Where To Eat, Stay, and Play in Charleston South Carolina

While the food scene is a popular subject when it comes to Charleston South Carolina, here’s things to do in-between meals as well!

We have been living in “The South” since 2012, but had never visited the “Holy City” until a surprise trip for my 40th birthday. We stayed just off bustling King Street, venturing around the many restaurants, shops, and surprisingly a close walking distance to the water. It was a fabulous trip and I seriously can’t wait to go back.

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN CHARLESTON:

FIG RESTAURNT:

We loved it here so much, I wrote an entire blog about our experience… going into detail about each dish, the ambiance, and just straight up having a special infatuation for this establishment. It’s a local bistro, but don’t let that fool you. By far, this is the best eatery in Charleston for a nice, sit-down dinner. The French-influenced menu and execution of seasonal ingredients certainly hit home for my husband and I, as his family owned Le Virage, a French restaurant for over 30 years in Walnut Creek, California.

232 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401

I highly recommend ordering a plate of their Ricotta Gnocchi + Lamb Bolognese – it basically has a cult following (and for good reason!). I even tried to recreate it after our visit here at home. They change their menu daily, focusing on seasonal, local ingredients, but the Ricotta Gnocchi is a staple so it’ll always be offered for your feasting pleasure.

LEWIS BARBEQUE:

We love a good, southern bbq joint… but this one here takes the cake (or should I say cornbread? lol)! It’s not fancy at all; just straight forward good (actually grand) food. You’ll get in line, order at the counter and then find a spot to sit. Order a drink from the bar if you’d like, and then your number will be called momentarily. Honestly, this was by far the best barbecue I have ever had. Not kidding. Don’t skip this spot if you’re in town!

464 North Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403

This is basically a “build-your-own-plate” establishment (which I personally love!). All their meats are ordered by the pound, and cut to order. Their pit master recommends about 1/2 pound per person. Here’s a breakdown of what we ordered for the two of us.

1/2 lb. Sliced USDA Prime Beef Brisket. Texas style. We ordered half lean and half fat.
1/2 lb. Pork Spare Ribs. Big, meaty, lightly glazed with their housemate sauce.
1/4 lb. Texas Hot Guts Sausage. Smoked in-house on a custom smoker with a kick of heat.
Single Tangy Coleslaw. Light and bright for a perfect contrast for the hearty meat.
Single Green Chile Corn Pudding (their #1 side!). Cheesy cornbread casserole with Hatch chilies.
Sidewinders Fries. Fried until crispy in beef tallow.

Then we also went back and ordered 1/4 pound of their Green Chile Cheddar Sausage… as we knew we needed to give that a try too!

Frannie & The Fox:

While this was conveniently located inside our hotel, we actually ate here twice because the food was super delicious. The ambiance was really nice, kind of like an open-air garden meets swanky lounge with a cobblestone courtyard for campfire cooking.

181 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401

The menu is Italian-inspired with various options for anyone’s personal cravings. We sat at the bar, aka “The Den” one night and ordered a caesar salad + a pizza from their wood-fired oven. You can even walk over to a massive window and watch it being cook. Pretty cool. Then we also decided to dine here again for breakfast before we departed to drive back home. Frannie & The Fox offers a simple, yet well executed AM menu that we really enjoyed. Portions were a nice size and the local sourdough was “chef’s kiss”.

My Order: Clock In Breakfast. 2 eggs, sourdough toast, choice of breakfast sausage or bacon, then hash browns or fruit.
My Hubby’s Order: Frannie’s Breakfast Sandwich + Latte. Scrambled eggs, provolone, benton’s country ham, smoked tomato jam, english muffin, and hash browns.

A REVIEW OF THE BEST HOTEL TO STAY IN CHARLESTON:

Hotel Emeline:

We arrived in historic downtown Charleston mid-afternoon, just in time for the hotel’s “Captains Hour”, which takes place daily in their spacious lobby from 3 – 4pm. Hubby got a complementary beer, while I I opted for a glass of wine. It was the perfect way to enjoy their beautiful seating areas with semi-private nooks, artwork, and historical artifacts. There’s even a small shop that sources locally made products like clothing, books, jewelry, and more.

181 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401

The entire hotel is an eclectic mix of vintage meets customized furniture that has a modern “southern charm” twist. The thoughtful accents and colors immediately put you at ease, encouraging their guests to take a deep breath and relax. We chose this hotel not only for their amazing location, but all the extra perks they have to offer. After all, it’s the little things and attention to details that make your visit special.

