August 2023

From charming Victorian-style homes along Meeting Street to a continuous fragrant breeze of warm, Lowcountry cooking wafting through the French Quarter, downtown Charleston, South Carolina, is a definite must-visit if you’re stumped with where to decompress on your next vacation. Whether you’re a history buff, an avid shopper, or anything in between, I’ve compiled a list of locations to guarantee you the perfect day in Charleston. 

Begin the day at babas on cannon. Located at 11 Cannon Street in the Cannonborough Elliotborough neighborhood, this spot encapsulates the essence of European cafés through simple ingredients, robust flavors, and all-day dining with a variety of morning pastries and evening bites to enjoy with friends.

Next, take a right and head down King Street for some shopping. Some of my favorite stores to pop into are: Tecovas - Here, you can find your own perfectly handcrafted pair of western boots! The Charleston location ties with Nashville for the store’s second best location. Rice Village in Houston is #1 (that’s just me though lol). Record Stop - Recently, I picked up Kacey Musgraves’ Pageant Material and The Eagles’ Hotel California on vinyl.

By this time you’re going to be working up quite the appetite, trust me. So, reserve a table at The Palmetto Cafe in the iconic Charleston Place Hotel. A whimsical, garden inspired restaurant, The Palmetto Cafe serves elevated Lowcountry dishes created by fresh, locally sourced ingredients. I recommend ordering the Southern Shrimp & Grits!

Afterward, stroll over to the new International African American Museum. Through a range of interactive experiences and artifacts, this museum shares the stories of enslaved individuals who disembarked from their journey across the Middle Passage into Charleston and created a remarkable identity in this country.

Continue your period of reflection by visiting a couple of art galleries. Meyer Vogl and Corrigan are two I always love to peek into when I find myself back in the city.

Conclude your day with a delicious tapas dinner of Spanish cuisine at Malagón Mercado y Tapería. I visited this restaurant with my mom, and we practically ordered the entire menu. Though all of our dishes were incredible, our shortened list includes the clams prepared with herbs and vegetables and the gem lettuce topped with garlic and vinegar. Be sure to also go for something sweet from the dessert list; the sweetened churros are everythinggg!