The Vendue, Charleston's Art Hotel
Hotel · Charleston
19 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401
Highlights
Art-filled boutique hotel offering unique rooms, rooftop bar & wine receptions
Art-filled boutique hotel offering unique rooms, rooftop bar & wine receptions
"An arts-focused hotel set in converted warehouses in the French Quarter that displays more than 200 artworks, offers on-site docents and an artist-in-residence program, and treats the property itself as an exhibition space. Guest rooms vary from contemporary styles with vibrant reds and subway-tiled walk-in showers to Enclave rooms with exposed brick and a yellow/black/gold palette, and a rooftop dining spot provides lunch and drinks with river views." - Devorah Lev-Tov
"Don’t let the historic façade fool you: This hotel will blow your mind. Conceived as an ever-evolving, progressive “art hotel” with a full-time docent and rotating exhibits, The Vendue is never static. In the past, for instance, the theme has been “red and white,” which translated to a giant red gorilla at the end of a gleaming white hallway packed with provocative paintings, arresting sculptures, and wall hangings. We can’t tell you what to expect when you arrive, because change and evolution is the point. The entire hotel is a conversation starter. Think of a tea party attended by Andy Warhol, Alice in Wonderland, and Louis XIV."
"How did it strike you on arrival?A row of historic warehouses dating to 1780 were combined into this sprawling boutique hotel, with each facade true to its original historic color, so you experience a "rainbow row" effect before walking into the ultra-mod lobby. There is no check-in desk. No need for one. The Vendue has flipped that tradition on its head. Instead, you can either check in remotely, with a mobile key option, and head straight to your room, or you can just show up to be greeted and ushered over to Mad Hatter-style seating beneath over-the-top chandeliers for a fluid, fun check-in process—seated, relaxed, conversational. Across the street, there's an extension of the hotel, likewise a living gallery with a resident artist at work in an open studio. What’s the crowd like?This place is not for traditionalists or the faint of heart, but creatives and adventurers will love its wild nooks and surprises (like French inscriptions written on your bathroom mirror, or a bowtied fox watching you brush your teeth). The good stuff: Tell us about your room.You could stay at The Vendue 84 consecutive times, experience the 84 different rooms, and be surprised every time. Each one has a different size and layout due to the antique bones and meandering passageways of the building itself: some have fireplaces, some have exposed brick. Little frivolities abound, like French bulldog doorknockers, and gilded “hands” as curtain pulls. In keeping with the current red-&-white theme, you’ve got ruby red showerheads against pristine white tile, so even bathing is an artistic foray. Lather up with ROAM products, a blend of aloe, prairie wheat, and grape extracts, then dive into very comfortable beds. The hotel has swapped out its period antiques for modern. How about the little details, any of that worth a mention?There’s a white player piano in the lobby with plexiglass legs (very Elton John) programmed with a library of thousands of songs. It can even cue a back-up of drums, sax, and guitar. Food and drink: What do we have here?Cuisine at Revival incorporates authentically local and historical ingredients like resurrected Jimmy Red Corn grits and Nostrale rice, once thought extinct. Another food option is to take the elevator up to the rooftop bar for loaded tots, salads, dips, tacos, and key lime pie. The hotel also offers evening cookies and milk to ease your slumber. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Boldly unorthodox: a daring and whimsical avant-garde art hotel in one of Charleston’s oldest buildings." - Allston McCrady
"Don’t let the historic façade fool you: This hotel will blow your mind. Conceived as an ever-evolving, progressive “art hotel” with a full-time docent and rotating exhibits, The Vendue is never static. In the past, for instance, the theme has been “red and white,” which translated to a giant red gorilla at the end of a gleaming white hallway packed with provocative paintings, arresting sculptures, and wall hangings. We can’t tell you what to expect when you arrive, because change and evolution is the point. The entire hotel is a conversation starter. Think of a tea party attended by Andy Warhol, Alice in Wonderland, and Louis XIV." - CNT Editors
"Art-forward hotel The Vendue, ranked No. 13, praised for its rooftop bar and prime location." - Travel + Leisure Editors
