This post is an update to my original Charleston Travel Guide. While I've visited Charleston five times both on girls trips and separately with Pete, this was Laura's first time to visit the charming southern destination. So this blog post has become an amalgamation of all of my trips giving you the very best travel tips. Do you have any favorite spots in Charleston? To me, you could go numerous times and still discover something new!
I went to Charleston, South Carolina for the very first time in late October 2019 with my dear friend Lisa C. and I am absolutely in love. Not only is it rich in history - the food, people, shopping and sightseeing are top notch. Cobblestone roads, gas lanterns, waterfront views and flowering window boxes could be some of the reasons why Charleston ranked as the number one 'Best Little City' in Conde Nast Traveler for 2019. It's a peninsula surrounded by the Charleston Bay, Ashley River and Cooper River and it's a walking town so bring your walking shoes!
Pete and I went in 2021 to discover this beautiful property on Mount Pleasant so those recommendations are included below as well. It's definitely worth exploring especially if you are heading that way to spend some time on the beach.
If you want the short version of our 2025 Travel Guide, be sure to click HERE for this Instagram recap of our most recent trip in July 2025. And click HERE for our hotel review of where we stayed. It includes room tours of the rooms we stayed in at 86 Cannon.
Charleston Travel Guide | 2025
Where to stay
On our 2025 trip, Laura and I stayed at 86 Cannon, a luxury boutique hotel with only 10 rooms. It's such a beautiful hidden gem in the Cannonborough/Elliotborough district, beautifully decorated by a local Charleston designer, that you feel like you are staying in someone's carefully curated home. Owners Marion and Lori Hawkins put their heart and soul into this enclave and it shows. Daily breakfast and happy hour with personalized gourmet cheese board and wine are included. It's walking distance from shops and restaurants. It's spread out over 5 small buildings and has a beautiful pool. They also have free bikes for your use. We highly recommend it!
Also of note, Hotel Bennet (also great for rooftop drinks), Wentworth Mansion (be sure to check out the spa), The Charleston Place, Planters Inn, Two Meeting Street Inn, Zero George, The Vendue Hotel, Hotel Emeline and Francis Marion Hotel.
In 2021, we stayed at The Beach Club Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Full details can be found HERE.
Where to eat
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There are so many amazing restaurants in Charleston that you will never have enough time to get it all in! We always make a lunch and dinner reservation.
2025 list: When Laura and I travel together, we like to order lots of dishes and share. On this trip, we took the recommendations of the owners of 86 Cannon and let them guide us on our reservations as well as trying to get in a few new spots. Our tip is to book you lunch and dinner reservations ahead of your trip and be flexible with changes once you get there. We had dinner at Lowland (from James Beard Award winning chef Jason Stanhope) which was excellent. I just love how restaurants in Charleston tend to be older homes that have been repurposed. So charming! Be sure to book Chez Nous for a late lunch. It's a small European restaurant and the chef changes the menu daily. Chubby Fish for dinner is an absolute must! This is 2024 James Beard Finalist chef James London's hot spot.It wasn't on our radar until the we talked to the hotel owners. Chubby Fish only serves dinner and they do not take reservations. The restaurant opens at 5:00 PM. TIP: Line up before 4 PM to put your name on the list for that night. Laura and I sat at the bar to overlook all the cooking in the kitchen and the Sous Chef was next to me. He answered all of my questions without hesitation and it was one of the best experiences we've ever had! Be sure to visit their bar next door - Seahorse. This time we did HUSK for a late Sunday brunch. And that evening we had one of the best meals we've ever had at Vern's. This is a hard reservation to get so be sure to plan ahead. Get the charred sourdough bread - you'll thank us later. :-)
Here are other restaurant and bar recommendations from my past visits. Pop into Blind Tiger Pub for a cocktail and snack. Sit outside if the weather is warm. The Grocery for dinner - delicious, organic fare. We went to Marina Variety Store for breakfast and it's a true delight. Lots of locals hang out here. Chez Nous is a quaint little house that converted to a lovely restaurant. It's really hard to get a reservation and I would say it's because the restaurant is tiny. Halls Chophouse for Sunday Gospel Brunch. The food is excellent and the singing is divine. HUSK is a lovely mansion converted to a beautiful restaurant. The bar is in the house next door. Be sure to have a drink over there while waiting for your table. We ate dinner outside on the front balcony and it was beautiful weather. Lunch at 82 Queen. Eat outside if the weather permits. Be sure to order the shrimp and grits - so good! The She Crab soup and Bloody Mary are divine! Dinner at F.I.G.(Food Is Good) - this was my favorite meal and dining experience. We did not have reservations so we showed up right when they opened at 5 PM. TIP: Sit at the round community table in the front and make new friends. We had the most delicious meal and fun conversation that evening! On our last day, we had lunch at Fleet Landing which overlooks the water before departing for the airport. It's one of the few restaurants on the water.
