Guidebook for Charleston
Food Scene
A great breakfast spot just a short walk away. Opens at 7:30am during the week and 9am on weekends. Get there early on weekends. There is usually a line. I like the Big Nasty chicken biscuit.
190 locals recommend
Hominy Grill
207 Rutledge AveA great breakfast spot just a short walk away. Opens at 7:30am during the week and 9am on weekends. Get there early on weekends. There is usually a line. I like the Big Nasty chicken biscuit.
Poogan's Porch
72 Queen StExcellent brunch! Make a reservation.
BBQ - Great for pulled pork. I like the bbq burrito. Pro tip: Ask them for mac n cheese instead of coleslaw in the burrito. If you want a drink, have a frozen Game Changer. I wouldn't recommend more than one though. A short drive or Uber ride away.
265 locals recommend
Home Team BBQ
2209 Middle StBBQ - Great for pulled pork. I like the bbq burrito. Pro tip: Ask them for mac n cheese instead of coleslaw in the burrito. If you want a drink, have a frozen Game Changer. I wouldn't recommend more than one though. A short drive or Uber ride away.
If you're celebrating a special event or just want to splurge, this is the fanciest restaurant in the area. It's very good, but also very pricey. On Sundays during brunch time they have live gospel music.
There is a bar on the first floor that gets pretty busy at night. People are usually dressed well. You will find people of all ages hanging out at the bar.
306 locals recommend
Halls Chophouse
434 King StIf you're celebrating a special event or just want to splurge, this is the fanciest restaurant in the area. It's very good, but also very pricey. On Sundays during brunch time they have live gospel music.
There is a bar on the first floor that gets pretty busy at night. People are usually dressed well. You will find people of all ages hanging out at the bar.
Stop into Callie's for some delicious biscuits to go. They're especially good after a night out on the town.
89 locals recommend
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit
476 1/2 King StStop into Callie's for some delicious biscuits to go. They're especially good after a night out on the town.
Upscale southern food. My #1 recommendation for dinner while you are in town. You will probably need a reservation.
88 locals recommend
Magnolias
185 E Bay StUpscale southern food. My #1 recommendation for dinner while you are in town. You will probably need a reservation.
John Lewis has brought Texas style BBQ to Charleston. This is your place if you want some out of this world brisket. A short drive or Uber ride away.
186 locals recommend
Lewis Barbecue
464 N Nassau StJohn Lewis has brought Texas style BBQ to Charleston. This is your place if you want some out of this world brisket. A short drive or Uber ride away.
Really good sushi, but overpriced unless you go during happy hour. Half price sushi is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 5pm and 7pm. There are also drink specials during those times. It will be really busy during happy hour so you'll probably need a reservation, or you might be able to snag some seats at the bar.
94 locals recommend
O-Ku
463 King StReally good sushi, but overpriced unless you go during happy hour. Half price sushi is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 5pm and 7pm. There are also drink specials during those times. It will be really busy during happy hour so you'll probably need a reservation, or you might be able to snag some seats at the bar.
Vietnamese restaurant with some excellent dishes. The service isn't great, but the food is.
30 locals recommend
CO Restaurant
340 King StVietnamese restaurant with some excellent dishes. The service isn't great, but the food is.
The Macintosh
479B King StDelicious meals, but a bit pricey.
Good food just a short walk away. If you're a drinker try the Moscow Mule.
89 locals recommend
The Rarebit
474 King StGood food just a short walk away. If you're a drinker try the Moscow Mule.
I still haven't been yet, but I've heard that this place has some of the best food in all of Charleston. It is very small and located inside of a home. You will need a reservation.
49 locals recommend
Cru Cafe
18 Pinckney StI still haven't been yet, but I've heard that this place has some of the best food in all of Charleston. It is very small and located inside of a home. You will need a reservation.
Amazing food and a great selection of beers. Lots of gluten free options too.
