
The Francis Marion Hotel
Best for weddings, conferences, and travelers who want a historic landmark with ballrooms and a full-service boutique spa.
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The Francis Marion Hotel is a large historic 4-star landmark on King Street facing Marion Square; read this if you want a classic downtown Charleston hotel with event space and an on-site spa. Hotel Bella Grace is a smaller 4-star boutique in Charleston’s historic district; read this if you prefer a compact, central boutique property within easy walking distance of downtown attractions.
Updated · about 0.1 km apart

Best for weddings, conferences, and travelers who want a historic landmark with ballrooms and a full-service boutique spa.

Best for travelers who want a smaller boutique hotel in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, within short walking distance of Marion Square, the College of Charleston and downtown attractions.
When The Francis Marion Hotel wins: choose it for large events or weddings, a full-service on-site spa, and if you want a landmark hotel with more rooms and formal ballrooms overlooking Marion Square.
When Hotel Bella Grace wins: choose it for a smaller boutique stay in the historic district with a compact set of modern amenities and proximity to the Gaillard Center, College of Charleston, and waterfront attractions.
Bottom line: both are central Charleston options—The Francis Marion is the grand, larger, event-focused landmark with a spa; Bella Grace is the quieter boutique alternative with fewer rooms and a tighter downtown footprint.
| Category | The Francis Marion Hotel | Hotel Bella Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic landmark, larger-scale hotel with grand ballrooms and traditional public spaces | Smaller boutique hotel with more intimate, modern boutique character |
| Location | Corner of King & Calhoun Streets, directly across Marion Square (downtown) | 117 Calhoun Street in Charleston Historic District, a short walk to Marion Square and Gaillard Center |
| Size (rooms) | Roughly 235 rooms (12-story historic hotel) | 50 air-conditioned rooms |
| Check-in minimum age | Lead guest minimum check-in age listed as 18 on third-party sources | 21 years (property listing) |
| Pools | No on-site swimming pool or hot tub | |
| Restaurants & bars | The Swamp Fox Restaurant & Bar (Southern/Lowcountry) plus on-site Starbucks | Delaney House Oyster Bar (on-site) and 1 bar/lounge |
| Spa & wellness | The Spa of Charleston (on-site boutique spa; 2 treatment rooms) | Not published |
| Fitness | 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes and strength equipment | 24-hour fitness facilities and wheelchair-accessible fitness center |
| Event space | Extensive—multiple ballrooms and ~18,000 sq ft of meeting/event space (wedding capacities up to several hundred) | 2 meeting rooms / banquet hall suitable for smaller events |
| Accessibility & family policy | Family-friendly; wheelchair-accessible rooms and facilities | |
The Francis Marion sits at King & Calhoun Streets directly across Marion Square — a downtown landmark address.
Choose the Francis Marion for a classic downtown address and immediate access to Marion Square and King Street shopping.
Hotel Bella Grace is on Calhoun Street in the Charleston Historic District, within easy walking distance of the Gaillard Center and College of Charleston.
Pick Bella Grace for a compact boutique location ideal for sightseeing in the historic district.
The Francis Marion is a larger historic hotel with a mix of traditional rooms and suites.
Good choice when you want a range of room types in a larger, historic downtown property.
Hotel Bella Grace has about 50 air-conditioned rooms in various king, queen and suite configurations.
Expect a smaller collection of modern boutique rooms with several suite options and explicit accessibility offerings.
The Francis Marion’s on-site dining centers on Southern/Lowcountry cuisine.
Choose the Francis Marion if you want a traditional downtown hotel restaurant with Southern cooking and an on-site coffee shop.
Hotel Bella Grace provides an on-site oyster bar and a single bar/lounge.
Bella Grace fits travelers who prefer a compact in-house dining option and easy walking access to Charleston’s restaurants.
The Francis Marion does not have an on-site swimming pool or hot tub.
If an on-site pool is a must, neither hotel fits; both expect guests to arrange off-site beach or pool access.
Hotel Bella Grace’s supplier listing does not include a pool among amenities.
Hotel Bella Grace similarly does not offer an on-site pool; waterfront visits are separate outings.
The Francis Marion offers an on-site boutique spa and a 24/7 fitness center.
The Francis Marion is stronger for in-house wellness with a dedicated spa and 24/7 fitness access.
Hotel Bella Grace lists 24-hour fitness facilities but does not publish an on-site spa.
Bella Grace provides fitness and a compact evening bar scene; for spa treatments, check local providers or verify with the hotel.

The Francis Marion — multiple large ballrooms and roughly 18,000 sq ft of event space make it the clear choice for bigger weddings or conferences.

Hotel Bella Grace — smaller, boutique scale and a central historic-district address for guests who prefer an intimate hotel footprint.

The Francis Marion — The Spa of Charleston offers dedicated treatment rooms and a menu of signature Lowcountry services.

Hotel Bella Grace — explicit listing of multiple hearing- and mobility-accessible room types and paths.
Both are within a very short walk; The Francis Marion sits across Marion Square, and Hotel Bella Grace is only about a block away on Calhoun Street.
No — neither property lists an on-site swimming pool or hot tub. Plan beach or pool outings separately.
The Francis Marion has The Spa of Charleston on-site. Hotel Bella Grace does not publish an on-site spa in the supplier listing.
The Francis Marion is marketed as family-friendly. Hotel Bella Grace welcomes all guests but lists a minimum check-in age of 21 for the lead guest.
Explore how The Francis Marion Hotel stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·