Guidebook for Charleston

Matt & Dana
Matt & Dana
Guidebook for Charleston

Food Scene

165 locals recommend
The Ordinary
544 King St
165 locals recommend
Great Italian food, romantic outdoor patio.
25 locals recommend
Coterie
17 Warren St
25 locals recommend
Great Italian food, romantic outdoor patio.
Bike ride away. Parking is tough. Definitely find out what their daily rice dish is, but anything you get here will be amazing.
212 locals recommend
Xiao Bao Biscuit
224 Rutledge Ave
212 locals recommend
Bike ride away. Parking is tough. Definitely find out what their daily rice dish is, but anything you get here will be amazing.
Local, within walking/biking distance.
78 locals recommend
Rutledge Cab Company
1300 Rutledge Ave
78 locals recommend
Local, within walking/biking distance.
Local, within walking or biking distance. Light and bright cafe in an old gas station; great for brunch. Near Hampton Park.
97 locals recommend
The Park Cafe
730 Rutledge Ave
97 locals recommend
Local, within walking or biking distance. Light and bright cafe in an old gas station; great for brunch. Near Hampton Park.
They brew their own peanut butter & jelly beer. Indoor or outdoor seating and a quick bike ride from our place.
142 locals recommend
Edmund's Oast
1081 Morrison Dr
142 locals recommend
They brew their own peanut butter & jelly beer. Indoor or outdoor seating and a quick bike ride from our place.
If you have 2+ days and a car. If you head to the beach on Sullivan's Island and are hungry, make a stop at Poe's. Fair warning: it's almost always packed. If you grab lunch, they have a great burger, too.
205 locals recommend
Poe's Tavern - Sullivans Island
2210 Middle St
205 locals recommend
If you have 2+ days and a car. If you head to the beach on Sullivan's Island and are hungry, make a stop at Poe's. Fair warning: it's almost always packed. If you grab lunch, they have a great burger, too.
If you have 2+ days and a car and head out to Folly Beach, go here and get the tuna nachos! They usually have someone playing acoustic music on the outdoor patio, too.
96 locals recommend
rita's seaside grill
96 locals recommend
If you have 2+ days and a car and head out to Folly Beach, go here and get the tuna nachos! They usually have someone playing acoustic music on the outdoor patio, too.
Matt suggests sitting at the bar for dinner. Great wine selection & cocktails. Get the mussels or sushi.
62 locals recommend
39 Rue De Jean
39 John St
62 locals recommend
Matt suggests sitting at the bar for dinner. Great wine selection & cocktails. Get the mussels or sushi.
If you have 2+ days and a car. Good, lowcountry fried seafood on the water.
171 locals recommend
Bowens Island Restaurant
1870 Bowens Island Rd
171 locals recommend
If you have 2+ days and a car. Good, lowcountry fried seafood on the water.
When you wake up early and can't find a cafe open before 9am on weekends, rest assured, they will be. Excellent croissant's and english muffins. A bike ride or short Uber/car ride further into downtown.
67 locals recommend
Brown's Court Bakery
199 St Philip St
67 locals recommend
When you wake up early and can't find a cafe open before 9am on weekends, rest assured, they will be. Excellent croissant's and english muffins. A bike ride or short Uber/car ride further into downtown.
This is Dana's favorite cafe to hit up for wi-fi access and good, strong coffee drinks. You'll find there are only a handful of cafe's who offer internet in Charleston - great spot if you're in town on business and need to plug in for a while.
60 locals recommend
Second State Coffee
70.5 Beaufain St
60 locals recommend
This is Dana's favorite cafe to hit up for wi-fi access and good, strong coffee drinks. You'll find there are only a handful of cafe's who offer internet in Charleston - great spot if you're in town on business and need to plug in for a while.
We almost don't want to tell you about this because we love it so much (we kid). Seriously, our favorite post-beach grab-a-beer-and-wings dive spot. And a favorite among the surfer crowd on Folly. During the late Fall and Winter, grab a seat on the patio by the fire.
67 locals recommend
Surf Bar Folly Beach
103 W Cooper Ave
67 locals recommend
We almost don't want to tell you about this because we love it so much (we kid). Seriously, our favorite post-beach grab-a-beer-and-wings dive spot. And a favorite among the surfer crowd on Folly. During the late Fall and Winter, grab a seat on the patio by the fire.
Eating a Renzo for us is like having dinner with our family. We prefer to grab seats at the bar and catch up with their staff. The boquerones are a delicious treat, as is the eggplant ravini. All of the pizza's are amazing and you'll want to grab a gelato or sweet treat before you leave.
19 locals recommend
Renzo
384 Huger St
19 locals recommend
Eating a Renzo for us is like having dinner with our family. We prefer to grab seats at the bar and catch up with their staff. The boquerones are a delicious treat, as is the eggplant ravini. All of the pizza's are amazing and you'll want to grab a gelato or sweet treat before you leave.