142 locals recommend
Edmund's Oast
1081 Morrison DrAmazing food and a great selection of beers. Lots of gluten free options too.
Drinks & Nightlife
Sports bar - If you're trying to watch a game while you're in town, this is the best spot for that and they have good food too.
10 locals recommend
Carolina Ale House
145 Calhoun StSports bar - If you're trying to watch a game while you're in town, this is the best spot for that and they have good food too.
Sports bar - Not as big as Carolina Ale House on Calhoun St, but this one is a very short walk away. The food is just OK, but it's good for sports and drinks.
12 locals recommend
Charleston Beer Works
480 King StSports bar - Not as big as Carolina Ale House on Calhoun St, but this one is a very short walk away. The food is just OK, but it's good for sports and drinks.
This is one of my favorite spots to hang out downtown and it's very close to the house. Head to the rooftop at night and meet people from all over. It's a little chilly up there in the winter, but they have heaters. Mostly mid 20s and 30s crowd. There is also dancing downstairs on Saturday nights.
187 locals recommend
Stars Rooftop & Grill Room
495 King StreetThis is one of my favorite spots to hang out downtown and it's very close to the house. Head to the rooftop at night and meet people from all over. It's a little chilly up there in the winter, but they have heaters. Mostly mid 20s and 30s crowd. There is also dancing downstairs on Saturday nights.
A great bar for getting good drinks and meeting people. It's a little difficult to find. There's a door with stairs right next to Macintosh that lead up to the bar. There will be a line here late Friday and Saturday nights. Mostly 20s to 30s crowd.
209 locals recommend
The Cocktail Club
479 King StA great bar for getting good drinks and meeting people. It's a little difficult to find. There's a door with stairs right next to Macintosh that lead up to the bar. There will be a line here late Friday and Saturday nights. Mostly 20s to 30s crowd.
Attention beer drinkers! This is your spot. Very cool place with a nice beer list and decent food.
43 locals recommend
Closed for Business
453 King StAttention beer drinkers! This is your spot. Very cool place with a nice beer list and decent food.
This is a chill spot where you can sit with your friends and have a conversation without all the loud music. There are also ping pong tables here.
37 locals recommend
HoM Charleston
This is a chill spot where you can sit with your friends and have a conversation without all the loud music. There are also ping pong tables here.
This is a bar for partying. There is dancing starting at 11pm. It gets pretty crowded late. There is a $5 cover beginning at 10pm. This is a 20s to 30s crowd.
108 locals recommend
Prohibition
547 King StThis is a bar for partying. There is dancing starting at 11pm. It gets pretty crowded late. There is a $5 cover beginning at 10pm. This is a 20s to 30s crowd.
This is a quiet bar with fancy drinks. It's best for couples or friends who want to sit around and chat while sipping cocktails. It's not the best place for meeting people. There are people of all ages here.
68 locals recommend
The Belmont
511 King StThis is a quiet bar with fancy drinks. It's best for couples or friends who want to sit around and chat while sipping cocktails. It's not the best place for meeting people. There are people of all ages here.
This bar has a cool outdoor seating area where you can have a drink and chat. You can also sit inside at the bar if the weather is bad. There are people of all ages here.
8 locals recommend
492 King St
492 King StreetThis bar has a cool outdoor seating area where you can have a drink and chat. You can also sit inside at the bar if the weather is bad. There are people of all ages here.
** NOTE - Guys, most Upper King St bars will require you to have a collared shirt at night ** This place has live music outside on weekend nights. There are also heaters outside in the winter. The band plays very loudly so this is not the place for conversation, but it's cool if you just want to listen/dance to the music. There is also dancing inside with a DJ starting around 10pm, but there's not a whole lot of space. There will be people of all ages outside, but a younger crowd inside.
81 locals recommend
Republic Garden & Lounge
462 King St** NOTE - Guys, most Upper King St bars will require you to have a collared shirt at night ** This place has live music outside on weekend nights. There are also heaters outside in the winter. The band plays very loudly so this is not the place for conversation, but it's cool if you just want to listen/dance to the music. There is also dancing inside with a DJ starting around 10pm, but there's not a whole lot of space. There will be people of all ages outside, but a younger crowd inside.
