One Of Charleston’s Most Historic Hotels Has Been Reborn As A Luxury Stay

170-years in the making, The Mills House delivers an ‘old fashioned good time’ in the heart of the Holy City.

Over the course of its 170-year history on the corner of Meeting Street and Queen Street in Charleston’s French Quarter, The Mills House has overcome some pretty considerable odds. The Great Fire of 1861, Civil War, Hurricane Hugo.

The hotel has been converted, sold and rebuilt since 1853, and served as a stomping ground for everyone from Teddy Roosevelt and Elizabeth Taylor over the years. Through it all, “the pink hotel” as it’s referred to by locals, has served as a beloved fixture for visitors and Charlestonians and has reinvented itself once again as it nears the completion of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar renovation that will completely transform all 218-guest rooms, suites and public spaces this November.

“Celebrating its 170th anniversary in 2023, The Mills House has a long and storied history in Charleston, and we look forward to introducing guests to this new and exciting next chapter,” The Mills House General Manager Michael Linder said.

Walking into the handsome library-inspired lobby, guests are invited to pour themselves a glass of wine or champagne before adjourning to the hotels light-filled “living quarters” to nosh on complimentary cheese a crackers every day at happy hour.

“From the moment you enter the hotel, it’s as if you’ve been invited into a friend’s home, complete with an evocative sense of charm and warmth that’s carried throughout the entire guest experience,” Linder said.

Formerly a Wyndham Grand Hotel owned and operated property, in addition to undergoing a total restoration, Mills House has also been converted to Hilton’s Curio Collection of luxury lifestyle hotels, the first Curio property to open in South Carolina to date.

The total overhaul now includes 218-modern meets Southern inspired guest rooms and suites, along with hydration stations on every floor and and two new dining outlets at The Black Door Café just off the main lobby and signature restaurant Iron Rose which officially opens to the public this week.

While renovations to the property are expected to be completed by mid-November 2022, Black Door Cafe and guest rooms are already welcoming guests to Charleston, with plans for an upgraded pool deck, pool bar and meeting and event spaces to follow in the coming months.

Daily yoga classes will also be offered, and plans for an upgraded fitness center outfitted with Peloton equipment will be available to guests soon.

Joining the ranks of Queen Street’s designated ‘restaurant row,’ that include the likes of Poogan’s Porch, Husk, and 82 Queen, Iron Rose officially opens its doors on Wednesday October, 19th, and will offer elevated Southern Coastal cuisine in a moody, neoclassical-style setting on the hotel’s ground floor.

Helmed by Executive Chef Gary Mennie, menu options will include a mix of contemporary classics from pickled local shrimp and blue crab fritters to a whiskey menu, extensive wine list and cocktail program that are primed to make this a dining and drinking destination in its own right.

“Mills House has always been a part of the story here in Charleston and the reimagining really pays homage to the city with a uniquely modern flare,” Michael Linder said. “We want it to feel effortless, like we’re inviting people into our home for an old fashioned good time, which happens to be the name of our cocktail hour.”