The Ultimate Foodie’s Travel Guide to Charleston, South Carolina – a collection of the best restaurants and bars for a weekend full of Low Country cuisine and southern hospitality!

Charleston, the oldest city in South Carolina, boasts antebellum architecture, rich history, five-star restaurants and charming shops. And the best part is, it’s all walk-able! No need to rent a car for this weekend getaway, everything is a hop-skip-and-jump (or quick Uber ride) away.

My fiancé and I travel to Charleston every year for a weekend getaway, just the two of us. Austin really is the best travel companion because we share the same idea for the ideal vacation – slow down the pace, enjoy each other’s company and share five-star meals. Charleston is the perfect place for us because of its southern charm, hospitality and top-notch cuisine.

I grew up on the coast of Northeast Florida and my grandma is from South Georgia. If there are two things I know and love, they are seafood and southern cooking. In Low Country, the cuisine has strong parallels to that of New Orleans; it is full of rich, spicy flavor and coastal seafood. If one dish perfectly embodies the culture and tastes of Charleston, it’s shrimp and grits. This dish is a “must eat” and you can find it on nearly every menu in the city.

We love to try new restaurants whenever possible, but we have been to Charleston enough now to settle on our favorites. I will have to ask Austin to start extending our trips so we can fit everything in! Great care was taken while preparing this travel guide for y’all. There are definitely places that didn’t make the cut. But, it’s important to mention that you can’t go wrong with food in Charleston. We’ve made three trips and I haven’t had one bad meal.

On the Way into Town

When Austin and I spend a weekend in Charleston, we like to drive up Friday morning. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive for us so we get in a little after noon. There are so many great little joints on Savannah Highway on the way into town, we like to stop and have lunch before checking into the hotel.

Early Bird Diner, $, 1644 Savannah Hwy — American diner classics served in funky, art-filled digs, with late-night hours on weekends.

This trip was our first experience eating at Early Bird Diner. We came across this funky little spot on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and decided to try it on our way into town. It’s a very casual place and frankly, doesn’t look like much on the outside… or the inside for that matter. Nevertheless, we were swept away by the old school diner mentality and most importantly, the food.

Austin ordered the southern chicken and waffles and I had the daily special, a fried chicken sandwich served on Texas toast with sliced banana, crispy bacon and spicy peanut butter spread. I know, I am so bad. The chicken was salty, crunchy and delicious – just how I like it. And the spicy peanut butter was an unexpected delight that really made the meal. Austin’s chicken and waffles came with the House Honey Mustard Barbecue Sauce. It was literally the best honey mustard I’ve ever had so we bought a bottle to take home.

Three Little Birds Café, $, 65 Windermere Blvd — Petite stop with a hopping Sunday brunch serves all-day breakfast plus lunch items.

We hit Three Little Birds Café for the first time on the way out of town. The café is small but there is also an option for outside seating. We arrived at 10:00 a.m. and despite the crowd, we didn’t have to wait long before sitting down (about 20 minutes). The brunch menu was diverse, offering both breakfast and lunch items. Each of us ordered daily specials: Blueberry Granola Pancakes and Croissant French Toast with Chocolate Sauce. We were really living it up for our last meal! I enjoyed my French toast, although, I wish I had changed my order after seeing a waitress walk by with a tray of eggs Benedict.

Another Favorite:

The Glass Onion, $$, 1219 Savannah Hwy — Upbeat spot serving refined, locally sourced soul-food favorites in charming environs.

_______________________________________________________________

For  Brunch

Hominy Grill, $$, 207 Rutledge Ave — Busy yet relaxed eatery dishing up Low Country classics in homey digs, also popular for its brunch.

No matter what, we will always fit in a meal at the Hominy Grill. They are serving up real-deal Low Country fare at an affordable price. You will likely wait for a table but it’s not too painful because they offer tasty southern cocktails through a walk-up window on the patio! This trip, Austin ordered a classic Bloody Mary while I opted for something a little more refreshing: the Southern Colada. It’s like the Pina Colada’s redneck uncle… not too sweet and little nutty.

We started with the banana bread; it comes out warm and crispy on the outside, from the flat top I’m sure. For our meal, I ordered one of the daily specials, loaded grits topped with an over-medium egg. The Hominy Grill makes the best grits I’ve ever had, go figure. They were topped with delicious salty ham, sausage, peppers and cheese. It was the perfect savory breakfast! Austin ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Although, I’ve actually never met a chicken sandwich that Austin DIDN’T enjoy.

We have also had their famous Charleston Nasty Biscuit, a fried chicken biscuit covered in thick sausage gravy. For someone who’s looking to really get down for breakfast, I would highly recommend.

Blind Tiger Pub, $$, 36 Broad St –– Upscale bar food in an alehouse dating back to 1803, featuring a charming, brick-walled courtyard.

Austin found the Blind Tiger Pub on Yelp while looking for fun places to grab a drink. We were intrigued by the trendy outdoor courtyard. Unfortunately, it was a little too hot to sit outside so we ended up grabbing a place at the bar.

Sitting at the bar is still a cool experience because you can also see into the kitchen. Watching plate after plate pass through the window, we really worked up an appetite. We ordered a half-dozen oysters on the half shell and the Parmesan truffle fries. I know food snobs everywhere will look down on me for this, but I’m not usually a huge fan of truffle oil. Gasp! However, these fries were perfectly golden and the flavor was on point, I nearly ate the entire basket before Austin had any. I was vibing the retro feel in this place and will definitely return for brunch.

