"How did it strike you on arrival?From the outside, this young boutique hotel seems understated enough (in keeping with its surrounds), but within, anything but. A pink chandelier dominates the lobby, suspended above twin golden tufted diva-worthy sofas. The welcome desk glows molten yellow. Provocative artwork abounds. At night, passersby will notice the oval windows of a rising elevator glowing neon purple from within. This hotel is not shy. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Fresh faced travelers, couples, girl getaways The good stuff: Tell us about your room.My King Room had attitude: soft lavender doorways, brass lantern bedside lighting, plush yellow velvet headboard, matching golden chairs, and a window curtain superimposed with a black-&-white historic Charleston gate. And I loved the vertically oriented grey marble in the walk-in shower, the natural grain mimicking the downpour of the water itself. Bath products were Kessler Collection, but the hotel is soon transitioning to the fun, natural, colorful LUSH brand. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?Wi-Fi was free and great. No minibar, but there's a tempting bottle Raymond Vineyards red in each room, yours for $54. I would steal the giant Klimt piece in the hotel's entrance, painted by a brilliant Argentine artist who recreates Klimt's legendary Lady in Gold, then adds a Starbucks-toting contemporary woman for a telling contrast in modern perceptions of beauty, then assigns a brain-teasing Jungian title. (So basically, your mind is blown before you even reach the check-in desk). A few people have made handsome offers on the painting, but developer Mr. Kessler has so far declined. Room service: Worth it?As fun as it would be to eat in the extravagant room (and you can), I would bypass in-room dining and head directly upstairs to the rooftop restaurant Eleve because (1) it is gorgeous, and (2) it opens onto a cool rooftop deck where you can take your breakfast, lunch, or dinner and relax in wild, oversized, Alice-in-Wonderland chairs positioned on astroturf. But suit yourself: the restaurant delivers. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The hotel's French inspired restaurant, with artful presentations and lots of good choices, has a rooftop patio to boot. You can slurp lobster and crab bisque in brunch's flood of sunlight, or savor a skillet Croque Madame with rosemary olive bread and a sunny side up egg for lunch, then down some chilled oysters, classic escargot, and steak au poivre for dinner beneath candlelit chandeliers. The only caveat is the din of the evening crowd-- if the chatter gets too loud, step on the patio and check out the moon. The rooftop bar glows a shimmering citrine, and opens at 10 a.m. if you are so inclined. Traipse out to the open patio with your Kir Royal. A sommelier-staffed wine tasting room is a unique perk, with multiple varietals available to sample through pay-by-the-pour technology (Opus 1, anyone?). Plus, the hotel's wine blending room allows guests to experiment with their own creations for custom-labeled bottles to take home. Just remember to pace yourself -- I saw a group of very happy, tipsy ladies stumble out. Just off the lobby, the hotel's dedicated art gallery runs the gamut from modern to classical, and carries locally-made Brackish Bowties fashioned from guinea hens, roosters, and pheasant, designed exclusively for the Kessler Collection. Bottom line: worth it, and why?An art-forward, vibrant hotspot, three years young, with a signature wine blending experience and fanciful rooftop patio. Not for the faint of heart: if you want Fifty Shades of Beige, head elsewhere." - Allston McCrady
