Lowcountry luxe: Staying at Emeline in Charleston, South Carolina
Editor's Note
Charleston, South Carolina, pulls off what so few other destinations manage — a unique mix of historical charm and contemporary energy, not to mention a thriving dining scene and fascinating museums.
For a city its size, though (its population is just around 155,000), Charleston has a surfeit of splendid hotels. Emeline, which opened in July 2020 (talk about tough timing), is one of the most recent additions to the scene, although its history dates back nearly 170 years.
I had the chance to stay there on a recent visit to the Holy City — here's what the experience was like.
Emeline location
Emeline sits in the city's historic district, just across the street from the open-air Charleston City Market and within walking distance of attractions like the famous Pineapple Fountain and the colorful homes along Rainbow Row and the Battery.
It is about 12 miles from Charleston International Airport (CHS), and a ride-hailing service should cost between $35 and $40, depending on the time of day. If you drive yourself, the hotel's valet parking is $53 per day.
Emeline booking details
Emeline does not participate in any of the major hotel loyalty programs. However, it is part of several credit card-related booking portals through which you can score extra perks and benefits.
First off, the hotel is a member of Capital One's Premier Collection. That means folks with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business can book a stay through their respective travel portals for value-added benefits like free daily breakfast for two, up to $100 in on-property experience credits and room upgrades (if available).
The hotel is also part of Chase's high-end collection of hotel partners called The Edit. If you have an eligible card and make your booking through Chase Travel℠, you can expect perks such as daily breakfast for two, availability-based room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout based on availability, a $100 property credit to be used during your stay and a welcome gift. Those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for stays booked at The Edit properties.
Other cards you can use for The Edit bookings include:
- United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees)
- United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees)
Finally, Emeline is affiliated with American Express' The Hotel Collection. Eligible cards to make bookings through this program include:
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Hotel Collection bookings are eligible for perks such as a room upgrade at check-in when available and up to a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities. You'll also earn 5 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar when you use your Gold Card for prepaid bookings through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar when you use your Business Gold Card for prepaid bookings and 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar when you use your Platinum Card for prepaid bookings.
Rates at Emeline start at $143 per night during the height of summer but can start at over $600 per night during busier times of year. For the Collector's Suite I stayed in, rates start at around $440 per night.
Just be aware that there is a $35 amenity fee per night, which the hotel charges for Wi-Fi, welcome drinks, complimentary daily coffee in the lobby, access to nearby gyms and discounts with various local tour operators, among other perks.
Standout features of Emeline
- It has an excellent location in the city's historic heart.
- The rooms are spacious and well decorated.
- The staff could not be friendlier.
Drawbacks of Emeline
- The on-property dining options are limited.
- The vast majority of accommodations only have king beds, so families might want to look elsewhere.
- The hotel is not part of any major hotel points program.
The vibe at Emeline
History buffs might spot stone plinths — stepping stones for well-to-do ladies who did not want to dirty their petticoats alighting from carriages — dotting Charleston's historic streets. There's no such formality at Emeline, though. The building started as a mercantile block across from the city's open-air market in the 1850s; since then, it has been a bank, a provisions store and a hotel, so you can expect its spacious, two-story lobby to be bustling with the city's scenesters and international interlopers to this day.
The hotel still feels like an eccentric emporium thanks to curios galore on display, including taxidermic birds and turtle shells, found objects aplenty (such as feathers from regional avian inhabitants) and a luxury purveyor called Keep Shop peddling locally produced artisanal crafts and confections. But the spirit is all Lowcountry hospitality as soon as you check in, complete with a complimentary glass of rum-forward planter's punch (or nonalcoholic lemonade).
Rooms at Emeline
Although the building is imposing, seeming to take up an entire city block, the hotel houses just 212 accommodations across four floors, including 128 specialty suites. My Collector's Suite clocked in at 450 square feet and comprised a large living and dining area separated from the bedroom by a generously sized bathroom area.
