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A Grand Seaside Resort on a Pristine Lowcountry Barrier Island
Powered By TripAdvisorThe Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort epitomizes the unpretentious elegance of a classic oceanfront Southern mansion. A refuge from the cares of today’s fast-paced world, the 255-room Forbes Five-Star hotel pampers guests with quiet luxury and attentive, old-world service to create an ideal environment to escape, relax, and unwind. Set on a 10,000-acre private island, this destination is known for its superb golf courses, world-class spa, sumptuous dining, and pristine natural surroundings. Genuine hospitality flourishes within an architectural gem marked by high ceilings, hand-painted murals, exquisite antique furnishings, and remarkable artwork.
- Test your golfing mettle on one of five championship courses
- Indulge yourself in a day of pampered treatment at The Spa at The Sanctuary — one of only 48 worldwide earning Forbes Five Stars
- Savor a leisurely multi-course meal in the elegantly appointed Ocean Room, the hotel’s oceanfront prime steakhouse
- Elevate your game at the internationally top-ranked Roy Barth Tennis Center
- Book a meeting or conference at any of the seven distinctive indoor and outdoor event spaces
- Explore the surrounding Lowcountry in one of the hotel's Volvos
An easy 45-minute drive from historic Charleston, you will begin to decompress as you wind along country roads canopied by Spanish moss-draped live oaks until you reach this seaside paradise, renowned for its genuinely gracious hospitality and distinctive leisure activities. Not only is Kiawah Island Golf Resort an enviable destination for sporting and outdoor enthusiasts, but it is also one of the South’s best escapes for families, with Kamp Kiawah offering engaging, award-winning activities for children of all ages.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
The hotel’s 255 guestrooms and suites are elegantly decorated, with custom furniture and furnishings throughout. Even standard guestrooms open to private balconies, most with ocean views.
Guests desiring more space can choose from several categories of suites, with the top-of-the-range Governor’s Suite and Presidential Suite each combining modern conveniences with heritage furnishings such as original art, antique furniture and plush oriental rugs. The Presidential Suite boasts a spacious living room with a fireplace, a private antique book-lined study, and a dining room with an antique mahogany table that will seat up to twelve. Suites can be connected to accommodate families, and for club-level guests, a private concierge awaits your every need, from arranging dinners, scheduling a spa visit or booking tours or tee times.
Dining
With several award-winning restaurants, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a gastronomy haven, where chefs pride themselves in using ingredients from Lowcountry farmers and fishermen. From fabulous steaks at The Ocean Room to local delicacies at Jasmine Porch, there is a wide offering available, including a comfortable, upscale bar that makes for a terrific evening. Away from the hotel itself, you can treat yourself to additionally enchanting dining options, such as seafood spot The Atlantic Room and of course The Ryder Cup Bar, both of which can be found by The Ocean Course, a destination reached by the hotel’s complimentary shuttle.
Ocean Room – Refined elegance matched with attentive, yet unpretentious, service is the hallmark of the Ocean Room experience. Serving only aged USDA Prime beef balanced with creative entrées and side dishes rendered from locally sourced seafood and produce, the Ocean Room invites dinners to while away the hours while savoring a transcendent culinary journey. The sommelier will guide you in selecting the perfect pairing from a cellar-aged wine list featuring more than 1,000 labels. The adjoining wood-paneled bar serves the same menu as you relax ensconced in leather-clad comfort reminiscent of an old-world club.
Jasmine Porch – Walls of authentic Charleston brick, oak-plank floors, and the spectacular backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean lend this restaurant an unmistakable sense of place. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus showcase the very best of Lowcountry cooking, with a focus on ingredients sourced from local farms and fisheries.
Loggerhead Grill – A favorite with families, this grill is styled as a tropical oceanfront café nestled beside the hotel pools. Spend a lazy afternoon or evening enjoying a selection of dishes from the menu, which includes gourmet burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wraps. Loggerhead also provides food and drink to the beach immediately in front of the hotel.
Beaches & Cream – Perfect for a quick breakfast, express lunch, or evening treat, this creamery is just steps from the beach and pool, offering a cooling repast after a day of sun and surf. The counter serves twelve different flavors of locally-made premium ice cream as well as barista coffee.
The Lobby Bar – Choose from a vast selection of wines, spirits, beers, and seasonal craft cocktails accompanied by delectable small plates.
Activities at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Set on a barrier island of outstanding natural beauty and enchanting flora and fauna, the resort offers an astonishing array of award-winning recreational activities. Resort naturalists lead tours to introduce guests to the subtle progression of various habitats in which native plants and wildlife thrive. Children find a host of age-appropriate fun and educational activities at Kamp Kiawah, with activities ranging from arts and crafts to immersive Junior Naturalist programs.
