Like the city itself, The Pinch, Charleston’s newest boutique hotel, is stop-in-your-tracks charming. Situated on a lantern-lit cobblestone bylane off of George Street, the 25-room hotel is easy to miss if you’re not expressly looking for it, but that, of course, is part of its appeal. It’s not a resort or tower that begs for attention; it’s a quiet and alluring haunt that, until it soft-launched in April, was drenched in a sense of mystique. Now, with its rooms, suites, and three residences (available for stays of at least 30 days), available for reservations, The Pinch is quickly becoming visitors’ and locals’ favorite spot.
After all, it takes after other local gems — John Rutledge House Inn, Wentworth Mansion, and Francis Marion Hotel — beloved by Chucktown natives, in that it’s housed in historical architecture. The Pinch may not be the biggest hotel, but its rooms are spread across two Victorian-style buildings erected in the mid-19th century. Careful to preserve its past while embracing its present, The Pinch’s development and design, the work of Method Co. and Morris Adjmi Architects, leaves anyone who traverses the wide and sunny lobby speechless.
Like the foyer of a notable home, the lobby at The Pinch — an expansive space wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows and original wide-plank floors — feels more like a friend’s living room than it does a hotel. The plaster walls make for a warm backdrop to the front desk, a low-to-the-ground antique topped with a glossy mid-century Snoopy lamp.
Keep walking and you’ll approach The Quinte, a turn-of-the-century-inspired oyster house and bar, which is tucked behind a pair of ceiling-height double-doors. Walk a few feet further, and you’ll be standing before the dimly lit elevator bank, which leads guests to the hotel’s collection of guest rooms and suites.
Though each of the rooms is slightly different from each other, they’re all outfitted with a king bed, a full kitchen, and a miniature jungle of plants both big and small. Like the guest rooms, the suites feel like home. The nearly 800-square-foot one-bedroom premier suite, for instance, looks like an expansive apartment, complete with a sizable kitchen, dining area, living room, bathroom, and separate bedroom. There is even a washer-and-dryer.
Plenty of the rooms look out to the quietly lit alleyway, across which is The Pinch’s other culinary concept, which lights up the ground floor of the Lequeux-Williams House, a former 19th-century private residence. It may be a restaurant now, but there is still a homey feel to it, courtesy of the third-floor penthouse that boasts original detailing, a bespoke kitchen, and a working fireplace.
The residence, like the rest of The Pinch, is perhaps the perfect place to take a seat and sit a spell after a long day under the sometimes unforgiving Charleston sun. The dreamy interiors, luxurious history, and prime location makes this sweet spot a must-book.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- The Vibe: Utterly charming, complete with bespoke furniture and sun-drenched interiors.
- Food + Drink: In the fall, both of the dining outposts — a resident restaurant inspired by French cuisine and a swanky oyster bar — will open.
- Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The suites. Each one feels like a luxurious private apartment, with a separate bedroom, a full kitchen, and a spacious living room.
- What’s Nearby: King Street shopping, FIG, Charleston City Market, Rainbow Row, and Sugar Bakeshop.
- Any Personal Neighborhood Recs? After a leisurely wake up, wander 20 minutes up King Street to Sugar Bakeshop, home of perhaps the most darling sweets, including pastel-painted cupcakes dipped in coconut flakes. Grab an iced coffee to go and head over to the open-air market for some local treasures to bring home with you.
- Closest Airport: Charleston International Airport
- Starting Rate: Starting at $595/night
