A stunning Queen Anne–style house, built in 1892, welcomes guests to Two Meeting Street Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that is the very definition of Southern hospitality. In 1946, Minnie Spell Carr purchased the home and established it as a guesthouse. It’s now owned by her youngest nephew, Pete Spell, and his family, who pour their hearts and souls into making every stay memorable and relaxing. “When you stay with us, it’s the quintessential Southern experience,” says Pete’s daughter, Karen Spell Shaw. “You walk in, and the stresses of the world just roll off your shoulders.”
An arched veranda welcomes guests to the inn, and offers a gracious first impression of what’s in store. In the parlor, two Tiffany stained-glass windows stand as testament to the Carringtons’ enduring love. The windows were commissioned in honor of the couple’s fifth anniversary, and bear the likenesses of Martha’s favorite blooming trees—the dogwood and the Southern magnolia. Nine beautifully appointed rooms and suites feature gleaming hardwood floors, sky-high ceilings, and antique furnishings. Windows frame the views of 125-year-old live oaks, covered in resurrection ferns, as well as neighboring historical houses dating to the 1700s and 1800s. Visible from the second-floor porch is the Battery’s bandstand, built so that Waring’s music-loving mother-in-law could enjoy the melodies wafting over on the balmy breezes.
When it comes to dining, the inn is up to Charleston’s high standards, starting with a gourmet breakfast prepared by the staff—think creme brûlée French toast. Every afternoon brings a Lowcountry tea, with sweets, savories, and peach tea. The perfect flourish to a day in this refined Southern town? Evening sherry on the veranda as the sun sets over the water.
Two Meeting Street is among the featured destinations in our Travel South special issue. Order your copy and learn more about this beautiful destination and the other beautiful places, interesting people, and delicious food our beloved region has to offer.
Where will you go this summer?
