CHARLESTON, SC

All underlined links are Google mapped directions.

 

DOWNTOWN

 

• Doar Bros (of course 😁)

• The Archer: Same owners as Berkeley’s. Killer food and cocktails. Awesome classic Charleston aesthetic. The Wreckfish and Chicken Liver setups are fire! Free 2 hour parking in garage of Meeting Street Lofts.

• Berkeley’s: great for lunch, excellent wine selection and outdoor space

• Da Toscana Fugazzi at Revelry Brewing: Part of La Farfalle and Porchetta Shop. Silly good food located in one of my fav breweries. Menu here

• Frannie & The Fox (also The Den): wonderful vibes, food, drinks, outdoor space w fireplace

• Bar @ The Spectator Hotel: Allen is a wizard..20s living room vibe

• The Bar @ Husk: brick carriage house next to the actual restaurant.. much cooler and full service menu from the restaurant. No reservations needed.

• Big Gun Burgers Damn good burgers, no frills Charleston old school scene divey bar

• Renzo: Make as Resy..small space, amazing rustic pizza and other specialty offerings with great wine selection, best Charleston has to offer in terms of a great pie, The caesar salad is legit best

• D’Allesandro’s: great solid pizza and salad outing

• Wellton’s Tiny Bakery: (stupid good…brick oven pizza party in alley on Sundays!)

• Ted’s Butcherblock: awesome lunch..love the NOLA sandwich with Gouda Mac and cheese

• Bar Rollins: great casual wine bar with great small plates in an old Charleston home

• Graft Wine Shop: Urban feel, fantastic wine selection, cool music vibes, and nice. Live jam/jazz on Wed.  sharable small bites

• The Royal American: favorite dive bar with really great bar foods and cool historical yet hipster vibe

• Moe’s Crosstown Tavern: locals dive with excellent burgers

• Southbound: awesome open fire kitchen..romantic

• FIG: always true to all the hype..put your name in for the bar without a Resy…ask to sit at side bar for just drinks only without reservations. If they have the Tomato Tartin (seasonal)…GET. IT.

• Coterie: casual Indian inspired

• Stella’s: fantastic Greek

• Platia (PLA-tee-A): super awesome Greek food truck in West Ashley..online ordering available…awesome for late night food option.

• Vintage Lounge: beautiful space with excellent wine selection and great charcuterie, check for music, open late..becomes a bit fashionista collegey after 9:00pm

• Last Saint: front is great urban feel cocktail hangout then ring the doorbell at the back for The Annex..an Attaboy NYC experience!

• Bar Mash: Great bourbon selection and cocktails…elevated bar foods…Monday Prime Rib night!

• Dilila’s: urban tropic vibes, tropical drinks, where industry hangs after work!

• Maison: excellent French bistro…everything is good..Wednesdays they have an amazing burger special…basically a French onion soup on a brioche bun

• Lewis BBQ: best overall BBQ and sides…dark horse menu item is the turkey!

• King BBQ: Ridiculous Asian-Southern BBQ joint with very unique dishes and take on southern style fixings. SOOOOooo goood.

• Hometeam BBQ: Best wings in town. Brisket nachos with queso also killer

• Anson Restaurant: fantastic steak and classic American equestrian environment

• Cru Cafe: best shrimp and grits set up in our opinion and just damn good food

• Rancho Lewis: Rustic Mexican fare..get the shrimp cocktail!..everything is great…mix all the salas at the bar together and add the fresh jalapeños and onions cilantro into the mix

• Chez Nous: Excellent French always changing menu, romantic rustic house converted to restaurant

• Malagon: best authentic Spanish tapas

• Estadio

• Daps Breakfast Imbibe: best casual brunch…the breakfast burrito!

• Babas On Meetings (with Goat Sheep Cow): My FAV for coffee and small breakfast or even awesome lunches. Love pairing the deviled eggs (get caviar on them!) with the avocado toast, or a pistachio-parm salad...truly its just all good there. No regerts. Total French feels. This location is a shared biz. Make sure to pick up some excellent cheeses/picnic items from GSC.

• The Pass: ridiculous lunch sandwiches

• Leon’s Oyster Shop: sit at the bar..smoked fish dip and oysters

• 167 RAW: yes worth the wait time..do around the world oysters and add some French oysters onto it..swordfish pastrami sandwich OMFG

• 167 Sushi Bar: some of the best in town, we go very often

• The Cocktail Club: upstairs speakeasy style..check for live music, great rooftop back deck has cigars!