After relaxing by the pool or unwinding on the beach, take your pick from a range of the resort’s sporting activities. Tee up at one of five championship golf courses, pick up a racket for a couple of sets at the resort’s world-class tennis complex, or take on a private Pilates or yoga class at the fitness center or on the beach. Once your workout is wrapped, head to The Spa at The Sanctuary for a revitalizing treatment.
Location
Just 45 minutes from downtown Charleston, between Folly Island and Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island is a private haven for eco-adventures, recreational programs, and water sports, with miles of trails and diverse wildlife making it an enchanting destination to explore.
Address
One Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC, United States
Transportation
- Airport
- Charleston International Airport is 33 mi/53 km from the hotel.
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Reviews
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Fabulous, Luxurious & Relaxing Stay at The Sanctuary
Wed Aug 13 2025 14:37:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by MaryEliseM
We took our first trip to Kiawah Island this summer for our son's birthday and absolutely loved our stay at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. While a couple restaurants that were not in The Sanctuary proper were not up to snuff, everything within The Sanctuary itself was five-star! We chose to pay extra for a Club Lounge room - 100% worth it and we'd do it again. We certainly felt we got our money's worth for the extra cost of $150/night - it included a nice breakfast buffet, a "light fare" lunch buffet, an evening spread of hors d'ouvres and pretty great desserts, plus unlimited beverages (including a cool wine tasting machine of sorts, with a wide selection of wines to sample at your leisure). But it also meant having access to the quiet, friendly Club Lounge itself and the impeccable services of its staff. You do your private check-in with the Club directly, they book appointments and services for you, they assist if any issues arrive, and they bring you specialty coffee bevs, a little cooler for the beach, an extra to-go box, and so forth. Our room itself (#457) was roomy even with two queen beds and we had a terrific ocean view (on the far side of the hotel, so we weren't looking at other rooms - an added bonus). We actually only had the room serviced once the entire stay, but you could usually track down someone in the hall if you needed extra towels or bath bubbles. The beds were comfy, everything was very clean - though there were some wasps on the balcony. The beach itself is soft, powdery white sand - so not great for shell collecting, but perfect for long walks at sunrise and sunset (which we did every morning & night we were there). And honestly, very few people on the beach early in the morning - so we often felt like we were at a private beach all to ourselves. Just us and the seagulls. I did notice that the beach lounges with umbrellas filled up during the day. Overall, a strong five-star hotel stay and wish I could go back tomorrow. Thank you also for helping our son feel very celebrated!! I'll review the fabulous spa separately, as well as the not so fabulous golf course restaurants.
Second to none!
Mon Jul 28 2025 15:38:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Andy G
Words truly cannot express how pleased we were with our stay at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island! From the moment we pulled into the property until the second we left, everything was simply perfect. The level of service and attention to detail was unmatched. The gentleman who took care of us on the beach was incredibly kind and attentive, making our time by the ocean unforgettable. The staff at every restaurant and bar went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and cared for—professional, friendly, and genuinely warm. We also want to give a special shout-out to the wonderful young lady who took care of us at The Ocean Room. We had the opportunity to enjoy a meal there and chose to dine in the bar area. Her service was outstanding—warm, knowledgeable, and made our evening extra special. It’s rare to find a place that exceeds every expectation, but The Sanctuary did just that. We absolutely cannot wait to return!
Lovely hotel but disappointing bar timings
Sat Jul 26 2025 23:31:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Krista P
Lovely and beautiful hotel. But ruined by the fact that on a Saturday night they close the bar at 11pm. We could not get a drink at all to share with friends. I found that totally shocking. The night before the bar was open past midnight so there was no warning or expectation that we would be unable to do the same ON A SATURDAY!!!! Thoroughly disappointed. And staff offered nothing to accommodate. We had been out with house owners and wanted a drink at the end of the night on our return (especially for the driver) but no one was willing to help. As hotel guests I would expect a different response. Shame as our last night and ruined our experience especially given the cost of the stay.
Great business trip
Sat Jul 26 2025 21:07:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Anna B
The service was exceptional. Each person was kind and communicative at the resort. I haven’t seen this kind of attention to detail lately. Each team member asked how they could help at breakfast lunch and dinner. The beach was wide and beautiful. I’d certainly come again. The pool wasn’t special and didn’t have a view of the water.
Very happy with my stay
Sat Jul 26 2025 08:32:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Zar537
The staff at the Sanctuary were excellent. Had a bit of an issue in check in but they got it taken care of quickly. The shuttle is great to be able to go from the hotel to other restaurants and activities in the island. The live music Saturday evening on the lawn is a lot of fun. My only complaint was that despite having tables available many of the restaurants were completely booked up days ahead of time, I am guessing they are low on staff and not able to seat guests at each table. I had to drive off site one evening to get dinner because the concierge couldn’t find us availability anywhere.
