Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District

We arrived around 9:00 at night and the check in clerk says their valet parking is full so I will have to find my own parking. A Friday night, in Charleston, in town.... I said well that is something you should let people know ahead of time, that your "free parking" may not be available. She hands me a preprinted card with parking garage name and address, so apparently this is common. I asked if they would validate the charges she said nope and sent me on my way.

We are so grateful we stayed at Embassy suites. The room was spacious - highly recommend getting one with a window. It’s conveniently located in the middle of everything. The Charleston Museum is a block away, the farmers market and any free concerts or festivals are in its backyard. A lot of the local shops (independent bookstore, record store to name a couple that we checked out) a couple of blocks away. All of the other main sights/attractions are a 10-15minute walk. The hotels breakfast is such a value. Fresh fruits, made to order omelets(or eggs cooked to order), coffee, juice, all the sides or extras you could want. They have an evening reception with light snacks and 2 alcoholic beverages between 5-7. We only made it to that once and it was a welcomed perk. All the staff, extremely pleasant and helpful - when we checked out we had one last thing to do and the front desk offered to hold our bags for us! The man who made the omelets made sure he understood your order and was a master of that grill. Just be aware parking can be an issue. They have valet parking for $48/night but if it’s full you’re left to figure out a solution on your own. Luckily it became open for us and we just left the car there the entire stay since the weather was beautiful and we were able to walk. We would definitely stay here again on another trip to Charleston.

Clean room but very outdated For instance, if wall was repaired it was not painted over, no full length mirror, little attention to detail. Breakfast was not good at all. Outdated hotel for a very pricey nightly fee. Ridiculous that we had to pay almost $50 per night to park. Would not come back to stay nor recommend to others

Pool was closed as well as fitness center. Hotel great location just needed updates

The pool was not opened and we were never notified beforehand

There was a parking problem - vallet parking service was full.

Fantastic staff. One of the elevators was not working.

We were expecting to have a restaurant and bar in the hotel. This was not the case

It’s initially pretty when you walk in. There was a $100 extra charge once we got there that I wasn’t aware of. No parking for the hotel is a big negative. They offered valet parking for $48 a day with very limited parking and isn’t always available. You have to pay to park close by at a city parking lot. Pool closed so early we didn’t get in it. When I closed the bathroom door in the hotel room I swear I seen the wallpaper moved on the back wall like a wave. There was huge cracks up the wall in the room. I do not see us going back there. It had potential, but that potential was not met. If I could get a refund I would.

Having stayed at an Embassy Suites property before, we were expecting a well kept hotel of good quality. This property has certainly been neglected by the brand. The interior shows signs of age. Our room had no windows - at all. We were not made aware at booking that this would be the case. The room was clean but showed signs of it’s age. Knicks on the furniture and bad repair job on the paint. We lost power the first night and there was no communication from the hotel about the issue. The pool was in disrepair- cracked and missing grout. The bartender at the nightly reception was great but did not have enough glasses to serve wine in - had to serve in a plastic cup. Very disappointed overall and will not stay here again

Dirty and mold

Great location and cool to know this hotel was the site of the original Citadel. Nice perks such as the free breakfast (it was good) and the evening cocktail hour. The room needed some love though. Felt damp and the wallpaper was coming off of the walls in the bathroom. Also, there was no window in our room so it felt extra dark and claustrophobic at times.

Very dated. Furniture dilapidated. Low water pressure. Nasty carpet.

This embassy suites is in significant poor shape. Not clean, gross carpet, in disrepair. But Good location. Nice staff. Complimentary water. Good breakfast. I would never stay here again.

There is mold! The building is old, and mold has crept in. I had to be moved three times before I realized the mold was throughout the building. The second room had yellow stains on the wallpaper in the bathroom, which was also coming away from the wall, and flickering lights. The last room had mold around the bathtub fixture and soap tray. I will select a newer property if I ever return to Charleston. The staff was kind and courteous. The breakfast selection was nice, and the made-to-order omelet is the Embassy Suite's draw. Plus, the evening cocktails. The hotel needs a complete renovation and a deep cleaning.

Beautiful historic building with so much potential to be something great. Sadly, it's very dirty, carpets are stained, walls have mold and tub would not drain even after we requested maintenance. Final straw was finding 3 live German cockroaches on our last night. Needless to say we checked out 2:30 am because the room was clearly infested. Disgusting!

This property is not what is expected of embassy suites. Old dirty stain carpeting. Furnishings that are badly worn, scratches, basically falling apart. I did not take my shoes off the entire time I was there. When I complained the management admitted that the hotel was old and not updated. Stating that they have had multiple complaints about this property. I would only compare this to the bottom of the barrel economy hotel. Even some of those were better than this. Do not stay here!!

