Rooftop terrace independent inns

Tucked onto Hasell Street in the Charleston neighborhood that lends it its name, The Ansonborough is a boutique address with a quietly polished hand — sophisticated rooms, a rooftop terrace for the late-afternoon light, and a breakfast buffet to start the walk toward the harbor. A small fitness room rounds out the stay. Guests rate it 4.6 across more than 500 reviews, which tracks for a place this attentive to the details.

Set on Wentworth Street in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, The Restoration is a suite-style hotel where rooms come with full kitchens and breakfast delivered to your door. The ground floor doubles as a neighborhood hub — a coffee bar, cafe and restaurant, plus a small shop stocked with clothing and provisions — while a rooftop terrace opens up over the rooftops of the old city. Guests rate it 4.5 across more than 650 reviews, and it also hosts events.

A contemporary hotel on Meeting Street in Charleston's upper peninsula, the Moxy trades period charm for bold, colorful rooms and a social-minded ground floor. There's a cozy bar for evening drinks, a 24-hour gym, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the downtown skyline.