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In late January, a Southwest airfare sale collided with a particularly cold, snowy day in Wisconsin. A few clicks later, and Ben and I had two tickets to Charleston, South Carolina for an impromptu warm weather mini vacation. If you plan tovisitCharleston yourself (or want to procrastinate and go on a little mental vacation with me right now), I created this trip recap withrecommendations for the best Charleston restaurants, activities, and a downtown hotel stay.
When I booked ourtickets, I knew two things about Charleston:
- It was warmer than Wisconsin.
- The city’s food scene was reportedly epic.
Enough said. We left our puffy coats behind and fled south.
From its Civil War history to its beautiful architecture to its FOOD, every moment (and every bite) in Charleston was more than worth the trip. If you are looking for a lovely, accessible place to spend a few days and relaxing and grazing like royalty, Charleston is an ideal destination.
Here’s a useful city guide that captures top activities, restaurants, and lodging in Charleston, S.C.
WHERE TO STAY in Charleston: The Spectator Hotel
I couldn’t envision a more charming hotel or a better location for your stay in Charleston than The Spectator Hotel. Don’t let the cool 1920s vibe or classically dressed butlers fool you—this hotel is newly built, and it has the top-of-the line amenities and modern comforts to prove it.
Location: In the heart of the historic district, blocks from bustling King Street, across from the city market, and within easy walking distance to just about everything you need in Charleston.I couldn’t have asked for a better address. In fact, the location was so spot-on, we didn’t need to rent a car, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip—we hardly would have used it, and even if we had, parking in Charleston is categoricallyimpossible.
Rooms: Bright, airy, and plenty spacious. Some rooms even have a cute balcony where you can sit and enjoy your daily room-service breakfast (more on breakfast in the amenities section below).
The bathrooms are incredible—beautiful marble, giant showers with fantastic water pressure and temperature, double sinks, and premium Kohler fixtures. I felt like I was at a spa!
Amenities: Yes, The Spectator has a phenomenal location and rooms that I could happily inhabit for months, but what truly sets it apart is the personal touches and extra little luxuriesthat come included with your stay, such as:
- Freshly made breakfast delivered to your room. This is not your standard hotel continental fare—think locally made granola, fresh berries, buttery cheddar bacon biscuits, quiche, and bruleed grapefruit.
- Welcome co*cktail. If that doesn’t say vacation I don’t know what does. For a refill, head over to thesnappy hotel bar, staffed bymixologistswho really know theirliquor.
- Butler service. You’ll be personally shown to your room by one of the hotel’s butlers, all of whom are very knowledgeable about the hotel and the city of Charleston. Think of them like super concierges.
- A mini bar stocked with locally made gourmet snacks, available for refill upon request.
- Other bonuses such as free bicycle usage.
WHAT TO DO in Charleston: Must-See Activities
Find Your Bearings: Take a historic carriage tour.
Arguably Charleston’s most touristy activity, taking a carriage tour through the historic district is also one of its best. It’s a fun, relaxing way to begin your trip, as well as a useful one. The city is fairly small, so the carriage tour allowed us to orient ourselves and prioritize the different parts of the city we wanted to spendtime exploring.
An intimidating number of similar companies with similar names compete for carriage tour business. We selected Palmetto Carriage Works based upon the recommendation of family friends who live outside of Charleston and were not disappointed. The hour long historic neighborhood tour felt like just the right amount of time, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of information that I absorbed and recalled throughout the trip. This background added color and dimension to the rest of our stay.
Relive History: Tour a plantation.
Aside from the carriage tour (and eating), this is the one paid Charleston activity that I would deem a “must do.” Charleston is a short driving distance from several plantations, each of which offers something unique, be it an especially grand garden or original furnishings. We opted to tour Boone Hall, and I cannot recommend it enthusiastically enough.
Yes, Boone Hall has aHollywood-esque plantation home to tour, but what makes this place special is its collection of original slave houses. The houses each contain small displays, videos, and artifacts that highlight a different aspect of slave life. When planning your visit, call ahead to be sure you your timing alignswith one of the daily live slave history presentations, which are given by an amazing, dynamic woman who is a descendant ofa slave family.
Slavery is a dark chapter inAmerican history, but it is an important one. Visiting Boone Hall helped me to better understand howthe echoes and effects of slavery continue to be felt to this day. It enriched my visit to Charleston immeasurably.
Get Lost: Let yourself wander through Charleston’s historic district.
