Charleston, South Carolina is on nearly every savvy traveler’s bucket list thanks to its unique combination of interesting history, elegant architecture, southern charm, and innovative cuisine. Taken together these attractive elements make for an alluring destination imbued with the gracious sense of living the city, founded in 1670 and named in honor of King Charles II of England, has come to be known for.
There are a number of attractive places to stay in Charleston, but only one truly embodies all of the city’s charms in an utterly luxurious, perfectly intimate setting as we discovered on a recent trip to Charleston en route to the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance: the five-star Wentworth Mansion, named the #1 Small City Hotel in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure, among other honors.
A “21-room tribute to Charleston grandeur,” the Wentworth Mansion was built in 1886 for wealthy cotton Francis Silas Rodgers, and was soon renowned as the city’s finest private residence. The 24,000-square-foot gem, designed in the Second Empire style, features Italian crystal chandeliers, Tiffany glass panels, hand-carved marble fireplaces, rich wood paneling, elaborately carved crown molding, and original Victorian fittings.
Unlike most mansion hotels in the United States, it has retained all of its original character and architectural detail, with the updates that bring it in line with modern amenities so skillfully integrated that they function perfectly yet do not intrude at all. The same can be said of the excellent staff, which in keeping with the hotel’s original function, treat guests like members of the family, the mansion’s owners, if you will, for the duration of their stay.
Aside from the main residence the property now houses a 1,000-sq.-ft. spa in the former stables as well as a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, called Circa 1886, in what had been the carriage house. While in far too many historic hotels the fireplaces are merely decorative, the Wentworth Mansion’s mantles contain working gas logs that add to its considerable allure. The finest accommodations are in the former bedroom suites and guest parlors that comprised the original family’s private apartments.
It’s no surprise that the Wentworth Mansion is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), a collection of over 500 of the finest boutique luxury properties in more than 80 countries including everything from cutting edge design hotels to historic castles and remote private islands; it is one of only 20 SLH properties in the United States, making it part of a prestigious group that includes the likes of the Stein Ericksen Residences in Deer Valley, UT and the stunning Soniat House in New Orleans.
The Wentworth Mansion’s location is yet another draw. Situated downtown it is within easy walking distance to all of the city’s attractions, and is especially convenient to some of our favorite places in Charleston, including the French Quarter where you can find the likes of Ben Silver, one of the finest men’s clothing stores in the world; and the Upper King Design District where there are literally rows of beautiful bars and restaurants.