• Chubby Fish: no Resy-can be busy…be in line 20mins before open to get your name in..1000% worth it…one of the best whole fish entrees around

• Santi’s of Charleston: really great “no so basic” Mexican and great margs and probably the best queso and awesome outdoor garden patio spaces

• Vern’s excellent dinner/brunch options, very cool darker romantic environment

 

MT. PLEASANT

• Grace & Grit rustic hearty american southern cuisine, excellent whiskey selection for the discerning brown water seekers

• Community Table: Casual classic American lunch or dinner with coastal vibes. Excellent burger and other great entrees!

• Spice Palette Excellent authentic Indian cuisine at reasonable price

• Post House localized modern american classics with excellent seafood, also an inn you can book to stay

• Basil Thai Cuisine Fantastic Thai, Tom Ka Gai soup, Cashew Duck, Fresh Basil Rolls, Pad Thai

• Kan Pai great sushi from the original che of O-Ku, BYOB, Family vibe

 

PARK CIRCLE

 

• Rebel Taqueria: (unique take on modern Tex mex street foods with a Star Wars homage)

• Jack Rabbit Filly: (just go)

• King BBQ: (also..just go)

• The Junction: (old school diner, great breakfast…get the mushroom gravy)

• Stems & Skins: (perfect tinned fish and wines etc…great ambience for date or late evening)

• N. Chas. Riverfront Park: (old naval base, kids park, large space to hang out/picnic)

 

JAMES ISLAND 

 

• Kwei Fei: (sit at the bar…absolutely phenomenal..check for live music next door at The Pour House 

• The Pour House: Live music!  Go chill on the back deck!

• Bar George: get a donut and some Peruvian chicken) House Martini is 🔥 

• Millers All Day: Great breakfast/brunch…also location on James Island

 

FOLLY BEACH

• Lowlife Bar Great local beach bar with great bites, frozen drinks and brunch

• Jack of Cups Clean eats, Indian inspired, fantastic curries

• Taco Boy Island atmosphere meets eclectic rustic Mexican vibes, Frozen screwdriver with Grand Marnier floater and chorizo nachos!

• Bounty Bar sister to Royal American downtown with more beach dive vibe

 

JOHNS ISLAND

 

• Wild Olive: ridiculously excellent Italian…get some olives to start)

• Lost Isle: Literal 🔥🔥🔥 can’t go wrong, start with some grilled olives!

• Minero: modernTex-Mex fare great drinks, nice wings

• Seanechai Irish Pub: truest Irish experience around and food is REALLY tasty)

 

OTHER EXPERIENCES

• Nigel’s Good Food 2: best soul food…worth the travel (Ladson)

• Sullivan’s Island: Laid back beach to find sand dollars, The Obstinate Daughter, Poe’s Tavern, Sullivans Island Fish Camp, Longboard

• Folly Beach: Old school beach vibes, Jack of Cups, Low Life Bar, Chico Feo, The Bounty Bar, Taco Boy

• 34 West Theatre: Broadway musical meets comedy…awesome people and great for a date..they have a bev and snack bar

• Bangkok Lounge: Karaoke

• The Commodore: energetic funk/soul/jazz music and drink, old school soul vibes

• Walking Ghost tours (do the Old City Jail or Pirates Tour)

• White Point Garden/Battery walk (great for pics)

• Walk around Queen and Chalmers Streets (cobblestone)

• Dock Street Theatre see a play! Oldest theater in America..very cool

• Do a couple old Charleston mansion tours…basically livable museums with crazy history

• Charleston Place Spa (take swimwear…cool view with rooftop bar)

• Botany Bay Beach (travel excursion…amazing protected beach with tree “boneyard” and killer sunset…pack a picnic and camera)

• Terrace Theatre: (great movie theater…have wine etc, get a “Life Raft Treats- Not So Fried Chicken ice cream” and one of their awesome t-shirts!)

 

BEST BREWERIES (to me…)

• Revelry: Fav brews include: Never Sunny Hazy, Lazy Lover, Hotel Rendezvous. Da Toscano Fugazzi resident food is so good.

• Munkle: I love Belgian style especially tripels. Fav brews: 3rd Floor Tripel, Brett Saison, Rum Barrel-Aged Stout, Bourbon Barrel Barleywine

• Edmunds Oast: Fav brews include: Bound By Time IPA, Something Cold Blonde Ale, Bishop’s Robe Belgian Strong Ale, Leather Jacket Porter

• Westbrook: Fav brews include: White Thai, One Claw, Gose, Mexican Cake