Guidebook for Charleston
Sightseeing
Have some fun in the sun!
Park in a beach access and pay by the hour. Park on the road for free, but make sure your car is facing same direction as traffic and ALL 4 tires are off road.
581 locals recommend
Folly Beach
East Ashley AvenueHave some fun in the sun!
Park in a beach access and pay by the hour. Park on the road for free, but make sure your car is facing same direction as traffic and ALL 4 tires are off road.
The lighthouse of Folly Beach. This is a pretty area of the beach. Take East Ashley Avenue all the way to the dead end to find this treasure.
119 locals recommend
Morris Island Lighthouse
1750 East Ashley AvenueThe lighthouse of Folly Beach. This is a pretty area of the beach. Take East Ashley Avenue all the way to the dead end to find this treasure.
Waterfront Park
Concord StreetPier and Pineapple Fountain on the water
Rainbow Row Photography
center of commerce dating back to 1700's
beautiful gardens, house, swamp, bamboo forest, petting zoo, and lots of alligators
395 locals recommend
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
3550 Ashley River Rdbeautiful gardens, house, swamp, bamboo forest, petting zoo, and lots of alligators
Boone Hall Plantation
1235 Long Point Roadgardens, plantation house
Charlestowne Landing
first permanent English settlement in SC
South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium Wharfgreat for a break from the sun or rain
stroll, shop, and sightsee through the historic market
364 locals recommend
Historic Charleston City Market
188 Meeting Ststroll, shop, and sightsee through the historic market
stroll amongst historic southern mansions, cannons, live oak trees, and view Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and Sullivan's Island Lighthouse across the Ashley and Cooper Rivers
154 locals recommend
White Point Garden
2 Murray Blvdstroll amongst historic southern mansions, cannons, live oak trees, and view Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and Sullivan's Island Lighthouse across the Ashley and Cooper Rivers
Charleston Ghost & Dungeon Tour
can be both fun and informational
kayak, paddleboard, canoe rentals and guided tours in and around Charleston
Kayak & Canoe Nature Advntrs
kayak, paddleboard, canoe rentals and guided tours in and around Charleston
catamaran tour of Shem Creek with snacks and beverages
21 locals recommend
Palmetto Breeze Sailing Charters
1407 Church Stcatamaran tour of Shem Creek with snacks and beverages
go out to the pier for a stroll and the view
343 locals recommend
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park
99 Harry M. Hallman Jr Blvdgo out to the pier for a stroll and the view
park at the Shell Gas Station on Coleman Blvd and walk across (or just to the middle) of the bridge- beautiful view
16 locals recommend
Arthur Ravenel Junior Bridge
Arthur Ravenel Junior Bridgepark at the Shell Gas Station on Coleman Blvd and walk across (or just to the middle) of the bridge- beautiful view
Charleston RiverDogs
360 Fishburne StRiverdogs baseball games
Marion Square
The Farmer's Market is here on Saturdays from April-December.
Food Scene
Taco Boy
106 E Ashley AveFun atmosphere and Mexican food
Woody's Pizza
39 Center StPizza and outdoor seating
The Rooftop Bar- one of the only rooftop bars
26 locals recommend
The Vendue, Charleston's Art Hotel (Historic District)
19 Vendue RangeThe Rooftop Bar- one of the only rooftop bars
Poe's Tavern - Sullivans Island
2210 Middle Stgreat burgers (no hostess- seat yourself)
Gourmet doughnuts (strawberries and champagne or maple and bacon)
27 locals recommend
Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts
481 King StGourmet doughnuts (strawberries and champagne or maple and bacon)
Magnolias
185 E Bay Stgreat Sunday brunch
Poogan's Porch
72 Queen Stgreat Sunday brunch
This is a great bar for sitting outside right on Shem Creek and watching dolphins. They're fried seafood is not the most loved in town, but it's fried, so you can't complain too much.
171 locals recommend
Red's Ice House
98 Church StThis is a great bar for sitting outside right on Shem Creek and watching dolphins. They're fried seafood is not the most loved in town, but it's fried, so you can't complain too much.
EVO Pizzeria
1075 E Montague Aveunique pizzas
Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc.
98 Broad StFrench restaurant
Seafood platters right on the water and next to the shrimp boats. Take a GPS- this is off the beaten path.
41 locals recommend
Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
106 Haddrell StSeafood platters right on the water and next to the shrimp boats. Take a GPS- this is off the beaten path.
The Grocery
4 Cannon Sttasty menu made with fresh and unique ingredients
Ladles Soups James Island LLC
Folly Roadsandwiches (grilled pimiento cheese sandwich and homemade soups)
39 Rue De Jean
39 John StFrench food
This is an expensive spot, but very good. Consider ordering a couple sides and/or cocktails to get the most for your money. Great cocktail menu. My favorite- strawberry jalepeno margarita.
