The Dewberry Hotel Delivers on Charleston

"A midcentury dreamscape crafted from imported vintage furniture and the sweeping architecture of a former federal building commissioned in 1964 by Lyndon Johnson, this 154-room stay looks like a tiny boutique but lives large, with antique credenzas everywhere and patina-aged mirrors that send you back in time. What truly makes it one of the city’s best, and one of the best-reviewed by guests, is the team’s knack for finding singular local experiences—like Casual Crabbing with Tia—and persuading you to try them. I leaned on the staff from start to finish and quickly trusted them; they greet you by name before any introduction and keep a well-vetted list of recommendations, yet never push. On property, I was told to head straight up to Citrus Club, the rooftop cocktail bar and the highest in Charleston, and to the lobby Living Room for a strong old fashioned and oysters on the half shell; Henrietta’s, their other restaurant, was closed at the moment to be replaced soon. King rooms, carved from former offices, are cozy, well-appointed, and draped in wonderful Irish linens; they’re reasonably sized in a way my large suite was certainly not. If you’re splurging, a Charleston Flat delivers 511 square feet with a cast-iron tub and wingback chairs, and one evening I emerged from the bath to find a plate of freshly baked cookies waiting. Wherever you land, you’ll have access to the public spaces, spa, on-site rental cars, airport transfers, and drivers who will shuttle you wherever you need—gracious help that never feels overbearing and, in my case, led me to Tia." - The MICHELIN Guide