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    John Rutledge House Inn

    4.4 (55 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Leah S.

    Where you stay during a trip makes some of the biggest differences of any decision. Think about it - if you decide to stay at your friend's house and bunk on their couch, you are going to wake up exhausted, tense, and in pain. You are not going to wake up feeling rested, and it is going to negatively impact your whole trip. If however, you stay at a hotel or inn or b&b that takes care of you, pampers you, even, you are going to wake up feeling so much more rested and ready to take on the day. This is why I am thrilled we found the John Rutledge House Inn. Truth be told, we actually had reservations elsewhere before we found the John Rutledge. The other hotel called us a few days before we were supposed to arrive and told us that they were no longer able to accommodate us due to renovations that ran late. We scrambled and we're thrilled to find the John Rutledge, which is a National Landmark, and they were able to accommodate us the same day. I called and spoke with Margo, who was helpful, friendly, and even gave us their military discount, which was wonderful. When we arrived, the first impression was excellent. Margo was working the front desk, and she was just as lovely in person as she was over the phone. She walked us through every detail of our stay including parking, breakfasts, tea time, cocktail hour, and helped us manage our dinner reservations. We got a key to our room and parked the car which is on site but is an additional cost per day, and made our way to our room. We stayed in the left carriage house in room 14. This was on the second floor, facing away from the courtyard. The benefit to this room was that it was far away from everything going on in the main hotel, and was supposed to be very quiet. The downside of this room was that it was directly above two rooms with dogs in it. The dogs were loud, stinky, and negatively impacted our stay. Now granted, we are definitely dog people We have two dogs ourselves, but these dogs were so stinky and so loud, it made the entryway to our carriage house area smell and was covered in dog hair. Our room however was well appointed, and had a tempurpedic bed, which I hadn't slept on in a while. Our bed however left us feeling rested every night which was delightful. The downside to our room was the bathroom. Although it had beautiful marbling, and wonderful water pressure, and included safety railing, the shower area had black mold in some of the tile grout, which I thought was something that housekeeping easily could have fixed. Additionally, I felt like their Gilchrist and Soames body products were a little cheap feeling and stripped my skin. We both felt like they could have had a higher quality product by the same purveyor to reflect the quality of the hotel. They offer the English Spa line and I think the Royal or Spa Therapy line would be more appropriate and enjoyable. Included in our stay was a daily tea hour which included rotating appetizers. We went almost every day and took tea and appetizers on the balcony outside the ballroom and it was lovely. They also offer a nightcap / cocktail hour in the ballroom that includes Sherry, Port, Brandies and such which was a delightful option after dinner. Everyday, they also include breakfast, which you can take in your room, in the courtyard, or in the ballroom. We thoroughly enjoyed the Rutledge biscuit with cooked fruit as well as their extremely creamy and delicious grits. Everyday they also included a breakfast special such as stuffed French toast or eggs Benedict. The only downside to breakfast was that the gentleman who served breakfast, Maurice, wore a very strong and overpowering cologne, which lingered on the food long after he had left. On our last night, it was my husband's birthday, and the hotel took it upon themselves to deliver a personalized and hand signed note celebrating his birthday, with a bowl full of ice with a champagne bottle and flutes. I thought that this was exceptionally thoughtful and showed their attention to detail. Their attention to detail also was reflected in their recommendations to us to go to their sister hotel's restaurant, Circa 1886 as well as their recommendation to Earthlings Day Spa which is their preferred spa of the area. Overall, I'm glad that we found the John Rutledge as an alternative to where we were going to stay, because I believe we received a much higher quality experience than we could have gotten elsewhere. Additionally, you can't beat the location of the John Rutledge, walking distance to the battery and the beautiful housing district. I would definitely return to stay here after this experience, and I have already recommended it to many of my friends. A relaxing, delicious, and personalized experience awaits you and yours if you choose John Rutledge for your stay in Charleston.

    Kimberly A.

