The Ryder Hotel

The pool was way too crowded and I found out that it’s open to the public as part of the restaurant. I might have some info wrong, but that’s my understanding after staying for 4 nights. The wait staff was overwhelmed and I had to flag them down to get anything. The a.c. in the room was intermittent and threw on the 3rd day there it finally went out, leaving a massive build up of electric fire smell and smoke in the room. Thank God it didn’t happen in the middle of the night. It was too noxious to stay in the room at all and our clothes smelled like smoke. They quickly changed our room but offered no compensation for the crazy inconvenience. We thought we were going to die packing our stuff back up to move rooms because you couldn’t really breathe in the room with that smoke. The people were nice though and the facilities are super cute and had exactly the right vibe for the area. So much better than an average hotel.

I booked The Ryder because of its location, great reviews, and rare perk of having a pool, but the reality has been frustrating and disappointing. There are only 11 pool loungers for the entire hotel, and they’re usually gone by 8:30 AM. Most other seating is reserved for people buying day passes or cabanas, and the pool is completely open to the public — by 1 PM, it was packed with non-guests. The pool was definitely “clubby” and not relaxing or kid friendly. Hotel guests are clearly an afterthought here. Rooms are cute and spacious, but you can hear everything through the walls, there’s no fridge in the rooms, and the layout isn’t accessible especially with only one elevator. The garage of “free” gear sounds great, but everything’s snatched up early, making it more of a gimmick than an amenity. I was horrified to find out at check out that we paid a $35 amenity fee each day.. for what exactly? We were better off staying somewhere else and paying the $30 pool pass that is available to the public. What’s especially frustrating is that I now suspect the glowing reviews are heavily curated. I’ve spoken with other guests who feel the same way I do, and it’s hard not to believe that negative reviews are filtered while influencer content is paid for.

They close the pool down the first day for cleaning and the second day for a private event. They ran out of coffee at eight in the morning that is supposed to be complementary.

Wish there was more natural light to do your makeup. The lighting in the bathroom was poor. The gym at the sister hotel was below average. I was amenity fee $35 per night. No explanation for this. Also I assumed there was complimentary coffee. No. You have to pay for it. They do give you $10 for your stay but that only covers 2 small coffees. Not sure what the credit card recovery fee is for. It is in a convenient area close to everything.

Hotel was laid out odd... Little walk if you book a hotel room in the 40s. Other than that it was perfect. Small pool great bar and restaurant. Excellent service. Quiet. great location to walk for anything from food to shopping.

Great location. Beautiful hotel with nice restaurants and bar area. Was not impressed with the extra $40 per day amenities fee. With an additional $50 day for parking (self parking is $30 per day a block away).

This was our first time at the Ryder hotel. It was located very conveniently in downtown Charleston. The staff was very friendly however, when we were by the pool, the service there was somewhat spotty. Often times staff would just ignore anyone who was sitting at a table and not offer them a drink. The pool was nice to have on a hot day however, it was very murky and cloudy looking. Not sure how often they check for chemical balance. Both my husband and I felt very itchy after being in the pool I needed to shower immediately after. Our room was very clean and the bed was very comfortable. It was decorated in a very modern minimalistic motif. if you are looking to use some of their bikes, and what not, I would advise that they only have one bike and the skateboards that they offer would be very challenging around the area with the uneven sidewalks and streets. Overall, we did like our stay at the hotel and would recommend it.

Nice location with fast easy walk to restaurants. Rooms are simple and nice. Pool area was busy. Many people with day passes so not many chairs for guests from the hotel. Overall would definitely recommend.

Beautiful hotel with great staff, everyone was warm and welcoming. Had a room on the fourth floor which you have to take a second elevator which is quite a walk around the 2nd and 3rd floor, it was a pain taking all our luggage up there. Rooms have no microwave or coffee pot, the frozen iced coffee in the coffee counter is delicious though. The daily amenity fee is $40 and valet parking is about $59 which is an extra $100 a day if you think about it on top of your daily rate. I would consider staying again but not on the fourth floor.

Fun vibe. Great location. Pool area so cool. Borrowed bikes, beach chairs and a cooler!!

The first room I was in was filthy. I went to bed laid in the sheets, and they were never even changed the next room that I got had hair in the shower. The staff was wonderful, but the cleanliness was disgusting.

