The Loutrel
Hotel · Charleston
61 State St Main Entrance, Charleston, SC 29401
Highlights
Stylish boutique hotel with rooftop, lounge, gym, and local snacks
Stylish boutique hotel with rooftop, lounge, gym, and local snacks
"The Loutrel splashed onto Charleston’s hotel scene with palpably new construction and a prime location, just south of City Market. The boutique 50-room property looks and feels stylishly contemporary, and it consistently aims to bring the outside in: Calamondin-orange topiaries flank the lobby, delicate cherry-blossom branches spike the floral arrangements seasonally, and living orchids accent every room. Rooms are crisp, minimal, and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and double-paneled privacy sheers. The Loutrel’s “wow” factor is its rooftop terrace, cresting the mature tree line of Charleston’s historic French Quarter. Early risers take morning coffee up here to watch the sun illuminate a sliver of harbor, returning hours later to enjoy an evening cocktail." - CNT Editors
"A 50-room property inspired by public and private gardens that offers modern, elegant rooms with high-end touches—Matouk bedding, Deep Steep bath products, Dyson hairdryers, and complimentary minibars stocked with local snacks. Public spaces evoke a Southern porch with a swing and abundant greenery alongside regional artwork, while the Veranda Lounge is a large, wood-and-bronze-accented bar. Guests can enjoy a rooftop terrace with sweeping views and an exclusive Clubroom stocked with curated books, games, and locally sourced drinks and bites." - Devorah Lev-Tov
"Stay at The Loutrel, a luxury boutique hotel just steps away from some of the best things to do in Charleston." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Why book? The Loutrel splashes into Charleston’s hotel scene with palpably new construction (opened November 2021) and a prime location, just south of City Market at the doorstep of the residential historic district. The boutique 50-room hotel looks and feels stylishly contemporary, but walk half a block south, and you’re squarely in the 18th century on an uneven brick alley lined with camellias and flowering peppermint peach. You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the fact that you’re steps away from colonial, antebellum, and Victorian architecture, but at The Loutrel, you can retreat to the creature comforts of the 21st century. Set the scene As its name suggests, The Loutrel draws inspiration from (and pays tribute to) landscaping legend Loutrel Briggs, who designed roughly 100 private gardens in and around Charleston beginning in the 1920s. As such, the hotel aims to bring the outside in with plenty of natural light and subtropical greenery. Calamondin orange topiaries flank the lobby, delicate cherry blossom branches spike the floral arrangements, and living orchids accent every room. The lobby itself channels an open veranda (a nod to Charleston’s plethora of breeze-catching porches), with gauzy drapes, silent ceiling fans, and even a hanging swing. Settle into cushioned woven furniture with your effervescent “welcome cocktail” and peruse any number of botanically-inspired, Charleston-themed coffee table books. The crowd On my visit, I didn’t spy any young children (though I’m sure they’re welcome), but rather a varied group of adults of all ages: some Texas businessmen touring local ports, a solo doctor in scrubs heading for rotation in an area hospital, a married couple from Vermont here to explore museums and gardens, a multi-generational family on reunion, a jovial group of young ladies here to hit the town’s cocktail scene. It’s a relaxed but upscale environment; friendly, and not at all pretentious. The backstory The Loutrel is a flagship venture by a group of investors (some local, some not) who made the wise decision of hiring revered local architect Michael Graves and his interior design team. Four stories is the height limit in this section of town, so as not to dwarf the historic skyline. Graves created an elevated ground floor, flooding the lobby with morning sun that showcases an ethereal landscape mural by local painter Linda Fantuzzo. By night, the same space glows with suspended votive fixtures illuminating an entirely different cocktail vibe. Design-wise, colors are subtle, not loud: soft blues and shimmering grays with little pops of iridescence, like the pearled penny-tile wraparound of the bar, or the slight sheen of a carpet, just enough to keep things vibrant but not too flashy. The rooms Rooms are crisp, minimal, and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and double-paneled privacy sheers. I ordered a charcuterie board (curated by gourmet cheese shop Goat Sheep Cow), then sank into cloudlike pillows and angled my large flatscreen TV into perfect view (it’s wall-mounted and adjustable, with a remote that lights up