Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast, Meeting and Special Events Venue l Orangeburg SC

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast, Meeting and Special Events Venue and it was a truly delightful experience.

From the moment of my inquiry, Rachelle greeted me with the warmest hospitality and made to feel like a welcomed and wanted guest. Rachelle is the absolute best innkeeper. She is warm, friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable of the area. I had such a wonderful time.

I stayed in the “Jazz It Up” suite and it did not disappoint. A beautifully decorated jazz-themed suite with TWO fireplaces, TWO skylights, a private balcony, and any amenity of which you could think. There is no way to not enjoy this suite!

Thee Matriarch is centrally located within the Orangeburg city limits and close to many local attractions and easy to reach the highways (only 30 min from Columbia!). Rachelle prepared a binder with great recommendations for things to see and do and places to eat in the area.

I appreciated all of the personal touches and the attention to detail that was evident in every aspect of my stay. Chef Fred, Rachelle’s husband, is an excellent cook. I am grateful to and appreciative of them looking after me as a solo traveler. I always felt safe, and like a member of their family.

I had an incredible time at Thee Matriarch and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable stay. I cannot thank Fred and Rachelle enough for their gracious hospitality and I look forward to staying there again!

I love staying here. Just the right feel of welcome in Orangeburg. They are amazing host and always very area have for any suggestions or ideas. They helped me get around town a bit. Orangeburg is a cute town.

We were only there for one night but will definitely be back. Richelle and Fred welcomed us with smiles, hugs, and delicious snacks. We met our friend, Brittney, there and had the place to ourselves. We enjoyed a beautiful night talking on the veranda. Fred created an incredible breakfast for us. Richelle saw us off after a while of sharing our stories with each other.

Rachelle and Fred are the absolute best as they pour so much love into this hidden gem. They are the definition of southern hospitality.
We stayed in Florence of Italy with charming decor and a comfortable bed.
Chef Fred's dishes and Rachelle's tea- incredible!

Hidden gem! The wife and I enjoyed an overnight stay at Thee Matriarch while visiting family. We were recommended The Jazz It Up Suite by Rachelle and it was the perfect choice. Our stay was phenomenal! The suite is designed with precise thought and great detail. Bed and sofas are decorative and very comfortable. Overall the rooms are spacious and the bathroom is very accommodating and relaxing. Add in the 5-star “homestyle” breakfast from Chef Fred and you are golden! Honestly, it’s worth booking for the breakfast alone! Service is also second to none.

This is one of the best places I've ever stayed. The decor is gorgeous, the service is top notch and I wish the owners would adopt me just so I can eat the scrumptious meals delivered to my room every morning. I was running late to check in and Chef Fred called to make sure I was okay and if I needed directions. Rachelle is an absolute dream to work with when I was making the reservation and called me the week of my travel to see if I needed any additional help. I just adore this place and the owners. The BEST place I've ever stayed.

Update: I am truly grateful to Rachelle and Chef Fred for hosting me and family in their event space for my grandmother's memorial service. Again the service was above and beyond and I received so much support from them during a very difficult time. The space was perfect for an intimate family memorial and Chef Fred cooked a delicious meal that my family and I raved over. I have to mention the excellent service again because that is what sets this business apart from any local competition. Rachelle responded quickly to all of my emails and phone calls, she's always professional and courteous and I felt like I was planning this event with a friend. I would recommend Thee Matriarch to anyone who would like to stay for their B&N services or if you're planning an event. They are absolutely amazing.

My significant other and I stayed at Thee Matriarch Bed and Breakfast, Meeting & Special Events Venue in the Out Of Africa quarters, which was beautifully decorated! We were served a southern breakfast by the owners, Chef Fred and Rachelle, which are so hospitable.

Highly recommended Black owned, bed and breakfast.

Rachelle and Chef Fred go above and beyond to make guests feel comfortable and welcome. Perfect hosts! The Out of Africa room was well appointed and beautiful. The recommendations for restaurants and things to do were helpful. We will definitely stay here again when in the area.

We had such a great stay at Thee Matriarch! Our hosts were so personable and welcoming! The place was clean, spacious, quiet and beautifully decorated but the food was the best part! Chef added in a little extra appetizer for us on the day we arrived which hit the spot but you haven’t lived until you have tried the award winning sweet tea! We will be coming back soon and recommending to friends!

We found Thee Matriarch on several Top Black Hotels lists. After reading the reviews we knew we had to book our stay. Rachelle and Fred are so kind and accommodating. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The room was cozy and felt like we were staying with family. Wished we could have stayed longer. It's located in downtown Orangeburg so it's easy to get around the city. We will definitely stay at Thee Matriarch on our next trip to Orangeburg.

My review is long overdue but better late than never. my cousin and I stayed here during Homecoming 2K19 weekend and I will never stay anywhere else! We were obsessed with it all! Miss Rachelle and Mr. Fred went above and beyond the entire weekend to make sure that we were taken care of and comfortable.
The food, the service, the events, the hospitality, the convenience, just EVERYTHING was perfect! Our room was beautiful and so spacious. It was all themed so beautifully. I could go on for hours. I have nothing but positive things to say about my stay at The Matriarch and to say that I'm eager to return is an understatement. Thank you Miss Rachelle and Mr. Fred for doing everything in your power to make sure that we were well accommodated ! See you soon ;)

Rachelle & Chef Fred were phenomenal hosts & I couldn't boast louder about Thee Matriarch B&B. The Out of Africa retreat was absolutely wonderful & delightfully appointed while the breakfasts served by Chef Fred left nothing for the palette to desire. We will most certainly stay again & will forever compare all future B&B breakfasts to this one by far. Everything was exquisite!!

