Charleston, South Carolina, pulls off what so few different locations handle — a novel mixture of historic allure and modern vitality, to not point out a thriving eating scene and engaging museums.
For a metropolis its measurement, although (its inhabitants is simply round 155,000), Charleston has a surfeit of splendid resorts. Emeline, which opened in July 2020 (speak about robust timing), is likely one of the most up-to-date additions to the scene, though its historical past dates again almost 170 years.
I had the possibility to remain there on a latest go to to the Holy Metropolis — this is what the expertise was like.
Emeline location
Emeline sits within the metropolis’s historic district, simply throughout the road from the open-air Charleston Metropolis Market and inside strolling distance of points of interest just like the well-known Pineapple Fountain and the colourful properties alongside Rainbow Row and the Battery.
It’s about 12 miles from Charleston Worldwide Airport (CHS), and a ride-hailing service ought to price between $35 and $40, relying on the time of day. For those who drive your self, the resort’s valet parking is $53 per day.
Emeline reserving particulars
Emeline doesn’t take part in any of the main resort loyalty applications. Nonetheless, it’s a part of a number of credit score card-related reserving portals by way of which you’ll be able to rating additional perks and advantages.
First off, the resort is a member of Capital One’s Premier Assortment. Meaning of us with the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card or the Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise can e book a keep by way of Capital One Journey for value-added advantages like free each day breakfast for 2, as much as $100 in on-property expertise credit and room upgrades (if out there).
The resort can also be a part of Chase’s high-end assortment of resort companions referred to as The Edit. If in case you have an eligible card and make your reserving by way of Chase Journey℠, you’ll be able to anticipate perks similar to each day breakfast for 2, availability-based room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout primarily based on availability, a $100 property credit score for use throughout your keep and a welcome reward. These with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can redeem Chase Final Rewards factors for stays booked at The Edit properties.
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Different playing cards you should utilize for The Edit bookings embody:
Lastly, Emeline is affiliated with American Specific’ The Resort Assortment. Eligible playing cards to make bookings by way of this program embody:
The Resort Assortment bookings are eligible for perks similar to a room improve at check-in when out there and as much as a $100 resort credit score to spend on qualifying eating, spa and resort actions. You may additionally earn 2 American Specific Membership Rewards factors per greenback if you use your Gold Card for pay as you go bookings, 3 Membership Rewards factors per greenback if you use your Enterprise Gold Card for pay as you go bookings and 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback if you use your Platinum Card for pay as you go bookings.
Charges at Emeline begin at $143 per evening in the course of the peak of summer time however can begin at over $600 per evening throughout busier occasions of yr. For the Collector’s Suite I stayed in, charges begin at round $440 per evening.
Simply bear in mind that there’s a $35 amenity payment per evening, which the resort expenses for Wi-Fi, welcome drinks, complimentary each day espresso within the foyer, entry to close by gyms and reductions with numerous native tour operators, amongst different perks.
Standout options of Emeline
- It has a superb location within the metropolis’s historic coronary heart.
- The rooms are spacious and properly adorned.
- The employees couldn’t be friendlier.
Drawbacks of Emeline
- The on-property eating choices are restricted.
- The overwhelming majority of lodging solely have king beds, so households would possibly wish to look elsewhere.
- The resort shouldn’t be a part of any main resort factors program.
The vibe at Emeline
Historical past buffs would possibly spot stone plinths — stepping stones for well-to-do women who didn’t wish to soiled their petticoats alighting from carriages — dotting Charleston’s historic streets. There isn’t any such formality at Emeline, although. The constructing began as a mercantile block throughout from the town’s open-air market within the 1850s; since then, it has been a financial institution, a provisions retailer and a resort, so you’ll be able to anticipate its spacious, two-story foyer to be bustling with the town’s scenesters and worldwide interlopers to at the present time.
The resort nonetheless seems like an eccentric emporium because of curios galore on show, together with taxidermic birds and turtle shells, discovered objects aplenty (similar to feathers from regional avian inhabitants) and a luxurious purveyor referred to as Hold Store peddling domestically produced artisanal crafts and confections. However the spirit is all Lowcountry hospitality as quickly as you examine in, full with a complimentary glass of rum-forward planter’s punch (or nonalcoholic lemonade).
Rooms at Emeline
Though the constructing is imposing, seeming to take up a whole metropolis block, the resort homes simply 212 lodging throughout 4 flooring, together with 128 specialty suites. My Collector’s Suite clocked in at 450 sq. ft and comprised a big dwelling and eating space separated from the bed room by a generously sized lavatory space.