Our room was gross. Dirty carpet,paint peeling off a furniture and the doors in the bathroom. The bathtub had mold and rust in different areas. The curtain was torn off the rod, and if you looked up and in the corners of the room, it looked like there was mold growing. I also ordered a room that cost extra to have your snacks and water refilled every day. They never did. I went down to the desk. They apologized and said they’ll be sure that it would be done. the next day it never happened. The staff is very nice, but that embassy suites needs a big renovation!

Im going to be honest. This is the probably the worst hotel I have ever stayed in, for sure the worst embassy suites I have ever stayed in. The locations was perfect and close to downtown And the staff were very nice- the only good things. However the room conditions were awful. Chunks of drywall missing, the furniture was beat and chipped to hell. The couch looked like it was from goodwill and there was no way anyone was sleeping on it. The bathroom was gringy. You could feel the mattress springs. The breakfast buffet was subpar compared to other embassy break buffets, which is a reason i like embassy suites. The omlettes were good but everything else on the self serve bar was ick. This hotel was very dated and old and in need of a major reno and update, esp for being in such a prime location. We were very disappointed and actually ended up checking out a day early.

Room was clean, staff was friendly and helpful.

The location is wonderful, and the layout of the room worked well for our group.

The hotel is in a good location with restaurants nearby and shopping, but the hotel seemed dark and a little gloomy to me. The rooms are spacious which is nice but with a bedroom and a living area there is only one small window so it feels a bit dark.

Although some of the furnishings could use a refresh, the property was clean and neat. The staff was very accommodating. Everyone was friendly and seemed genuinely happy to serve you.

From the moment we walk in the door was welcome a large and I mean large arrangetof fresh flowers. The building itself was lovely cozy warm decorated beautifully. Rooms were large and spacious and in the heart of the histrionic district

While the property is a little bit dated, it is so well located and the rooms spacious. We enjoyed the extra space i suite for our 3 day adventure in Charleston. Breakfast was great!

Overall, great location. Room was dated and had no windows. Expensive valet parking.

The location is good for restaurants, stores and some attractions. The room itself needed some improvements.

Loud noise with very thin walls! Also, How can you only have one bartender and cook on Fourth of July weekend? This hotel is understaffed and it was built in 1780’s so keep in mind when booking. Though I have to say is phenomenal and is very close to King Street, which is why I gave it a four star

Pros and Cons Pros The hotel is the former Citadel Military College from the 1800s. Lobby and Atrium is lovely. Good location. Walkable to many of the sites and restaurants. Good Water pressure in shower. Staff is friendly enough. Happy hour w/ 2 free drinks and light snacks. Breakfast included. Has a pool and patio. Cons The hotel is the former Citadel Military College from the 1800s. No windows in the rooms. Room was very worn. Stuffy. No vent in bathroom. Broken handles on nightstand. Sagging shower rod making the curtain not stay in place. Lighting and decor was awful. Felt like a badly decorated prison. Sheets and pillows were uncomfortable. Room temperature was too warm. Couldn't get it cooler. Unlike other Embassy Suites, the bar was only open for the 2 hour happy hour window. Felt awkward. Zero energy. No music. Just weird. Again, unlike other Embassy Suites, breakfast was just average. Parking is expensive. Valet only. But probably is expensive at every hotel in downtown Charleston. Will book a different hotel next time in Charleston.

Room facing the park was quiet from street noise, but one small window so not a lot of natural light. A/C unit was blessedly quiet. None of the rooms have openable windows. Linens were nicely scent-free. Nightlight in the bathroom was a nice little thing. carpet was worn, etc., but bed was comfy (with a light, not crazy-heavy duvet for summer, thx!).

Great location, fabulous staff!

Incredible historic hotel with top notch staff. We were greeting with sincere service. The Valet and personnel at the check-in area were fabulous. The bartender at the welcome reception was awesome. We loved the location and easy access to King's Street. Great Job on hiring people who know how to make a guest's stay incredible. Well Done!! MJ

Front desk staff not friendly. Room furnishings extremely dirty and dilapidated. Sitting area cloth chair soiled and torn. Couch cushions disgusting. Places a sheet over seats to be able to sit on them Wallpaper peeling. Bed sagged in middle. Do not disturb sign placed on outside of room so as to not be disturbed. House keeper knocked on door the first morning stay. The second morning didn’t announce herself just knocked quietly and opened door Despite the do not disturb sign hanging on doorknob

We are from Charleston and stayed here for sentimental reasons. We ended up moving to stay across the street after one night. Yes the hotel is older, yes its a little grimy, BUT it was the staff that made us move. The manager and the majority of the staff was unfriendly. They didn't greet us at all or even acknowledge our presence. Isn't this the hospitality business? The only people that were friendly were the kitchen staff. Charleston has a lot to offer and to me it seems that ES is just doing enough to make money and not doing enough to make people want to come back.

