Areas of Charleston
Downtown - Charleston’s historic downtown can keep most people busy for days. The peninsula is loaded with all types of places to tour, walk, eat, drink, shop, etc.
Mount Pleasant - Best area to run errands if needed. Has most of your popular grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, banks, etc. with easier parking than downtown.
Patriots Point (~5-10-minute drive) - Home to many of the College of Charleston Cougars athletic teams where you can watch a game, take helicopter tours, tour the USS Yorktown, golf at Patriots Point Links, park to walk the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, etc.
Shem Creek (~15-minute drive) - Great spot in Mount Pleasant on Shem Creek. Watch boats and dolphins pass by while eating at one of the various restaurants or get on the Palmetto Breeze and take a tour around Charleston harbor.
Sullivan’s Island (~20-minute drive) - Beautiful beach community! Can be busy on weekend summer days. Great restaurants!
Isle of Palms (~30-minute drive) - Very family friendly beach.
Folly Beach (~30-minute drive) - A funky beach community filled with local surfers and beachgoers. Surf is bigger than other surrounding beaches and at times suitable for surfing. Local surf shops offer lessons.
Park Circle (~20-minute drive…RUSH HOUR from downtown M-F at 4pm) - Park Circle is the historic downtown of North Charleston. Virginia Ave has a handful of great eats and places to stop for a drink. More of a local’s area where professionals stop by for a happy hour beverage and an appetizer.
***** PLEASE NOTE- Alcohol is not permitted on any Charleston area beaches. Police make rounds and are not sympathetic in writing hefty tickets. If you want to enjoy a beverage, you will need to place drinks in glasses with lids (IE Yeti’s, Artics, Tumblers, Stanley Cups, Water Bottles, etc.) Police will approach you if there are any kind of Red solo cups/ cans with koozies or open containers.
Dining
***We recommend calling or checking all restaurants' availability and making any reservations as early as possible.***
Neighborhood Favorites:
Berkley’s - Neighborhood upscale sandwich shop with open air seating and amazing food. Our favs are the Salmon BLT, The Cheesesteak and anything with their chicken cutlet! 624 Rutledge Ave, Charleston SC 29403
Park & Grove (5-7 min walk) - Charming neighborhood restaurant with an amazing seasonal menu and craft cocktails. We love it for Brunch or Dinner! (best to make reservations ahead of time). 730 Rutledge Ave, Charleston SC 29403 - (843) 410-1070
Herd (5-7 min walk) - Best burger in the neighborhood! Herd has an incredible happy hour, a built-in butcher shop, a farm to table menu and serves great local beer and craft cocktails. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 106 Grove St, Charleston SC 29403 - (843) 637-4145
Rodney Scott’s BBQ - Recognized as “South Carolina’s Best Barbeque Joint” by Southern Living! It is excellent! Our favorite is the “whole hog sandwich”. A must try for BBQ connoisseurs! 1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403 - (843) 990-9535
Harbinger Cafe - Picturesque coffee shop right up the road (11-ish min walk). On Sundays they have their famous doughnuts. They’re worth it. We promise. One of my happy places! 1107 King St, Charleston SC 29403 - (843) 637-3410
Melfi’s - Amazing Italian food! A beloved local favorite. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 721 King St, Charleston, SC 29403 - (843) 513-0307
Brunch
Daps Breakfast & Imbibe - Hash browns, pancakes & egg sandwiches accompany java & cocktails at this hip bar/coffeeshop. 280 Ashley Ave. Charleston, SC 29403
Bodega - Fun open air restaurant with amazing breakfast sandwiches. Great outdoor space that is combined with ShareHouse, which is another fun place to day drink. Perfect for nice days and open air eating/drinking). 23 Ann St Charleston, SC 29403
Tavern & Table - Casual, rustic-chic restaurant with a waterfront deck offering a locally sourced New American menu. Located on Shem Creek. Great place on a nice day! (best to make reservations ahead of time). 100 Church St, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Herd Provisions - Offering a rustic version of neo-American bistro fare, we feature grass-fed meat that comes directly from our farm. 106 Grove St, Charleston, SC 29403
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit - Snug counter serves featuring several types of biscuits, plus grab-&-go sandwiches, coffee & tea. 476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Park & Grove - Bright, airy cafe serving American fare with global influences & an emphasis on local ingredients. 730 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
Obstinate Daughter (on Sullivan’s island, definitely a drive) - Eclectic New American fare, plus a raw bar, pizza & pasta served in an elegant, country-style space. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
Lunch
Basic Kitchen - Serene, light-filled space for dishes featuring local produce & whole grains, plus Sunday brunch. 82 Wentworth St. Charleston, SC 29401.
