Planters Inn

Planters Inn offers a luxury retreat & romantic restaurant in the heart of Charleston

Story and photo by Jenny Peterson

Just steps from the City Market on the corner of Meeting and Market Streets, Planters Inn is a quiet, relaxing luxury 64-room hotel filled with charm, history and thoughtful Charleston touches.

Handsome portraits and a large parlor overlooking the prominent corner welcome guests with velvet couches, a wood-burning fireplace in the winter, complimentary coffee service and homemade Benne wafer crackers.

The rooms have modern bathrooms with glass-walled showers and high-end fixtures, while rooms are designed with Old World décor: Antiques, four-poster Rice beds and wooden furniture.  

Planters Inn has earned a Relais & Châteaux designation, a worldwide standard given to an exclusive collection of independent luxury boutique hotels for its impeccable hospitality.

The personalized service at Planters Inn includes a 24/7 concierge and staff who are happy to hold a door or recommend places nearby to grab Charleston’s famous she-crab soup.

Almost everything is decorated with local influences, including the sweetgrass baskets on the walls, the luxurious Charleston Mattress Company mattresses, coverlets from The Historic Charleston Foundation and Baker Historic Charleston Collection rice beds. Another unique touch are teddy bears tucked onto beds and couches.

Planters Inn operates the fine-dining Peninsula Grill on the first floor, voted the most romantic restaurant in Charleston, with a courtyard and indoor dining room.

Peninsula Grill isn’t just known for its spectacular food. Like the hotel, it also has an impeccable reputation for ambiance and service. The courtyard’s carriage lanterns are lit every evening to create a romantic glow for al fresco customers. Peninsula’s decadent champagne bar has oysters on the half shell, three types of caviar, and seared foie gras. The roasted rack of lamb comes with a poached pear and pear jus to die for, and the swordfish is prepared with modern Southern cooking techniques. The wine and champagne menu has been expertly curated to pair with these resplendent dishes.

It recently opened Benne’s Café immediately next door, which offers cocktails, specialty coffee and a case of delicious desserts, including Peninsula Grill’s famous 12-layer Ultimate Coconut Cake by the slice. Bring your special someone here for an anniversary or a wedding proposal.

Benne’s is a café in the mornings, but transforms into a dessert and cocktail Bar in the afternoons.  There is an amazing Espresso Martini that pairs well with the cake slices.

Guests are welcome to use the vine-draped courtyard behind the café for a quiet respite.

“We have a lot of guests say it feels like they’re being welcomed into somebody's private Charleston home for their stay,” Conner said. “It’s a very ‘Charleston,’ unique, one-of-a-kind experience.”

For more information, visit www.plantersinn.com.