The Birtels
Things To Do
Where To Eat
There are SO many great options that it's insanely difficult to narrow it down! You can't go wrong with these: If you want breakfast: Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, Millers All Day If you want more casual: Leon's If you want a snack/dive bar/hangover meal: Home Team BBQ (get the nachos and a 'game changer'...you won't be sorry) If you want oysters and/or local seafood: 167 Raw (our all-time favorite place), The Darling Oyster Bar, Hyman's, The Ordinary If you want Sushi or the best Happy Hour: O-Ku If you want an elevated take on traditional Southern dinner: 82 Queen, Magnolia's, FIG, Husk If you want BBQ: Lewis BBQ, Rodney Scott's, Home Team If you want steak: Hall's Chophouse, Grill 225 If you're in Mt. Pleasant: Paige's Okra Grill, Tavern and Table If you're on Sullivan's Island: The Obstinate Daughter, Poe's Tavern If you're on Isle of Palms: Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
Where To Drink
If you want a cocktail (or three): The Cocktail Club, The Gin Joint, The Bar at Husk, The Living Room at The Dewberry, Prohibition, Proof If you want a Rooftop Bar: The Citrus Club (best rooftop in Charleston!), The Watch, Eleve at The Grand Bohemian, Pavilion Bar at Market Pavilion Hotel If you're into Craft Beer: Revelry Brewing, Holy City Brewing, Edmund's Oast, The Hold, Palmetto Brewing Co. If you want Wine (and maybe some charcuterie): Vintage Lounge, Bin 152 If you want Bubbles: Camellias at Hotel Bennett, Bourbon 'N Bubbles If you want to enjoy drinks on the water at Shem Creek (we highly recommend this): Saltwater Cowboys, Tavern and Table, Red's Icehouse If you're on Sullivan's Island: HomeTeam BBQ (get a 'game changer'), Poe's Tavern
The Battery
The southernmost tip of the Charleston Peninsula! Battery Park is the quintessential image of Charleston for most Holy City locals. Walking along East Bay Street, with the famous Battery mansions to one side, the Charleston harbor to the other, you'll be able to spot Ft. Sumter in the distance, and imagine the shots of the Civil War that took place here. You can easily walk between Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, and The Battery to knock out all the top tourist spots, and most postcard worthy sites, at once!
Rainbow Row
Take a stroll through Charleston's most photographed site. A series of 13 brightly-colored houses lining the waterfront, Rainbow Row has a history that’s just as colorful as its houses. You can easily walk between Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, and The Battery to knock out all the top tourist spots, and most postcard worthy scenes, at once!
Waterfront Park
Swing on the waterfront swings while watching dolphins in the Harbor. Take a picture in front of The Pineapple Fountain. Waterfront Park will make any newcomer fall in love with the city. You can easily walk between Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, and The Battery to knock out all the top tourist spots, and most postcard worthy sights, at once!
King Street
If you spend all your days in Charleston hopping around King Street, you'll be just as happy as those that got to see the whole city! King Street boasts the city's best restaurants, bars, hotels, art galleries, and lively nightlife - not to mention some seriously exceptional shopping. U.S. News and World Report named King Street one of the country's "Top 10 Shopping Streets."
Historic Charleston City Market
One of Charleston’s oldest landmarks, the 200-year-old Historic City Market is filled with local vendors selling everything from She-Crab soup mixes and unique Charleston artwork to Charleston's iconic sweetgrass baskets.
Carriage Tour
Take a Charleston carriage tour and you'll see all the places we've already mentioned on this page, and a lot more!
Sullivan's Island
The PERFECT little charming, relaxing, beautiful beach town. Sullivan's Island has always been our favorite beach close to Charleston and one of our favorite places to spend a Saturday! Go to the beach, check out the beautiful homes, grab a bite/drink on the patio at Home Team or Poe's, get the best frosé from The Co-Op, and top it off with some gelato from Beardcat's Sweet Shop.
Shem Creek
When we were living in Charleston, it was always a safe bet that you could find us on Shem Creek! Kick back and take in the gorgeous views of the Charleston Harbor, shrimping boats, and surrounding marshes at one of the creek-lined bars and restaurants. We highly recommend you grab a drink on the deck/patio at Saltwater Cowboys (where we met)! You can also paddleboard and kayak or get some tickets for one of the The 'Palmetto Breeze' sailing tours - it's so much fun to do with friends at sunset!
USS Yorktown
Only 5 minutes from Downtown Charleston - The USS Yorktown is one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy.
Charleston Area Historic Plantations
We're biased and think that Boone Hall is the most beautiful plantation in Charleston but if plantations and history are your things, others worth checking out are; Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place and Drayton Hall. Also, if you're a fan of the movie "The Notebook," go to Cypress Gardens and reenact the rowboat scene with your lover!