Charleston — Neighborhood Guide
Centred on the historic City Market — a block-long 1804 arcade where Gullah women still weave traditional sweetgrass baskets — the Market District is the tourist heart of Charleston, with the densest concentration of souvenir shops, carriage tours, and restaurant rows in the city.
Quick Answer
Centred on the historic City Market — a block-long 1804 arcade where Gullah women still weave traditional sweetgrass baskets — the Market District is the tourist heart of Charleston, with the densest concentration of souvenir shops, carriage tours, and restaurant rows in the city.
5 hotels reviewed · Price range: $$$, $$$$ · Last updated March 2026
About This Guide
Staying in Market District puts you at the heart of what makes Charleston special. The neighborhood offers a unique blend of local character and visitor-friendly amenities. Our hotel picks range from intimate boutiques to polished luxury properties, each chosen for its ability to connect you with the authentic Market District experience.
Insider Tips
The best dining in Market District is usually one street back from the main tourist thoroughfare.
Ask your hotel concierge for their personal favourite spots in Market District — they often know hidden gems.
Walking is the best way to experience Market District — most attractions are within a 15-minute stroll.
Our Picks
5 hotels · Updated February 2026
Market District
The most consistently excellent small hotel in Charleston for over three decades, with handsomely appointed rooms, an enclosed piazza garden, and Peninsula Grill — one of the South's greatest restaurants, famous for its twelve-layer Ultimate Coconut Cake. The location on Market Street is ideally central without being in the tourist scrum.
Ansonborough
A cluster of five adjoining 19th-century buildings transformed into a 18-room boutique with the intimacy of a private residence and the polish of a genuine luxury hotel. The carriage house restaurant and cooking school under chef Vinson Petrillo is one of Charleston's most distinctive dining experiences, and the walled courtyard is magnificent.
Upper King Street
The anchor property of Charleston's Upper King Street design and food corridor — 16 rooms and suites spread across a collection of historic buildings, with rooftop lounge access, an included pantry breakfast, and an ideal position amid the city's best restaurants and boutiques.
Downtown Charleston
The finest hotel in Charleston occupies a beautifully restored 1964 Federal Building, with interiors that reference mid-century modernism through warm wood panelling, Italian marble, and American craftsmanship at every turn. The Henrietta's bar and Minero restaurant are among the city's most reliably excellent, and the rooftop plunge pool and bar is the best in the city.
French Quarter
A 41-room Art Deco boutique that brings a distinctly Manhattan energy to the French Quarter — the lobby's chandeliers, the Art Deco detailing, and the Spectator Bar's craft cocktail programme are exceptional. Rooms are among the most polished in the city, and the location on State Street puts you steps from the historic City Market.
Common Questions
The Market District is the most convenient location in Charleston for first-time visitors who want to walk to the major attractions. It's the most tourist-dense area, which means it can feel crowded on summer weekends, but the central position and proximity to the waterfront make it hard to beat.
The historic City Market and its sweetgrass basket weavers, Planters Inn and Peninsula Grill, carriage tour departures, and proximity to Rainbow Row and the Cooper River waterfront.
The most convenient option is a rideshare (Uber/Lyft), typically 30-50 minutes depending on traffic. Public transport is also available and often more economical.
More Destinations
Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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