Hotel Emeline is a pet-friendly destination, allowing guests to bring their fur babies along with them!
Don’t want to go far for coffee or a bite to eat? The hotel has its very own coffee shop and restaurant on site.
Receive a welcome bottle of bubbles + an artisan cheese plate when you reserve the Suite Dreams package.
Like I mentioned above, the hotel lobby offers a complimentary wine or beer during their daily Captains Hour.
Guests can take advantage of their hotel-exclusive complimentary bicycles that are available near the lobby.
When booking a suite, you can count on a in-room Crosley turntable to unwind after adventuring around the city.
All rooms come with complimentary in-room snacks and soda upon arrival.
If you want to get a workout in before you start your day, guests receive access to the hotel’s well-equipped 24-hour fitness center that boasts a variety of cardio and strength training equipment, yoga mats, medicine balls, and more.
Don’t want to workout alone? No problem! Simply request a complimentary Wellness Passport from the Emeline front desk! Gain access to their curated list of fitness partners that offer cardio, strength training, HIIT, yoga, and boxing classes nearby.

Hotel Emeline offers a variety of spacious and luxurious guests rooms and suites to choose from.

Again, it’s in the details that makes this hotel outshine the rest! Guest rooms are modern and feel thoughtfully curated for the best experience. A few of my favorite in-room amenities included custom-embroidered 300 thread count linens, down and hypoallergenic pillows, customized robes, handheld steamer for pressing any suitcase wrinkled clothing, and convenient bedside charging stations with USB ports. Each room is equipped with a Smart TV that has internet access, and of course they offer complimentary Wi-Fi.

How did they go above and beyond? Each floor has a water station with still or sparkling water, individual ice bags, and reusable water bottles.

MUST SEE ATTRACTIONS IN CHARLESTON:

This Southern port city looks like it’s straight out of a romance novel: charming architecture, centuries-old cobblestone streets, and let’s not forget the absolutely beautiful coastal setting with an Atlantic sea breeze. All this AND the Southern hospitality? I’m in! Below are the destination spots we visited with notes for first-time or repeat visitors!

Shopping on Meeting and King Street:

Named as one of the “Top 10 Shopping Streets” by U.S. News and World Report, you’ll find just about anything you’re in the mood to spoil yourself a little. From antique shops to chic boutiques, they’ve got it all. And if you get tired from walking, go ahead and hop on their free bus service called DASH. It has three routes that cover the downtown peninsula, Meeting and King Streets, with art galleries, restaurants, and waterfront areas along the way!

Charleston City Market:

Open daily 9:30-5:30 pm, the lively hustle and bustle of one of the nation’s oldest public marketplaces lasts for blocks! We actually walked through here on our way to Waterfront Park and really enjoyed it! From hand-crafted provisions to local artists, this diverse market has got it all.

Waterfront Park with Pineapple Fountain + Rainbow Row:

After strolling through the market it will pop you out at Fleet Landing Restaurant. Grab a drink if you fancy, then head on over to the waterfront park swings. Once you’ve had your fill of the sea breeze you can stroll over to Pineapple Fountain. Take a few pictures. Then walk through the row of trees down a little further to end up at Rainbow Row. This is a very relaxing stroll with lots of photo ops.

Palmetto Breeze Sunset Sailing Cruises:

Let’s talk a little about the ultimate sailing catamaran built in Charleston! Located on the Charleston side of Shem Creek (between Mt Pleasant Seafood and Water’s Edge Restaurant), this fun cruise is the best way to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the water. The cruise rides out past Fort Sumter, towards Charleston Harbor, Ravenel Bridge, and lasts between 2 – 3 hours.

Firefly Distillery Concert Venue:

I’m a HUGE concert person, so when I learned that 311 was playing here on my actual birthday we just had to get tickets. While the distillery is not open during concert dates, they do have concession stands and bartenders out on the field with cashless payment options available. Make sure to bring a towel or blanket if you plan to sit down (chairs are not allowed), and I’d suggest wearing closed toed durable shoes. Make sure to check out their FAQ page for more general information (like parking, the event map, food + beverage options, etc).

FINAL THOUGHTS:

We are planning our next Charleston visit this fall. Please let us know some of your favorite spots around town in the comments below. We’ll be sure to visit them! Since we are originally from California, we are still venturing around the East Coast Beaches… any suggestions of where we should go next? Earlier this summer we visited Isle of Palms – which was gorgeous. Stay tuned on a full review for that destination soon! Until then, here’s some more beach-y guides you might enjoy!

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