Recently my dad was planning a trip to Charleston. Since I’ve been there twice now, once with friends and once on our mini-moon, A.K.A our honeymoon. We LOVED this beautiful city, so I wanted to share my Charleston Travel Guide here as a place for us to reminisce and look back on for when we plan our next trip.
Where to Stay
I can only recommend one place since we stayed there both times. We went on a road trip with our friends in August 2020, and stayed at The Mill’s House on the way back from our Tennessee cabin trip. Our Charleston stay was only 2 nights, but it sure did make an impact. So much so, that Kyle and I booked our mini-moon (pre-honeymoon, honeymoon) right after our wedding in November 2021. Both trips were good for the soul, and The Mill’s House was the perfect home base to see and do all the Charleston things!
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Husk ($$) – Excellent for brunch/lunch! I suspect dinner is great too, but getting a reservation is difficult (from experience) so book in advance. If you can’t get in for a meal, check out their really cool bar next to the restaurant with the most delicious drinks. Bonus: it’s right next to The Mill’s House.
Millers All Day ($) – This place was our FAVORITE breakfast spot for a few reasons. Great price, great nicer diner ambiance, incredible brunch options, yummy drinks (get the Bloody Mary’s!), and the coffee is so good. One CON…this place does not take reservations is always busy. BUT, if you wake up hungry like I do, go first thing in the morning when they open. In fact, get their 20 minutes early, and you’re sure to get in. Or, if you’re not an early riser, grab a coffee at their coffee bar and take a walk down the block while you wait (not usually a lavender girl, but the lavender coffee was to die for). Trust me, the effort is worth it.
The Darling Oyster ($$) – We loved this restaurant for dinner when we visited with our friends, so we returned for our our mini-moon. When we went during lunch time it was just as delicious as we remembered. Go here for great seafood with a wide selection of oysters.
Hanks ($$$) – It was so good, I only got a picture of the outside. Hanks is a great date night spot, a little upscale feeling with tablecloths, and serves delicious seafood. It was both of our favorite and a reservation is a must.
Wild Common ($$$$) – This is a fine dining restaurant which is more of an experience with “an imaginative tasting menu”. They wine pair with their carefully crafted plates if you so choose. It was a cool ambiance and interesting experience, but not sure if this is was a favorite. It’s really pricey for the amount of food your getting and we left hungry. On our walk home, we stopped home at Moe’s for some nachos which is totally opposite from the delectable food we just had but we were hungry. It felt wrong for why we had just paid. Would do Hanks over this, but wanted to list it in case you’re in the mood for something extra.
167 Raw ($$-$$$) – Loved our lunch here with friends. It’s got a casual vibe but serves up some delicious oysters, lobster rolls and cocktails.
The Grocery ($$$) – The food here is truly an art and Kyle and I had a wonderful dinner. You know it’s good when you eat the food faster than you take a picture, but here’s a pic of Kyle drinking one of their delicious cocktails. I love a short and simple menu…do you ever wonder why some restaurants do too much? This chef’s passion to hone his craft is clear at The Grocery.
Church & Union – This modern-American restaurant looks like it’s in an old church (I’m not sure?) but we didn’t eat here. We ran in trying to escape the rain and discovered some delicious cocktails at the bar.
The Belmont – Boasting as “the finest place to drink”, we popped into The Belmont after our meal at The Darling Oyster. It’s a cool bar with great drinks on King Street. They do have bites too if you’re looking for something more casual.
THINGS TO DO
Shopping on King Street – King Street is a vibrant downtown shopping and dining hub. It’s a beautiful walk, especially in the fall when the air is crisp. Not sure if it was the time of year we went, but it was not as crowded as I’d expect, and it seemed well-loved by locals as well as travelers.
We took a sunset sail on the Schooner Pride and loved it! You really don’t need a private experience to enjoy as it’s got the perfect amount of space for everyone to spread out. The crew offered us wine to sip as we sailed around the bay.
Head through rainbow row for a photo op, walk around by the water, and through The Battery while you read about this historic defensive seawall. Walk through White Point Garden and up Meeting Street which is lined with charming Charleston-classic homes.
We had the best time in Charleston and will definitely be back, hopefully next time with our baby boy, Noah! P.S. You can find many of my outfits or similar style here.
Check out the highlights of our trip below!