Drinks & Nightlife

Divey, local neighborhood bar. Surprisingly good food - you can find us eating or having a beer here weekly.
69 locals recommend
Moe's Crosstown Tavern
714 Rutledge Ave
69 locals recommend
Divey, local neighborhood bar. Surprisingly good food - you can find us eating or having a beer here weekly.
Divey bar on the water. - great spot for a beer. Off the beaten path.
10 locals recommend
Salty Mike's Deck Bar
9 Lockwood Dr
10 locals recommend
Divey bar on the water. - great spot for a beer. Off the beaten path.
Downstairs is a restaurant, but head upstairs to the rooftop bar/lounge. Great views of downtown Charleston.
187 locals recommend
Stars Rooftop & Grill Room
495 King Street
187 locals recommend
Downstairs is a restaurant, but head upstairs to the rooftop bar/lounge. Great views of downtown Charleston.
Speakeasy style drinks. Delicious.
50 locals recommend
The Gin Joint
182 E Bay St
50 locals recommend
Speakeasy style drinks. Delicious.
Within Biking distance. One of our neighborhood's newest local breweries. They close by 10pm
14 locals recommend
Cooper River Brewing Company
2201 Mechanic St
14 locals recommend
Within Biking distance. One of our neighborhood's newest local breweries. They close by 10pm
Another local brewery within daytime biking distance. Has outdoor seating. Close by 10pm.
150 locals recommend
Revelry Brewing
10 Conroy St
150 locals recommend
Another local brewery within daytime biking distance. Has outdoor seating. Close by 10pm.

Parks & Nature

They have several great running trails, one with exercise stations. A large pond and fountain, and beautiful live oak trees. Within biking distance from the house. Go during the day.
165 locals recommend
Hampton Park
165 locals recommend
They have several great running trails, one with exercise stations. A large pond and fountain, and beautiful live oak trees. Within biking distance from the house. Go during the day.

Sightseeing

Historic plantation near Mt Pleasant. Tour of the grounds and home.
248 locals recommend
Boone Hall Plantation
1235 Long Point Road
248 locals recommend
Historic plantation near Mt Pleasant. Tour of the grounds and home.
Historic plantation with beautiful gardens
395 locals recommend
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
3550 Ashley River Rd
395 locals recommend
Historic plantation with beautiful gardens
UPDATE: Hurricane Matthew damaged Botany Bay pretty severely - do a bit of research to check if they've reopened before making the drive. If you have 2+ days and a car, Botany Bay is absolutely stunning. Drive around and explore, then park and walk to the water. They have steep fines for shelling, so everything is left as-is. Seemingly untouched.
46 locals recommend
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
1066 Botany Bay Rd
46 locals recommend
UPDATE: Hurricane Matthew damaged Botany Bay pretty severely - do a bit of research to check if they've reopened before making the drive. If you have 2+ days and a car, Botany Bay is absolutely stunning. Drive around and explore, then park and walk to the water. They have steep fines for shelling, so everything is left as-is. Seemingly untouched.

Arts & Culture

371 locals recommend
The Charleston Museum
360 Meeting St
371 locals recommend
Tour a classic Battery home and museum. Tickets required
24 locals recommend
Edmondston-Alston House
21 E Battery
24 locals recommend
Tour a classic Battery home and museum. Tickets required

Essentials

290 locals recommend
Harris Teeter
290 East Bay Street
290 locals recommend

Shopping

Lots of local authors, used books, new books. Interesting stuff, knowledgeable staff.
15 locals recommend
Blue Bicycle Books
420 King St
15 locals recommend
Lots of local authors, used books, new books. Interesting stuff, knowledgeable staff.
New and antique furniture and home goods. Sweet owner, too.
Indigo Market
1094 Morrison Dr
New and antique furniture and home goods. Sweet owner, too.