worth a mention?Plush grey bathrobes are butter-soft. Weathered Hemingway boots propped against my sitting room wall, next to a vintage Underwood typewriter (with sticking keys, unfortunately)—impossible to resist a strike or two. Designer bicycles with built-in baskets are great for a spin. Intriguing and gorgeous coffee table books filled the library bookshelf next to a mounted alligator skull. My mini-bar was very interestingly stocked. I would recommend joining the hotel’s Insider’s program (by providing your email via the website) for a host of freebies to enhance your stay, including complimentary wine and cheese, access to a nearby gym, and my favorite: continental breakfast delivered with a soft knock on the door and tucked into a leather-clasped wicker picnic basket. I found it amusing that occasionally the hotel has to politely stop guests from making off with the wicker basket (it’s that attractive). Room service: Worth it?During service hours, the hotel's rooftop restaurant The Watch is happy to make in-room deliveries, from deviled eggs ($6), to fish tacos ($13), to market-priced raw oysters, to dinner's ample shrimp and grits ($27). You can also order bottles of wine or bubbly from The Watch ($34 to $94). Anything we missed?The pool was more of an oversized jacuzzi than a swimming pool, this rooftop "relaxation pool" is the spot to do just that. Massage treatments can be arranged in-room. In addition to larger entrees, the aforementioned Watch up on the roof has amped up its small bites menu to meet demand, given that this is such a popular sunset cocktail spot where you can see clear to the Ravenel Bridge to the east, and the Ashley River to the west. Crab cakes and raw oysters make great bar snacks. Outside decks attract happy hour and sunset revelers. Bonus: There are discounted wine and wings on Wednesday nights. Bottom line: Why are we staying here?Spacious rooms, exposed brick walls, ample kitchens, intriguing photography, premium fixtures, and rooftop happy hour views." - Allston McCrady