Staff were all great, very helpful. Great breakfast and complimentary drinks in the evening. Great atmosphere overall. Conveniently located as well. Walking distance to many restaurants.

We arrived in the middle of the night and staff was attentive and helpful. They were able to accommodate a room change (double bed instead of a king) at no charge. The valet was very kind, and the breakfast manager was very engaging with all guests (he even called my father “young man” which we loved!). Service was great.

Very interesting building. The usual happy hour and cooked to order breakfast was better than usual. Excellent pours at the bar. I've slept in more comfortable hotel beds but it was adequate. But I have to say that what stands out most was the excellent staff. I don't recall a hotel stay where the staff was as friendly, helpful and accommodating as the staff at this property. Truly remarkable from top to bottom. The location is very good and the valet was quick. I will look to stay at this property when I return and I highly recommend it for value, staff and the happy hour

This hotel is very comfortable, room was clean, and very quiet. Staff super nice

During check-in, the lady at the front desk was very rude. We received no assistance with our luggage. While the room was clean, it was in terrible condition. There was mold on the bathroom ceiling, and one of the sofas was ripped. The sleeper sofa was extremely thin and uncomfortable. I would not recommend this place—definitely not worth the price.

It is a beautifully restored historic building with a great location near Kings Street. The complimentary evening drinks and snacks were a great treat after a long day of sightseeing and walking back to the hotel. The locks and some tech still needs to be updated and we had to wait outside our room for at least 45 minutes till it got fixed by a technician. The only surprisingly rude experience was an encounter with Erika on the front desk - may not have remembered the name right. We wanted to confirm the route to Sullivan’s island beach and understand the best way to enter it. She was not quite nice in her response and ultimately the concierge guided us better.

Great location, fabulous staff!

The location is convenient and is the site of the old Citadel Military College. The building has been beautifully restored and maintained. Staff was courteous and knowledgeable.

Great location! Close to shopping and dining!

This hotel was the previous citadel. We visited during December and the park next door was lit up each evening and during the day had a couple events. King street is behind the hotel, just a diagonal walk across the park. We took uber to the market, carriage ride starting point, and the waterfront. Cheap ubers, and centrally located without breaking the bank! I'd stay here again.

Fantastic view of Marion Square and Charleston’s historic skyline! Quiet, large, well-appointed room had everything we needed for a 5 night stay. The historic hotel has a wonderful, airy atrium and design. There is a free full breakfast on the 1st floor to conveniently start your day. Finally, you cannot find a better location than this Embassy Suites in the historic district of Charleston. You’re able to walk or Lyft/Uber to many of the finest and most charming restaurants, shops, museums, historical cemeteries, churches, neighborhoods, and gardens from this hotel. Highly recommend. Great value.

Great hotel. Great location.

Staff were all great, very helpful. Great breakfast and complimentary drinks in the evening. Great atmosphere overall. Conveniently located as well. Walking distance to many restaurants.

Very nice hotel just in the center of Charleston. Super clise to the King Street where all the shops and restaurants are located.

Great location!

Very comfortable. Wonderful staff. Great restaurants within walking distance. Walked to the Aquariam and Ft Sumpter ferry in 15 minutes. King Street is just 2 blocks away.

Breakfast is good.

Great price for the location but in desperate need of renovation. Enjoyed the free drinks, but the breakfast was inedible.

Good breakfast.

Staff were all great, very helpful. Great breakfast and complimentary drinks in the evening. Great atmosphere overall. Conveniently located as well. Walking distance to many restaurants.

Very conveniently located to all the shopping and dining options along King street and Meeting street. The complimentary breakfast and happy hour definitely saved us a lot of money during our stay. While the facilities (fitness center, carpeting, laundry, etc.) did show their age and could stand to be updated, our stay was very pleasant. We definitely plan on staying at an embassy suites again, whenever possible.

We were disappointed in the "Evening Reception" that was so widely promoted. It started at 5:30, we got there at 5:40 and the fruit and more than half the veggie tray was gone. It was not replenished. The bar ran out of wine, tonic and orange juice.

I loved the free breakfast and cocktail hour in the evening. Great value for what we got.

This is a very comfortable place if you want a two room suite so one person can get up earlier than the other. The breakfast service is very convenient and the omelette cook makes wonderful omelettes. For the first few days, they close the outdoor patio because of construction in the driveway. It’s nice to be able to eat outside. The pool and the area around the pool are pleasant.

Property is run down. Needs major remodeling. Breakfast is one of the worst. Eggs cold, bacon over cooked and greasy! The weather outside was cold which meant the facility was cold and hot depending on where you were! I am surprised Hilton would allow the place to be open!

Great stay! The evening happy hour and MTO omelettes were a super nice amenity!