The 11 Best Hotels in Charlotte, North Carolina
Along with Atlanta, Charlotte is one of the capitals of the New South. So it goes without saying that this is a city on an upward trajectory (maybe that’s why its downtown is called Uptown). Many have taken notice of the city's boom, and you’ll find many of the world’s leading hotel brands here. Whether your tastes run blue-blooded (Ritz-Carlton or JW Marriott), trendy (Kimpton), or all-purpose (Omni and Marriott City Center), there’s a place to lay your head and reap those coveted rewards.
Of course, visiting a new city is also an opportunity to check out its very special boutique properties: With all the new construction that's occurred of late, it’s easy to overlook Charlotte’s historic legacy—but step inside The Dunhill and it all comes flooding back. Live like a hip royal in the Queen City and hole up at The Ivey’s, where Paris panache and steampunk swank live together in haute harmony in the heart of Uptown, and don’t forget that life exists beyond the high-rises and corporate headquarters. Make your way to leafy Myers Park, where the historic Duke Mansion epitomizes Southern grace; shop and dine in style at the Renaissance in SouthPark; or head out to The Ballantyne for birdies and bliss-out spa sessions. Here are the best hotels in Charlotte for every type of taste.
Read our complete Charlotte travel guide here.
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JW Marriott CharlottehotelJW Marriott Charlotte
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Readers' Choice Awards 2023JW Marriott was a brand designed to compete with the big boys—Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton—and it delivers. The Charlotte hotel, opened in late summer 2021, is no exception. It’s sleek, refined, and service-oriented. The rooms and suites are designed to be sanctuary-like and with modern furnishings and soothing color palettes, they do indeed feel like havens of peace. All have floor-to-ceiling windows, so the view is great whether you book the standard or the Presidential suite. The spa rivals The Ritz-Carlton’s in Uptown with a comprehensive an outdoor pool complete with poolside cabanas (by reservation), along with and small plates and beverage service from Aura. Indoors, the spa is a temple of serenity with five treatment rooms and a comprehensive menu of relaxing and beautifying services.
Mark O'Tyson/Courtesy Omni Charlotte HotelhotelOmni Charlotte Hotel
$It's hard not to feel like the center of Charlotte's universe when you're staying at the Omni. The location alone is incredible: in the heart of Uptown and connected to major headquarters by skybridge (so your hair won't fall frizz on the way to meetings in Truist Tower or Bank of America building). As for the hotel itself, it's energetic and buzzing in its own right. As for the hotel itself, it's energetic and buzzing in its own right.
Courtesy Kimpton Tryon Park HotelhotelKimpton Tryon Park Hotel
$$Kimpton properties are known for their pizzazz, and Charlotte's Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel is no exception. It's fashion-forward but never in-your-face; jazzy, but not over-the-top. The rooms and suites sport a fresh, modern look with boldly patterned carpets, chrome-accented furnishings, and upholstered headboards. The sleek marble bathrooms complete the polished, yet nontraditional look. In addition to in-room spa services and a yoga deck, the hotel's fitness center has all the equipment you'd need.
Rick LewhotelCharlotte Marriott City Center
$At the end of a long day, sometimes all you want is to come back to a hotel that isn’t competing with the to-do list in your head. You want sleek and modern but not a hipster haven. You want services and amenities without a dog and pony show. For times like these, stay at the Marriott City Center. It’s a classic Marriott in every way. Dark wood floors, clean lines, and a soothing color palette lend a contemporary, Asian-inflected design to the rooms and suites. The outlets here are highly stylized (think a chef’s table at Stoke and a cool coffee bar, plus a lounge that doubles as a working space) so if you’re feeling like staying right here, there are options. Still, with some of the city’s best restaurants within walking distance, venture beyond.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
The Dunhill HotelhotelThe Dunhill Hotel
$In a city with never-ending new construction, The Dunhill flaunts its landmark status and rich history. Step inside an intimate lobby, where yellow walls and traditional furnishings lend an inviting warmth. In contrast, the guest rooms have a bolder personality with natty statement walls and colorful contemporary artwork.
Courtesy The Duke MansionhotelThe Duke Mansion
$$Tucked away in leafy Myers Park, The Duke Mansion is the epitome of Southern elegance. Leave your keys with the valet and suddenly you'll notice you’re standing just a little bit straighter. After all, right before you is the former private home of the Duke family. If you took impeccable Southern manners, mixed in a genuine desire to delight, and added a clear sense of pride in the property, you'd have the Duke Mansion staff.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Brandon BarrehotelGrand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte, Autograph Collection
$$It’s smack dab in Uptown, but step inside the Grand Bohemian and you’ll feel more like you’re in Miami or South America than buttoned up Charlotte. It’s the epitome of unexpected, with a design aesthetic that’s joie de vivre mixed with a sexy spirit. Bold colors and dazzling accents define the look. Business travelers who don’t want to forsake flair frequent this hotel, along with leisure travelers looking for more of a scene. But while it may have a boutique hotel look and feel, it’s decidedly a Marriott when it comes to service. Expect all of the niceties, with an added bonus: a partnership with BMW means you can be shuttled about town in an X7. (no reservations required; offered on a complimentary basis.)
Courtesy The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection, CharlottehotelThe Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021If you want all the trappings of a resort, yet don't really want to leave the city, The Ballantyne delivers the best of both worlds. If you took a gentleman's library and married it with a little Hollywood Regency glamour, you'd have the rooms and suites here. The hotel is swanky sophistication in a very polished and restrained way. Tufted headboards and brass accents lean traditional while a few pops of color punch up the primarily gray palette.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
hotelThe Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
$$$The parade of Rolls-Royces, Teslas, and Range Rovers lining the semicircular driveway is the first sign that you've entered a rarefied world. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, is indeed the granddaddy of luxury hotels in the area. It has all the bells and whistles you might expect, like a renowned cocktail bar and some you might not, like a bilevel spa with a pink Himalayan salt room.
Courtesy The Ivey's HotelhotelThe Ivey's Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020There's nothing staid or traditional about The Ivey's, a boutique hotel with stylish decor not found anywhere else in Charlotte. Even check-in strays from the norm: Settle in to a teal velvet chair as you're welcomed into this appealing home-away-from-home. Rooms have a plush Paris-meets-New Orleans vibe, and the location can't be beat: it's directly across from the Blumenthal Center and within walking distance of everything else in Uptown.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
Courtesy Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark HotelhotelRenaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel
$Charlotte's quiet, impressive Renaissance is located in SouthPark, a neighborhood known for its high-end shopping and top restaurants. While the area has a definite buzz, it doesn't ever seem frenetic—even the atrium fountain in the lobby sets a soothing tone. These are classic Marriott-owned hotel rooms with thoughtful technology and nice amenities. The design plays it safe to appeal to the corporate crowd, but it has just enough contemporary punch to veer away from boring.