Another Favorite:

Poogan’s Porch, $$, 72 Queen St — Traditional Southern cooking served in a Victorian townhouse with porches & a massive wine cellar.

_______________________________________________________________

For Dinner

I cannot stress this enough – one thing you must do in Charleston is make dinner reservations. My recommendation would be to make reservations at least two weeks in advance or you will end up eating dinner at 9:00 p.m. I’ve been there. Now, I use the app OpenTable to check for openings. It’s super easy as long as you give yourself enough lead time.

Blossom, $$, 171 E Bay St — Stylish eatery serving simple yet inspired Low Country dishes plus wood-fired pizzas & small plates.

Blossom will always be on our shortlist for dinner because it is home to the best dessert on earth, Red Velvet Bread Pudding. Don’t get me wrong, everything is spectacular from the ambiance to the finely crafted dishes. We started with the Ahi Tuna Poke appetizer which was served with seaweed salad, cucumber, red onion and corn chips. The fish was extremely fresh and the corn chips were a creative touch. For dinner, I ordered the Grilled Sea Scallops with creamy white grits, wild caught shrimp, mushrooms, spinach and lobster butter. The scallops were huge and the grits were rich and creamy – everything was cooked to perfection! Austin ordered the pimiento cheese crusted Blackened Catfish. It came with grits, shrimp succotash and fried green tomatoes so I was quite jealous.

And finally, the dish we most look forward to on our trip, Red Velvet Bread Pudding.  It is possibly the best dessert I have ever had in my life. We ordered it for the first time last year and were so blown away. The pudding is so warm and rich and to top it off, they add a heaping scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. If there is one thing you MUST order from Blossom, this is it.

Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill, $$$, 14 N Market St — Refined American & steakhouse fare offered in elegant, contemporary accommodations.

Burwell’s was another first for us on our recent trip. We are huge red meat lovers so we don’t go on vacation without eating at least one filet mignon. Pish-posh! When we read that Burwell’s cooks their steak dishes over a 1,400 degree wood-fired grill, we knew this was the ideal place for our special occasion steak dinner. We started with the lamb chops Hot Rocks Appetizer. They bring a 700 degree stone to the table where you can perfectly cook the meat to your liking. This appetizer is great for sharing (for adults) and makes dinner a little more fun!

For dinner, we each ordered filet mignon and a few sides to share: macaroni and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes and the green vegetable medley. Our steaks were the best cut of meat, seasoned and cooked to absolute perfection. The wood-fire grill give the steak a nice char while the inside stays completely tender. My favorite side was the macaroni and cheese. Now, when someone uses corkscrew pasta for macaroni and cheese, I get a little uneasy. But, let me tell you, this mac was so creamy and rich that I could not stop eating it. We were so satisfied that we didn’t even order dessert – that almost never happens on date night!

Other Favorites:

Slightly North of Broad (SNOB), $$, 192 E Bay St –– Modern Southern & Low Country cuisine served in an airy, 18th-century warehouse.

Eli’s Table, $$, 129 Meeting St — High-end bar/eatery with artful decor & locally sourced Southern fare for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

_______________________________________________________________

For Drinks

Not only is the food phenomenal in Charleston, but the city boasts some of the best bars in the Southeast. You must check out the rooftop bars at The Grand Bohemian and The Market Pavilion Hotels. They are, by far, my favorite places to grab drinks!

Eleve Rooftop Restaurant and Lounge, $$, 55 Wentworth St — Seafood-centric fine American dining & reimagined cocktails in a polished space & rooftop lounge.

Eleve is located on the rooftop of The Grand Bohemian hotel. The restaurant features handcrafted cocktails and eclectic decor. Not to mention, views of the city aren’t half bad.

Pavilion Bar at Market Pavilion Hotel, $$, 225 E Bay St — Market Pavilion Hotel roof bar doing cocktails & global fare from its upscale perch over the city.

I recommend visiting the The Pavilion Bar around sunset. Share cocktails and apps while enjoying the best views of the city. Once the sun goes down, the bar and pool light up and the rooftop turns into a chic oasis.

Other Favorites:

Craftsman Kitchen and Tap House, $$, 12 Cumberland St — Vibrant tavern serving a creative selection of locally sourced pub grub & craft beer.

The Gin Joint, $$, 182 E Bay St — Cozy, intimate bar/eatery serving cocktails & eclectic small plates in a 1920s-inspired setting.

_______________________________________________________________

As you walk the through the charming downtown area, you’ll be blown away by the centuries-old architecture. Colorful mansions and giant trees covered in Spanish moss line the cobblestone streets. Breathtaking flowers pour out of window boxes on nearly every home. Sigh.

Take a stroll down rainbow row where pastel colored homes lead you out to Charleston’s idyllic waterfront. Towering palms line the crowded Battery where nearly every tourist stops to admire the gang of sailboats gathered along the water’s edge.

If you don’t mind a little hustle and bustle, roam through the Charleston City Market. You will find all sorts of handmade treasures, souvenirs and local fare. Personally, I can spend an entire weekend roaming the streets of downtown without any plans at all.

If you prefer a faster pace and want to schedule tours, museums, etc., check out these travel guides:

1.  Well Plated: Charleston South Carolina, What to See, Do and Eat

2. Pinch of Yum: Ten Awesome Things to Do in Charleston

_______________________________________________________________

Pin this image for later

Screen shot this image so you can have it handy

If you have any recommendations for our next trip, leave them in the comments below!

Kelsey Renee