The Best Hotels to Book Near Greenville Zoo, South Carolina

On the northern end of downtown Greenville, Aloft is a sleek addition to the One Greenville hub. It may be a chain hotel, but that doesn’t mean your stay has to be predictable. With bright carpets, geometric lighting and Pop art-inspired fixtures, rooms are fun and cheery, and so is the hotel’s bar, W XYZ. And, best of all, it’s a straight shot to the zoo and a short walk to other attractions, such as the TD Convention Center and Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

If you’re looking for something bigger than a typical hotel room, you’ll find it at Mint House, where modern apartments offer spacious living areas, balconies and full kitchens – perfect for a stay with the kids. Just a few blocks from Main Street and Falls Park on the Reedy, you’ll be close to outdoor events – such as the annual Artisphere festival or the Saturday farmer’s market – and some of the best restaurants in the area. If you’re looking to get to the zoo, just head down the trail from Falls Park.

You’ll have plenty of options at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville, with 327 guest rooms and suites decked out with modern furniture, prints by local photographers and views of the leafy streets down below. Check out the hotel restaurant, Roost, for Southern-style favorites, such as shrimp and grits, pimento cheese or bacon-wrapped meatloaf, matched with craft cocktails; try the Georgia Mule – made with ginger beer and peach bitters – or a spicy pineapple margarita. It’s also just a quick walk, bike or drive to the Greenville Zoo and only a few blocks from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

This downtown hotel has spacious rooms with a view – some overlooking Reedy River, the waterfalls in the park or the picturesque Wyche Pavilion. You’ll also be close to the Peace Center, which invites local artists and national stars to its halls. After digging into the Hampton’s complimentary continental breakfast, you’ll have plenty of energy to make the walk down Swamp Rabbit Trail, right to the Greenville Zoo.

A few blocks from Main Street, you’ll land at Hyatt Place, where plush beds, blackout curtains and sleeper sofas will keep you cozy in one of the hotel’s 130 rooms. Don’t miss out on the spacious indoor pool or the Placery, which serves fresh salads and sandwiches. You’re also close to top dining, breweries and the popular M Judson Booksellers and just down a few elephant steps from the Greenville Zoo.

The Pettigru Place Bed and Breakfast is the crown jewel of the Pettigru Historic District downtown, comprising dozens of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival buildings in the area. Pick from six guest rooms – each with a unique theme, such as the baby-blue Swan’s Gate or the safari-style Brass Giraffe – and check out the common areas. You just might be greeted in the garden with a glass of sweet peach tea, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are baking in the oven all day long. And the best part? It’s just a few blocks from the Greenville Zoo.

At the corner of Main Street and Broad, this chic hotel is in the heart of downtown. Rooms at the AC Hotel by Marriott are slick, with monochrome furniture, prints by local artists and backlit marble-tiled bathrooms. You’ll want to check out Paloma, the hotel’s Spanish-Mediterranean tapas bar, or Juniper, the reservations-required rooftop bar. A plus for animal lovers: the free trolley line to the zoo stops just a block away from the hotel.

From the moment you check into the downtown SpringHill Suites, you’ll be wowed by the copper murals and swinging chairs in the lobby, the spacious suites and expansive windows upstairs. Then, head outside to check out the patio, firepit and pool, or work it out in the gym, fully equipped with Peloton bikes. If stationary isn’t your style, check out a complimentary bicycle from the front desk and zip on down to the zoo for some afternoon fun.