The Zero George Street in Charleston

One of my 2016 New Years resolutions was to travel more domestically. Going abroad hasn’t taken a backseat at all but I have probably seen more of Europe than I have of the States and I’m trying to remedy that.

First on my to-do list, Charleston. I used to go to Hilton Head, South Carolina when I was a kid but I barely remember leaving the resort we stayed. Don’t get me wrong, I have very fond memories of those vacations but I wouldn’t have said: “Oh, I’ve been to South Carolina.” Until February 2016.

Charleston was kind of a spontaneous decision. Jetblue kept emailing me flight sales, and I got annoyed, so I bought a flight to Charleston. You win, Jetblue. You win. (I mean, let’s be honest, I didn’t really lose. Neither did my sister, Lindsey, because she joined me on this getaway.)

Next up on the trip planning to do list was to book the hotel. If you read my Iceland post, then you got a little insight into my crazy travel brain. Basically, I stalked all rooming options in Charleston until I found the PERFECT hotel, the Zero George Street.

The Zero George Street grounds are centered around a lovely brick courtyard with garden terraces. The first thing you see when the cab drops you off is a gorgeous brick wall and a couple turquoise beach cruisers. I’m already in heaven. For the record, I definitely took at least 50 pictures of the brick wall and bikes.

The door to reception is at the base of a beautiful staircase that leads up to a massive porch that just calls your name and begs you to lounge and drink cocktails all day.

Once you step inside to check in, you’ll notice a fully restored 19th century kitchen in addition to the reception desk. Hard to miss, this area is referred to as the “heart” of Zero George. From check in to meal prep to cooking classes, this is where is all goes down. File this under things I love about the Zero George.

While we’re on the topic of food, the Zero George is 1000% a foodie hotel. (No really, it is.) Not only do they have an amazing restaurant, the Zero Bar + Cafe, but they also offer a delicious European breakfast buffet, as well as a wine and cheese happy hour. Both free for guests. Not going to lie, Linds and I looked forward to the breakfast AND the happy hour every single day during our stay. For foodies in a foodie town, that’s saying a lot.

My go-to for breakfast was the ham biscuits. OH-EM-GEE. I’m actually surprised that I’m able to continue on with my life without these on the regular basis. Pair it with a hard-boiled egg, and I think we have a pretty well-balanced meal on our hands.

As a guest, you pretty much have the run of the place. You can take your breakfast in the dining room, the lounge, the terrace or even back to your hotel room. (FYI, I’m saving the room for last. Because heaven.) I loved the dining room and lounge areas. It was a little too cold in February to eat outside but I imagine the porch and terrace are also divine dining options. The dining room was casual and well styled. For dinner, the Zero George added white tablecloths, which updated the space just enough for the more formal meal time.

Once you’ve had your fill of the main house, which, believe me, is hard to do, your room will be in one of five different houses. Linds and I booked the Garden Suite. Of the five houses, it’s the “budget” option, but it’s by no means budget if you know what I’m saying. I would actually go as far as saying this was the nicest, most comfortable hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. EVER.

The Garden Suite is housed in the original carriage house. It has a private entrance up a short flight of stairs, and it overlooks a charming oyster shell courtyard with sitting area.

The minute I stepped into the room, I knew I was going to have a great trip. I could be staying in the best hotel in the world but if I’m not comfortable in my room, I’m not happy. Not the case at the Zero George.

When you enter the suite, the bedroom is to the left and the sitting room is to the right. The sitting room is super cozy and perfect for lounging in the am with a cup of coffee. Linds and I loved planning our day while curled up on the couches and chairs. While the sitting area and bedroom are separate, they flow nicely so no one ever feels cutoff from one another.

The last, but certainly not least, the bedroom. The pillows and bed were so comfortable. This is important. Very important. I know I have a lot of definitive statements in this post but this might have been one of the best hotel sleeps I’ve had. All of the amenities were wonderful – from the bathroom to the Malin + Goetz products to the walk-in closet. Even the turndown service is thoughtful. A bottle of water, a sweet treat, and earplugs! To my fellow bourbon and smoked meat lovers, this is priceless at the end of the night.

The best way to sum up my Garden Suite experience would be to quote the best hotel guest ever, Kevin McAllister “the room was luxurious and spacious”.

I love this hotel so much. The staff is incredibly thoughtful and every detail is considered. I highly suggest treating yourself to a stay at the Zero George Street.

I can’t wait to visit the Zero George Street again! See you soon Charleston!