John Rutledge House Inn

Hotel · Charleston

John Rutledge House Inn

Hotel · Charleston

116 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401

Highlights

Step into this elegant 1763 Charleston gem where history meets Southern charm, with plush rooms, a serene courtyard, and divine breakfasts served everywhere.

116 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401 Get directions

johnrutledgehouseinn.com

@cntraveler

"Luckily, the Great Fire of 1861 swept right past this beauty: a 1763 life-sized dollhouse of pale rose stucco and green wrought iron balconies. The John Rutledge House commands Broad Street, facing south, perfectly situated above Charleston’s walkable historic residential district and below the city’s main shopping thoroughfare. Truly a luxury B&B, with your choice of breakfast in bed, on the patio, or in the ballroom." - CNT Editors

2024 Readers’ Choice Awards: The Top Hotels in Charleston

View Postcard for John Rutledge House Inn

@cntraveler

The 20 Best Hotels in Charleston, From Harborfront Cottages to Gilded-Age Inns | Condé Nast Traveler

View Postcard for John Rutledge House Inn

@cntraveler

"How did it strike you on arrival?This statuesque 1763 home was built as a wedding gift from groom John Rutledge for his 19-year-old bride. It also happens to be a place where portions of the U.S. Constitution were drafted. Deep green wrought iron balconies, full of hidden imagery (look for eagles and palmetto trees), are stunning from the street, but guests have an even better view. Cushioned seats on the second floor balcony offer vistas of passing horse carriages below and St. Michael's Church steeple beyond. What’s the crowd like?History buffs, ladies getaways, traditionalists, honeymooners, even families (you can book the whole house, and/or the two carriage houses out back). The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Luckily, staying in a centuries-old house does not mandate sleeping on a centuries-old mattress. Here you get Tempur-Pedic comfort with the timeless aesthetic of a period cotton throw. Bold hunter green walls in the living area of my "Main House Mini Suite" segued to muted greys and soft creams in the marble bathroom, with a full jacuzzi tub positioned just beyond a walk-in glass shower. Bonus: 12-foot ceilings, marble fireplace, and king-sized canopy. How about the little details?There’s lots of eye candy here, in particular the exquisite star-patterned parquet flooring on the first landing of the grand staircase, and Revolutionary musket balls (unearthed during the house’s renovation) on display in the ballroom. Room service: Worth it?There's not technically room service, though breakfast can be delivered upon request. Breakfast is truly sumptuous, with eggs made to order, a full continental selection, great biscuits, and unique daily specials like corned beef hash, veggie quiche, shrimp & grits. You'll have to hold out for late afternoon's tea, lemonade, and savory canapés prepared by the property's sister hotel (Wentworth Mansion's restaurant Circa 1886). There are two excellent restaurants a block away though: Millers All Day, and Fast & French. Bottom line: Why are we staying here?A classic and classy abode steeped in history." - Allston McCrady

John Rutledge House Inn

View Postcard for John Rutledge House Inn

Lady Luana DeLeon

Google

If I had to choose one word to describe my stay here, it would be phenomenal! From the moment I walked into this amazing, beautiful, historic home, I was greeted with joy by the staff, especially Nicole, who went above and beyond to make my stay delightful. The service was impeccable, with incredible breakfasts, Maria, the chef, made the best poached eggs I’ve ever had. The turn-down service and housekeeping were top-notch, room was spotless and dust free. Tea Time was also amazing, and they wonderfully accommodated my gluten-free needs, by providing gluten free treats, making the experience even more special. A special touch was the nightcap waiting upon my return in the evening, featuring amazing brandy, port, and sherry. The location is perfect for exploring the best points of interest in historic Charleston, all within walking distance. This has been the most exceptional experience I’ve ever had.

Deborah J

Google

Our stay began with a warm welcome from the innkeeper -- such warmth is characteristic of all the staff we encountered at John Rutledge House. Our room was large, quiet, amazingly comfortable, and each day's breakfast-- so many choices! -- delicious. Our needs were all anticipated and fulfilled. the location is also perfect for walking to sights and restaurants. Highly recommended!

Richard Burke

Google

We just spent two grand nights at the Rutledge House Inn and they were exemplary in every respect. This beautiful, historic and architecturally significant home enjoys a perfect location in a wonderful city and we look forward to return visits. The inn itself is in fine form with luxury bedding, towels, toiletries, superlative service and great breakfasts. You are immediately made to feel at home and will be delighted with your lodging choice.

Trisha U

Google

Situated perfectly to explore historic Charleston, The Rutledge House Inn was a delight as the base of our week's stay. Built in the 18th century, the house boasts a beautiful ballroom as well as spacious guest accommodations. The staff is friendly and efficient, and helpful at every turn. A daily breakfast is included, with a choice of eating on the terrace, in the ballroom or asking for room service. Our room was cleaned each day with turn down service in the evening as well. You won't be disappointed!

Lisa Pitts

Google

What an amazing place to stay. Our room was wonderful, slept like a baby. Tea at 430 in the ballroom. Walking distance to so many things. Patio under the stars and breakfast where ever you choose. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Ellison .Cook

Google

We had such an incredible stay at the John Rutledge Inn. I would recommend this hotel to anyone. Especially if you like history! Amazing employees with incredible hospitality touches, we went for a 10 year anniversary and they made us feel extra special! 10/10 location! The breakfast and afternoon tea and horderves are fantastic. WILL BE BACK

SweetTooth777

Google

We had to take a bit of time to think about what to say for this review. We’ve stayed at a good assortment of select registry properties, and just didn’t feel that this one blew us away.||It’s a historic home, with a lot of great history to it. It’s fascinating to stay in a place like that, but we think they leaned into the historic aspect, and used it as a crutch to neglect some simple upkeep/maintenance. We stayed in a deluxe room. The light above the bed was burnt out. Unfortunately, we didn’t notice this until late into the evening after we returned from dinner/being out, and had already unpacked and spread our stuff around. Could we have said something? Sure, but either way it would have been a hassle to have someone change the bulb at 11pm or move our room (if that would have even been an option). There was no nightlight in the bathroom, which made middle of the night bathroom trips a little cumbersome to dodge the furniture. The bathroom door had a doorstop, which was nice, but with no working nightlight, you had to use the full bright light or the light with a fan, both of which are disturbing to your traveling partner who may still be asleep. So you had to move the doorstop to close the door to avoid waking them up.||Breakfast was nice. Better than a hotel, but didn’t blow us away like other properties. There was a social hour that had a sweet treat and an appetizer, along with some tea and lemonade. There was not a social hour like at other properties with beer/wine. At the nightly rate, we sort of expected that, and thought that we had read that on the website. Perhaps it was outdated. The treats were fine, but we found ourselves taking a dessert back to our room for later in the evening. It’d be nice to have the desserts out later in the evening when you return from dinner rather than how it was. ||The area was very walkable to dining and shopping. The entrance is beautiful. Parking was $18/night, which also seemed like something that could have been included with the nightly rate. They likely command the rate they do because they can. It’s Charleston, after all. We just felt that the select registry piece might be slipping a bit. Staff was incredible though, and we had some nice chats with them. Without them, we likely would’ve rated lower, so that speaks to the difference they made and we want that to be recognized.

Barbara H

Google

From the moment I arrived every aspect of my stay at John Rutledge House Inn was delightful. The historic home is grand and beautifully maintained inside and around the grounds. The room are lovely. The attention of the pleasant and informative staff enhanced my stay. And, importantly, parking is adjacent to the Inn!