Butcher & Bee - Relaxed watering hole with a menu of America grub & decor devoted to author Edgar Allan Poe. 1085 Morrison Dr. Charleston, SC 29403.
Fleet Landing - Goat Sheep Cow is a gourmet specialty cheese shop featuring worldly artisanal cheeses and wines in the southeast. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 186 Concord St. Charleston, SC 29401.
Uptown Social - Thin-crust pizza, sliders & upscale pub fare in a sports-centric alehouse with a rooftop deck. Fun at night! 587 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Dinner
Frannie & The Fox - Must make reservations as far in advance as possible. A favorite of ours and is so cute inside. It is located inside the Emaline Hotel and serves mainly Italian fare. The restaurant has a beautiful courtyard right back for drinks as well. 181 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401.
Malagón, Mercado y Tapería - A sensational Spanish tapería, so come for the flavor-packed tapas, and linger among the Spanish wines lining the shelves—they’re for sale. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 33 Spring St. Charleston, SC 29403.
Chubby Fish - This place is in our Top 3 All Time Charleston favorites. They don’t take reservations, so get there early and don’t be scared if there’s a line! They serve beer and wine while you wait :) 252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403.
Stella’s - A beautiful and fun restaurant off of St. Philip St with the best authentic Greek on the peninsula. One of our date night favs. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 114 St. Philip St, Charleston SC 29403
Taco Boy - A delicious upscale casual Mexican restaurant with the best unique tacos and margarita flavors. We recommend trying their fried chicken taco and Mexican street corn! (best to make reservations ahead of time). 212 Huger St, Charleston SC 29403
The Watch Rooftop - Located at the top of the gorgeous Restoration Hotel. It has amazing 360 views of the peninsula and has great food and even better craft cocktails. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 75 Wentworth St, Charleston SC 29403
167 Raw - The best seafood and raw bar on the peninsula (in our opinion). It’s a beautiful restaurant and if you love oysters- this is the place for you! (best to make reservations ahead of time). 193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
O-Ku - A fabulous sushi restaurant located right off of King St. It’s a staple for us and there is something for everyone there. Gorgeous restaurant with great atmosphere! (best to make reservations ahead of time). 463 King St, Charleston SC 29403
HomeTeam BBQ - Our absolute favorite place ever. Super casual BBQ place but the food is amazing. The vibes are immaculate and our go to order are the pulled pork nachos, wings, and tater tots. You will need to order a Gamechanger to drink! 126 Williman St, Charleston SC 29403
Saltwater Cowboys - Located at Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. It has a beautiful location and boasts the most beautiful sunsets with seating right on the water. The food is average, but the drinks and the scenery make it worth going. Red's Icehouse is located right next door and has a great atmosphere and live music most nights. We love Shem Creek! (best to make reservations ahead of time). 130 Mill St, Mount Pleasant SC 29464
Melfi’s - Amazing Italian food! A beloved local favorite. (best to make reservations ahead of time). 721 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Drink Spots
Felix Cocktails et Cuisine (Bar felix" one of our FAV cocktail and appetizer spots. Parisian themed)
Warehouse
Bar 167 (Sister bar to 167 Raw Restaurant)
Camellias (Pink room located inside Hotel bennet)
The Watch
The Citrus Club Rooftop
The Gin Joint
The Little Palm (at the Ryder Hotel. Palm Beach themed. SO cute)
The Vendue (rooftop great for a happy hour or day time cocktail/lunch)
The Blind Tiger (gotta go out back to their outside seating. A local fav)
Cocktail Club
Frannie & The Fox
Carmella's (Our absolute favorite dessert bar- but great for drinks at any time)
Sharehouse
Rooftop Bars
The Citrus Club - Located on top of the Dewberry Hotel. It is a gorgeous insta-worthy space, with the best view of our famous bridge. It is best to try to make a reservation, or get there as close to 5:00pm as possible, before it gets busy! 334 Meeting St, Charleston 29403