    Nothing but good things to say about the accommodations and service. Such a quaint historic inn that will add so much to your trip to historic Charleston. The room was comfy and clean and COVID friendly. The complimentary breakfast is 5 star. You can choose to have it served in room, in the ballroom, or in the courtyard. So depending on how much you are socially distancing yourself you can either stay a hermit or take a chance out in the open. I had a special request to use the kitchen freezer which they accommodated without hesitation. One of the innkeepers even included a cool photo of our room sustaining cannon fire damage way back when. Such a lovely historic touch to our stay. The cherry on top were the Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. Love! Would stay here again in a heartbeat. Oh and their complimentary teatime is a must. We were served chocolate/PB cookies, cucumber with cream cheese, and a seasoned hush puppy. I had two servings of each hors d'oeuvres. Let's leave it at that.

    Beautiful courtyard
    Michele R.

    Date of visit: September 29, 2020 Have been to Charleston at least a half dozen times. We have either stayed at brand hotels or vrbo homes. This time we wanted to stay closer to downtown and at a historic Inn. Found John Rutledge on Yelp! It is a beautiful Inn! Love the historic charm, yet so clean and well taken care of for its age. We loved the amenities: breakfast, afternoon tea and brandy, sherry or port in the evening. We were upgraded to a suite without even asking. We had a beautiful room on the third floor. It was nice, but sheesh...lots of stairs to carry a lot of luggage and it was a hot Charleston September day! Very modern bathroom and a beautiful four poster king bed. The bed was both lovely and very comfortable. We took advantage of all the amenities. We decided to have breakfast brought to our room and we ate at the beautiful round table in front of the bed. Breakfast was to order (you place your order on a card and place on your door the night before). We chose lemonade and iced tea at tea time, with a pre plated covered dish of some small food. Hubby chose the port (2 glasses) in the evening...I chose brandy. What a wonderful way to round out the evening.

    Balcony view
    Jason N.

    This place will meet and exceed all your expectations. The price is worth it! Stop debating and just book this place. 1. Location- right in the heart of historic downtown within walking distance of the market the pier and all historical sites(you'll need an Uber to plantations but that's everywhere) 2. The staff- knowledgeable of the history of the town the building and did anything needed to make your stay work. Turn down service with chocolates? Crazy, right? 3. Happy Hour for free- yes, you heard that right. Walk up to Mr Rutledge's ballroom and there's tea and muffins, meat pies, etc waiting for you...after that? Have a brandy and sherry on the balcony overlooking the city...(not joking) you just pour it yourself 4. Free water- this seems like an odd one but it gets HUMID in MB and the staff and hotel has water in your room for you and a cooler outback for you...you will want this for your daily ventures 5. The rooms- historic but modern. Air conditioner is a little loud but you are sleeping in a 250 year old home so there's that...showers are nicer than any Hilton or radison ...tiled and roomy... 6. The homemade breakfast that's included. Again, you read that right...Frey squeezes orange juice with all food made to order with you filling out a request form the night before...want it in your room? In the ballroom? Courtyard? They deliver it where you want it... All and all a great place and I wouldn't stay anywhere else when visiting Charleston!

    John Rutledge House Inn
    Evan G.

    The John Rutledge House Inn is a beautiful and historic hotel directly in the middle of Charleston on Broad Street. Everything is within walking distance and everything is convenient to the location. You can feel the history and atmosphere throughout the property. I have always enjoyed my visits here and have a special feeling every time I come here. This hotel is awesome.

    Kristi S.

    Staying at the John Rutledge House Inn made our 10 year anniversary trip like a dream. From the moment we drove up it was like stepping into another time. The bed and breakfast is truly spectacular. The Southern hospitality was really spot on and the afternoon tea was so fun! My husband really liked tasting the different bourbons . It is also located on a great street and close to many good restaurants.

    Our Egg Soufflé Breakfast

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    Clean rooms, great service, wonderful breakfast, friendly staff, pet friendly!

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    Review Highlights - John Rutledge House Inn

    Everyday, they also include breakfast, which you can take in your room, in the courtyard, or in the ballroom.

