Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United States / Charleston / Hotel Bennett
Hotel Bennett
Charleston, South Carolina, United States · Salamander Collection · High Luxury
Michael Bennett spent two decades, including a South Carolina Supreme Court fight over height, to raise this 179-room Palladian pile on Marion Square, on the site of the old Charleston County Library. Ground broke in March 2015; the hotel opened 27 January 2019. Camellias, the champagne lounge, reuses the library's gray-pink marble on the bar and tabletops. It holds a MICHELIN Key, Forbes Four-Star, and USA Today's 2021 readers' vote as Best Luxury Hotel.
- 179 rooms
- Opened 2019
- Neighborhood: Upper King
- Rooms from 355 sq ft (33 m²)
About Hotel Bennett
- The nine-story hotel occupies the former Charleston County Library site at King Street and Marion Square, land Michael Bennett bought in the 1990s.
- After a 47-month build that followed a state Supreme Court height fight, it opened on 27 January 2019 with 179 rooms.
- Camellias, the champagne lounge, reuses gray-pink marble salvaged from the demolished library for its bar, floor, and tabletops.
- A 360-degree lobby rotunda mural by Jill Biskin shows the Cooper River from Bennett's own home and eighteenth-century Charleston from the harbor.
- USA Today's 10Best readers named it Best Luxury Hotel in 2021; it also holds Forbes Four-Star (2026) and a MICHELIN One Key (2025).
History
Hotel Bennett rises on the corner of King Street and historic Marion Square in downtown Charleston, on a site formerly occupied by the Charleston County Library. Owner Michael Bennett, a Charleston native and developer, purchased the land in the 1990s and spent roughly two decades bringing the project to life; ground broke in March 2015 and, after a 47-month build, the 179-room hotel opened on January 27, 2019. Although newly constructed, its grand Palladian architecture was designed to feel as though its origins date to the 18th century, drawing inspiration from Charleston's historic homes; remnants of the former library survive as the gray-pink marble bar and tabletops in the Camellias lounge. Independently owned by Bennett Hospitality and managed by the Salamander Collection, the hotel earned immediate acclaim, named the number-one luxury hotel in the U.S. by USA Today and topping several international best-new-hotel lists.
The setting
13-minute walk to sprawling Historic Charleston City Market. 5-minute walk to Charleston Museum.
Restaurants and bars
- Gabrielle — Restaurant · Chef Diego Oka (Executive Chef, per 'An Evening with La Mar')
- Camellias — Restaurant
Experiences
- Tea with Santa — Holiday afternoon seatings at Camellias with holiday-inspired treats and a visit from Santa Claus, described as a beloved Charleston tradition.
- Afternoon Tea at Camellias — Premium teas with finger sandwiches, scones and pastries inspired by the Lowcountry, served beneath a crystal chandelier.
- Tea & Tranquility — Guided Sound Healing session led by Samantha Noel of Bella Healing Therapy, with calming tones to release tension.
- An Evening with La Mar — One-evening Peruvian culinary experience by Executive Chef Diego Oka.
- The Yellow Party with Veuve Clicquot — Evening of Veuve Clicquot, caviar, canapés and late-night revelry at Camellias, described as Charleston's iconic pink champagne bar.
- The Dom Perignon Experience at Camellias — Evening of Dom Pérignon, caviar and canapés at Camellias.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2025)
- USA Today 10Best Best Luxury Hotel (2021)
Open Hotel Bennett in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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- The Pinch Charleston — Independent · High Luxury
- The Spectator Hotel — Independent · High Luxury
- Wentworth Mansion — Independent · High Luxury
- The Loutrel — Independent · Grand Luxury
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Salamander Collection in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.