Emeline

Character and identity

Emeline occupies a 19th-century mercantile building just north of Charleston's historic open-air market, and the 212-room property leans into a retro-glam, design-driven sensibility that feels more like a hip living room than a hotel. The lobby greets you with Motown on the speakers, a welcome punch cocktail at check-in, and a curio cabinet of Lowcountry oddities. Rooms feature Crosley turntables (the vinyl library runs to 500-plus records), Urban Electric light fixtures, vintage Spoleto posters, and travertine rainshower bathrooms. Downstairs, Frannie & The Fox centres on a wood-fired oven and a courtyard with a working fire and trellised jasmine. Service is streamlined and professional throughout.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets Emeline apart is its commitment to character: the vinyl, the artisan-made objects, the courtyard restaurant, and a lobby that genuinely invites you to linger. Book it if you want Charleston with a creative edge rather than antebellum formality. Request a higher floor or one of the bi-level maisonette rooms over the courtyard for the most privacy in a touristed pocket of town.