The Cooper delays opening of Charleston waterfront hotel

The Cooper, soon to be Charleston’s first waterfront hotel, has delayed its opening a few more months as the finishing touches are added to the property.  

Originally expected to open in October 2025, Beemok Hospitality Collection has begun accepting reservations for guests to stay starting on March 1, 2026, according to a news release.  

The hotel has been under construction for about six years, standing in the place of the previous office building for the South Carolina Ports Authority next to Joe Riley Waterfront Park. 

“Charleston’s waterfront is one of the city’s greatest assets, and perhaps one of its most underutilized,” Casey Lavin, president of BHC, said in the release. “Upon opening, The Cooper will stake its claim as a vibrant waterfront destination, inviting both locals and travelers to experience it in a way that blends Southern warmth with a refined, cosmopolitan perspective. Designed with intention in every detail, The Cooper offers a rare connection to the water, elevated service, and a sense of place that is unmistakably Charleston. This hotel will be a retreat and a gathering place in one — rooted in heritage, yet shaped for the city’s next chapter.”  

The Cooper will have 191 rooms and 20 suites designed by Champalimaud Design in collaboration with Atelier Kim, according to the release. 

Guests and locals will have access to three dining options including The Crossing, a Mediterranean restaurant, Current Burger, a smashburger restaurant and Cooper Coffee and Wine, an all-day cafe. According to the release, Bar Marti will be a poolside bar and restaurant overlooking the harbor that is for guests of The Cooper only.  

A 7,000-square-foot spa with red light therapy, cryotherapy loungers, experiential showers and compression sleeves will be located in the hotel. According to the release, the spa will be open to the public by appointment only.  

Guests of The Cooper will also have access to an on-site marina with hotel boats for dinner cruises, private events and other excursions, according to the release. An infinity pool will be located on the rooftop overlooking the harbor.  

Guests and the public can rent space in The Cooper’s 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space including the lawn, ballroom and boardroom, the release said.