A luxurious in-town escape at JW Marriott Charlotte
by Cathy Martin
You don’t always have to go far to enjoy the benefits of a getaway — sometimes a change of scenery is all you need.
A few weeks ago, I traded the suburbs for the center city with an overnight stay at JW Marriott Charlotte.
The 381-room hotel opened in summer 2021 as the first (and still the only) JW Marriott in the Carolinas. The brand is part of Marriott’s luxury tier, along with the St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton and others. The sleek, modern aesthetic is slightly reminiscent of Marriott’s European-inspired AC Hotels brand, but more upscale.
The 23-story hotel is part of Ally Charlotte Center, a bustling hub where you’ll also find Golden Cow Creamery and the Museum of Illusions. It’s also just steps away from other center-city attractions like the Gantt Center, Bank of America Stadium and Mint Museum Uptown.
The JW Marriott Charlotte; Caroline’s Oyster Bar; view from a king corner room
FIT FOR A QUEEN
After an efficient check-in in the hotel’s small lobby, my overnight retreat began.
According to an opening press release, the hotel’s design was inspired by Queen Charlotte. Custom chandeliers are a nod to patterns worn by the queen, and colors are based on royal portraits.
All guest rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows, and my corner king guest room on the 17th floor offered breathtaking city views. Rooms have a neutral aesthetic with textured grays and warm fluted wood, along with subtle pops of blush pink and deep teal. Like most Marriotts, the hotel has a slightly masculine feel, but not overly so.
My room had a small sitting area with a plush sofa and chair, along with a desk, coffee station and refrigerator, and a good-sized bathroom with luxury personal-care products from Aromatherapy Associates.
COASTAL CUISINE
After settling in, I stopped by the fifth-floor Aura Rooftop Bar before drinks and dinner at Caroline’s Oyster Bar. As happy hour stretched into night, the casual, coastal-inspired restaurant was absolutely jumping with a combination of overnight guests and locals meeting up for drinks after work.
There’s a central bar with a tasteful nautical theme, and an outdoor patio spilling out onto a bustling plaza. The seafood-centric menu has plenty of shareables like oysters and Point Judith calamari, along with approachable dishes like shrimp and grits, halibut fish and chips, and a wagyu burger. Don’t miss the crab hush puppies — sinful deep-fried bites served with a side of lemon aioli.
Easy-sipping cocktails at Caroline’s include the bestselling Watermelon Sugar Margarita and the No Vacancy (blanco tequila, mezcal, Italian aperitif, passion fruit, lime and ginger). There are local beers on tap, wines by the glass, and zero-proof beverages, too.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, close out the meal with Caroline’s Gooey Butter Cake, a simple, comforting dessert served warm in a cast-iron skillet and topped with French vanilla ice cream.
Nighttime views; relaxation room at Spa by JW; the lobby at JW Marriott Charlotte
START THE DAY
I’m a firm believer that Marriott has the best mattresses around, and after a good night’s sleep I headed down to Dean’s Italian Steakhouse, the hotel’s other restaurant on the main lobby level.
Staycations are about indulging, and you won’t want to skip the pastry case at Dean’s. The bar at the upscale steakhouse doubles as a coffee counter in the morning, with coffee and espresso drinks and delectable handmade Italian pastries like bombolini (filled doughnuts) cornetti (croissant-like pastries) and cannoli muffins.
If you’re in the mood for something savory or wanting a proper sit-down meal, Dean’s also has you covered with egg-white frittatas, lobster avocado toast, smoked salmon bruschetta and more. I’m not a big breakfast person, but in the name of research I ordered the smoked ham and fontina omelet, which was fluffy, perfectly seasoned and left me wondering why no one is talking about Dean’s as a go-to breakfast destination in Charlotte.
RELAX + RESTORE
Last on my agenda was a little relaxation time at the Spa by JW. Upstairs from the main lobby, the Spa at JW isn’t huge but it’s not tiny either, with his and hers lounges, a comfortable relaxation room, and ample snacks, teas and restorative collagen water to enjoy before or after your treatments. There are six treatment rooms, a couple’s room, plus a small boutique with products from Naturopathica, Causemetics and others — along with a selection of Kendra Scott jewelry, in case you want to treat yourself to a little something sparkly.
Through Sept. 25, the spa offers a Hydration Spacation special ($400) that includes a sampling of the experiences available here. The experience begins with a 50-minute hydrating body wrap: After a full-body exfoliation, you’ll be gently swaddled in a lightly scented coconut-lime moisturizer while you’re treated to a relaxing neck massage. Next is an express Signature Hydrafacial, a 30-minute experience to cleanse and restore your summer glow followed by a 10-minute lime-infused scalp treatment.
Massages (relaxation, deep-tissue, CBD therapeutic relief, pre-natal), additional facial options, and body rituals round out the spa menu, for a completely customizable experience.
NEXT TIME
Next time, I’ll spend more time at the rooftop pool and try Dean’s for dinner, with its enticing menu of house-made pastas, seafood dishes like a whole-roasted branzino, and steaks from wagyu to dry-aged.
Whether you grab a girlfriend or partner or go it alone, the JW Marriott is an ideal city escape that will leave you feeling both invigorated and relaxed.
JW Marriott is located at 600 S. College St. in uptown Charlotte.
