The Westin Poinsett, Greenville

A hotel has stood at this Main Street address for well over 100 years. The Poinsett opened in 1925, but was closed for several years in its long history before it reopened in 1997 as a Westin. The iconic brick building is a hub of business and social activity, hosting lots of meetings, weddings, and various reunions in its opulent event space. It’s also a favorite hotel for locals to celebrate special occasions or simply for stylish getaway weekends. The spacious, two-story lobby honors the hotel’s history while also providing modern touches like comfy furniture in bright colors. The beautiful black and white, checkerboard tile floors are striking, as are the wrought iron railings and white marble walls and columns around the original shoe shine stand. This hotel is upscale without being stuffy or overly formal. 

The Westin is located on South Main Street in the heart of downtown Greenville. It’s an iconic, nine-story brick building that takes up almost an entire city block in a busy section of the city which can sometimes get a bit noisy on weekend nights. Numerous restaurants and shops (including a gelato place and an ale house) are mere steps away from the front entrance, and a pharmacy is across the street. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts is about two blocks away (five minutes on foot). The Bon Secours Wellness Arena is a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk. The TD Convention Center and Downtown Greenville Airport are 10 minutes away by car. The campuses of Furman and Clemson Universities are 15 and 40 minutes away by car, respectively. The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is a 25-minute drive or hotel shuttle ride. 

Soft gold and light blue are the featured colors in rooms that are tastefully decorated in a traditional style befitting of the hotel’s long history. The wallpaper and upholstered furniture are soft gold, and the light blue carpet has gold chain-link patterns. Gold floral prints also appear on the lovely white drapes. The matching wood furniture has a dark finish and includes headboards. Standard rooms have plenty of space, including  armchairs and glass-topped desks with leather office chairs. Studio-style Junior Suites and two-room Executive and Presidential Suites include sleeper sofas. The rooms are made more cheerful by high ceilings and lots of light from large windows that either overlook bustling Main Street or nearby buildings. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, magnifying mirrors, robes, and safes. Bathrooms include tan marble vanities and tiling frames the shower/tub combos. The rooms are generally peaceful, but those on lower floors facing Main Street will hear more ambient traffic noise. 

This historic hotel pampers its guests in several ways, including free shuttles to and from the airport. It also shuttles guests throughout downtown on a golf cart, and it has a fleet of bicycles that are available for rent. The spacious, 24/7 fitness center has several pieces of modern Life Fitness cardio equipment as well as free weights and a universal strength-training machine. The hotel also lends New Balance workout gear for guests who need it. The Spoonbread restaurant serves American classics with a Southern influence for breakfast and dinner, including a Sunday brunch. The Piano Bar serves a light menu for dinner and features craft cocktails and live music. Joel’s Java Coffee Shop features coffee drinks and light to-go breakfast items and snacks. The hotel’s 12,000 square feet of event space can host functions for up to 1,000 people. It also has a business center that’s open 24/7 and free Wi-Fi. Valet and self-parking are available, and both are offered at reasonable rates for a downtown property. Valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services, and there is even a shoe shine stand. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.