Named after General Francis Marion, the ‘Swamp Fox’ of the American Revolution, this hotel is one of the oldest and grandest in the Carolinas. Built in 1924 and sympathetically refurbished in 1996 to award-winning standards, it is packed to the rafters with Old World charm and modern comforts. The only high-rise hotel in the historic district, the views are spectacular from the top floors and the rooms are extremely well-equipped with a great range of home-from-home amenities. To keep you trim, there’s a fitness centre or head to Spa Adagio* for a well deserved spot of pampering. Classic Southern cuisine is on offer at the Swamp Fox Restaurant where the resident chef expertly showcases Charleston’s locally supplied produce. The menu changes monthly but regular favourites include Shrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes and Steamed Clams. Afterwards, relax in the cosy adjoining bar and if its the weekend you can enjoy some atmospheric live jazz music.
Amenities
Bar
Fitness Centre/Gym
Internet Access
Laundry Service
Restaurant
Room Service
Spa
Valet parking
Where is it
On Marion Square in the Upper King Street Design District of Charleston, South Carolina. Within steps of historic landmarks including Marion Park, a 6-acre park notable for its Revolutionary War and Citadel beginnings. Boutiques and restaurants are also close by.
Hotel information
234 rooms include a marble and granite bathroom, a dedicated work area with a desk, a vanity, complimentary WiFi, a flat-panel TV with HD cable, and a coffee maker. Rooms on higher floors provide breathtaking views of the historic Charleston harbour.
Traditional rooms have either one queen or two double beds, sleeping a maximum 4 people.
Fitness centre. The Spa of Charleston*. Entertainment includes live jazz music in the bar on weekends. Complimentary WiFi. Limited room service*. Laundry/dry-cleaning service*. Concierge service. Gift shop.
Self-parking is available at the City of Charleston garage next to the hotel for $24.00 per night. Parking is subject to garage availability, please note that oversized vehicles and rooftop carriers may have limited parking options. Valet parking is $40 + tax per night. ( both subject to change and paid locally).
The Swamp Fox Restaurant & Bar (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner) A cosy spot for casual dining, this bar and grill features a relaxed atmosphere and a great selection of beverages, including cocktails and local beers.
*Denotes local charge.
Based on 4629 reviews
Rating summary
Location
Sleep Quality
Rooms
Service
Value
Cleanliness
Traveller rating
Excellent (2407)
Very good (1334)
Average (506)
Poor (226)
Terrible (156)
Just OK
May 17, 2025dnister1New York City, New York
Great location and friendly staff. However, the hotel feels a bit neglected. Historical charm is nice and all, but it’s not a reason to not fix peeling paint/outdated plumbing and AC. Good breakfast buffet though, and the rooms are clean enough.
Great hotel in Charleston!
May 17, 2025193gretchenmMetairie, Louisiana
It’s the perfect location with the park across the street and lots of great places to walk. The rooms are much bigger than the other hotels we have tried in Charleston.
Our son graduated from College of Charleston and the hotel is right across the street from campus.
Vacation
May 16, 2025Roving29862251743Billings, Montana
Our hotel room was significantly underwhelming, especially given the nightly rate we paid. The room was small and lacked even the most basic standards of professional painting. The walls, trim, and ceiling looked as though they had been painted by an amateur—with mismatched colors, crooked lines, peeling, and cracking paint. It honestly gave the…
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Our hotel room was significantly underwhelming, especially given the nightly rate we paid. The room was small and lacked even the most basic standards of professional painting. The walls, trim, and ceiling looked as though they had been painted by an amateur—with mismatched colors, crooked lines, peeling, and cracking paint. It honestly gave the impression of a rushed job, not something you’d expect from a reputable hotel.
The bathroom was also very small and poorly equipped, missing standard amenities one would expect. As for the bed—it was relatively comfortable, but certainly not the king-size we booked. It was clearly a queen, which added to our disappointment.
While the first floor of the hotel was beautifully maintained and presented, our room on the 10th floor was a completely different story. It felt like two different hotels entirely. I have images documenting these issues and will be sharing them where appropriate to ensure transparency for future guests.
Overall, this hotel was grossly overpriced for the quality and condition of the room we received.
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A pleasant stay in downtown Charleston
May 13, 2025James SAsheville, North Carolina
The Francis Marion is a fine old Charleston hotel with a well deserved reputation for high quality and terrific service. It was a wondeful place for an intense 1 and 1/2 day meeting. The ballroom was spacious, the acoustics were good so we could all hear each other and the breakfat and lunches were very tasty.
The fitness rooms need 8 and 12…
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The Francis Marion is a fine old Charleston hotel with a well deserved reputation for high quality and terrific service. It was a wondeful place for an intense 1 and 1/2 day meeting. The ballroom was spacious, the acoustics were good so we could all hear each other and the breakfat and lunches were very tasty.
The fitness rooms need 8 and 12 pound weights. The spa is really nice and Katarina is a wonderful massage therapist.
The bar is a nice, quiet place to relax with friends in the evening. Valet parking is $40/night, but it is convenient. The rooms are nice too.
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Not worth the money
May 12, 2025Frances C
we stayed here for a college graduation. We have stayed here before however, this time was not very pleasant. The showers took over 20 minutes to warm up. The staff at the restaurant was extremely rude as well as as the person that came and brought us our towels, told us we need to keep it down however we were not being loud at all. My husband was…
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we stayed here for a college graduation. We have stayed here before however, this time was not very pleasant. The showers took over 20 minutes to warm up. The staff at the restaurant was extremely rude as well as as the person that came and brought us our towels, told us we need to keep it down however we were not being loud at all. My husband was just sitting by the door, watching a video on his phone and the TV was on. Not a great experience, even from reservation the agent was extremely rude when I needed to call and change the reservation, and when I spoke to their manager, they were also extremely rude.
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Just OK
Great hotel in Charleston!
Vacation
Not worth the money
