Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, Autograph Collection

Character and identity

A 50-room boutique on the edge of Charleston's historic core, this young Kessler property hides a riot of colour behind a deliberately quiet façade. The lobby goes for theatre: a pink chandelier, gold tufted sofas, a molten-yellow welcome desk, and a neon-purple elevator visible from the street. A dedicated art gallery sets the tone, with works ranging from classical to provocative contemporary. The French-leaning rooftop restaurant Éléve runs from breakfast through candlelit dinners of escargot and steak au poivre, with a citrine-lit rooftop bar, a sommelier-led tasting room with pay-by-the-pour pours, and a wine blending room where guests bottle their own.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The reason to book here is personality: an art-forward, maximalist boutique with a genuinely distinctive wine programme and a rooftop that earns repeat visits in one stay. Spend the money if you want Charleston with attitude rather than Charleston in cream linen. A King Room handles it; time a visit around brunch on the Éléve patio and an evening in the blending room.