Midcentury Meets the Modern South at The Dewberry

The graciousness of Charleston's antebellum past is embodied in many of its most time-honored hotels. But the preservation of a more recent slice of history has earned The Dewberry a place among Charleston's crème de la crème.

The Mendel Rivers Federal Office Building, commissioned by President John F. Kennedy and completed by President Lyndon B. Johnson after his predecessor's death, caught the eye and imagination of former Georgia Tech quarterback John Dewberry.

In 2008, he acquired the property, which had been abandoned by the government in 1999 after a beating by Hurricane Floyd.

While most people saw a stark, brooding shell, he was inspired by its midcentury modern architecture and prime location on Meeting Street overlooking Marion Square.

Dewberry embarked on a detailed renovation intended to showcase the building's retro-style to best advantage, while blending in all the modern creature comforts demanded by discerning travelers.

The overall result has a timeless quality - geometric, uncluttered and elegantly sleek. You can almost envision the place bustling with three-piece suits and polka-dot dresses of that long-ago era.

The myriad costly updates included salvaging the dilapidated marble flooring to create tabletops for the outdoor dining area, then replacing the floors with the best marble Dewberry's money could buy.

He went to Vermont to source the marble, then shipped it to Italy to have it cut and polished. He and his wife procured all the furnishings themselves, too, many of them midcentury Danish pieces.

It was important, however, to preserve as much of the building's character as possible. That aesthetic would earn Dewberry the Hotelier of the Year Award from Historic Hotels of America in 2021.

One such feature is an inset plaque in the lobby dedicating the building as a project of the Johnson administration.

On an adjacent wall of cherry paneling - which replicates the original walls - is an 1861 brass map of Charleston, designed by local artist Peyton Avrett, whose grandmother was a longtime employee at the federal building.

The view overhead is striking, too, with chandeliers that appear be sprouting gold Palmetto fronds.

Note the walls outside the entrance to the hotel's ballroom. That's not wallpaper you're looking at, but artist Thomas Swanston's hand-painted South Carolina whooping cranes with wings of pewter, silver and 22-carat gold.

Also on the ground floor is the Living Room, the heart of the hotel's social scene. 

Filled with inviting sitting areas and anchored by an eye-riveting brass bar, the space was made more intimate by pulling in the walls and creating a wraparound porch area.

Cocktails here are a must, considering you'll be served something handcrafted by nationally lauded mixologist Ryan Casey. His cocktail program is all the rage in Charleston and has earned the Living Room accolades from Southern Living, Conde Naste Traveler, AFAR, and other national media.

Dress in your best "Mad Men" ensemble and indulge in something retro, perhaps a Blue Moon, Old Fashioned or classic martini. 

Brunch and dinner are also served here.

For those who've come to stay a while, the rooms shore up the first impressions of the hotel with streamlined designs, rich white linens, earth-tones with pings of gold accents, and an interesting botanical print that is a recurring theme throughout the property. Designed by Charleston artist Becca Barnet, owner of the design and fabrication studio, Sisal Creative, it features six species of plants indigenous to South Carolina.

If you tend to skip the provided lotions and other toiletries in other hotels, don't do it here. The Dewberry's custom fragrance is warm and lush - you'll be tempted to do a skin-sniff more than once.

When you reserve a room, select your view: one side of the hotel overlooks the Arthur Ravenel Bridge and the other, the treetops and church spires around Marion Square.

Crowning this historic hotel is the chic rooftop bar called the Citrus Club.

A James Beard Award 2020 finalist for outstanding design, its breezy elegance and excellent bar and food program makes it a "must" for anyone visiting the Holy City. Ascend to the 8th floor terrace to drink in sweeping views of Charleston and sip citrusy cocktails. 

This Dewberry experience, first-come, first-served, is geared toward adults only and a dress code requires that guests sport proper style, including collared shirts for the gentlemen. 

Pair your drink with something delicious to eat, like lobster rolls, oysters on the half-shell or warm blue crab dip.

But there is even more to explore and experience at The Dewberry, especially for shoppers and adventurers with a penchant for the exclusive. 

Select from an array of thoughtully curated mementos, home accessories, objets d'art, jewelry and more at The Shop. You can find it on the ground floor in the lobby.  Peruse the array of signature items, too, including the irresistible Dewberry scented candle. 

If high-end fashion is your thing, inquire about The Dewberry's personal shopping and styling service offered onsite through a partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue.

Pedal around the Holy City on complimentary bicycles or indulge in a Dewberry spa day.

But for the ultimate in luxury experiences, guests of The Dewberry can arrange to charter a luxury yacht and explore the area's barrier islands and gorgeous waterways.

Toasting the sunset over the harbor is an unforgettable way to close a day in Charleston.