One of the most attractive, charming features of Charleston is its historic homes and buildings. We spent hours wandering through the older neighborhoods, picking out our dream home (many multi-million-dollar options to choose from), admiring the colorful stucco walls and fancy ironwork, and reading the informative plaques placed on historic buildings and streets. Many companies offer paid walking tours, but the city’s important landmarksare so well-signed, you can largely create your own for free, especially if you started your trip with a carriage tour (see top recommendation above).
Wander the City Market:Open daily and packed with local crafts, bites, and fun souvenir shopping.
WHAT TO DO in Charleston: Nice-to-See Activities
Climb Aboard a Submarine: And a destroyer. And an aircraft carrier.
A single admission ticket to Patriot’s Point gives you access to three major U.S. Naval crafts. You can explore each ship at your own pace, and do your best to imagine what life was like for the crew aboardeach vessel. I do wish that the shipsincluded more historical information and excerptsof what like was like aboard. It was still a relatively worthwhile visit, but I wasn’t captivated in the same breathless way that I was when we visited the U.S.S. Midway in San Diego.
For the History Buffs: Tour Ft. Sumter.
The target of the first shots of the Civil War, Ft. Sumter is now largely a pile of rubble. That said, it is a very historic pile of rubble. The museum at the fort does an excellent job of explaining its role as a rallying symbol for both the north and the south during the Civil War, as well as the importance of Charleston’s harbor.
Historic King Street:Get your shop (and inner decorator) on.
Every shop you can imagine, but my favorite stops were the local art galleries. Ben Ham’s large-scale photography was mesmerizing.
WHAT TO EAT in Charleston:a.k.a. Why You Are Probably Reading This Post.
I researched our dining destinations for this trip exhaustively, visited with other foodies who had explored Charleston, and introduced myself to total strangers on the plane to gain their local perspective.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with the places we picked, including the night we ate two dinners, just to make sure we squeezed in as many meals as we could.
MUST EATS IN CHARLESTON
Circa 1886: If you go for one splurge meal in Charleston, make it Circa 1886. Housed in a historic mansion and captained by Chef Marc Collins (on whom I have developed a serious chef crush), Circa 1886 offers the complete dining out package: a weak-at-the-knees romantic atmosphere, impeccableservice, and a selection of food and wine that ranked it among one of the best meals I have every had the pleasure to enjoy.
Ben and I each ordereda three-course tasting menu with wine pairings, and as I reflect back on the meal, it is with a sweet longing to be back at that table. The dining room was cozy and peaceful, with white tablecloths, roses, and a lovely fireplace—the ideal romantic date setting. The wine was carefully selected and paired, and the food. Oh my.
We trusted our server’s recommendations and were not disappointed by a single bite. Each dish started witha classic ingredient or pairing, but added a completely unique twist that went above and beyond expectation. Fois gras with savory ice cream? It works, and it will blow you away. Hot blueberry soufflé with lemon gelato and deconstructed bourbon pecan bread pudding? Two of the best desserts we’ve ever eaten. Not one but three surprise bites delivered from the chef throughout the meal, including an asparagus soup with crispy salmon skin? Just one of the surprise touches you can expect atCirca 1886.
Every bite of our meal and every sip of wine spoke softlyto the specialness ofthis experience. When I look back on Charleston, I will sigh blissfully and remember Circa.
Kitchen 208: After our epic experience at Circa 1886, we had to try another of Chef Marc Collin’s Charleston restaurants, Kitchen 208. An airy, casual breakfast and lunch spot, this is the ideal place to grab a bite while you are shopping historic King Street. Whether you are craving something hearty (Ben raved abouthis brisket sandwich), something light (in need of some digestive reprieve, I opted for the zippy Mediterranean quinoa salad), or a southern classic (the biscuits were sky high and sooooo flakey), Kitchen 208 has something to offer. Stand in line to order, then enjoy your meal on thespacious outdoor patio.
Poogan’s Porch: I nowthink about my life in two ways—life before the fried chicken at Poogan’s Porch, and life after. I didn’t even think I liked fried chicken. I was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Other top bite at Poogan’s: The deep-fried pimento cheese fritters (yes, you read that correctly).
S.N.O.B.: Don’t bother ordering shrimp and grits anywhere else in Charlestonexcept forS.N.O.B. (Slightly North of Broad). It is a bold statement, but I will stand behind it. I previously considered shrimp and grits to be nothing buta vehicle for butter—not bad of course, just not remarkable. S.N.O.B. proved me wrong. With spicy sausage, country ham, tomatoes, green onions, and some kind of magic cheese, this bowl of pure comfort was popping with flavor.
