Market Pavilion Hotel

The Market Pavilion Hotel offers something unique in the lineup of luxury hotels in the Historic District of Charleston. Located on arguably the best real estate in Charleston, The Market Pavilion smacks of old world charm. The style of this hotel speaks of the finer things in life; from sidewalk with its smartly uniformed doormen to the rooftop bar and pool, this hotel exudes luxury. While there are a multitude of top-drawer luxury hotels in the Historic District, The Market Pavilion has only been in existence since 2002 and therefore has never been confronted with the limitations of updating and renovating an older building. Everything in the hotel has been designed with old Charleston touches and has the advantage of being fresh, crisp and new: the high, hand crafted decorative plaster ceilings created in the old-time waffle pocket style, oil painting originals, and enormous fresh cut flower arrangements tastefully contrasting the splendid wood paneling of the lobby. So guests enjoy the ambiance of yesteryear and they contend with none of its shortcomings or drawbacks. There is no compromise at the Market Pavilion, in service, space, amenities or accommodations. Their motto: "Your wish is our command."

    

The lobby itself is unique in that it is a steakhouse, Grille 225, serving USDA prime for lunch and dinner in thoughtfully arranged old style, high backed booths under a mock rotunda ceiling adorned with a tortoise shell like half moon chandelier which casts subdued lighting on the dining room that calls to mind big business deals, long ladies luncheons or afternoon trysts. The sense of solid richness continues with choice antiques, overstuffed chairs, a gleaming hand polished wooden bar, backed by a floor to ceiling wall of wine, which boasts a world-class selection of vintners. Across from a gigantic antique breakfront displaying historical artifacts resulting from the very dig initiated by the construction of the hotel, one will find the front desk. From here, one will have a view of the lavishly wide corridor dressed in plush carpeting and lit with beautiful crystal accent chandeliers. Also, in this area is the concierge desk, operated by knowledgeable staff available to assist in anyway possible.

The guestrooms on the secured upper levels of the four-floored hotel are every bit as lovely as the lobby promises. Each welcomes guests to their privacy with a doorbell at the door indicating that while one guests at the Market Pavilion, he or she is completely at home. The ceilings and artwork are just as lavish in the rooms as in the lobby. Poster beds and posh, plump seating, mahogany furniture accented with marble tops create an attitude of absolute comfort and the Italian linen sheets with cashmere blankets and deluxe bedding insure the comfort in tasteful and sumptuous style. Telephone accommodations are created so that guests can arrange for a direct outside line to their room, as well as T-3 broadband Internet access with the ability to create private networks from room to room and to the meeting rooms if desired. Baths in each guestroom also have a phone and are extravagantly outfitted with separate shower and tub, gilded gold mirror flanked by Lennox wall sconces, lighted make-up mirror, scale, and a hairdryer located in the vanity drawer. Every guest is pampered with plush robes, slippers, towels and upscale Hermes toiletries. Luxury Guestrooms offer sideboard pastries served on each floor in the mornings.

Suites are as generously outfitted as the luxury guestrooms and more. The Terrace Suite, Corner King Suites and the Presidential Suite each offer an opulent décor with a separate sitting area and bedroom space. Each suite has its own unique view of either East Bay and Market Streets, or the waterfront and the Market Exchange Building. These are, of course concierge level guestrooms. Concierge Guestrooms offer private access for Luxury Level Floors and also offers a parlor with an extensive morning breakfast, afternoon English tea and evening hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine. Room service is available for all guest rooms for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Meeting, banquet and boardroom space is available at the Market Pavilion, done in the same elegant style as the rest of the offerings here. The Constantine Boardroom has a 10' high ceiling and comfortably seats 14 around an enormous board table with fine inlay and leather seated chairs. Silk jacquard wall panels grace the room, as does the crystal chandelier instilling confidence that any meeting that takes place here will result in absolute success. Discreetly stored behind a beautifully framed piece of wildlife art, the Constantine Boardroom is equipped with wireless Internet and a wall mounted Plasma flat screen for impressive presentations. The Jasmine Ballrooms, North and South, are also impressive in presentation with 20' high decorative ceilings, silk jacquard panels in pleasingly neutral tones, lush carpeting and crystal chandeliers. These rooms are arranged for convenience so that one large room may accommodate up to 100-seated guests or 115 for a cocktail reception or they may be broken down to accommodate up to 3 smaller groups. Of course audio/visual equipment is available if necessary for presentations or banquet round tables with full linens and fine table accoutrement with full bar service is also available for an elegant gala or gathering.

To top things off, literally, whether staying at the Market Pavilion for business or pleasure, the Pavilion Bar on the roof of the hotel is voted one of the best of its kind in the country. Offering panoramic views of the bay and the steepled cityscape, this bar is open year round. As with all else at the Market Pavilion, guests are amply accommodated in the cooler winter months with protective windbreaks and strategically placed heaters so they may continue to enjoy the rooftop's casual gourmet cuisine, ambiance and views in continued comfort. The summer months offer a daytime family type atmosphere at the Pavilion Bar where children and all are welcome to take a dip in the rooftop pool (lounge chairs reserved for hotel guests) or just watch as the pool entertains with changing fiber optic colors. Water jets send graceful arcs of water across the pool in a symphony of color. Nights turn sultry as the bar becomes a hotspot for the beautiful people to see and be seen.

The prime location, accommodating service, the opulence and elegance of every corner of the hotel, the absolute top quality in accoutrement and the attention to minute details in comfort make the Market Pavilion a pleasure for guests. All guests, whether in for cocktails on the roof or a USDA prime steak for dinner or overnight in a Luxury Guestroom, The Market Pavilion earns a well-deserved 5 diamonds.