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    Zero Water Street Bed & Breakfast - Zero Water Street - Bedroom

    Zero Water Street Bed & Breakfast

    (1 review)

    South of Broad

    My wife and I had never visited Charleston previously and wanted to take advantage of an…read moreopportunity following a business trip to FL. After looking at the listings for a lot ob B&B's, I finally decided to give this one a try. Looking back at my decision, I don't think that I could have done better! While it's tempting to pan the place so that I have a better chance of booking a reservation on a subsequent trip, that wouldn't be right or fair to this top notch inn. Zero Water Street is not your typical B&B. If you are looking for a busy place with an out of this world breakfast, you may want to look somewhere else. If you are looking for a romantic getaway with space, privacy, excellent views, and a decent breakfast in a fantastic destination then look no further! It's hard to decide where to begin. The inn is the third floor of a house built in 1836 that has been in the current family since 1902. You need to walk up two flights of stairs to the rooms (the second flight is a bit narrow). The accommodations consist of a bedroom, living room, large hall, a fully-stocked kitchen, a generous bathroom and an incomparable piazza. The rooms all have 11-12' ceilings. There is an unobstructed view of Charleston harbor with Fort Sumter in the distance from the living room and Piazza. There is also off-street parking for the inn. (We parked the car and didn't need to move it again until we left for home.) Everything you need for breakfast is in the kitchen. For our stay, there was a selection of cereals, a bowl of fresh fruit, juice, milk, water, bagels, English muffins, jams/jellies, a loaf of fresh breakfast bread, fresh fruit cup, yogurt, etc. The way the in is set up, breakfast is at your leisure. You could eat at 4 in the morning or sleep in until noon - no problem. We enjoyed breakfast on the piazza each morning. We didn't even notice that it was raining the second morning until we were half way through eating. While being an excellent place for breakfast, the piazza In addition to a pair of rocking chairs on the piazza, there is a swing and a hammock. And would be an ideal place to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening. My only regret is that I did not book early enough to stay for three consecutive nights. The price was a bit intimidating at $275 a night, but considering that many other inns in the historic district charge that much or more and likely deliver far less, it is really a bargain for the location and amenities.

    From the owner: One of a kind location with large private suite overlooking Charleston Harbor! Enjoy unobstructed…read moreviews of the ocean from inside the suite and/or sit outside on the private veranda and relax while the world sails by....

    27 State Street Bed and Breakfast - The Queen Street Quarters

    27 State Street Bed and Breakfast

    (11 reviews)

    French Quarter

    Where to begin? After booking a last minute room for a surprise birthday weekend for my husband, I…read moreexpected to just arrive and then settle into the room. Donna will have none of that, she contacted me by phone not long after my confirmation and we chatted as if we had been long ago friends. The personal interest in our reason for visiting, as well as, ensuring we could early check-in if needed made this a much more intimate experience than just hoteling (sic) it for the weekend. This bed and breakfast is amazing and will long be a place for us to "run away" to hide among the intowners. You feel part of the city being so deep in the French quarter and surrounded by lovely art galleries along side upscale dining and venues. We walked all weekend and enjoyed so much of this beautiful city we call home. I completely recommended this 3 room B and B, from the personal touches to the amazing local breakfast pastries and french pressed coffee to the beautiful folage of the lovely veranda and courtyard just outside our room. Our sweet little study could listen to the beautiful fountain all night and even with the chill in the air we slept so soundly and toasty. If you want to feel like you are on vacation but want to support our locals, start here at 27 State Street Bed and Breakfast. You will not be disappointed.

    Awesome quaint bed and breakfast with loads of charm in the historic Charleston area. Donna, the…read moreproprietor, was very welcoming and helpful to get us acclimated. Definitely recommend a stay here.

    Lavender & Lace

    Lavender & Lace

    (10 reviews)

    South of Broad

    It's like renting a BEAUTIFUL apartment for two days. The three apartments are connected to the…read moremain house, but all have their own doors to the outside. You can expect complete autonomy during your stay, although the inn keeper will swoop in during the daytime to clean up and refresh the breakfast supplies. The house itself is on Tradd Street, in the middle of the old old neighborhood that you were going to be walking around anyway. I felt badly for the folks staying up Market or Broad: the hubbub is nice but these sleepy streets of ancient houses are Charleston's soul. Breakfast is an ample pre-fabricated affair, laid out the night before in the apartment's kitchen. There were bagels, breads, and English muffins wrapped in plastic and ready for toasting, along with milk, orange juice, cereal, coffee, tea, etc. It was simple, but all the essentials are there and would continue to be there no matter how late we slept in. Some people may expect a bed and breakfast to provide a full spread served hot with the inn keeper bustling attentively, but I think that the convenience and privacy were a welcome trade. The room itself was all we could have wanted. We stayed in the "back garden" room, which is smaller than the carriage house and larger than the "front garden" room. I uploaded a few representative pictures: the general theme is old-fashioned (in the good way: colonial, not 70s) and comfortable. If you are the type of person who is excited to stay in an old Charleston neighborhood I can guarantee that you will like this room.

