Hi y’all! This is a post I have been thinking about for months, but haven’t felt like I had enough Charleston experience to write it yet. However, after almost 10 trips to Charleston in the last year, I feel like I have enough knowledge of the city to write this post. This will be the first of multiple Charleston posts because I’ve determined there is just too much to put into one blog post. In this travel guide, you will find my favorites in every category including hotels, activities, food, and drinks all within Downtown Charleston!
Where to Stay
My mom has a house in downtown Charleston, which is why I am able to go so often. However, she did not move into the house until October, so I stayed in multiple hotels during visits prior to October.
The Dewberry
The Dewberry is a gorgeous luxurious hotel overlooking Marion Square. The rooms are decked out in the finest finishes you can think of and the bathrooms are all carrara marble! This hotel is an interior design lovers dream! The location is also amazing! You are right in the heart of downtown Charleston with an easy walk to Upper King, which houses many of the bars and nightlife that have Bachelorette parties flocking to the city, and it is super close to the shopping district of King Street.
The Dewberry is also a Historical Hotel of America. It was an old financial office building that has been completely renovated into this amazing space. Luckily, the rooms do not feel like cubicles. Along with how pretty it is and the great location it also has pretty great amenities including hotel cars that can take you where you need to go downtown, which was such a relief when we stayed there after taking 35k steps and being too tired to walk to dinner!
What to Do
Walking Tours
Charleston is full of history, so I highly suggest taking a walking tour of downtown. Charleston Footprints has been my favorite tour! Michael guides you through the streets of Charleston and tells story after story. What makes his tours extra special are the personal touches he includes; he was born and raised in the South of Broad neighborhood, so he has a personal story or experience with almost every area of the city. It was such a fun tour and a great way to see the details of the architecture and cityscape up close.
The Charleston Museum
If a walking tour didn’t answer enough of your historical questions, then head north to The Charleston Museum located on meeting street above Marion Square. This is a perfect activity to cool off in the summer heat or escape a rain storm. It took me about 2.5 hours to get through the whole museum, but I am a nerd and I love Civil War history, so I was reading everything!
Hotel Bennett
This is such a random activity, but Hotel Bennett is a brand new hotel next to Marion Square, and it is AMAZING! I will never ever ever be able to afford to stay in this hotel, but walking through it is so fun. The have a champagne bar that serves afternoon tea (see my review of that here), but they also have a patisserie, restaurants, and rooftop patio bar. Just walking around the lobby is an experience in itself and it has so many amazing photo opps!
House Hunting
I know most people aren’t looking to buy a house in Charleston, but I didn’t know what else to call this activity. Some of the prettiest and most extravagant houses I’ve ever seen are located in Downtown Charleston. South of Broad is the most famous neighborhood in Charleston and there is no shortage of houses to look at in this area. My favorite streets to walk are Legrae, Tradd, and Church street (there are multiple dogs that I always see on Church St.). Also, if you are a Bravo Southern Charm fan you can walk by Patricia’s house on Rutledge Ave, but you probably won’t see anything over the giant wall surrounding her property.
Parks and Rainbow Row
The parks and Rainbow Row are a must do when in Charleston even if its only for the Instagram post. Take a walk down East Bay and stop at Waterfront Park to see the famous Pineapple fountain; there is also a fountain that is a popular spot for kids to wade and splash when it’s hot out. As you keep walking South towards the battery you will pass Rainbow Row, for the best photo opp go early before the crowds start forming. You will eventually make your way to White Point Garden at the battery. Here you will find some of the most beautiful oak trees I’ve ever seen! This is a great spot to bring your lunch and enjoy the scenery.
Where to Shop
King Street
Who doesn’t love shopping? King Street is the primo shopping destination in Charleston. You will be able to find everything from Louis Vuitton to Forever 21 in this part of town. However, my favorite shopping in Charleston are the smaller boutiques that are owned locally. There are so many amazing artisans in Charleston and their work is beautiful. The Charleston Preservation Society has a really cool shop on King Street that features many of these local brands.
Charleston Farmer’s Market
The City Market is a hot tourist destination in Charleston and if it is important for you to see it, then I would go early in the morning when it first opens or right before closing time because it gets hectic!! I much prefer the Charleston Farmers Market which takes place in Marion Square every Saturday morning between April and November. There are so many booths here with amazing food, art, and even furniture (yes, my mom bought a table at the farmer’s market). There are also usually kid friendly activities at the farmer’s market!
Where to Eat
This is the hardest category for me to narrow down, so I will be doing a whole post about nothing but the food in Charleston! The below spots are just a few of my favorites for each meal of the day.
Coffee and Pastries –
One Broad – This was one of the first coffee shops I tried in Charleston and I’ve been hooked ever since. They also make all of their pastries and breads fresh in house, and they are to die for!!
Rise Coffee – Located below the Restoration Hotel, this place has the best Iced Matcha Latte ever!!
Breakfast/Brunch
5 Church – This spot on Market Street may be my favorite restaurant for all meals in Charleston, but their brunch is especially great. Mimosa Flights and beignets are a must! My favorite brunch dishes are the huevos rancheros and smoked salmon and fried goat cheese salad.
High Cotton – I try really hard to not go to the same restaurant multiple times since Charleston has so many great options, but I will admit that I have had brunch at High Cotton 3 times, so you know it’s good. They have biscuits as big as your head and amazing southern dishes. My favorite is the Crab Cake Benedict. Also, if you are a fan on the movie The Notebook you may recognize this restaurant from the scene where Allie is eating with her fiance and Noah looks in the window and sees them.
Lunch
Millers All Day – Millers is super cute! Everything is themed perfectly including their bar, which is set up as a 1950’s style drugstore counter. This is a go-to for my family and I because it’s the closest restaurant to the house, but they never disappoint. I love their sandwiches, but they are known for their grits, which also don’t disappoint.
Basic Kitchen– This may be one of the most Instagramable restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. It is super health and vegan conscious. It’s a little tucked away off of Wentworth St, but super delicious. I had the avocado toast and split the cauliflower wings with a friend, and I must say their vegan ranch gives regular ranch a run for its money.
Dinner
Poogan’s Porch – Poogan’s is a Charleston staple, and for good reason. The kill the southern cooking game. I absolutely love their pimento cheese fritters and seafood dishes!
Amen Street – There are a lot of raw bars to choose from in Charleston, but this is one of my favorites strictly because of their amazing service and extensive menu that is not just oysters. I am an oyster lover and they always have super fresh oysters, but my mom and friends who do not eat oysters have always enjoyed their meals here also.
Dessert
Peace Pie – I am not a sweets person, so I usually don’t seek out dessert after eating dinner. However, my mom does have a killer sweet tooth and brought me to Peace Pie once and OMG it was soooo good! They basically do cookie sandwiches with ice cream in the middle! So yummy and they have multiple locations!
Where to Drink/Nightlife
This category will have its own blog post, but here are a few of my favs.
Day Drinking – Stars Rooftop and get the frose
Dive Bar – The Griffon
Best Outdoor Patio – The Blind Tiger
Fancy Cocktails – The Gin Joint
Beer – Pour Taproom (its a franchise, but has an awesome rooftop setup)
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Sissy says
There a some places I look forward to trying next time I am there!
admin says
I want to take you to tea the next time you’re there! You’d love it!