Darkish teal partitions, a shiny wooden eating desk with leather-based chairs and an avocado-hued velvet couch throughout from the wall-mounted flat-screen TV created a cool midcentury vibe in the lounge — the retro Crosley file participant and vinyl playlist compiled by the Report Store’s Mike Gomez cemented the look.
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The spacious, marble-tiled lavatory included an arrogance with a single sink, a separate water closet and a walk-in bathe provisioned with amber-scented Purple Flower pores and skin and hair merchandise. Native Charleston artist Susan Gregory created the ceramic cleaning soap dishes.
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By one other door, the king-size mattress was wearing crisp, monogrammed Matouk linens and had an open-plan wood-and-wicker closet and storage fixture that additionally held one other flat-screen TV.
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There was no minibar to talk of, however the resort offered complimentary sodas, snacks and glass water bottles you could possibly refill on the elevator-adjacent “nook” on every ground, the place there have been additionally espresso machines for a morning kick.
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Food and drinks at Emeline
Simply throughout the primary ground from reception is Frannie and the Fox, the resort’s most important restaurant. It has rapidly turn out to be considered one of Charleston’s go-to scorching spots because of its sultry, low-lit bar, potted plant-dotted eating room and fireplace-warmed out of doors patio.
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For breakfast, anticipate classics like bagels and lox with all of the fixings ($19) and sourdough toast topped with smashed avocado ($16). At lunch and dinner, the menu veers Italian with choices like meatballs ($18), numerous wood-fired pizzas ($19 to $23) and rigatoni with braised lamb ragu and pecorino ($29).
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That is additionally one of many swankiest pickup scenes on the town, so do not be stunned in case you make new buddies on the bar over a signature Panettone cocktail with Hilton Head spiced rum, passito wine, lemon, orange and clarified milk ($16). For these within the know, there’s additionally a speakeasy-style bar referred to as The Den open Tuesday by way of Sunday.
The very best seats, nevertheless, is likely to be in a service hallway with pull-down stools overlooking the motion within the kitchen by way of a viewing window.
Down on the bottom ground, Clerks (a reference to the constructing’s mercantile beginnings) is a restaurant serving a wide range of espresso and tea drinks, plus pastries within the morning and wraps and salads in the course of the day, when it additionally seems to be one of many metropolis’s most well-liked remote-work redoubts.
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Facilities and repair at Emeline
The resort has a small fitness center on the third ground with a smattering of Nautilus cardio and weight gear, plus two Peloton bikes.
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If in case you have a penchant for souvenirs, remember to spend a while perusing the wares at Hold Store within the foyer. The resort has sourced collectibles from native artisans, like gents’s lapel pins crafted from indigenous fowl plumage by Brackish.
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Service all through the resort is immediate and polished. Receptionists are wanting to share recommendations on what to expertise across the metropolis, whereas the oldsters within the restaurant and cafe will do the whole lot they’ll to make sure your meal is to your liking.
Accessibility at Emeline
This can be a historic constructing, however its accessibility requirements are completely updated. Company using wheelchairs can enter the resort through its storage, which has elevator entry to all flooring. There are ramps within the public areas on the bottom and reception flooring, no-step entry to the restaurant and wheelchair-height buttons within the elevators.
The resort additionally presents wheelchair-accessible lodging in 4 classes with options similar to lowered door peepholes and signage, roll-in showers and hearing-accessible parts similar to visible alarms and notifications for the cellphone. As all the time, although, name the resort to debate the choices so you’ll be able to remember to reserve a room that fits your particular wants.
Out and about
Emeline is near a lot of Charleston’s historic points of interest, together with the Battery and numerous home museums such because the Nathaniel Russell Home and the campus of the School of Charleston. It is also a 15-minute stroll to the acclaimed Worldwide African American Museum and docks from which you’ll be able to catch numerous harbor cruises, together with the Schooner Satisfaction three-mast tall ship.
To get a style of the town and its culinary heritage, e book a strolling tour with Bulldog Excursions, or delve into the area’s various previous with Stroll & Speak Charleston.
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A wonderful location, cheap room charges and participation in a number of main bank card reserving portals all set Emeline other than different resorts in Charleston. The resort is ideally located near most of the metropolis’s most important historic sights, but it surely’s a vacation spot unto itself because of a crowd-pleasing restaurant and its distinctive reward boutique. Throw in the advantages you could possibly take pleasure in by reserving with the best rewards card, and a keep at Emeline may take your subsequent Charleston journey to the following stage.
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