Cute hotel within walking distance to everything we wanted. Loved the ability to borrow items for a beach day as well! Our only complaints were the cleanliness of the floors as there was something sticky in a couple spots from the day we arrived and throughout our stay that also included hair and gum on floor that was not ours. We could also hear and feel the vibration of the spin cycle from the washers as early as 7am to as late as 10pm throughout our stay.

Lack of attention to detail. Our room was not clean as expected. Dust bunnies , lack of desk no chair. Towel racks pulling out of wall . Toilet tissue holder pulled out of wall . Body wash dispenser empty. Disappointment all the way around. JB

The room was clean, the location was great within walking distance to restaurants and attractions and the staff was friendly and helpful.

The bed didn’t even have a fitted sheet. Just a top sheet laid over the mattress. I was double charged. Slow valet. Bathroom wasn’t clean. No mini fridge. About the equivalent to a holiday inn but still not even that decent. Over priced for what you get

Very clean hotel room and bathroom. It was in a great area for exploring Charleston.

This is a great hotel, small with attention to detail. It is super-clean!!!

Great location, phenomenal staff. Only complaints is the room was a little dirty and had ants in the room from leftover food from previous stays. And the shower water didn’t get very warm….

There were 2 roaches spotted in the room. There was construction at the hotel from 8am-5pm daily which was loud & there were onstruction workers standing outside our window smoking & talking very loud. You are paying for location & the staff was friendly.

The locations is great for walking to king street, Riverfront park, and other popular locations. However, the hotel itself was pretty run down in appearance once you left the lobby. The hallways and rooms need painting, there were numbers on the wall or door room numbers that were missing or falling off, and the room itself was pretty dusty and there was mold/mildew in the shower. Positives were that the hotel restaurant, coffee shop, and bar were nice and the workers at those places were very friendly. We wouldn’t stay here again, but it was only for 3 nights and the location made it somewhat worth the drawbacks.

Was a bit disappointing. A bit shabby, yet they were doing some paint. Low ceilings in room and looking out onto a brick wall. Very cave like. That part was hard. Didnt enjoy being in the dark sad room so bummed the trip out some

The rooms are comfy and not fancy. We made the mistake of not checking up on what room we’d be in and they put us in one facing the bar/restaurant. But the kindly switched us to one facing the street, which provides light and less noise. The pool and bar and restaurant are great and nice to have a cafe there as well. Best feature is the location. Walking distance to everything and in the historic district.

Friendly welcoming staff. Beautiful property with an excellent location for everything in old city. The rooms are well appointed and lovely, quiet as well. A small refrigerator would be an excellent addition. We stay at this beautiful property whenever we are in town

It was in a great location. We had no WiFi and had to take two different elevators to get to our floor. The hotel itself was fine, but not worth the price other than the location.

Walls are paper thin- we could hear entire conversations next door and in the halls. No free breakfast or coffee, you have to eat at the restaurant. No parking, you have to valet or pay to park down the street. The room was clean and nice. Close to everything. Go eat at Hymens if you stay here, and check out the market. Very conveniently located but I would stay somewhere else if we return.

Nice place. Maid did not come and clean our room. We complained, but didn’t receive any compensation for it. Parking was $50.00 per day which is crazy price for hotel.

Very aesthetic fitness-girlie vibes, but be aware no gym at the property. (There is a yoga mat in the dusty closet.) We loved the room decor. Comfortable bed. Bathroom fixtures, shower were brand new and beautiful. There is no refrigerator or coffee maker in the room, which made it hard for our four-night stay. The property has no free coffee at all offered to guests. I did, however, learn well into my stay that we could have asked for a refrigerator AND a Keurig, but we were not informed despite staying four nights. Using an ice bucket for four days was exhausting and messy. The bartender by the pool was overwhelmed at times, so service was bit slow there. The pool area is lovely, great lively crowd. Ordered a dessert - only food we ate on property and it was amazing (chocolate flan.) We used the cruiser bikes, which are in rough shape, and quickly learned that Charleston is not a bike-friendly place with crowded sidewalks and lots of traffic. It was nice to borrow the beach chairs and beach towels for our beach day. I considered taking a cooler to our room because of no fridge, but my daughter wouldn’t let me. The sister property, Emaline, offers guests fruit and coffee, and is where we used the small gym. For the daily amenity fee we paid, front desk needs to tell guests that they can request fridge and coffee maker to the rooms. Overall aesthetic top notch, needs more substance to back it up and make it great! Btw, we LOVED Charleston and hotel is in perfect location!

