Updated March 2023
The DL: Founded in the mid 1600s, Charleston is filled with rich history, rich food, and well the rich! From the charming culture, beautiful buildings, cute boutiques and yummy food this is the perfect getaway for any group; girls weekend, friends, or family trip.
How to Get Here:
Charleston has their own airport with great flight options. You can do without a car here and just uber or get a rental car. We did a couple days without a car downtown and then got a car to explore surrounding areas like Mt. Pleasent, Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island. Also its a 1.5 hour direct flight from NYC.
Where to Stay in Downtown Charleston:
If you can find a spot that is walking distance to King St. I feel like that’s the “center” of a lot of restaurants and shops. We stayed in an Air BnB in Cannonborough/Elliotborough area (this is the most North I would stay if you don’t have a car, it was convenient to a lot and quick ubers. There are so many cute boutique hotels to look at including:
- The Dewberry – this would be my pick!
- The Pinch – also my pick
- Millers
- Zero George
- The Bennett
- Hotel Emeline
- Frances Marion if you want a more affordable option in a good location
What to Do in Charleston:
- Charleston is a foodie town for sure, so make that a huge part of your trip!
- Take a architecture walking tour
- Visit a plantation (these are all about 30 minutes away)
- Historic Charleston City Market – pretty touristy but good to just walk through
- See the Battery and White Point Garden
- Shop down King Street
- Take a boat tour
- Walk the smaller less known streets South of Broad and look at the beautiful homes
- Extra time – visit Sullivans Island, Shem Creek (quick and easy Uber), and Isle of Palms
- Visit one of the many art galleries
- Walk down Tradd street to see many historical landmark houses
- Bike around town via Holy Spokes
- See Joe Riley Waterfront and the Famous Pineapple Fountain
- Visit popular Rainbow Row
Where to Eat in Charleston:
Breakfast/Brunch:
- The Daily
- Millers All Day – super popular, diner style
- Queen 82 – good solid brunch
- Poogans Porch – can be a bit touristy but fun to eat on the balcony
- Babas on Cannon
- Callies Hot Little Biscuit – line gets long here
- Beech – açaí bowls and smoothies
- Basic Kitchen – girly spot, good breakfast spot
- DAPS breakfast and Imbibe
- Harken Cafe – cute country chic breakfast spot
- Kudu Coffee and Beer – good coffee spot, cute little garden to sit in
Lunch:
- Little Jacks Tavern – burgers
- Leroys Oyster House – get their baked oysters
- Butcher and Bee
- Taco boy – if you want Mexican food
- Lewis BBQ
- Melfies
Dinner: (my favorites are starred*)
- **Raw 167 – oysters and lobster roll were my fave here, good vibes, can get a bit of a wait, one other location in Nantucket (they also have a sushi bar down the street)
- **Darling Oyster Bar – Good Happy Hour, instagrammable interior, get a resy, their crab dip is SO good
- 5 Church – dine in an old church, American food, good for larger groups, the risotto balls and cheese plate are great apps from here. ,However, would eat dinner somewhere else and just do apps and drinks here because venue is cool
- Delaney Oyster House – on my list but didn’t get to visit
- Husk – pricier, hard to get reservations, if you cant get them try to get a seat at the bar or in the back, I loved the cornbread, rib app, and peanut butter pie here. The menu changes seasonally, although they are known for their pork though.
- Fig -pricier, known for their tasting menu, date night
- Indaco – little Italian spot
- Home Team BBQ – casual bbq spot
- Chez Nous – French spot with a very limited menu
- Xiao Bao Biscuit – asian, lots of spice, in an old converted gas station
- **Leons Oyster Bar– amazing oysters, known for fried chicken, fish sandwich is also good
- Felix – good for cocktails, French spot on King St.
- **The Ordinary – classy seafood spot inside a bank from the early 1900s, get a resy here
- **The Obstinate Daughter (Sullivans Island) but so worth the commute out there!
- O-KU – asian spot known for their sushi
- Bennys – pizza spot with the largest slices every (non gluten free)
Rooftops
- Vendue Roof – lots of room good for big groups
- Starz – gets pretty crowded, popular spot to check out
- Citrus Club – my favorite of them all, a MUST do!
- Eleve – rooftop at grand bohemian, yummy truffle fries, lots of seating
- The Watch – a rooftop that serves food all day
Dessert
- Republic Ice Cream
- Sugar – super cute bake shop (gf items)
- Baked – (gf items)
- Carmellas – not a lot of gf items but gelato
Bars/Drink Spots:
- Vintage Lounge – wine bar, wine cocktails, all things wine
- Commodore – those looking for not a quiet weekend
- Doar Bros
- The Belmont – late night cozy spot, good bites (pop tarts)
- Prohibition
- Salty Mikes – cheap drinks at the marina good views
- Uptown Social
- Republic – club vibes
- Griffon – dive bar
- Revelry Brewing co
- Little palm
- Blind tiger – one of the oldest bars
- They Alley – bar and bowling
- Cocktail Club – small little roof up top
- Camellias – girly spot for a glass of wine at the bottom of Hotel Bennett
- Gin Joint – fun gin inspired drinks
- Bin 152 – rustic wine bar
Other Things to Do:
- Shops – croghan’s, hampdens, Candlefish, V2V, LAKE, Salisbury and Manus, antique shops
- Goat, Sheep, Cow – wine and cheese spot that also sells pantry goods
- Candle making class at Candlefish
- Extra time – head to Shems Creek, lots of restaurants and bars to eat on the water
- Extra time – go to the beach at Sullivans Island and Isle of Palms
For more getaway ideas, check out my weekend guides here.
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