I don't normally review hotels, whether run of the mill or fancy, but this one deserves all of the stars. Every single thing about this hotel is fabulous, from the staff, to the amenities, to the rooms, to the location. This place should be replicated in every single large American city. It is better than hotels which cost twice as much. And the best part, going against recent trends in the same price range, is they do not attempt to nickel and dime you to death. If you're in Charleston, stay here.

So we wanted to try a different type of hotel for our visit to Charleston. Typically we stay at the beach or the harbor. Did a lot of review readings and narrowed it down to this location and one other place (we will leave them out for now). So I called the hotel explained that it was my wife's birthday and asked would they be able to make the room up for the occasion on arrival. They assured me that they could do that and more. So pulled the trigger (and as a note it's always better to call the hotel directly because they can tell you specials etc that might not show up online). So a few days later we arrive and it was an experience. The hotel itself is very laid back. It has an old money appeal when you walk in. We were greeted by the valet and then as we checked in we were brought cocktails. Shortly after that the butler ...yes the butler came over, introduced himself, and whisked us and our bags to our room. The room was very nice. Bright, modern looking, with nice appointments all around. The snack bar as well as the mini fridge stayed stocked and the items are yours to enjoy at no additional charge (sorry no beer or wine). And yes they had a bottle of champagne and a cake waiting to start the birthday arrival off right! Things to know and what I liked: Each evening they bring you a night cap. It was a cool little shot. The Butler's are very helpful. You call. They got you covered. Need something cleaned, picked up, information, they were ready to assist. Valet is convenient and fast. Location is great. Literally you step outside and you are close to the open air market and a block over food options galore. The staff is super. We mentioned that we were going to the beach and when we came down they had prepared beach towels, chairs, and water for us to take. Things to know: I'm nitpicking. The breakfast is included and is cool how they do it. Hang your menu on the door by 2am with the time you want them to bring it and in the morning a knock at the door and a butler brings you your food. Food options were okay but for me I dont eat beef or pork so it limited things a great deal. However the chicken sausage is great! Keep some ones for tipping because the Butler's change daily (you have 3). That's it. Overall great experience and will definitely consider this location for our next visit.

I want to return to Charleston just to be able to stay here again. It’s five star service without the five star pretentiousness. It’s a beautiful boutique hotel that really focuses on quality service which is a rarer and rarer thing to see in hotels. Granted, I don’t stay in many upscale hotels but Spectator has really raised the bar for me and inspired me to see how other hotels do. I’ll be honest, the idea of having a “butler” around seemed peculiar to me. I’m used to doing things for myself and trying to keep everything as easy as possible for service workers I interact with. However, each butler I met seemed really passionate about their work and I did not feel awkward accepting their service. What they really do is focus on helping you have a great experience, rather than being overly-available for menial tasks. The turn down service, room service, friendliness of staff, and comfort of room amenities were all top-notch. We loved the big bath tub and soft bathrobes. My only area of critique for this hotel would be certain minor details. I noticed some subtle areas of the room that seem a little bit dirty or ready to be refreshed, such as dust behind the TV (I know, who cares) or the AC vents (a little too dusty for my taste). Nightstands were a little banged up, and the glass table tops were very scratched. I always believe in keeping things around that still work well, but a certain amount of wear and tear definitely distracts from the intended impression of cleanliness and freshness. Breakfast was complimentary and brought to our room, which was wonderful, but the overall execution of the food could be elevated to match the great service here. Scrambled eggs were a bit dry and chunky. Sausage had a slightly odd sour taste (but still fine to eat). Bacon was greasy (duh) but not smoky. “Duck fat” potatoes could’ve used more crisp/browning and did not have duck fat’s signature flavor. Continental breakfast could be a little more “continental” and have some more variety rather than lots of baked goods. Good baguette, though! We loved having the breakfast, but I’m passionate about culinary experiences and am always thinking of ways to improve. A more developed culinary approach here, even a modest one, would really elevate this hotel. Make the in-room breakfast as photogenic as possible and market the heck out of it. I think it could be worthwhile!

The Spectator hotel and their exceptional staff truly deserve a 6 star rating! The location , amenities, wonderful bar , decor, cleanliness and spacious bathroom size were all 5 star but what really puts the Spectator in the exceptional column is the staff! Genuine friendliness combined with professionalism and a focus on customer service -a rare and special combination that truly sets them apart. It was a special birthday trip and the staff went above and beyond. Starting off with champagne in the room on ice -beautiful Crystal glasses and ending with a giant birthday balloon and beautiful cake made of flowers. Thank you for an unforgettable stay ! We are already planning our return !

We decided to stay at The Spectator Hotel on our anniversary trip to Charleston. We could not have made a better decision. The hotel is beautiful, well maintained, and in a great location. The rooms are quiet, comfortable, and perfect for relaxing. What set this place apart the most for us was the employees. Every single person was warm and welcoming. They made us feel at home and like we were old friends. We just got home and are already looking forward to our next stay at The Spectator Hotel.