No mini fridge in the room which was a pain but overall my stay was lovely. Room was clean. Property staff were friendly and helpful. My room was dark since it was facing a courtyard and the window covered in vines. Had to keep shades closed in order to maintain privacy. You can’t beat the location. Right in the middle of everything.

The property was located close to many restaurants and shopping. Clean property. However very poorly laid out for easy access if staying on the 4th. Floor. No elevator access from lobby front desk level unless you either go up stairs to second floor or take the elevator from s parking garage which is under construction.

Great adult hotel. I was traveling alone and it was perfect. There were a lot of adult couples and older family groups staying there and it is a perfect sunny retreat. My kids wouldn’t have loved the pool area, it’s for cocktails not cannonballs! I found the hallways noisy until past midnight, during the week. It’s a fun hotel - I definitely would have liked a white noise machine.

I loved the property's location, but I was disappointed with the services. The phone in the room did not work. This would not have been a problem if there had been any other way to contact the front desk, room service, maintenance, etc.

The checkin was lovely. We were provided a bev. The fee for parking is expensive, $50 so that hurts. The hallway carpet just looks really dirty. And it was a long walk to our room. Biggest issue we has was the air unit in our room. It was set on 70 and we are cool sleepers. We tried to lower the temp and it would only go down to 67. Not only that, the coolest it got down to was 69. Dirty filter, unit not working properly, I don't know. We alerted the front desk on day one in the morning and were told mechanical would be sent up. When we returned later in the day nothing had happened. We alerted the front desk again later that day and again nothing ever happened. So we gave up on the hotel addressing the issue. We will not return to this hotel. You get what you pay for.

It’s a great place because of the location and the facility is nice but when we got there, my wife asked the staff where we could grab a drink. We got there at like 1030 at night because of our flight being delayed and he said everything was closed and come to find out just by walking around the hotel we found a restaurant next-door called the Matador that was incredible with an amazing bar and food and then when we got back, we noticed there’s a pool at the writer with a poolside bar And a restaurant and he didn’t even mention that and told us it was all closed so it was very frustrating and the hotel staff was kind and and very nice, but I felt like no one went out of their way to speak to you. No one went out of their way to help you with anything or answer any questions it just felt like you stayed in your own place. I mean magically the room was clean every day. The cleaning staff was great, but as far as the engagement from the actual front desk, it was hardly none so it was just a unique place. I don’t think I would ever stay there again, but the location was fantastic, but I wouldn’t stay there again.

The front desk staff was very friendly and helpful especially Van! The room was large, clean and the mattress was very comfortable We loved the outdoor space and restaurant. Breakfast was very good and loved the atmosphere. My only suggestion is maybe another bartender during happy hour. Had to wait over 20 minutes to get a drink. The bartender was slammed and couldn't keep up.

Overall was a beautiful hotel. You could tell it is still working out service kinks.

I had a great stay at the Ryder while I was in town for a conference. The staff were very friendly and accommodating, even helping me mail a package and do a few other unexpected chores. The vibe is very instagramable, which isn't really my thing but it was still nice to be somewhere it was clear thought had been put into the aesthetic and people cared about how the hotel was presented (rather than your usual boring hotel). I didn't get a chance to use most of the ammenities, but I would definitely stay again.

We had to change rooms due to a DJ playing on Friday and Saturday nights—the music was extremely loud until 2AM, which made it hard to sleep. While the location was excellent and the staff were wonderful, the overall property was just okay.

The hotel lost power during our stay and their generators weren’t working, which left us in an 85 degree room overnight. While the power outage is out of the control of the staff, the overall handling of the situation was incredibly poor

Amazing!! Location is perfect, easy walk to shops, restaurants and other historic attractions. Pool and bar are fantastic!! Bed was super comfy, room spacious and the shower has great water pressure which can be a problem in some hotels. On site coffee shop a definite plus for me as a coffee lover. I must give a huge shout out to Chelsea at the front desk. She went above and beyond!! This girl is a gem!! Highly recommend The Ryder!!

Cute hotel with unique decor and wonderful spaces to enjoy. Great location and friendly staff.

