My meticulously curated travel guide for Charleston, South Carolina, includes local hotspots, under-the-radar restaurants, can’t-miss boutiques, and hip places to stay.
Charleston is one of the prettiest cities, a top culinary destination, a history buff’s dream, an architectural paradise, and a gorgeous seaside beach town. The Holy City is named after all the churches that dot the skyline. It’s the perfect weekend getaway.
If you have one day in Charleston, start with coffee at Second State, then go for a walk or run in the historic district.
For breakfast, swing by Callie’s Hot Biscuit or Little Line Kitchen.
After breakfast, take a carriage ride and a historical walking tour. For an afternoon snack, visit Sugar Bakeshop for a cupcake or Harken Cafe for a pastry.
The Belmont Hotel is the best place for a cocktail. For lunch or dinner, I like Basic Kitchen and Slightly North of Broad. Fleet’s Landing is on the waterfront in historic downtown Charleston, and it has the best views of Charleston Harbor.
EAT
Basic Kitchen is my favorite place to eat in town. *GF menu
Little Line Kitchen and Provisions (Breakfast or Lunch)
SNOB *GF menu (Live Music Nightly)
Harbinger Cafe (Breakfast/Lunch)
Fleet’s Landing (shrimp and grits, she crab soup, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes)
Church and Union *GF menu
Chubby Fish (Seafood)
R Kitchen (Reservations)
Leon’s (Oysters)
Franny & the Fox (Pizza)
Melfi’s (Pizza)
167 Raw on King (Oyster)
Butcher + Bee (Burgers, Salads)
Chez Nous (French)
The Ordinary (Oysters)
Xiao Bao Biscuit (Asian comfort food)
Chez NousCru Cafe (Lunch or dinner)
Fig (Fancy Dinner)
Goat Sheep Cow (Cheese & wine bar)
Halls Chophouse (Steak)
Hot Little Biscuit (Biscuits)
Indaco (Italian)
Little Jacks (Burgers)
Le Farfalle (Italian)
Park Cafe (Great breakfast & lunch)
Rarebit (Lunch/Late night)
The Darling (Brunch)
The Ordinary (Seafood)
Tu (Indian)
Five Loaves (Sandwiches)
Hometeam BBQ (Sullivan’s Island)
Obstinate Daughter (Sullivan’s Island)
Obstinate Daughter (Sullivan’s Island)
The Post House (Mount Pleasant)
Bowen’s Island (Folley Beach)
GLUTEN-FREE
Basic Kitchen is my favorite place to eat in town.
Sugar Bake Shop (cupcakes)
SWEETS
Sugar Bake Shop (cupcakes) *GF
Harken Cafe *GF
Harbinger Cafe *GF
SHOP
Charleston has most major retailers (particularly along King Street), but also the cutest little boutiques.
Charleston City Market is four city blocks long. Most of it is open air.
Hampden Clothing (King Street)
Lake Pajamas (King Street)
Roller Rabbit (King Street)
Madison Mathews (King Street)
Billy Reid (Clothing boutique)
Celadon (Home)
Croghan’s (Jewelry)
Ibu Movement (Home)
Indigo & Cotton (Men)
Abide a While Garden Boutique (plants)
Amanda Lindroth (home)
James (Shoes & Accessories)
Mac & Murphy (Stationary)
Pink Chicken (Kids & Women’s)
Roberta Roller Rabbit (Clothing & Home)
South of Market (Interiors)
Sugar Snap Pea (Children’s Shop)
The Commons (Home)
Juliska (Home)
Worthwhile (Parisian fashion)
Pitt Street Kids (Mount Pleasant)
Out of Hand (Boutique in Mount Pleasant)
Bennie + Coco (Sullivan’s Island)
Goldbug (Sullivan’s Island)
Out of Hand (Mt Pleasant)
Monkees of Mount Pleasant (clothing)
DRINK
Second State Coffee is my favorite coffee shop in Charleston.
Harken Cafe is an adorable cafe serving coffee, tea, and snacks.
Orange Spot Coffee on East Montague in North Charleston. Their syrups are house-made.
Camillas is a pink Champagne bar located inside the Hotel Bennett, which is nicknamed the “Queen of King Street.”
Palmetto Brewing Company was Charleston’s first brewery and tasting room and they have the most diverse selection of beer to choose from.
Revelry Brewing has a great view of the city with a rooftop patio option.
PAMPER
Varnish Lane (Organic nail salon)
Complete Beauty Wellness Spa (Holistic spa)
Maven (Hair salon owned by Southern Charm’s Madison LeCroy)
DO
Charleston Academy (Cooking classes)
Historic Charleston (tour the homes)
Redux Studios (view artist studios & take classes)
South of Broad (bike or stroll through the neighborhood)
CandleFish (candle making)
Waterfront Park
Walk & Talk Charleston (Fun and informative two-hour storytelling walking tour of Charleston focused on the city’s character and characters.)
WALK
The Battery and White Point Garden
French Quarter
Hampton Park
Pitt Street Bridge
BEACHES
Folly Beach is known for its laid-back atmosphere, wide sandy beach, and excellent surfing conditions.
Isle Of Palms Beach is known for its soft sands, clear waters, and wide range of activities.
Sullivan’s Island is known for its clear waters and pristine white sand beach perfect for sunbathing, with a long coastline at high tide, and a beautiful sandbar during low tide that is great for kids.
SEE
Rainbow Row is Charleston’s most iconic street with its 13 colorful Georgian Townhomes.
Pineapple Fountain is a symbol of the hospitality of this city.
Angel Oak Tree (St. John’s Island) is around 400 to 500 years old, and the branches span 28 feet in circumference.
Arthur Ravenel Bridge connects Charleston to Mount Pleasant. It is the third-longest cable suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
Morris Island Lighthouse is located at Folley Beach. Drive to the very end of Ashley Avenue and park. It’s about a ¼ mile walk to view the lighthouse and you have to climb over a little sandy ridge. Driftwood lines the shore. Rocky outcrops reach out into the water. Starfish are often in little tide pools. Almost guaranteed to see dolphins.
STAY
GETTING AROUND
Dash Bus is a free shuttle downtown.
Express Bus From the Airport to Downtown
And, I would love to know do you have a favorite Charleston spot you want to recommend.
TRAVEL GUIDES:
Laurel // Waco // Jacksonville // Philadelphia // Austin // Richmond // Palm Springs // Venice Beach // Oxford, MS // Portland, Oregon // 30A Florida
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