The George Hotel, the highly anticipated property from award-winning Indigo Road Hospitality Group and Winyah Hospitality, is now open and welcoming guests to stay starting Friday, March 1. Aiming to redefine luxury accommodations in the region, the design-forward waterfront property features 56 thoughtfully appointed rooms and suites alongside a full-service restaurant, marina bar, and private event spaces, making it the first of its kind on South Carolinas’ Hammock Coast.
A common stopover for boaters traveling the eastern coast, The George boasts prime marina access, allowing boaters the opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s amenities, while also providing a port for guests to enjoy excursions, such as fishing and sailing, in Winyah Bay. In addition to on-site activities and events, The George offers a variety of spaces that can be booked for semi-private and private events, including a dedicated meeting and event room, outdoor greenspace and bar, Eliza’s, and on-site restaurant, The Independent.
From Pier to Plate, Historically
Located within The George Hotel, The Independent is an ingredient-driven, seafood restaurant and raw bar showcasing the Lowcountry’s local fisherman, farmers, and purveyors. Led by Executive Chef Thomas Vance, The Independent pays homage to the community’s former, yet iconic seafood market by the same name, with a seasonal menu of Southern-inspired dishes guided by the region’s bounty of fresh seafood. Raw offerings, like little neck clams, peel & eat shrimp, and oysters on the half shell from, are complemented by prepared small plates, chef selections, and a la carte proteins and sides. Menu standouts include Crispy Grey Fox Farms Chicken Livers, Skillet Corn Bread, SC Red Snapper, showcasing ingredients from local Georgetown farmers and fisherman like Harrelson’s Seafood, Tiny Victory Farms, and more.
Outside, guests will find Eliza’s. Located on The George’s greenspace, the waterfront bar serves as a casual retreat along the picturesque Sampit Riverfront with a full bar, lounge seating, and outdoor games. Island-inspired cocktails, like frozen pain killers, are the focus complemented by a small menu of light bites, snacks, and full raw bar. The name serves as tribute to South Carolina’s own Eliza Lucas Pickney, who was largely responsible for the indigo crop hitting the map, and the first woman to be inducted into South Carolina’s Business Hall of Fame.
Bold and Bespoke Early American Design
With 56 rooms, 42 of them being water facing, the transportive space is inspired by both the surrounding 18th and 19th-century architecture and natural environment. The hotel, curated by Jenny Keenan Design, houses an eclectic collection of vintage European furnishings and custom pieces, such as a jewel-toned, fabric-skirted front desk and bespoke headboards in each guestroom. From historic fabrics and mural wallpapers to eclectic paintings and decor by local artists, such as local sweetgrass basket artisan Angela Manigault, each charming coastal detail was hand-selected. Anchoring both the property and the design, the lobby features two-toned hardwoods and lime-washed plank walls, providing a neutral canvas for the room’s collection of patterned sofas, wing backed chairs, and oriental rugs. An arched hallway covered in ‘Birds Tapestry’, a striking wallpaper by Iskel from Schumacher, calls in the natural surroundings and wildlife as guests pass through to the elevators. In that same corridor hangs a large whimsical painting of a mermaid and alligator painting by the artist David Boatwright of Charleston.
There are several room types, including two suite variations with living rooms and balconies, the largest being approximately 725 sq. ft. Each guestroom includes vintage seating and sideboards with custom fabric headboards ranging from detailed chintz to soft pastel stripes. Rooms vary in color scheme, whether it be greens, blues, slates, or creams, while cypress softwoods stripe the floors and walls of communal spaces. Each space is affixed with vintage ceramic and glass lighting fixtures, while cording and fringe details amplify the eclectic and high-touch design inspiration calling back to early American style.
