The Mills House, Curio Collection by Hilton

Character and identity

A pale pink, seven-story landmark on the corner of Meeting and Queen since 1853, The Mills House anchors downtown Charleston with the bones of an antebellum grande dame and the interiors of a confident 21st-century refresh. Original chandeliers still hang in the his-and-hers entry parlors, now reset against purple accent walls and contemporary furniture. The 214 rooms (last fully renovated in 2014) run cool in sea foam and white. Dining centres on The Barbadoes Room for Lowcountry classics, and a tucked-away speakeasy bar off the lobby trades in classic cocktails. A hidden second-floor rooftop pool sits above the streetscape.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're buying here is location and continuity: a storied Charleston address, a hidden rooftop pool, and bellmen who have been welcoming guests for decades, wrapped in a competent if cookie-cutter room product. Book a Pool Side Room if you want the wrought-iron porch and direct pool access, or a top-floor Junior Suite for steeple views over the peninsula.