Dark teal walls, a glossy wood dining table with leather chairs and an avocado-hued velvet sofa across from the wall-mounted flat-screen TV created a cool midcentury vibe in the living room — the retro Crosley record player and vinyl playlist compiled by the Record Shop's Mike Gomez cemented the look.
The spacious, marble-tiled bathroom included a vanity with a single sink, a separate water closet and a walk-in shower provisioned with amber-scented Red Flower skin and hair products. Local Charleston artist Susan Gregory created the ceramic soap dishes.
Through another door, the king-size bed was dressed in crisp, monogrammed Matouk linens and had an open-plan wood-and-wicker closet and storage fixture that also held another flat-screen TV.
There was no minibar to speak of, but the hotel provided complimentary sodas, snacks and glass water bottles you could refill at the elevator-adjacent "nook" on each floor, where there were also coffee machines for a morning kick.
Food and drink at Emeline
Just across the main floor from reception is Frannie and the Fox, the hotel's main restaurant. It has quickly become one of Charleston's go-to hot spots thanks to its sultry, low-lit bar, potted plant-dotted dining room and fireplace-warmed outdoor patio.
For breakfast, expect classics like bagels and lox with all the fixings ($19) and sourdough toast topped with smashed avocado ($16). At lunch and dinner, the menu veers Italian with options like meatballs ($18), various wood-fired pizzas ($19 to $23) and rigatoni with braised lamb ragu and pecorino ($29).
This is also one of the swankiest pickup scenes in town, so don't be surprised if you make new friends at the bar over a signature Panettone cocktail with Hilton Head spiced rum, passito wine, lemon, orange and clarified milk ($16). For those in the know, there's also a speakeasy-style bar called The Den open Tuesday through Sunday.
The best seats, however, might be in a service hallway with pull-down stools overlooking the action in the kitchen through a viewing window.
Down on the ground floor, Clerks (a reference to the building's mercantile beginnings) is a cafe serving a variety of coffee and tea drinks, plus pastries in the morning and wraps and salads during the day, when it also appears to be one of the city's preferred remote-work redoubts.
Amenities and service at Emeline
The hotel has a small gym on the third floor with a smattering of Nautilus cardio and weight equipment, plus two Peloton bikes.
If you have a penchant for souvenirs, be sure to spend some time perusing the wares at Keep Shop in the lobby. The hotel has sourced collectibles from local artisans, like gentlemen's lapel pins crafted from indigenous fowl plumage by Brackish.
Service throughout the hotel is prompt and polished. Receptionists are eager to share tips on what to experience around the city, while the folks in the restaurant and cafe will do everything they can to ensure your meal is to your liking.
Accessibility at Emeline
This may be a historic building, but its accessibility standards are totally up to date. Guests utilizing wheelchairs can enter the hotel via its garage, which has elevator access to all floors. There are ramps in the public areas on the ground and reception floors, no-step access to the restaurant and wheelchair-height buttons in the elevators.
The hotel also offers wheelchair-accessible accommodations in four categories with features such as lowered door peepholes and signage, roll-in showers and hearing-accessible elements such as visual alarms and notifications for the phone. As always, though, call the hotel to discuss the options so you can be sure to reserve a room that suits your specific needs.
Out and about
Emeline is close to many of Charleston's historic attractions, including the Battery and various house museums such as the Nathaniel Russell House and the campus of the College of Charleston. It's also a 15-minute walk to the acclaimed International African American Museum and docks from which you can catch various harbor cruises, including the Schooner Pride three-mast tall ship.
To get a taste of the city and its culinary heritage, book a walking tour with Bulldog Tours, or delve into the region's diverse past with Walk & Talk Charleston.
Checking out
A fabulous location, reasonable room rates and participation in several major credit card booking portals all set Emeline apart from other hotels in Charleston. The hotel is ideally situated close to many of the city's main historical sights, but it's a destination unto itself thanks to a crowd-pleasing restaurant and its unique gift boutique. Throw in the benefits you could enjoy by booking with the right rewards card, and a stay at Emeline could take your next Charleston trip to the next level.
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