Things To Do
babas on cannon
babas on cannon is a neighborhood café located downtown, inspired by the cafés and bars of Europe and guided by the regional products of the southeast. highly recommend stopping by at some point during your visit and grabbing a piece of their famous banana bread, and don't forget to ask for it toasted! they have a happy hour and apertivo on the weekends!
Bistronomy By Nico
a sister company to nico oysters + seafood, bistronomy offers a different take on french cuisine that brings chef nico back to his roots. we discovered this place while in town touring venues and had the best experience. they made us feel like family and recognized us from our time spent at nico. reservations highly recommended. and the goat cheese spring rolls if they're on the menu!
Church and Union Charleston
church and union is located on historic market street in downtown. we came here on one of our very first trips into charleston for dinner and drinks. it has the coolest and most unique atmosphere. highly recommend popping in or making a reservation!
Citrus Club
one of the best rooftop views of charleston. recommend popping in to put your name on the wait list and grabbing a drink in the dewberry hotel lobby bar. I promise the view is worth the wait.
The Darling Oyster Bar
darling oyster bar is at the top of King Street and has the best $1 oyster happy hour. the last time we stopped in, we took down 60 oysters between the two of us. we had a blast with our server and she even brought us two oyster shooters to cap off our visit. don't forget to try their homemade hot sauce! Connor flew home with two bottles!
Felix Cocktails et Cuisine
we've stopped by felix a few times over the years for cocktails and really love the atmosphere and aesthetic. they were kind enough to bring my parents a complimentary glass of champagne when we shared we were touring venues. and they make a mean dirty martini!
Henry's On The Market
one of my parent's favorite spots, they always gravitate back. henry's offers burgers & updated pub fare served in an upscale bohemian brick tavern with live jazz & a roof deck. located right next to the charleston city market.
Home Team BBQ
for our northern folks looking for some good ole southern cookin. they have a few locations throughout the area, making it a nice spot to grab a quick lunch. everything is delicious, you can't go wrong here. the baked beans are *muah* chef's kiss.
NICO | Oysters + Seafood
one of our favorite restaurants and is a must-visit any time we make the trip down to charleston. we even came here for dinner to celebrate our engagement. highly recommend their oysters. it's across the bridge in the mount pleasant/shem creek area so would require an uber or car rental.
Southbound
for our out-of-towners that may be looking for a really nice, fancy dinner while they're here for the extra-long weekend. we discovered it on one of our recent visits and the story behind the building is so interesting. we cuddled up with our dinner on the front porch swings. reservations required well in advance, especially for unique seating!
Tommy Condon's Irish Pub & Restaurant
an irish pub in the heart of charleston? say no more. this is one of my parents favorite casual places to stop when they're in town.
The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits
we found this place just walking down king street before taking our engagement pictures. they have a great cocktail menu, I love their apricot spritz. and highly recommend trying the grilled chicken & pimento cheese nachos, they were out of this world!
Charleston City Market
charleston city market is in the center of town and stretches about 3 blocks and is filled with local vendors. you can find anything from sweetgrass baskets, to jewelry, to christmas ornaments. it's a great spot to grab your charleston souvenir and learn more about what makes this city so special.
Charleston Culinary Tours
this one speaks for itself. my parents have always said the best way to learn about a new city is through your belly. they do this any time they visit somewhere new and I love it. highly recommend organizing something like this at the beginning of your trip or after wedding festivities so you can pick up on a few local spots we may have missed and experience places from a different perspective.
Charleston Ghost Tours
although I will ~not~ be joining you, this also speaks for itself. on some of our historic tours we've dabbled in some of the tellings and passed by the haunted jails in town. what a neat way to learn more about the city. let me know how it goes!
Charleston Carriage Tours
similar to the culinary tours, this is a great and unique way to see the city. they're about an hour long and each tour is different. at the beginning, before you set off on your tour, they randomly draw a colored ball which tells them which route they'll be going on. you can go on this tour back to back and hit different parts of the city each time.
Gibbes Museum of Art
the Gibbes is a southern museum with a global perspective. being Charleston’s only art museum, they are committed to telling the story of Charleston’s ever-changing landscape and its people. Including historical, modern, and contemporary works, our collection spans 350 years and features some of the country’s most celebrated artists.
Rainbow Row
I'm sure you've heard of it or seen it on a coffee mug! charleston's most iconic street. rainbow row is the name for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses in town. this is a great photo opp and such a lovely leisurely walk under the palmetto trees. the houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliott St. on East Bay Street.
South Carolina Aquarium
a great way to beat the heat on one of those hot south carolina days.
Fort Sumter National Monument
for our history buffs. as charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. the Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on april 12, 1861 opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom. about a 30min ferry ride.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
one more for our history friends. patriots place is home to the USS Yorktown, USS Laffey, & Medal of Honor Museum