In 2021, Pete and I spent more time on Mount Pleasant and we got to explore restaurants on that part of the island. We ate dinner at The Fish House which was at the Charleston Beach Club. Since 82 Queen is one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston, we had a lovely outdoor lunch there. The newest hot spot at that time in Charleston was Tempest. It won Best New Restaurant from USA Today. Lunch at the The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivans Island is a must. In fact, I wish we would have had more time on Sullivans Island. Be sure to get reservations at Savi Cucina & Wine Bar. It's not the best drive up appeal but the food is delicious!
What to do
Laura and I wanted to tour a house that has been preserved so we chose the Aiken-Rhett House Museum. The tour is self guided with audio guide and an excellent way to see an 1820 house. There is definitely a difference between preserved and restored. This is the former house of Governor and Mrs. William Aiken and was in the family for 142 years. If you have time, be sure to tour the neoclassical Nathaniel Russell House Museum. It's circa 1808 and has been restored to show you the decorative and fine art of the wealth in Charleston's elite families. Both of these house museums are run and maintained by the Historic Charleston Foundation. You can buy a single tour ticket or a combo ticket and see both.
In our past visits we went to tour a plantation. We chose to do the Boone Hall Plantation which is about 30 minutes away. UBER will take you and pick you up. There are several plantations within a 30 minute drive. Fort Sumter is rich in history and a must see. The first shot of the Civil War occurred in Charleston and is told at Fort Sumter. TIP: Take the 2:30 ferry (last one of the day) and you will be able to participate in the lowering of the flag ceremony. I'm so glad we got to do this. Your total time will be about 2 1/2 hours including the ferry rides. Tour the Calhoun Mansion and see old Charleston in its glory. Charleston's largest private home has 35 rooms and is over 24,000 square feet. It was built in 1876. Also, there are a lot of churches, parks and waterfront walkways to explore. You can rent bikes anywhere and explore Charleston. Also, many people recommend doing a historic walking tour of Charleston.
Where to shop
There are lots of great little boutiques in downtown Charleston. Be sure to check out the Charleston Rice Spoon (pictured below) at antique shops. I even included the history behind it. Fascinating! Be sure to check out the high end boutiques like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Croghan's Jewel Box, Hampden Clothing, Finicky Filly (this was my favorite shop), Christian Michi and Lake Pajamas. The Charleston City Market is worth a walk through if you are looking for local stuff like soaps, sweetgrass baskets, artist drawings, tea and much more. The stalls and vendors are there daily. Delores' Southern Delights was our favorite! King Street is where you want to explore shops. Just walk around and enjoy all the antique shops - simply fabulous!
Of note, we were lucky enough to be there on the 2nd Sunday Market Day which was really fun. It's on King Street and they block the road to make it a pedestrian outdoor market. Lots of local vendors and food. You'll find musicians on King Street entertaining the shoppers.
What to wear
Charleston is very relaxed and casual. It's surrounded by water so be prepared for humidity. It was warm and around 75 degrees daily but definitely hot in the summer. It's good to have a jacket for dinner/evening. We only wore casual clothing and didn't have any heels with us. We took an Uber or walked everywhere. I highly recommend good walking shoes. You will easily get your 10,000 steps in daily! Click here for our Packing List to make things easier for your trip.
WHEW! We got a lot done in four days! I highly recommend a trip to Charleston and can't wait to go back. What should I do next time?
xoxo - Tanya
P.S. Below are pictures and recommendations from past visits. Be sure to check out this post about what we packed for this trip.
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Top 5 Reasons Charleston Should Be On Your Destinations List
1. Beautiful buildings and charming homes
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2. Charleston is a culinary oasis
Lunch at 82 Queen is divine. If weather permits, sit outside. The gazebo below is part of the outdoor seating area. Order the She Crab Soup and Bloody Mary!
Tempest is the new hot spot in Charleston. The entire meal is divine, including this beautiful dessert.
Lunch at The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivans Island is a must. In fact, the entire island is charming.
Dinner at Savi Cucina + Wine Bar on Mount Pleasant. Worth the calories.
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3. From Plantation to Forts - Historic Charleston
Fort Sumter is a sea fort in Charleston, South Carolina, notable for two battles of the American Civil War. The First Battle of Fort Sumter began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery fired on the Union garrison. These were the first shots of the Civil War.
Boone Hall Plantation is one of America's most photographed plantations. Part of the movie The Notebook was filmed at the main house. Nine of the original twenty seven slave homes still stand and are available for tour. Be sure to stay for the presentation on Gullah Culture. It's a fascinating education. Charleston red brick was made on the plantation as well as farming for cotton, pecans and more.
Charleston's Four Corners of the Law
The corner of Meeting and Broad Streets in Charleston, has four buildings, which each represent different legal jurisdictions: St. Michael's Episcopal Church representing God's law, Charleston City Hall representing city law, the Charleston County Courthouse representing state law, and the Federal Courthouse (and U.S. Post Office) representing federal laws.
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4. Shopping
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5. Locals know it best
Breakfast at Marina Variety Store is a must. It's where you will find the locals.
Lunch at Fleet Landing - it's housed in a 1940s retired naval building on the east side of the Charleston peninsula. Weather permitting, sit outside and enjoy the water view. It's one of the few restaurants on the water.
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