I’ve lived in Charleston my whole life, so when people ask for A Local’s Charleston Guide, I know where to send them! I share the places that are tried and true. These recs will save you time, skip the guesswork, and make your trip feel easy instead of overwhelming. This is my personal list of Charleston favorites, built for visitors who want to do it right . In honor of being named Best Local Celebrity two years in a row, I have all my favorite spots in one place.
Where to Eat & Drink
Fav Coffee: Hotel Bennett for warm weather people watching, The Rise for my fav matcha
Favorite dessert: Red Drum donuts. Peninsula Grill Coconut Cake
Favorite no-reservation dinner: 167 Raw. Great food, no reservations accepted. Plan ahead.
Favorite burger: Little Jack’s Tavern. Small but tasty.
Favorite cocktail: Espresso Martini at The Palmetto Hotel bar
Fav Pizza: Renzo
Fav if you can get in: Chubby Fish
Fav Fries: Felix
Fav BBQ: Rodney Scoot or Lewis’
Fav salad: Rancho Lewis
Favorite Fancy Dinner: Sorelle
Favorite seafood spot: Hank’s
Favorite casual lunch: Basic Kitchen, BarTaco (green margarita is so good!)
Favorite splurge dinner: Marbled and Fin, but watch out they undercook meats compared to most
Favorite rooftop drink: Citrus Club, The Dewberry
Where to Stay: A Local’s Charleston Guide
Favorite boutique hotel: Palmetto Hotel, Ansonborough Inn
Favorite classic hotel: The Charleston Place. Excited to see the renovated rooms.
Favorite hotel lobby/courtyard: The Charleston Place.
Favorite hotel for first-time visitors: Hotel Bennett- centrally located
Favorite staycation spot: Sullivans Island
Where to Shop: A Local’s Charleston Guide
Favorite jewelry stores: Croghan’s and Gold Creations. Timeless picks, been shopping there since I was a little girl.
Favorite men’s store: Dumas. Classic Southern style.
Fav Street to hit all the spots: King Street for sure, walk the whole street!
Shop with snacks: Nell’s inside Hill House
Favorite Home Furnishings: Serena and Lily, Steven Shell
Favorite gift shop: Carolina Girls
Favorite shoe store: Shoes on King
Fav Guy Gifts: Clayton and Crume
Fav Gifts: Wentworth, The Boutique
Favorite women’s boutique: II Brunettes and Madison Matthews
Charleston Experiences
Favorite Skin/Botox: Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas, Ashley Lovett
Favorite group activity: Candle making class at Charleston Candle Company
Favorite area to spend an afternoon walking: South of Broad, Sullivans
Favorite place to grab a drink before dinner: Shem Creek, Felix
Favorite Instagram photo spot: Post House Inn, South of Broad.
Favorite walk for visitors: Ravenel Bridge, pack your walking shoes
Favorite rainy-day activity with kids: SC Aquarium
Favorite place to take out-of-town guests: Shark tooth hunting by boat
Favorite event: SEWE
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or rediscovering the city, I hope this Local’s Charleston Guide saves you time. These are the spots I trust, the ones I send everyone to, and the ones that never let me down. I’m always sharing new Charleston spots on Instagram, so if you love this list, you’ll love what I post there.