I absolutely enjoyed my stay at Thee Matriarch. Decided to go to Orangeburg and found this wonderful gem in the heart of the city. The Jazz It Up suite was beautifully designed as well as comfortable. It was a home away from home. The Southern Style Breakfast was delicious! I will be visiting again on my next stop in Orangeburg. Rochelle and Chef Fred are wonderful hosts!

My husband and I had an incredible stay at Rachelle and Fred’s Thee Matriarch BnB. They were so warm and welcoming. Our room was beautifully designed and oh so comfortable. We highly recommend having breakfast/brunch at Thee Matriarch. You will not be disappointed with the scrumptious meal Fred cooks for you! The experience was so well curated. We’re Airbnb hosts and always keep our eyes peeled for the best of the Best and this is it! We cannot say enough about this South Carolina gem. We can’t wait to come back and will tell all of friends!

When we planning our son's graduation party, we wanted to have it in a memeorable location. We found it at Thee Matriarch. Planning his party in the midst of a pandemic was challenging but every detail in planning his party was easy with the
Rachelle and Fred Holmes. They were helpful and courteous. We would highly recommend their bed and breakfast in Orangeburg for any special occasion. The food was delicious and the location was convenient for our out of town guests as well. 5 stars isn't enough.

Rachelle and her husband have made two of my life-changing experiences magical. The first was my senior recital at Claflin University in 2016 and the second was for my graduation from Claflin in 2021.

In March of 2016, I was involved in a car accident and am now permanently disabled. I require a cane to walk. Rachelle was on it! Her husband took care of our bags and assisted me in walking up the stairs. (Note: for those who have even more limited movement, her first Bed and Breakfast does not have a bed on the first floor. This may change with the future opening of their 2nd Bed and Breakfast.)

In regards of food: we ate at several places while on this trip, but none of the food was great with the exception of the Bed and Breakfast. We considered it the only true home cooking we had on the trip. We received complimentary chicken salad upon arrival and they met my dietary needs (I'm pollo-pescetarian and lean heavily towards vegetarian/vegan foods and the rest of my family doesn't eat pork.) All the accommodations made went above and beyond our expectations.

In regards to safety and security: Thee Matriarch has a strict mask policy with the onset of Covid. There are also security methods to get into your room that must be followed to keep you as well as other guests safe. These procedures made us feel safe while staying there.

In regards of customer service: Rachelle is a very busy lady! When you initially attempt to book your appointment, keep in mind that this is a small (but thriving!) business. The Bed and Breakfast also offers catering (and Before the pandemic, they had brunch at Rachelle's Island. I can't comment on that service as I did not receive it during my trips.) This means that sometimes you may need to call back to make your booking. It is possible that they have a way to book on their site, but I've personally never used it. However, communication with Thee Matriarch was consistent and service was quick.

In regards to booking: I booked an extra day in case we arrived early, but our flight was delayed and we missed the first night. Accommodations were made for me. (Accommodations may vary, but Rachelle worked with me.)

In closing... sheesh, I wrote a book! I decided to come back a 2nd time for two reasons: 1. The first time we came, my late father was with us. When he passed in the accident, I knew that when I finally graduated, I wanted to honor him and he loved Thee Matriarch. 2. The moment you step through those doors, you feel like family. My cousin came with us this time and she fell in love as well. If you're traveling to Orangeburg, I can't recommend Thee Matriarch enough. We will be regulars every time we visit. I couldn't imagine going to a hotel after experiencing the themed rooms and the homey service. P.S. having less people in a building is a benefit during these times. My money is always well spent and my belly was comfortably full!

With love,
-B

I will definitely be staying at the Matriarch again. My stay was extremely comfortable, and the decor of the room lived up to it's theme name ( Florence of Italy ) . It was awesome.

Nothing but 5 stars! Needed a quick, but safe getaway from Florida. While there are 3 beautful suites, their covid precautions included me being only guest. This ensures no contact with other guest/strangers. (If you travel as family or same group you can get all 3 suites). The owners/host Fred and Rachelle are such beautiful, friendly, and joyful people. In an age of poor customer service and mediocrity, it was a joy to experience A+ service provided by them both. The suite was beautifully decorated in keeping with the Jazz suite theme. Chef Fred meals were delicious and customized to meet my dietary restrictions. Rachelle provided insight/tour info on Orangeburg and surrounding areas.. (I must confess, the amenities were so great, fireplace in bedroom and in jacuzzi tub bathroom I never left the suite (lol) Add to your bucket list for a romantic getaway or girls/family trip and rent out all three suites.) Before you depart, make sure to order Chef Fred's bread pudding and Rachelle's Island Tea to go!

Everything was top notch! Could not have asked for a better experience. Rachelle and Chef Fred are friendly, hospitable, and welcoming! The property itself is lovely. The food is incredible, the beds are comfortable, and the entire team went above and beyond to make me feel welcome and comfortable. You come here as a guest, and leave as family! Would stay again and again.

I hosted an event for my business at Thee Matriarch Bed & Breakfast and everything turned out wonderful. The event room was spacious and set up just the way I wanted it. Chef Fred’s food was amazing!!! Rachelle and Chef Fred took great care of us and provided us with the best customer ever. I plan to host more events here in the future.