Scene
The literal center of the action along Greenville’s Main St.
Greenville, S.C. is a fantastic city to visit. Unfortunately, as the city has attained its newfound status as a tourism darling, its hotels have not kept up. If you’re looking for a cool, modern place to lay your head at the end of a wild Greenville night, your best bet is going to be Aloft. This branch of the W’s mid-range offshoot is set a block off Greenville’s bustling Main St. and is pretty central to all the bars, restaurants and live music the city offers.
The WXYZ Bar inside Aloft Greenville Downtown is an attraction in and of itself. On weekend nights, it can be one of the more popular bars in the city. There’s also a heated outdoor pool in the middle of the hotel that serves as the social hub for guests, especially those with cabana rooms right outside. Don’t go expecting a pool party, per se. But for Greenville it’s as good as it gets.
Location
Roll out of bed and do pretty much anything in Greenville
You’re not going to find a better located hotel in Greenville than Aloft, which sits a block from Main Street in the heart of downtown. For guests, that means easy access to spots like Ink N Ivy, Soby’s, Tupelo Honey and Greenville’s other top-tier restaurants. And if you’re in town for Fall for Greenville or the Euphoria food festival, you’ll be able to walk to their festival grounds in a matter of minutes.
You’re also a short stroll from Falls Park and its iconic Liberty Bridge as well as the calming lawns and walking trails that run along the Reedy River. On the other side of the park, about 10minutes’ walk from Aloft, you’ll find the Village of West Greenville, a once-dilapidated area that’s now chock-full of bars and restaurants, including a pour-your-own beer and game hall.
For a full look at Greenville’s best, most unique and quintessential experiences, see our guide.
Here are some things worth checking out if you’re staying at Aloft:
- Rent a bike at Reedy Rides and head down the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 22-mile Rails-to-Trails trail that runs through some of upstate’s best scenery. Stop at Traveler’s Rest and order a pizza at Sidewall before you head home.
- Grab a drink at South Carolina’s most scenic rooftop bar, Up on the Roof, which is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
- Enjoy a Greenville Drive game at one of the best parks in Minor League Baseball, Fluor Field, which is about 15 minutes away on foot.
- Train like a ninja warrior at the Motive School of Movement, a parkour and obstacle training facility founded by four former “American Ninja Warrior” competitors. It’s about 15 minutes away by car.
- If you’re in town on a summer Friday, parts of Main Street shut down for live music acts that perform well past sunset.
Rooms
Poolside cabana rooms are the way to go
Aloft is part of the W brand of hotels, so you know the guest rooms are gonna look cool. The Aloft Greenville Downtown doesn’t disappoint; every room is done up in colorful furniture with gray accented walls for a fully modern aesthetic. Some have great views of the city, others don’t, so be sure to ask when you check in if that’s a priority for you.
Each room comes with high speed Wi-Fi, chair and desk, flat-screen TV and some minimal storage space. While it’s enough if you’re only coming for a couple of days, those planning an extended stay in Greenville may want to look for a hotel with more dresser space.
Aloft Greenville Downtown’s rooms break down into three categories:
King and queen rooms – These are the Aloft’s standard rooms, which come with either one king or two queen beds. They’re all colorfully decorated with amusing art on the walls and have a desk, chair and bathroom with a walk-in shower.
Kind and queen cabana rooms – If you can snag one of these, and don’t mind little kids’ splashing interrupting your plans to sleep until noon, do it. The cabana rooms have individual terraces that open up to the hotel’s private swimming pool, a great amenity if you want to do some daytime lounging. Greenville is a little more family friendly than, say, Vegas, though. So, don’t expect a rager to spill into your suite.
King suites – The most spacious rooms on the property come with a separate seating area and a larger bathroom, so you can spread out a little. The bedroom is about the size of a standard king room. If you’re concerned about having places to put things, booking one of these is probably the move.
Amenities
A great bar, a fun pool, but minimal food
The good news is, as we’ve mentioned, that Aloft Greenville Downtown is close to pretty much everything, so you won’t need a car if you’re staying here. The bad news is, if you opted to rent one or drove to Greenville, there’s no valet parking. If you’re OK lugging your bags, the self parking is a reasonable $7 a day.
Like a lot of modern lifestyle hotels, Aloft has replaced the traditional hotel sundry store with a grab-and-go cafe called Re:fuel. It’s got your standard drinks and coffee, plus healthier snacks than you’d find at most convenience stores.
There’s also a 24-hour fitness center, which has enough equipment for most workouts, but obviously isn’t the hotel’s biggest draw. The swimming pool is more lively than you’ll find at most Greenville hotels and, while it’s not a party spot, rolling in there with a few red solo cups won’t surprise anyone.
W XYZ Bar
Aloft Greenville Downtown’s coolest asset is far and away the swanky W XYZ Bar, where a sleek indoor cocktail bar mixes drinks for guests to take out on the hotel’s sprawling patio. With an elevated vantage point over Main Street, views from the patio are some of the hotel’s best. You can also opt to post up at one of the bar’s cozy fire pits if it’s cold outside, or, in better weather, just stand by the rail and enjoy the refreshing Carolina breeze.
Other amenities you’ll find at the Aloft Greenville:
- Business center
- Free coffee in the lobby
- In-room toiletries
- Free Wi-fi
- Breakfast for $10-20
- Six meeting rooms