
The Francis Marion Hotel
Best for travelers who want a landmark downtown hotel with large event spaces, classic ballrooms, and a central Marion Square address.
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The Francis Marion Hotel is a 4-star historic landmark on King Street with classic ballrooms and a traditional downtown hotel experience; read this if you want a central, historic Charleston stay with event space and a full-service downtown hotel. The Restoration is a 4-star upscale boutique property with residential-style suites and a contemporary, apartment-like feel; read this if you prefer suite layouts and a boutique, modern stay in Charleston’s Historic District.
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Best for travelers who want a landmark downtown hotel with large event spaces, classic ballrooms, and a central Marion Square address.

Best for guests seeking residential-style suites (studio through two-bedroom residences) and a contemporary boutique stay close to the City Market and College of Charleston.
When The Francis Marion Hotel wins: choose the Francis Marion for wedding or conference needs, historic character, and a classic downtown hotel with multiple ballrooms and on-site Swamp Fox dining.
When The Restoration wins: pick The Restoration if you want suite-style or residence layouts, a smaller boutique footprint, an outdoor pool and rooftop terrace, and a more contemporary apartment-like room experience.
Bottom line: both put you in Charleston’s historic core; pick the Francis Marion for traditional hotel services, event space, and Marion Square views, or choose The Restoration for residential suites and a boutique, suite-oriented stay.
| Category | The Francis Marion Hotel | The Restoration |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Historic, full-service downtown hotel with classic ballrooms and traditional guest rooms | Upscale boutique with residential-style suites and a modern apartment feel |
| Location | Corner of King & Calhoun Streets, across from Marion Square in downtown Charleston | 75 Wentworth Street in Charleston Historic District, steps from College of Charleston and City Market |
| Size | About 235 rooms across 12 stories; sizable meeting/event footprint | 54 guestrooms/residences; smaller, boutique scale |
| Room types | Traditional Room, Deluxe Room, Standard Room (Run of House), Suite (Francis Marion), etc. | Studio suite (1 king bed); Signature suite (1 king bed); One Bedroom Residence; Two Bedroom Residence; terrace options |
| Pools | No on-site pool or hot tub | Outdoor pool (1) and rooftop terrace |
| Restaurants & bars | Swamp Fox Restaurant & Bar (Southern/Lowcountry) + on-site Starbucks; lounge with live piano on select nights | One restaurant and a coffee shop/cafe; bar/lounge available; complimentary continental breakfast |
| Spa & wellness | The Spa of Charleston (boutique spa with 2 treatment rooms) and a 24-hour fitness center | Spa services on site, yoga classes/instruction, free bicycles |
| Event & meeting space | Large: ~18,000 sq ft of event space, multiple ballrooms (Carolina, Colonial, Gold) and many meeting rooms | Conference space ~2,300 sq ft; up to 9 meeting rooms (smaller-scale meeting footprint) |
| Pet policy & fees | Pet friendly (designated floors, nightly fees reported); confirm availability | Pet-friendly rooms available with a high per-day fee; service animals exempt |
| Accessibility & family policy | Family-friendly; wheelchair-accessible rooms and facilities | Not adults-only; wheelchair accessible paths and some accessible rooms (may have limitations) |
The Francis Marion sits on King Street directly across Marion Square, placing you in the middle of downtown shopping, museums and theater.
Choose Francis Marion for the classic Marion Square address and immediate access to King Street attractions.
The Restoration is in the Charleston Historic District near the College of Charleston and Charleston City Market.
Choose The Restoration for a boutique, residential-style stay steps from the City Market and College of Charleston.
Francis Marion offers traditional hotel rooms and a named suite with conventional hotel amenities.
Go Francis Marion for classic hotel rooms and a named suite in a historic setting.
The Restoration emphasizes studio suites and multi-bedroom residences with apartment-like features.
Choose The Restoration when you want a suite or residence with a more residential layout.
The Francis Marion centers on Southern Lowcountry cuisine at the Swamp Fox plus an on-site Starbucks.
Pick the Francis Marion if you want classic Southern restaurant hours and an on-site Starbucks in a historic dining room.
The Restoration offers one main restaurant, a coffee shop/cafe and a bar/lounge; breakfast is served continental-style in the mornings.
Choose The Restoration for compact on-site dining plus a morning continental breakfast included.
The Francis Marion does not have an on-site pool; guests are directed to nearby public or club pools.
If on-site pool access is important, the Francis Marion is not the right choice.
The Restoration provides an outdoor pool and a rooftop terrace as part of its boutique amenities.
Pick The Restoration if you want an on-site outdoor pool and rooftop terrace in a downtown boutique setting.
The Francis Marion combines a boutique spa with a 24-hour fitness center and an evening lounge atmosphere.
Choose Francis Marion for a full-service spa, round-the-clock gym access and classic evening lounge music.
The Restoration lists on-site spa services, yoga classes, and concierge-arranged activities.
Pick The Restoration for boutique spa services, yoga, and easy access to active, on-property or nearby recreation.

Francis Marion — extensive ballrooms and roughly 18,000 sq ft of event space accommodate sizeable receptions and conferences.

The Restoration — studio to two-bedroom residences with terrace options deliver an apartment-like stay in downtown Charleston.

The Restoration — outdoor pool and rooftop terrace provide outdoor relaxation without leaving the property.

Francis Marion — a 1924 landmark with historic public rooms, traditional hotel service and Marion Square frontage.
The Francis Marion — it has multiple ballrooms, many meeting rooms and a larger total event-space footprint better suited to big weddings and conferences.
The Restoration — it offers studio suites, one- and two-bedroom residences (some with terraces) that feel more residential than a standard hotel room.
The Restoration lists a complimentary continental breakfast; at the Francis Marion breakfast is available for a surcharge at Swamp Fox.
The Restoration has an outdoor pool and a rooftop terrace; The Francis Marion does not have an on-site pool.
Explore how The Francis Marion Hotel stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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