in the dark for klutzes like me). I loved the marble fish-scale tiled floor in the glass-door shower, and rosemary-mint bath products by local makers Paul and Peggy Lieber of “Deep Steep,” who blend plant-derived nourishing soaps and lotions on nearby Johns Island. The minibar was filled with complimentary sodas and snacks, including some very addictive spicy pimento cheese small-batch kettle chips, and lemon sugar cookies by Grey Ghost bakery. My room did not have a spectacular view, which was fine because I drew the shades, tucked in, and enjoyed a state-of-the-art soundproof existence. For the best view, request a southern-facing, upper-floor room that overlooks Charleston’s historic skyline. Food and drink Not a full-scale restaurant, but the lobby’s Veranda Lounge comes alive in late afternoon towards happy hour—or as The Loutrel calls it, “Charleston’s finest hour,” for craft cocktails and light bites, plus a menu of creative salads, flatbreads, and panini throughout the evening, with a lunch launch projected for May 2022. Breakfast is fully complimentary, a generous European-style buffet with eggs, cured meats, fresh fruit, house granola, muffins, and flaky pastries. There’s also a snack-filled mezzanine library with an impressive assortment of local books curated by Buxton Books on nearby King Street, so if you fall in love with a particular bound volume, you can stroll over to the bookstore to have it shipped home. As for nearby restaurants, there are too many to name, my favorites being FIG, Peninsula Grill, Husk, Hank’s Seafood, Cru Café, S.N.O.B., Miller’s All Day, Brasserie la Banque, and Fast & French. I’m sure I’ve missed some. Charleston is target-rich. The spa There’s no spa, but the on-site fitness room has weights, yoga mats, treadmills, and a Peloton bike that sees regular use. I personally prefer to hit the pavement (Charleston is immensely walkable) or to snag one of The Loutrel’s courtesy bikes to cover more ground. The neighborhood/area The Loutrel sits at the northern edge of Charleston’s French Quarter, known for its Huguenot roots and art galleries. The Waterfront Park and pier are short blocks away, as are multiple churches, historic house tours, museums, the Gibbes art collection, and King Street retail shopping. To tackle the neighborhood, book a walking tour with The Loutrel guide Dana Levine, an infinitely knowledgeable and personable young woman who ushers you through hidden streets and private gardens and really anchors your understanding of Charleston’s multi-layered history. Service If you’ve come by car, valet parking is swift, easy, and secure. The level of service, in general, is friendly and relaxed, but attentive. It’s a small hotel, so you really get to know the faces. Accessibility ADA standards are well met, with a wide range of accessibility and features listed on the hotel’s website. It’s a state-of-the-art design, incorporating ADA sensibilities. Anything left to mention? The chief complaint voiced by hotel guests does not pertain to the hotel itself but to its unattractive neighbor: a low-flung, late-night convenience store across the street. But given Charleston’s current renaissance and building boom, surely this little lot will get snatched up by a savvy developer (fingers crossed) and recycled as the next Mercantile & Mash or Dean & Deluca. Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List? The Loutrel’s “wow factor” is its rooftop terrace, cresting the mature treeline of Charleston’s historic French Quarter. Early risers take morning coffee up here to watch the sun illuminate a sliver of harbor, or to lounge by day on cushioned wicker with a book from the Clubroom library, or to enjoy an evening sunset cocktail, or to stargaze late at night. Church bells ring briefly each quarter hour to sound time, their melodic peals blending with ocean breezes. From this vantage point, steeples align like perfectly placed bowling pins, and you understand how the Holy City got its name." - Allston McCrady
"The Loutrel splashes into Charleston’s hotel scene with palpably new construction and a prime location, just south of City Market. The boutique 50-room property looks and feels stylishly contemporary, and it consistently aims to bring the outside in: Calamondin-orange topiaries flank the lobby, delicate cherry-blossom branches spike the floral arrangements seasonally, and living orchids accent every room. Rooms are crisp, minimal, and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows and double-paneled privacy sheers. The Loutrel’s “wow” factor is its rooftop terrace, cresting the mature tree line of Charleston’s historic French Quarter. Early risers take morning coffee up here to watch the sun illuminate a sliver of harbor, returning hours later to enjoy an evening cocktail." - Allston McCrady
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