Great atmosphere and location

Loved the location and amenities. Will definitely stay at The Ryder again!

Such a great hotel. Location is just right.

Great property and location is perfect to walk the city.

The Ryder Hotel was a fun stay for our anniversary weekend in Charleston. It's a great location, just a block or so away from Market St., and so many restaurants and shopping areas. The pool was a major attraction, as it's one of the few hotels in Charleston to feature one, and we definitely enjoyed it. The rooms were comfortable and felt new.

This hotel was absolutely perfect for our girls trip! It is in walking distance of absolutely everything. The restaurant/bar and coffee shop on site were so convenient. Would definitely stay here again.

Beautifully decorated hotel in a perfect area in downtown Charleston. Excellent restaurants just steps from the front door and all the shopping on King Street a block away. We had an excellent stay and would stay here again. No complaints.

The hotel is in the heart of Charleston and we were able to walk everywhere. The hotel rooms are so cute and beds very comfy! We loved the pool and restaurant attached to it. The coffee shop was awesome too!

Excellent location to walk to all the main attractions in Charleston.

This hotel is a great location for downtown. Centrally located and walking distance to most everything. Hotel was lovely with a boutique style and friendly staff.

Beautiful location downtown. Fun boutiques and shops. Great restaurants and bars every-which direction. The hotel itself has its own bar and restaurant. Ate the best whole fish for dinner!

We enjoyed our stay at The Ryder. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The room was very simple with a very comfy bed and pillows. The food was excellent at the restaurant and delicious drinks at the bar. I also loved having a coffee shop in the building, good and convenient. I recommend the Ryder!

I loved the property's location, but I was disappointed with the services. The phone in the room did not work. This would not have been a problem if there had been any other way to contact the front desk, room service, maintenance, etc.

Enjoyed our stay! Everyone was nice & very helpful! Many seating areas to gather with friends. Nice bar & restaurant for breakfast. Coffee bar was great! My only complaint is there needs to be more lounges & chairs around pool. Would have loved to spend some time there after shopping, but there was never any room! Overall, it was a nice, boutique style hotel!

Overall the Ryder hotel was a good option for us. Rooms were clean and good size. Pool area was cute but small. If you are driving to the beach they had chairs, towels, etc. to borrow but no sun umbrellas but overall a good selection. Location to dinning and the market shopping was walkable. Some place are a little longer walk (15 mins so it just depends on what you like). Limited onsite dinning menu (no kids meal so not for the picky eater). Room was not cleaned during our 2 night stay. No one answered when I call to get extra towels. Only parking is valet and it's $53/night (this does seem to be going rate for the area). Resort fee includes $10/night credit but it's only applied on each day so you can't do $20 one day and $0 the next (we were leaving at 5 a.m. so it wasn't really a perk). Overall a cute place with comfy beds.

Great stay. Great pool. Little palms had great food. Close to everything. High recommended

Cool little boutique spot in the heart of Charleston with a nice bit of character and vibe. Great decor and has valet parking available. The pool and bar area is awesome but a bit small. The coffee bar is a nice bonus in the front of the building with good options and not bad pricing.

Great outdoor areas and yummy coffee bar. Central location. The tuna tartar at the restaurant was AMAZING!

Great place to stay. Fun vibes all throughout the property. The pool is a little small for how popular it is. We had a great time in the "backyard" which was a great size, great seating & great music. Only downside I had was going to breakfast in the morning. They asked if we had a reservation. We did not, I've never had to make a reservation for breakfast at a hotel I've ever stayed in. Since it is popular and on the smaller side i understand but we then had to venture out in the morning looking for breakfast options and had to hurry back to make check out time. I just think this should be noted to everyone when checking in.

Really chic hotel. Cool pool with open bar. The restaurant we ate at outside because the decor is so cool but the menu is awful, they don’t offer any normal options except a double burger , we did like the food at all. Also there is food/drink service by pool but the menu once again is awful, why are there not any nice wraps, paninis, simple choices. The cafe was my go to, cold water , sodas , fresh bakery items. The rooms are very basic but chic. I wish the bathrooms would have fans gets so hot. Daily room cleaning available however I didn’t use except to get more toilet paper, I stayed here because it’s near my daughter’s college. It’s cute but the menu at restaurant needs changing.