If you can, reserve a seat at the “kitchen table.” Positioned right in front of the open kitchen, you can watch the staff hard at work and see your meal come to life. (Reservations strongly recommended at least a few days in advance.)
Confession: SNOB was Part One of our double-dinner evening. We arrived early and shared a few dishes, including the barbecue tuna, which turned out to be one of our favorite dishesof thewhole trip.
Husk: Part Two of double dinner night (we arrived at 9:15 pm). EveryCharleston restaurant list I read mentionedHusk, and it’s famous for a reason. Our meal was wonderful, particularly the pig ear lettuce wraps—despite the eyebrow-raising main ingredient, they taste crunchy, salty, and like something you could eat happily for the rest of your life. The catfish was underwhelming, but overall, the food was fresh, creative, and downrightdelectable.(You’ll need a reservation for this place, even weeks in advance.)
The Bar at Husk: Next door to the more serene, upscale Husk restaurant, the laidback and rustic Bar at Husk, is an ideal place to grab a co*cktail while you wait for your dinner table (or…digest your first dinner). Fellow whiskey lovers, you will especially appreciate this establishment.
SWEET BITES in Charleston
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream: Arguably overpriced and unquestionably worth opening your wallet. Jeni’s is most famous for the brown butter almond brittle, but my two scoops of brambleberry crisp and lemon buttermilk could not have been more perfect.
Market Street Sweets: Follow your nose to the freshly made pralines and try a sample of both the classic and the chocolate (oddly, the classic was my favorite). Pick up a box to bring home with you, and buy more than you think you need—our supply was depleted before we’d even reached the airport.
OTHER EATS in Charleston
Although not among my top picks, these spots are worth mentioning.
FIG: Honestly, I loved this place too. FIG stands for “Food Is Good” and that’s an understatement. The food is wonderful, the service excellent, and its continually packed with locals and tourists alike. Isimplypreferred some of the other dinner spots a bit more, but if you choose to come here instead, you will not be disappointed. (Be sure to make reservations well in advance.)
Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar: Oyster junkies, this is your spot. They also make an excellent she crab soup, a rich, creamy seafood bisque that is iconic to Charleston. Wash your meal down with a Bloody Mary. Trust me, this is an excellent decision.
Ted’s Buterblock: Grab a sandwich and bring it with you to eat at a nearby park. The portions aren’t especially generous, so if you are extra hungry, consider picking up a few of their fresh, beautiful deli salads to complete with your meal.
The Macintosh: If we had one more evening, this is where I would have wanted to spend it. Sadly, we didn’t have time for dinner (one can only do so many “double dinner” nights), but we stopped in for drinks. I loved my co*cktail, selected from the house signature list. Ben had less success with his off-the-menu order (a request for something “smoky with bourbon”), but I’d certainly recommend at least checking this place out if you will be visiting Charleston. It’s a local favorite, and head chef Jeremiah Bacon is a Charleston legend and a three-time James Beard finalist. (Reservations a good idea.)
Peninsula Grill: We stopped into Peninsula Grill to try the legendary coconut cake (another dish you read about on every Charleston restaurant list). While it was very good, I honestly would have taken another scoopof Jeni’s or handful of pralines instead. The outdoor patio at Peninsula was beautiful and, had it been warmer outside, would have been a nice setting for dinner (though for similar prices, I’d opt to dine at Circa 1886 instead).
Craftsmen Taphouse: If you are more of a beer drinker, Craftsmen offersan excellent section on tap, including many local brews, and decent bar food to go along with it.
The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue Hotel: Grab a drink and check out the views of the harbor in this fun, casual atmosphere.
THE QUICK AND DIRTY: Charleston Restaurants and Activities,What You Need to Know
NOT TO MISS:
Dinner (with wine) at Circa 1886; Shrimp and grits at S.N.O.B.; co*cktails at The Bar at Husk; Palmetto Carriage Workshistoric neighborhood tour; Boone Hall slavery tour; wandering the historic district.
COULD HAVE SKIPPED IT:
Patriot’s Point; Peninsula Grill.
NEXT TIME:
Dinner (and more drinks) at The Macintosh; additional plantation tour.
BEST SURPRISE:
Ben Ham Images on King Street.
Happy travels! If you use this restaurant and activity guide duringyour trip to Charleston, I’d love to hear what you think.
As always, all opinions shared in this post are my own and reflect my true thoughts on the different places and activities we tried. I’d like to thank Circa 1886and Kitchen 208 for hosting us. We stayed at The Spectator for a discounted rate.
