Last Updated on May 14, 2026 by Adrienne
My husband and I recently spent a long weekend in Charleston and I was reminded again how it’s one of my favorite cities in the US to visit, especially for its incredible food scene. I’m no stranger to planning long weekends that pretty much revolve around food (see: Nashville, New Orleans) but it’s really hard to top Charleston for good eats, and in addition to amazing food, it’s a beautiful, walkable city that makes for a lovely long weekend getaway for a couple’s trip or girls’ trip. Read on for my tips on where to eat, what do when you’re not eating and where to stay — including properties where I can add perks as an independent travel advisor.
Where to Eat in Charleston
Lunch & Dinner Restaurants
Chubby Fish
Chubby Fish racked up some big accolades in 2025, including the NYTimes’ 50 Best Restaurants in America list, and deservedly so. Be prepared to wait if you want to eat here – we lined up a little before 4 pm to put our name down at 5 pm when they opened, and we were told to come back at 9:45 pm. People just a few spots behind us in line were out of luck. But it was totally worth it — one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Every bite that came out of the kitchen was so creative and blew us away, and we got to sit at the counter and watch the chefs work, which was so interesting. Despite the name, there’s a lot of non-seafood on the menu, although they showcase South Carolina’s local seafood incredibly well – don’t miss the triggerfish tempura in soy beurre blanc sauce, which was my personal favorite of many amazing dishes.
Magnolia’s
I love the Low Country cuisine that coastal South Carolina is known for, and no spot in Charleston better exemplifies it than Magnolia’s, which is a local institution. I actually first visited Magnolia’s years ago on a father-daughter trip to Charleston and even though I don’t usually like to repeat restaurants on vacations (too many new places to try!), I had to come back again on this trip. Their versions of fried chicken and fried green tomatoes are some of the best I’ve had.
Husk
Another spot with excellent Low Country food is Husk, founded by famed chef Sean Brock, which helped put Charleston on the culinary map when it opened in 2010. Today it’s no longer run by Brock, but remains a classic spot for low country cuisine with a creative flair. The biscuits we had here were my favorites of all the (many!) ones we ate in Charleston.
Swig & Swine
We couldn’t leave Charleston without having some barbeque, and Swig & Swine hit the spot. It’s known for its variety of wood-smoked meats, from traditional brisket to pork belly and homemade sausage, and sides like mac and cheese and corn pudding.
Melfi’s
Charleston may not immediately come to mind for Italian food, but I always seek it out when traveling because we don’t have great options where I live, and Melfi’s was phenomenal. If you love stracciatella cheese like I do, don’t miss their stracciatella and olive oil bruschetta – to die for!
Breakfast, Brunch & Coffee
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
This biscuit shop in the City Market (a fun place to explore in its own right) is a great spot to grab a quick bite in the morning. They have samplers of their “little biscuits” so you can try lots of flavors (I loved the cinnamon biscuits) as well as biscuit sandwiches if you’re looking for something more substantial.
Miller’s All Day
For a hearty brunch, head to Miller’s All Day which serves traditional breakfast food with a southern twist. They’re famous for their massive biscuit dough cinnamon rolls, and their home fries are absolutely incredible. The ambiance is cozy and homey and with a central location at the corner of King & Queen Streets, this is the perfect place to fuel up before a day of exploring.
Harken Cafe & Bakery
Harken was my go-to spot for coffee in Charleston. I especially loved their creative lattes, like the seasonal snickerdoodle latte.
Sweet Treats
Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar
As much as we stuffed ourselves in Charleston’s amazing restaurants, I’m never too full for dessert and couldn’t pass up trying Carmella’s amazing cakes. It didn’t hurt that this place was right around the corner from our hotel.
Buzzed Bull Creamery
My favorite ice cream spot in Charleston was Buzzed Bull Creamery, which has creative and delicious flavors.
Other places to Eat in Charleston
There are so many restaurants in Charleston that you could visit over and over again and never run out of good options. Here are some of the other places that were recommended to me by multiple people that I really wanted to try but couldn’t fit into our itinerary: FIG, The Ordinary, Sorelle, Leon’s Oyster Shop, Obstinate Daughter (on Sullivan’s Island, a great day trip in the summertime), 167 Raw, Hall’s Chophouse and Malagon (recently awarded a Michelin star in the new Southeastern US guide).
What to Do in Charleston
Walk Historic Charleston: Rainbow Row, The Battery, Waterfront Park and the French Quarter
Charleston is made for walking, with a compact and charming downtown area that is best explored on foot. Some highlights to see on a walking tour of the city include:
- “Rainbow Row” the dozen or so adjacent brightly-colored homes on Bay Street (below, left)
- Shopping on King Street
- The Battery, the scenic waterfront area at the tip of the Charleston peninsula with Civil War cannons
- Waterfront Park, home to the iconic Pineapple Fountain and a beautiful place to walk with a view of the harbor
- The diverse French Quarter architecture, like the French Huguenot Church in Gothic Revival style (pictured below, right)
If walking isn’t your thing, you can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the same area.
Take a Ghost Tour
Charleston is famous for its spooky sights and ghost tours are one of the most popular things to do in the city. We went on the “Curses, Corsets & Candlelight: Terrors of Charleston” tour with US Ghost Adventures, which operates ghost tours in cities all over the US. Even if you’re not a believer in the paranormal (our whole group was skeptics), the tour is still a really fun way to get out and see Charleston by night, with colorful and funny local history. I don’t want to go into too much detail, because I think this kind of tour is best if you go into without much prior knowledge, but I will say that our guide Perry was fabulous and really made the tour!
Disclosure: I was a guest of US Ghost Adventures – thank you for having me!
Look for Dolphins on a Marsh Cruise
Charleston wouldn’t be Charleston without its many miles of tidal creeks and marshes, and the industries (like oyster harvesting) supported by those ecosystems, so I knew I wanted to get out on the water during this trip. I originally booked this Eco Boat Cruise to Marsh Island with Charleston Outdoor Adventures, but due to the weather, it was canceled and I ended up being rebooked on a shorter tour focused on dolphin-watching. The modified tour ended up bring great, and we saw many dolphins as well as interesting birds like brown pelicans and snowy egrets. (The photo below is from my phone – that’s how close the dolphins were to our boat!)
Visit the Old Slave Mart Museum
Though Charleston is a beautiful city, it also has a dark history as the epicenter of the slave trade in North America. An estimated 80% of Black people in the US today have enslaved ancestors who were sold in Charleston. The Old Slave Mart Museum, which, as the name suggests, is built on the sight of a former slave auction house, does a great job explaining this important and terrible history. I highly recommend a visit.
Where to Stay in Charleston
We stayed at The Palmetto Hotel, a charming boutique hotel that’s centrally located (within a few blocks of many of the restaurants mentioned in this post) and has nice amenities like free bikes to explore the city, a complimentary continental breakfast and a hot cocoa bar in the lobby during the winter months. As a travel advisor, I added perks like a one category room upgrade to a room with a French balcony, and a $25 property credit, which can be used to sample the lobby bar’s signature espresso martini.
Other Charleston properties I highly recommend include the Hotel Bennett, which is perfect for girls’ trips with it’s pink-themed champagne & caviar bar Camellias and amazing spa, and The Dewberry, which is known for its mid-century modern design, roomy suites and a rooftop lounge with panoramic views. I can add perks like room upgrades, breakfast and resort credits at these properties. Please feel free to email adrienne.miller@fora.travel if you’d like more tailored advice on Charleston hotels or to book with me for travel advisor perks!
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