49 locals recommend
Oak Steakhouse
17 Broad StThis is an expensive spot, but very good. Consider ordering a couple sides and/or cocktails to get the most for your money. Great cocktail menu. My favorite- strawberry jalepeno margarita.
italian and wine- one of the only yummy restaurants on Johns Island
184 locals recommend
Wild Olive Restaurant
2867 Maybank Hwyitalian and wine- one of the only yummy restaurants on Johns Island
ice cream sundaes, milk shakes, malts, hot dogs, hamburgers, clubs, etc.- anything unhealthy and American you can imagine
Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Cafe- Mt. Pleasant
1502 N Hwy 17ice cream sundaes, milk shakes, malts, hot dogs, hamburgers, clubs, etc.- anything unhealthy and American you can imagine
authentic Italian pizza (don't let it's little strip mall location fool you- it's very yummy and popular with locals)
17 locals recommend
La Pizzeria
976 Houston Northcutt Blvdauthentic Italian pizza (don't let it's little strip mall location fool you- it's very yummy and popular with locals)
Bay Street Biergarten
549 East Bay Streetbeer, gouda pretzels, perogies
Xiao Bao Biscuit
224 Rutledge AveAsian soul food
huge traditional seafood platters (fried shrimp and hush puppies)
171 locals recommend
Bowens Island Restaurant
1870 Bowens Island Rdhuge traditional seafood platters (fried shrimp and hush puppies)
hidden behind Staples and loved by locals; the food takes a bit, but is delicious; I love the Rosemary Ham Sandwich and Peanut Butter and Honey French Toast
47 locals recommend
Three Little Birds Cafe
65 Windermere Boulevardhidden behind Staples and loved by locals; the food takes a bit, but is delicious; I love the Rosemary Ham Sandwich and Peanut Butter and Honey French Toast
Mondo's Italian Restaurant
915 Folly RdItalian at a reasonable price and very close to home
delicious French bread, croissants, and sandwiches; owned and run by a French couple
45 locals recommend
Baguette Magic
792 Folly Rddelicious French bread, croissants, and sandwiches; owned and run by a French couple
This place has a great selection of beers, wonderful service, and the food is scrumptious. My favorite is the hangar steak served with a poached egg.
142 locals recommend
Edmund's Oast
1081 Morrison DrThis place has a great selection of beers, wonderful service, and the food is scrumptious. My favorite is the hangar steak served with a poached egg.
This hole-in-the-wall is now famous with locals and local chefs for it's Lowcountry fried favorites.
230 locals recommend
Leon's
698 King StThis hole-in-the-wall is now famous with locals and local chefs for it's Lowcountry fried favorites.
FIG
232 Meeting StPopular eating spot with fresh ingredients
The CODfather, Proper Fish & Chips
4254 Spruill Aveserves "proper fish and chips" and sells out
Home Team BBQ
2209 Middle Starguably the best BBQ in town
beautiful interior; serves delicious and fresh vegetable dishes, grits, and fluffy biscuits
55 locals recommend
Harold's Cabin
247 Congress Stbeautiful interior; serves delicious and fresh vegetable dishes, grits, and fluffy biscuits
Little Jack's Tavern
710 King Stold-school design; yummy burger
fried seafood, local oysters, shellfish pot pie; beautifully designed
89 locals recommend
The Darling Oyster Bar
513 King Stfried seafood, local oysters, shellfish pot pie; beautifully designed
beautiful sunset views on the 7th floor of the hotel
50 locals recommend
The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits
75 Wentworth Streetbeautiful sunset views on the 7th floor of the hotel
Drinks and food with a variety of dietary needs and ingredients.
117 locals recommend
Jack of Cups Saloon
34 Center StDrinks and food with a variety of dietary needs and ingredients.
Drinks & Nightlife
Waterfront bar and restaurant (go through The Tides Hotel lobby)
42 locals recommend
BLU Beach Bar & Grill
1 Center StWaterfront bar and restaurant (go through The Tides Hotel lobby)
Prohibition
547 King Stinspired by the Jazz age, you'll feel like you stepped back in time
Bin 152
152 King Stcute French wine bar
The Royal American
970 Morrison Dreclectic bar with outdoor seating; designed as a dive bar
Blind Tiger Pub
36-38 Broad Stpub with cute outdoor seating area
The Charleston Pour House
1977 Maybank Hwylive music inside and outside
Stems & Skins
1070 E Montague Avepopular place for wine, meat, and cheese
Felix Cocktails et Cuisine
550 King Stcute French bar
Arts & Culture
Improv Comedy (get tickets in advance, arrive early for good seats, and take cash for the bar)
91 locals recommend
Theatre 99
280 Meeting StImprov Comedy (get tickets in advance, arrive early for good seats, and take cash for the bar)
movie theater with servers- all kinds of snacks, entrees, and beverages
57 locals recommend
Regal Cinebarre Mt. Pleasant
963 Houston Northcutt Blvdmovie theater with servers- all kinds of snacks, entrees, and beverages
Shopping
Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
1218 Belk Drshopping and a movie theater
Tanger Outlets Charleston
4840 Tanger Outlet BlvdVans, LOFT, H&M, North Face, etc.
Entertainment & Activities
Cloud 9 Spa Therapy
1956 Maybank Hwynice spa for massages, facials, waxing, etc.
Essentials
Walmart Supercenter
1231 Folly Rdfor anything you need
Harris Teeter
290 East Bay Streetfood, beverages, pharmacy, basic necessities