After living in Charleston for four years, you can imagine I stacked up quite a list of favorite places as I explored all that this wonderful city has to offer. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or the 1000th time, there’s something for everyone. I’m sharing my list of recommendations below, and can’t wait to hear what everyone enjoys – whether you’re making our wedding weekend a long one, or you save it for your next visit. Enjoy!

Xoxo,

Sara

Charleston Favorites

Personal Favorite Restaurants (in no particular order):
1. Basic Kitchen
2. 167 Raw
3. Post House
4. Xiao Bao Biscuit
5. Melfi’s

Brunch

  • Basic Kitchen
    • Healthy and trendy, takes reservations
    • Go for brunch & get the Avocado Toast, the Smoked Salmon Toast, the Cauliflower Wings, and the Sweet Potato Fries. Thank me later
  • Millers All Day
    • More on casual side, great food
    • Trendy & cute
    • A go-to again and again
  • Vicious Biscuit
    • Casual place, great hangover food
    • Usually a wait so order ahead and skip the line
    • Get the Fatboy and sub cheddar for pimento
  • Park and Grove
    • A neighborhood go to
    • Used to be called Park Cafe
  • Vern’s
    • Cute place in an old house in a neighborhood
    • Awesome brunch food
  • Community Table
    • When I think brunch, I think this place. It’s so cute, located in the I’on neighborhood of Mt P (pro tip: take a walk around I’on after you eat) and has something for everyone!
    • Get the Monkey Bread and thank me later
  • Huriyali
    • Grab and go feel, has indoor/outdoor seating too
    • Full coffee bar and yummy, healthy eats like Avo Toast and Acai bowls

Lunch

  • Little Jack’s
    • A go-to again and again. Has something for everyone
    • Tavern vibes
  • 167 Raw
    • One of the best restaurants in CHS, doesn’t take reservations but has list
    • Trendy/ good atmosphere/ awesome seafood
  • Berkeley’s
    • Great neighborhood spot with a local feel
    • Crowd pleasing food, easy dining
  • Ellis Creek Fish Co
    • Casual fish camp vibes with great views
  • The Co-Op
    • Absolute must stop when going to the beach (Sullivan’s location is my favorite)
    • Get the California Turkey sandwich and the OG frosé. Thank me later!
  • Home Team BBQ (Downtown Location)
    • Awesome back patio area
    • Get the nachos to eat and a Gamechanger or Irish Coffee to drink

Dinner

  • Lowland Tavern
    • One of the newest, hottest places in town
    • Haven’t been yet but have heard great things!
  • O-Ku
    • Always solid, takes reservations
    • Tuna Tataki roll ’til I die
  • Felix
    • Cute, picture worthy
    • Accessible French food
  • Frannie and the Fox
    • Cute & trendy crowd pleaser
    • Great patio area with fireplace
  • Stella’s
    • Greek/Mediterranean
    • Always a solid option and one I keep coming back to
  • 167 Sushi
    • 167 Raw’s other restaurant
    • NYC sushi bar vibes, pricey
  • Melfi’s
    • New York City restaurant vibes. Romantic, dimly lit, small place
    • Get a pizza & a pasta to split
  • Chez Nous
    • French
    • Very cute romantic date night
    • New menu every day, 2 of each item
  • Post House
    • Cute, quaint vibes
    • Great date night
  • Shiki
    • My favorite place to go for sushi
    • Great prices, can get busy
  • Southbound
    • In an awesome renovated house in a cute neighborhood
    • Unique yet delicious food
    • Go for their rosé + live music happy hour
  • Sullivan’s Island Fish Camp
    • Casual with a little bit of a trendy/upscale feel
    • A go to by a great restaurant group, Basic Projects
  • Xiao Bao Biscuit
    • Local favorite for sure. I’ve never had anything like it
    • Amazing Asian fusion food in a laid back setting. Also great as takeout
  • Rancho Lewis
    • Favorite place to get Mexican food
    • Pro tip: get frosé before at The Co-Op outpost next-door

 Drinks

  • Seahorse
    • The owner of Chubby Fish’s new venture
    • Haven’t been yet personally but have heard great things
  • Roseline
    • Haven’t been yet personally but have heard great things
  • Bar 167
    • Around the corner from 167 Raw
    • A great place to go while you wait on your table there, but also has it’s own delicious food
  • Cocktail Club
    • Great for a pre/post dinner cocktail
    • Quieter at first but gets louder at night, has a small outdoor area/rooftop
  • Commodore
    •  Vintage wedding dance floor live band vibes
    • Similar to Johnny’s Hideaway
  • Graft
    • Wine bar great for dates
    • Has charcuterie and sometimes live music
  • Bar Vaute
    • Speak easy
    • Perfect for pre/ post dinner drinks
  • Salty Mike’s
    • Total local dive at Safe Harbor Marina. No frills, just good times! If you’re into picklebacks, everyone loves their’s.
  • Citrus Club
    • Rooftop of Dewberry
    • The nicest rooftop but wait can get long + also pricey
  • Revelry
    • Good views, solid brewery option
    • Nice atmosphere + food truck
  • Blind Tiger
    • Awesome back patio
    • Lots of TVs
  • Seabreeze Marina (called Cabana Bar)
    • Local spot for sure
    • Perfect for getting a casual beer and seafood with awesome views Great vibes good views, on the water

Coffee Shops

  • Harbinger
    • Great for a coffee date or working
    • So cute with a vintage feel
  • Babas on Cannon
    • Outdoor seating, European feel
  • Harken
    • Most photographable
    • Grab a coffee and walk South of Broad
  • The Daily
    • So yummy but pricey
    • Order ahead and get the Avocado or Smoked Salmon toast

Ice Cream

  • Off Track
    • The best gourmet ice cream ever. Line can get long so order ahead for pickup or prepare to wait
    • My favorite is the Freshly Minted because it’s made with real, mint ice cream that they make in house. So good!

Live Music

  • Windjammer
    • Beach front concert venue
    • Indoor/outdoor
    • Oyster roasts during season on Sunday’s
  • Royal American
    • Local grunge feel
  • Tobin’s
    • Outdoor, great atmosphere
  • Charleston Pour House
    • Jam band/ local dive bar feel
  • Commodore
    • Wedding band feel

Shopping

Women

  • Two Brunettes
    • Two locations, both in Mount Pleasant
    • My favorite boutique
    • Has brands like MOTHER, Blanknyc, Farm Rio, Amanda Uprichard
  • Finicky Filly
    • Downtown, on King Street
    • Similar to Heerys in Athens
  • Beckett Boutique
    • Downtown, on King Street
    • Higher end and girly
  • Hampden
    • Downtown, on King Street
    • High end
  • Ensemble
    • Downtown, on King Street
    • High end consignment
  • HART
    • Where everyone gets their beloved charm necklaces!
    • On Upper King Street

Men

  • Grady Ervin
    • Downtown, on King Street
    • Typical nice southern store
    • Similar to RL Martin in Valdosta
  • M Dumas & Sons
    • Downtown, on King Street
    • Nicest men’s store
  • Jordan Lash
    • In between super nice and casual
    • Polos etc
  • Rivers & Glen Trading Co
    • Mount Pleasant
    • Similar to Kevin’s in Thomasville or R.L. Martin in Valdosta

Boat Rentals

  • Charleston Power Boats
    • Go to if you want to take a boat out for the day
    • Can drive it yourself or get a charter
  • Mental Heeling
    • Sailboat

Bike Rentals

  • Bilda Bike
    • On Upper King street