LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Where you are
How to use this page
Tap on a category below to go to that section. Tap on a place name to open that place in Google Maps. You can click here to open the custom Google Map we made with all of these places, as well.
Food | Drinks | Fika spots (coffee, tea, pastries, &c) | Groceries | Activities | LGBTQ+ Friendly | For pet owners
Food
Park Circle
- Jackrabbit Filly Asian-American cuisine with unique fusion dishes and fun, creative vibes
- The CODfather Proper fish & chip shack. Try their fish and chips and homemade tartar sauce
- Tattooed Moose Hip, Brooklyn-esque bar and restaurant with amazing food and drinks
- Park Pizza Co One of the best local pizzerias, with creative flavors. Take-out only
- EVO Pizza Another local favorite pizzeria, more focused on thinner-crust pizzas. Also delicious
- Azul Mexicano Tasty Mexican food with reasonable prices. We were impressed with it
- Phuong Vietnamese restaurant Great, authentic Vietnamese (not easy to find in the Charleston area)
- King BBQ Chinese/Southern BBQ fusion. They make a surprisingly delicious (and deliciously surprising) combination
Downtown Charleston
- Chubby Fish A delicious, memorable seafood experience led by legendary chef James Landon; our favorite restaurant in the Charleston area. There are no reservations, and it's walk-in only, so you have to show up 45 minutes to an hour before they open, but they're worth the wait
- Sorghum and Salt Inventive New American cuisine with a beautiful chef's tasting experience
- R. Kitchen A snug (read: small) restaurant curated by four creative chefs. The five-course prix fixe menu changes daily. They have excellent food and a unique experience
- Magnolias Southern dining at its best. Not to oversell it, but their pecan pie changed our lives
- Slightly North of Broad Excellent modern lowcountry dining with local ingredients sourced fresh daily. Their menu changes frequently, but trust us and get their heritage pork chops
- Lewis's BBQ By Austin-reared pitmaster John Lewis. Made with care and caftsmanship. Their mac'n'cheese and french fries are our favorite sides
- Rodney Scott's BBQ Rodney Scott is an acclaimed pitmaster and 2018 James Beard award winner for Best Chef, Southeast. Try the whole hog barbecue, which is what he's famous for
- Leon's Fine Poultry and Oyster Shop Their fried chicken and oysters are a must-try
- Millers All Day A great breakfast/brunch spot. Try their Signature Chicken Biscuit
Drinks
Park Circle
- Firefly distillery Local favorite brewery and music venue. Try the spirit tasting, too
- Stems & Skins An atmospheric gastrobar with natural wines and Spanish/Mediterranean food. They have a unique negroni and an unpretentious vibe
- Madra Rua An authentic Irish pub with pub food and sports on the TV. It draws big crowds for sports games
- Paddock & Whisky Whiskey bar with creative cocktails in an old bank building. You can host private events and whiskey tastings in the vault
Downtown Charleston
- babas on cannon European vibes and great cocktails. If you buy a drink, you get unlimited free tapas
- Doar Bros. A cozy bar with inventive cocktails
Fika spots (coffee, tea, pastries, &c)
Park Circle
- Orange Spot Coffee Best coffee in the neighborhood, but pets are not allowed in. There is a small outdoor seating area where they're welcome. We buy the coffee we provide our guests here
Downtown Charleston
- Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer Amazing coffee and beautiful fenced-in patio seating
- La Pâtisserie A true French-style pâtisserie in the landmark Hotel Bennet. Great for your afternoon and instagram pictures. We know from experience that they don't do custom orders over the phone, but they're happy to elegantly inscribe messages for you on their first-come-first-serve cakes if you get there early and ask in person
- Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe A timeless classic dessert cafe. Desserts are a little sweet for us, but the experience is great
Groceries
- Food Lion 6-minute drive away
- Piggly Wiggly 9-minute drive away
- H & L Asian Market 6-minute drive away
- Walmart Supercenter 12-minute drive away
Activities
Park Circle (and nearby)
- Cypress Gardens Photogenic place where you can paddleboat in subtropical forests
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens A beautiful old plantation and garden to walk through
- North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center A wonderful venue for enjoying all kinds of entertainment. It hosts sporting events, Broadway musicals, concerts, stand-up comedy, and more
- Riverfront Park Beautiful river and sunset-over-the-river views. Hosts lots of music festivals and events
- The Station Cute antique shop with unique local arts
- Itinerant Literate Bookstop Quirky, indie book store for those booklovers like us
- Tanger outlets Great prices for outlet shopping
- Topgolf Good for groups
- Park Circle Playground World's largest outdoor inclusive playground. Great for kids. Also has an art studio, baseball field, disc golf, and a farmers market that's open every Thursday from May through October
- Paradiso Pool Club A cool Park Circle pool club with food, drinks, and a gym. A great place to relax. You can purchase day passes here. Please note: the club is run by a third party, so we can't guarantee availability
Downtown Charleston (and nearby)
- Rainbow Row A Charleston icon. Great for pictures
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park A beautiful waterfront park with a famous pineapple-shaped fountain
- The Battery A seawall with a great view of the seaside mansions and flowering plants
- Charleston City Market A 200 year-old market with local arts'n'crafts and food vendors
- Horse-drawn carriage tour No maps link for this, but it's the best way to appreciate downtown Charleston's charm
- South of Broad Beautiful historical houses
- King street Great shopping
- Fort Sumter There's a lovely ferry ride with a beautiful view of Charleston and the Charleston bridge
- Angel Oak tree A massive, 500-year-old tree almost straight out of Harry Potter
- Isle of Palms Our favorite beach in the area. It's miles long and bikeable. Dogs are allowed offleash from April 1 to September 14 between 5 and 9 am. The island also has golf, swimming, and watersports like jetskiing and parasailing.
- Gibbes Museum of Art If you're an art lover, this museum is not to be missed
- Nathaniel Russel House An opulent historical Charleston house. It's a really cool experience
LGBTQ+ Friendly
- Dudley's The only true gay bar in Charleston. An energetic hangout spot with drag performances, karaoke, billiards, and dancing
- The Mill Not strictly a gay bar, but frequented by the local LGBTQ community
For pet owners
- Alendry Whole Pet Park Circle pet store with a high-end curated collection of toys, treats, and meals
- Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming A creative and fun pet store/pet bakery in downtown Charleston
- The Wild Great selection of food and DIY pet baths for a small fee, with everything provided (shampoo, lotion, brushes, blow dryer, towels, etc)