A favorite of power brokers, politicians, and movie stars, this stylish 440-room hotel is best enjoyed on an expense account. Orient Express hotels does it up right here, from the Italian marble lobby with its spiral staircase and 12-foot crystal chandelier to the attentive staff. Big, inviting rooms are appointed with period furnishings, balconies, and marble bathrooms. For first-class treatment and stunning views, request a "club level" room. An infinity pool with retractable roof, spa, and swank restaurant round out the deluxe possibilities. What's more, the hotel is just a credit card swipe from the city's hottest restaurants, attractions, and shops; in fact Gucci's on the ground floor.

The six-year-old inn one block from St. Philip's Steeple is "a good base for exploring the town." At check-in, guests receive champagne, and each evening look forward to "milk and cookies—a very nice touch." Eighteenth-century-style rooms with high ceilings are decorated in golds and creams. Restaurant Tristan has blue and silver upholstery, local glass art, and food that includes white tuna with Parmesan vanilla broth.

(50 rooms)

If you want to be right in the historic district, this hotel in an old shipping warehouse is steps from the harbor, Old City Market, and Lower King Street's antique row. The 52 rooms got a makeover in 2007 and are very Charleston—think four-poster beds, plantation shutters, sea grass rugs, and rattan furniture. Larger-scale amenities are lacking, however: Gratis coffee, breakfast pastries, and afternoon wine and cheese in the marble lobby are charming, but they may not make up for the lack of a fitness center or pool (especially if you brought the kids). And be aware that, despite the name, not all of the rooms have a view of the harbor. Request one that overlooks the Waterfront Park along the Cooper River.

This charming 1763 building is one of 15 surviving homes owned by one of the 55 framers of the U.S. Constitution—and the only one converted into a hotel. Original Italian marble fireplaces, plaster moldings, inlaid floors, and ironwork have been faithfully restored. Nineteen rooms are located in the original grand residence and two carriage houses. All are stunning, appointed with four-poster lace-canopy beds, working fireplaces, antiques, and hot tubs. Genteel touches include complimentary newspapers, breakfast, and afternoon tea or sherry. Park the car for your entire stay; the inn is central to all Charleston attractions and restaurants. Guest have spa privileges at sister Wentworth Mansion, a 10-minute walk away.

This hotel on the corner of Market and East Bay is for those who like some chintz with their antebellum charm. Don't worry, the oil paintings in gilt frames and intricate brocade wallpaper in the lobby are just tasteful enough to avoid being over-the-top. The 70 rooms have a similar look, with mahogany beds made up with Frette linens, heavy damask curtains, and Italian marble bathrooms full of Hermès products. The rooftop pool lined with fountains and striped loungers is a summertime gem, but inexplicably shuts down at 4 pm when the cabana bar opens for business. There's also a classic gentleman's club–style bar downstairs with antique wood booths and a steak restaurant that serves a mouthwatering New York strip.

A member of upscale Relais & Châteaux collection, this exquisite, 62-room hotel lives up to its A-list reputation. The lobby is filled with reproductions of 18th-century furniture and an attentive staff is poised to meet guests' every need. Private, romantic rooms have high ceilings, crown moldings, antiques, canopied four-poster beds, and marble baths. The two "plantation kings" overlooking the lush garden are the largest, quietest, and most popular. Street-facing rooms have white-noise machines. The famed Old City Market and shops of trendy upper King Street are nearby. Peninsula Grill is a hot ticket for a romantic dinner; book at least a month in advance.

This elegant inn, a stunning example of Gilded Age architecture, is largely unchanged since the days when it belonged to Francis Silas Rodgers. Converted to a hotel in 1998, many of the original details still remain, including original Louis Comfort Tiffany glass panels, crystal chandeliers, pressed tin ceilings, and marble mantles. The 21 nice size rooms, some with patios, have wood floors and moldings, king-size beds, whirlpools, and working gas fireplaces; several have daybeds or sofa beds. The Wentworth is high on frills; an in-room refrigerator is stocked with free drinks and peanuts, morning brings a full European breakfast on the sun porch, and complimentary libations are poured each afternoon in the Rodgers Library. The spa doles out food-flavored treatments (including a peach-mango massage) inside a converted horse stable. Don't miss a gourmet dinner at the inn's carriage-house restaurant, Circa 1886.