The Rooftop Bar at Vendue - Rooftop bar offering craft cocktails, sandwiches & light bites with city views. The Vendue Inn, 19 Vendue Range St, Charleston, SC 29401
Ritual Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge - Charleston’s latest rooftop restaurant, bar & nightclub. International menu with local seafood, craft cocktails and DJs. 145 Calhoun St, Charleston SC 29403
The Watch - (see above under ‘Dinner’). 75 Wentworth St, Charleston SC 29403
Pavilion Bar - Market Pavilion Hotel roof bar doing cocktails & global fare from its upscale perch over the city. Great views of the Ravenel Bridge! 225 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
The Eleve at the Grand Bohemian - Seafood-centric fine American dining & reimagined cocktails in a polished space & rooftop lounge. Great spot for pictures around sunset! 55 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
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Nightlife
Henry’s Rooftop - 4 floors of live music! Each level of Henrys has a different “vibe” with lots of live music and inexpensive drinks. This is our go-to spot for a fun night out. 54 N Market St, Charleston SC 29401
Ritual Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge - Charleston’s latest rooftop restaurant, bar & nightclub. International menu with local seafood, craft cocktails and DJs. 145 Calhoun St, Charleston SC 29403
Bangkok Lounge - Hole in the wall Karaoke bar. It’s such a fun dive bar where you can let loose and sing all your favorites. This place is a blast! 353 King St, Charleston 29401
Trio Club - 139 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
Deco Nightclub - 28 Ann St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Commodore - Local, vintage bar and reinvigorated jazz music venue. Fun spot to dance late in the night! 504 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403
Republic Garden & Lounge - Nightclub with innovative cocktails & small plates, served in a sophisticated setting. 462 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Sports Bars (& bar food)
Home Team BBQ - (see above under ‘Dinner’)
Uptown Social - Multi-level King St bar with thin-crust pizza, sliders & upscale pub fare in a sports-centric alehouse with a rooftop deck. Fun at night! 587 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Carolina Ale House - Casual restaurant & sports-bar chain featuring American pub fare, a long beer list & a kids' menu. Great rooftop! 145 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
Charleston Beer Works - Welcoming sports bar has a large selection of beers on tap plus several TVs & frequent live music.
Baystreet Biergarten - Rustic-chic spot for Southern pub grub with Bavarian flair, plus craft beer with pour-your-own taps. Great beer selection! 549 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29403.
Moe’s Crosstown Tavern - No-frills hot spot for watching sports, playing pool & drinking beer also offers American chow. Best bar food in town! 714 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403.
Red’s Icehouse - Busy, no-frills joint with ample patio space overlooking the water, serving up seafood & pub grub. 98 Church St, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Breweries
The brewery district is on Upper Meeting & King St. Multiple breweries can be hit in an afternoon. I suggest taking uber/lyft or the new brewery district shuttle from one to another.
Starting Sat. Feb. 29, 2020 at 1 p.m., the free trolley will be parked at Tradesman at the top of the hour. The order of the loop is:
:05 Edmund's Oast Brewing Co.
:10 Cooper River
:20 Palmetto
:25 Baker & Brewer
:30 Revelry
:35 Fatty's
:40 Lo-Fi
:45 Munkle
:50-55 arrive back at Tradesman
And so on and so forth until 9 p.m.
They have also worked out a deal with Lyft to get discounted rides for trolley travelers. Spend as much time as you like at each brewery, then catch a ride to the next when you're ready. You can also walk or bike to the breweries in between trolley hops — they're all within three miles of each other.
Favorite Breweries
Baker & Brewer - Relaxed brewpub & pizza collaboration offering craft beers, bakery goods & creative wood-fired pies. 94 Stuart St, Charleston, SC 29403
Revelry Brewing Co - Boisterous festivities, while enjoying craft beer. Great rooftop bar! 10 Conroy St, Charleston, SC 29403
Edmund’s Oast Brewery - Avant-garde beers, wood-fired pizzas & high-concept bar eats in a trendy, spacious locale. 1505 King St #115, Charleston, SC 29405
Munkle Brewing Co.