First, I hardly ever write reviews, second, I never stay at hotels this nice, so this review operates under the assumption that this level of hotel is not the norm. Third, this review is more than a month late. Okay now that the caveats are out of the way, this was an absolutely incredible experience. My partner and I came to Charleston for vacation in early March but she was not aware that I planned on proposing during this trip. We stayed at the Spectator for two of the four total nights. To start, the Spectator had options available to help make things more special for the proposal. I opted for the rose pedals which was relatively cheap seeing that they had carriage rides available as well. Upon checking in my partner and I got free "check-in cocktails". Our bags were already in the room and a butler (their term) saw us to our room. I will come back to the butler part, but the tour of the hotel/room was informative, thorough, and welcoming. We went out that night and came back engaged. We also had a celebratory drink and snack in the bar area which were both great. The rose pedals were displayed beautifully around the room and the bath and we had purchased a bottle of champagne to celebrate. This bottle was waiting for us chilled on ice and included two free chocolate shots (shots delivered in chocolate shaped cups). Breakfast options were included for free on this little menu card that went on the door handle and delivered to our room the next morning. Everything was amazing up to this point but the next part is what really blew me away. My fiancé and I left to explore the next day and returned later that afternoon kind of sad that our rose pedals would be gone. When we got back, not only were the pedals rearranged, but there was a congratulations letter, a new bottle of champagne (this one we did not buy), and two more chocolate shots. It felt so personalized and individualized which made everything feel authentic and special. That brings me back to the butler. Well actually first, everyone we interacted with was incredibly nice. I am from the south but the amount of "sirs" and "my pleasures" in almost all interactions made me borderline uncomfortable. That said, there were two standout interactions: the front desk receptionist, Fred (had this name tag but pretty sure we heard someone call him Eddie), and our butler, Chuck. I feel like my fiancé and I made a lifelong friend with Chuck. This is utterly ridiculous, but I am decently serious. He was very warm and genuine and I felt like he was our family friend celebrating this moment with us as opposed to a service employee we were indirectly paying. He did all of the basic stuff incredibly well - gave us brochures, advice on where to go and eat, made us laugh a few times, and showed us our room. He also personally arranged our pedals, wrote ( I think) and delivered the letter, drinks, and shots. He also got to know us and connected with us, stopping at our door to talk about our future plans and shared some of his background as well. Had the Spectator been a complete disaster, I would still probably stay there again for Chuck, but the stay was not a disaster at all. It was the best hotel stay of my life. Sorry to now be one of those annoying people on the internet who writes long reviews, but I really can't say enough about how much I loved staying at the Spectator.

Location is amazing - right near Market St, walk to all restaurants and historical locations. Service is amazing! Welcome cocktail upon arrival, a butler assigned to your room to assist with any arrangements, mini fridge stocked with local snacks! Even Breakfast in your room included. Just outstanding all around!

Perfect location, service and very clean. Complimentary breakfast, snacks and night cap were all a nice touch. The cocktails at the bar downstairs were amazing…highly recommend The Dude Imbibes!

Service like no other! We were greeted so warmly by our butler Chuck. He offered us lots of great tips and recommendations of where to go in the city. Everyone at the hotel is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are big and the bed is super comfortable. Loved that the snacks and mini bar are complimentary! Do try the benne wafers, deliciously addictive! We enjoyed our stay here very much!

We had an amazing stay at The Spectator Hotel. All staff and butlers were helpful and friendly and went out their way to assure we had everything we needed. The room itself was beautiful and it’s a great location — walking distance to all restaurants we went to and the shopping district. Looking forward to returning!

Out of all of the places I've travelled to, the experience of the stay at the Spectator tops all other hotels! We came here for a "babymoon" and they went above and beyond with a special experience for us as parents to be. The beds were comfortable, large rooms with comfortable bathrooms, the butler service was incredible, there's a quaint bar downstairs, great breakfast included every morning. The location was excellent. One thing that surprised me was that there was not a pool, but honestly it didn't matter to us because there was so much else to do.

perhaps the easiest, most luxurious hotel stay i've ever had. from the personal butler service to complimentary in-room breakfast and minibar, they really thought of every single detail. we didn't end up using a lot of their service offerings, but noticed they were constantly checking in to see if we needed anything else during our stay. they even welcomed my boyfriend with a celebratory cake for his birthday upon check-in! would 100% recommend this place to anyone staying in downtown charleston. the location was also very convenient, just a stone's throw away from the charleston city market!

This is an outstanding hotel with a unique value proposition. The butler service is one of a kind. The small details like endless minibar at no charge, extra thoughtfulness in the turn down service of letting you know what the weather will be the following day. Hand crafted different daily chocolates in your room. Would stay here again for sure

I thought this hotel was ok but nothing special and the price was horrendous for what you got. No pool, no gym inside (you had to go to another hotel next door), not particularly helpful staff - we got there a bit earlier with our bags but there was no way on earth we could check in early. Breakfast super weird - no buffet you could just order one thing (they were very strict on this) that they brought to the bar as they have no restaurant. Yes free cokes and peanuts in room but at $650 a night you'd expect that. Really confused by all the mega reviews, I can only assume these people don't travel much.

What impressive and personal service! From welcome cocktails to our lovely butler, Chuck, to a stocked room and lovely included breakfast. Great location, great room and absolutely fabulous staff. Couldn’t be more pleased!

Amazing experience at The Spectator, quite possibly the best hotel I've ever been to. Service was unbelievable, the bar was brilliant as well and the rooms were just great. Can't say anything bad about it. A 10/10.