Historic Charleston occupies a peninsula that juts into Charleston harbor where, as provincial lore goes, the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet to form the Atlantic Ocean. Charlestonians have good reasons to have such an inflated opinion of their city. Perennially ranked by surveys conducted by leading travel and lifestyle media as one of the top four US destinations alongside New Orleans, San Francisco, and New York City, Charleston is a regional cultural center and has an enviable quality of life created by a blend of good climate, natural beauty, important architecture, and a sophisticated community around which a vibrant dining scene, shopping, and other lifestyle businesses have developed to serve both locals and visitors alike. The Society House is located quite literally in the very center of all of this.

Home to the first US naval victory of the American Revolution, the first shot fired in the American Civil War, the first submarine used in warfare, the first passenger rail service, the first public lending library…and the list of firsts goes on. The dazzling beauty of the city’s architecture is reason enough to visit, but add to that the importance of Charleston’s role in the history of the United States and how many of those sites are intact and can be visited today, and this destination is literally of “the first order.”

The Society House’s location at King and Society Streets places it among a terrific variety of merchants including but not limited to antique shops, art galleries, bookstores, coffee shops, clothing stores, shoe stores, home design accessory shops, jewelry stores, and bath & beauty stores. Recently named one of the country's ten best shopping streets by US News & World Report (click here for a complete list), King Street is home to local merchant families that have had a business on King Street for well over a century in continuous operation and in the same building alongside world-recognized brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Lacoste, and many more.

With more James Beard Award nominated chefs than any US city other than New York, you can be assured of a good meal in this highly epicurean town. The “locavore” and “farm-to-table” movement has been important in perpetuating and evolving the indigenous culinary traditions that trace their roots back to the original settlers from Western Europe and Northwest Africa as well as some influence from the Caribbean. Whether upscale or down-home, there is likely to be a restaurant to suit any palette. A fine glass of wine, artisanal brews, and creative cocktails flow freely in the lounges, bars, and pubs – and you can have that second or third round with no worries since your luxury suite at the Society House is just around the corner.