    It's like renting an apartment for two days…read more How you feel about Lavender & Lace B&B will largely depend on your expectations. If you choose a B&B for attentive hospitality and to feel like you're part of a home, you may be disappointed. If you're just looking for a well-appointed, nicely-located crash pad with the amenities of home, you'll be satisfied. We booked the "carriage house," ($170) which is actually a maid's quarters behind the main home. It's completely separated from the main home, and functions as a self-contained apartment. The two-story building includes a small kitchen and living room downstairs and a bedroom with a bathroom upstairs. An aside: the bed is incredibly comfortable for a guest room. We saw the inn keeper at check-in, when she gave us a brief overview of the apartment and the city. She seemed rushed, but she did give us a thorough overview of local attractions and several restaurant suggestions that proved useful. It's clear she knows the city. But after the initial introduction, we saw her only fleetingly as she was getting into her car. Breakfasts are served here differently than they are in most other B&Bs. The innkeeper outfits the kitchen with breakfast essentials (cereal, milk, coffee, English muffins, fruit, and juice) as well as some home baked goods (brownies and pumpkin bread when we were there.) This system has some advantages: we took breakfast when we wanted it, and we were free to snack on the brownies during the evening. But for all its convenience and efficiency, the pre-prepared method felt a little cold. I missed the warm breakfast and the interaction with the B&B host. (My partner, on the other hand, was not bothered.) Lavender and Lace has a lot going for it. The location is pretty wonderful - away from traffic and well within the historic district. We could easily walk to shops, restaurants, and the sea/bay. Rooms also come with a parking spot, which is a major plus in this neighborhood of narrow streets and limited on-street parking. The innkeeper also provides bikes for guest use, so we spent many hours tooling around the city at our leisure. The basics are also well covered. The room includes wifi, telephone, and cable television. There are some books, but no board games. (Sniff.) The neighborhood is quiet, and we didn't have much problem going to sleep. The flat roof (or maybe the attic) is home to a critter (squirrel or mouse, maybe?), which caused some scampering noise at night. It didn't bother me, but my easily-distracted partner lost some sleep over it. Other things you should know: the innkeeper doesn't accept credit cards - cash and check only. Additionally, she is *extremely* reluctant to accept bedandbreakfast.com gift cards, even though her website indicates she does.

    Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton - Exterior

    Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton

    (74 reviews)

    French Quarter

    Hubby and I decided to do a short staycation in DT and we really enjoyed our stay here…read more Duwhyte at the FD was very nice upon checking us in and upgraded us which was such a nice surprise. Although it wasn't cabana season or warm enough to get into the pool, the cabana room was really nice and clean. I thought the room was just so cute and loved how the entire hotel was decorated. I was still able to enjoy a couple hours sitting out in the sun by the pool during my stay. They offered an hour of complimentary champagne in the late afternoon which was a nice touch. The hotel has a nice cafe and restaurant attached so you don't have to go far to find some food and coffee. I definitely recommend this hotel and enjoyed our brief time there.

    In another lifetime, about 50 years ago, we'd go to Charleston frequently and stayed at the Mills…read moreHouse at least a couple of times. We even considered having our wedding here. The Mills House is one of the truly classic Charleston hotels. It has gone through a lot of owners in its history. It has been an independent property, a Hyatt, a Wyndham and has had many other flags. Hilton has renovated it a bit but kept most of its eccentricities. The location on Meeting Street not far from King can't be beat. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food and drink are the main restaurant and bar, the Iron Rose, are good. The negatives include the plumbing. On two of the three days we were there over Christmas, the water in the shower was just lukewarm, and the water pressure came and went. The other main negative is the cost of parking, $60 a night. That's a Manhattan price, not what you'd expect in a mid-size Southern city. Still, we like the atmosphere and the history, so we'll stick with five stars.

    John Rutledge House Inn - hotels - Updated May 2026

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