A really cool rooftop bar on the south side of the peninsula. There are great views of the city here and it's the perfect place to watch the sun set. There will be people of all ages.
119 locals recommend
The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue
19 Vendue RangeA really cool rooftop bar on the south side of the peninsula. There are great views of the city here and it's the perfect place to watch the sun set. There will be people of all ages.
If you're on the south side of town this is worth checking out. They have music on two different floors after around 10pm or so, or you can head to the rooftop to chill. I've seen people of all ages here.
38 locals recommend
Henry's
54 N Market StIf you're on the south side of town this is worth checking out. They have music on two different floors after around 10pm or so, or you can head to the rooftop to chill. I've seen people of all ages here.
A dark, kind of smelly beer bar covered in dollar bills. Stop in for a quick beer if you are around the pier on the south side of town.
32 locals recommend
The Griffin
18 Vendue RangeA dark, kind of smelly beer bar covered in dollar bills. Stop in for a quick beer if you are around the pier on the south side of town.
This is a great spot with a really cool outdoor area on Broad St on the south side of town. It's worth going to if you are in that area.
64 locals recommend
Blind Tiger Pub
36-38 Broad StThis is a great spot with a really cool outdoor area on Broad St on the south side of town. It's worth going to if you are in that area.
Essentials
Walgreens
380 King StHarris Teeter
290 East Bay StreetKing Street Grocery
435 King St Convenience store on King St for quick essentials.
Shopping
Farmer's Market, April through November. Every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, Marion Square turns into a market for local items, food and drinks. It's on the corner of King St and Calhoun St. Great for a Saturday morning stroll.
379 locals recommend
Marion Square
Farmer's Market, April through November. Every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, Marion Square turns into a market for local items, food and drinks. It's on the corner of King St and Calhoun St. Great for a Saturday morning stroll.
On the second Sunday of each month (1pm - 5pm), King Street south of Calhoun is blocked off for pedestrians only. You can stroll from storefront to storefront to browse, eat, or drink. Musicians will be playing their jams, and you can usually score a sample or two of food and drinks. It’s also one of the best places to dog watch in the city.
252 locals recommend
King Street
King StreetOn the second Sunday of each month (1pm - 5pm), King Street south of Calhoun is blocked off for pedestrians only. You can stroll from storefront to storefront to browse, eat, or drink. Musicians will be playing their jams, and you can usually score a sample or two of food and drinks. It’s also one of the best places to dog watch in the city.
Sightseeing
An amazing tree that you should visit on your way to or from Firefly Distillery. Angel Oak is estimated to be 500 years old. It stands 66.5 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet
440 locals recommend
Angel Oak Tree
3688 Angel Oak RdAn amazing tree that you should visit on your way to or from Firefly Distillery. Angel Oak is estimated to be 500 years old. It stands 66.5 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet
Check out Firefly and do a tasting of their delicious vodkas and moonshines. Chat it up with your server and you're sure to get many more tastings than advertised. They also offer a wine tasting, but their wines are not very good. Have a frozen peach Winerita while you wait for your tasting time.
109 locals recommend
Firefly Distillery
4201 Spruill AvenueCheck out Firefly and do a tasting of their delicious vodkas and moonshines. Chat it up with your server and you're sure to get many more tastings than advertised. They also offer a wine tasting, but their wines are not very good. Have a frozen peach Winerita while you wait for your tasting time.
Entertainment & Activities
An awesome local improv comedy show! Shows are on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. There's an additional show at 10pm on Saturday nights. Tickets are only $5 on Wednesdays and $12 on weekends. Get tickets at Theatre99.com.
91 locals recommend
Theatre 99
280 Meeting StAn awesome local improv comedy show! Shows are on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. There's an additional show at 10pm on Saturday nights. Tickets are only $5 on Wednesdays and $12 on weekends. Get tickets at Theatre99.com.