At least once a week I get an email or a direct message from someone asking for Charleston recommendations.  So I figured it was probably time to write up a little visitor’s guide for the blog.  We vacationed in the area at least once a year until we moved here almost four years ago.  It was a dream of ours to move here, and there isn’t a day that goes by that we’re not grateful to call this place home.  If you’re planning a trip, I hope these recommendations add to your enjoyment.  Truth be told, you can’t go wrong in this city.  She’s charming and welcoming, absolutely gorgeous with lots of great food, shopping and fun things to do!

Breakfast:

Miller’s All Day 

Millers All Day is super fun.  Expect long lines on the weekend, but during the week it isn’t too hard to get a table.  All they serve is breakfast and brunch, and they do it really well.  Design-lovers,  you will love decor and overall vibe of this place! 

The Blind Tiger 

This historical pub has an incredible patio area and an amazing brunch.

Breizh Pan Crepes 

Sit inside this little restaurant or order to go, the crepes are fantastic.  And they can be made gluten-friendly!

Lunch:

All of these lunch spots could also be great dinner locations.  They’re all casual dining spots, so I’ve categorized them as “lunch places” and have reserved the finer dining restaurants for the dinner category.

Lewis Barbecue

The BBQ places in Charleston rarely ever make the recommendation lists I’ve seen on travel sites.  But if you like BBQ, you really need to hit up Lewis when you come to town.  This place is praise hands good.  Trust me.

HomeTeam BBQ 

There are multiple locations throughout the area, one is not better than another.  Get you a Game Changer and an order of wings.  Thank me later.

Leon’s Oyster Shop

Just a really fun place for lunch……that often serves frozen rose during the summer months.  You’re welcome.

167 Raw

Seriously good.  Best bet if you don’t want to wait a long time for a table is to go during the week. 

Bon Banh Mi 

Absolutely one of my favorite places to grab lunch, either by myself or with friends.  There are so many gluten-free options on the menu, and the food is so, so good!  I dream about their shrimp salad with the sweet lime vinaigrette.

Dinner:

The Darling Oyster Bar

We love this place on date night!  If you’re down with oysters, I feel like this place is a must.

Hall’s Chophouse

If you love a really good steak, this is your place. This family-owned restaurant is one of my favorites in Charleston.  The menu prices are indicative of a high-end steak house and the quality of the food absolutely matches.  They also do a Sunday Gospel Brunch that is a really great experience. 

Vintage Lounge

This is another favorite date night spot.  It’s the coolest wine bar with a small plates menu and a really great cheese and charcuterie selection.  Get the fondue.  You won’t regret it.

The Ordinary 

This southern seafood hall and oyster bar is located in an old bank on King Street.  The food is everything you’d expect from a James Beard Award winning chef ~ @mikelata.

Downtown is great, but there are really great restaurants in the surrounding areas.  If you’re staying on Isle of Palms, you’re just a short jaunt from Sullivan’s Island and Mt. Pleasant.

Saveurs Du Monde

If you like crepes and you’re vacating on IOP, you really need to pop in here for breakfast or brunch.  The Seaside Farms location is right off the connector (in the Target shopping center).  And they offer gluten-friendly crepes as well.

Vintage Coffee Cafe

This is the cutest little coffee shop in Mt. Pleasant.  They have inside tables as well as some picnic tables outside.  And they offer gluten-free bread.  

Basil 

They have another location downtown, but I personally think their Mt. Pleasant location is better.  The upstairs or downstairs patio is a great place for lunch or dinner.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina 

Their Sullivan’s Island location is my personal favorite of their now 3 locations in the Charleston area.  The atmosphere is fun and their tacos are good.

Beardcat’s 

Save room at Mex 1 and walk over to Beardcat’s for a scoop of ice-cream.  They have a flavor that sounds odd – olive oil and sea salt – but let me tell you, it. is. good!

You all know I’m no fashionista.  So in terms of clothing I really don’t have any favorite places to recommend, though there are tons of great shops on King Street!  However, housewares and furniture……now that’s my kind of shopping.  😉

Celadon 

The best way to describe it……it’s like an upscale World Market with finds from around the globe.  They also carry lots of goods made by local artisans as well.  This home store is truly unique and one of my favorite places to shop!  Everything home-related plus really great stationery, jewelry and accessories can be found in this fun local store.

Mt. Pleasant Mall 

If you’re a vintage-lover visiting during the summer and happen upon a little rain in the forecast head to Mt. Pleasant Mall to wait out the storm!  This place is huge and filled with treasures large and small.

Lyndon Leigh

Just a short walk from Savuers Du Monde and the Mt. Pleasant location of Basil, Lyndon Leigh is a fun, eclectic home store.  It’s not super huge, but they always have great stuff.

Of course, you need to walk down Rainbow Row and take some pictures in front of the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park.  If you’re a history buff you will definitely enjoy taking a guided tour, of which there are quite a few from which to choose.  I suggest The Invention of Wings Walking Tour if you’ve read that novel by Sue Monk Kidd, though that tour happens only in the fall season.  And if you enjoy exercising while on vacation, you might want to run/walk The Ravenel Bridge.  But outside the typical touristy things to do, here are a few suggestions.

You know how big a fan I am of clean beauty, and Charleston now has two really awesome non-toxic nail salons.  So if you’re here on a girl’s trip, or just want a really great manicure/pedicure be sure to check out either:

The Water Room, which is a beautiful fume-free nail salon located on East Bay Street that takes the manicure/pedicure experience to a new level of luxury, without the toxic ingredients found in conventional nail salons.  It’s in the same shopping center as Mercantile & Mash, which is another fun eatery that has great coffee!

And Freecoat, just over the Ravenel Bridge in Mt. Pleasant, offers toxic-free nail services in a fun, cheerful atmosphere.

I also recommend visiting The Gibbes Museum of Art to everyone!  The building itself is absolutely stunning.  If art or museums aren’t really your thing, this is not an overwhelmingly huge museum.  But it is filled with history and beauty, so I think it’s definitely a worthwhile visit if you’re coming to Charleston.

Charleston is without a doubt my favorite place on Earth!  She doesn’t have a bad season, but my favorite times of year are April (when the jasmine is blooming!), May, June, October, and November.