Some of my staple restaurants I go to whenever I visit Charleston! I have a lot of people ask me when they're visiting, so definitely add these to your list. You won't be disappointed! I always tell people that the best way to truly see Charleston is...
Map
Sections
6
Brunch
Dinner
Coffee
Happy Hour/Drinks
Night Owls
Where to Stay
Brunch
Park & Grove (formally known as Park Cafe) is my #1 spot for brunch in Charleston. They have an amazing dinner menu as well. Service is ALWAYS 10/10 and I've been coming here for about six years.
I have some of my runner ups listed if I don't g...
I've been coming here for YEARS and it's truly one of my favorite little hidden gems! You can't go wrong with brunch or dinner. HIGHLY recommend!
Park & Grove
Great Breakfast Biscuits
Millers All Day
Line is always out the door! SO good, but be prepared to leave full!
Vicious Biscuit
Truly never had a bad meal here, I love this spot. Recommend making a reservation, it's popular!
The Obstinate Daughter
4
Great for a quick bite!
Queen Street Grocery
Amazing Paninis (biased bc I worked here, but truly great)
Circe's Grotto
Clean and Good!
BASIC KITCHEN
1
C&B has a little bit of everything for everyone. It's perfect for a snack or a quick bite while you're enjoying the shops of King St. or walking around the beautiful CofC campus!
Caviar & Bananas
This is my first stop when I get to Charleston without fail. Love their southwest!
Eat at Verde - Charleston
1
Dinner
You can't go wrong with anything on the menu here! I love their buratta, any pasta, great wines.
Indaco
Best sushi in town and great happy hour deals!
O-Ku
My FAVORITE mussels on the peninsula! Smaller space, reservations highly recommended.
Cru Cafe
Literally Amazing
167 Raw Oyster Bar
Great Atmosphere and Food! Oysters, DUH
The Darling Oyster Bar
An East Bay Street staple. One of my favorite places for fresh oysters!
Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar
10/10 recommend. From starters to dessert to drinks, you'll leave blissfully fulfilled. We celebrated my husband's 30th birthday here and they printed special menus just for us. It's truly an experience all the way around!
Husk Resturants | The Neighborhood Dining Group - Charleston
Coffee
Very Popular (for good reason!)
Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer
Truly One of My Favorites
The Daily
2
Happy Hour/Drinks
Some of my go-to spots when I'm in the city for drinks with friends!
Love their HH! Always get their Moscow mule and fries 🤌🏼 This is a staple in my friend group!
The Rarebit
Great drinks, cozy vibes.
Frannie & The Fox
You get BEAUTIFUL views of the city and river from here! Drinks are great, lots of seating.
The Vendue
Classic Shem Creek location. Beer buckets are a must!
Red's Ice House
The name truly tells you everything you need to know - great for a rowdy crowd!
Saltwater Cowboys
Loooove prohibition, outside is my favorite spot.
Prohibition
One of my favorite places to pop into for a night cap and dessert at the bar. Can't beat it!
The Charleston Place
Amazing cocktails, atmosphere is 10/10. Small space!
The Belmont - Charleston
One of my favorite places in college! Drinks and service are great, smaller space but super fun- live DJs sometimes!
The Lux | Warehouse - Cannonborough / Elliotborough ...
Aesthetically pleasing, fun atmosphere, great drinks! Definitely recommend a recommendation, fills up quick!
Little Palm
BEST Espresso Martini on the peninsula! Also have a fun wine guessing game- free glass if you guess it right! One of my absolute FAVORITE spots!
An absolute hidden gem! I came here during bridge run weekend and always said I'd keep it to myself… 10/10 recommend!
Bistronomy By Nico
Night Owls
Definitely a great spot for anyone looking to relive their college days! A much younger crowd typically, but the vibes are there.
Uptown Social
One of my favorite rooftops aside from The Vendue! Stars is a classic. Both upstairs and downstairs fill up quick during the evening. Bust down the dancefloor with their live music!
Stars Rooftop & Grill Room
Lowkey atmosphere, great drinks. It makes you feel like you're in a speakeasy almost?
The Cocktail Club
Whether you know it from TV or here, it's one of the best places to party! I love their outside garden area, drinks and service are always great. Be prepared to wait in a long line!
Republic Garden & Lounge
Okay, okay… ANOTHER gorgeous rooftop in the heart of downtown! Day or night, this place is the place to be. Mixed crowd of all ages, service is great. I LOVE coming here, especially when I want to hit the dance floor with my girls!
Ritual Rooftop
VERY small space, I'd make a reservation or try to pop into the bar. If you can't tell from the pictures, it's one of the places for THE Instagram photo. Love coming here for a glass of champagne!
Camellias
The #1 dive bar of dive bars. This is for my PBR loving folks who love sticky floors and an eclectic crowd!
Recovery Room Tavern
Usually have great shows and local musicians, I love coming here with friends for beer and tunes.
The Royal American
Anyone who's lived in Charleston for any amount of time knows this is where all the fun happens. Great little gem in the city!
The Commodore
Where to Stay
I've stayed here on numerous occasions and love how close it is to everything on the peninsula. No complaints!
Francis Marion Hotel
Absolutely stunning, shops and a great restaurant downstairs. One of the best places to stay. We stayed on the 7th floor which includes food and drinks throughout the day at the bars. Love this hotel!
The Charleston Place
Although I've personally not stayed here, I have friends who frequent it and love it. It's close to some GREAT eats on East Bay Street, the famous Pineapple Fountain is steps away and the rooftop is the cherry on top of your stay… literally!
The Vendue
The iconic “pink hotel” located near Market St. and Rainbow Row. You're away from the hustle and bustle of the heart of the city, but close enough to catch a pedicab!
Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton
Another stunner that has a gorgeous rooftop with incredible views! Walkable to pretty much anything, it's across Marion Square from the FM Hotel.
