OT: Charleston, SC

BIGDAWG44

Senior
Aug 22, 2012
660
525
93
Making a last minute trip to Charleston, sc this weekend. What are some cool things to do and best places to eat?
 

DAWGS1.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 15, 2007
2,503
2
0
2 of my long time favorites recently closed - Hominy Grill and Jestines Kitchen.
For dinner, Fleet Landing and Pearlz would be two Id suggest.
 

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
22,008
15,058
113
I'll be honest. Charleston never really got me excited. My dad lived there for almost 20 years. Outside of Fort Sumter, its fairly blasé. The Battery is a standard water front park. There are some antebellum homes and gardens to tour. The Market is a borderline tourist trap. Their aquarium is pretty basic.

SNOB is one of the restaurants that gets Food Network love. It's good. There are tons of solid places to eat between The College of Charleston and East Bay Street. That area has experienced lots of gentrification over the years. I always enjoyed going to John's Island or Sullivan's Island. There are lots of hole in the wall bars and restaurants that are good. Dunleavy's on Sullivan is a fun Irish bar that I loved going to. Nothing fancy but had a "Cheers" type vibe to it. Super friendly people ran it.
 

ZombieKissinger

All-American
May 29, 2013
5,088
8,488
113
Camellias at Hotel Bennett is the most intensely vaginal bar I’ve ever been to, but not sure if that’s the vibe you’re looking for. Shem Creek is always safe. I like wandering into places downtown. Recovery Room if you like dives
 

57stratdawg

Heisman
Dec 1, 2004
148,477
24,256
113
I love Charleston. My recommendation is Fig, but there are plenty of good places. Pogan’s, Husk, Oak, etc.

Seems like a great time to visit. I’m sure there are plenty of ghost tours and other Halloween centered activities. Their carriage tours are fun and usually informative. Might want to go on and buy tickets, because they were almost all booked last time I was there.

There are plenty of good watering holes north on King Street.

I’d suggest a VRBO, because the hotels can be pricey. It’s a very walk-able city. So, don’t feel like you have to stay on lower King. As long as you’re south of the highway (hwy 17?), you’ll be fine.
 
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wsjmsu75

Junior
Sep 29, 2017
2,421
210
63
Camellias at Hotel Bennett is the most intensely vaginal bar I’ve ever been to, but not sure if that’s the vibe you’re looking for. Shem Creek is always safe. I like wandering into places downtown. Recovery Room if you like dives

Where are you ClintonInHelen?
 

UncleChuck

Redshirt
Aug 6, 2021
81
40
18
It's been a few years, so this may be dated... but the Rooftop Bar at Vendue was a fun spot and we always made a point to make it there for at least happy hour. Good views (of the city), and at least one bachelorette trip at all times.
 

dotcomdawg

Redshirt
Oct 2, 2013
303
1
18
The Ordinary. The Grocery. Babas for breakfast or lunch. Leons. Berthas for real soul food. Graft for wine bar. Xiao Bao Biscuit for spicy Asian. Bowen’s Island for sunset. Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan’s for beach walk followed by dinner.
 

dorndawg

All-American
Sep 10, 2012
8,849
9,579
113
I'll be honest. Charleston never really got me excited. My dad lived there for almost 20 years. Outside of Fort Sumter, its fairly blasé. The Battery is a standard water front park. There are some antebellum homes and gardens to tour. The Market is a borderline tourist trap. Their aquarium is pretty basic.

SNOB is one of the restaurants that gets Food Network love. It's good. There are tons of solid places to eat between The College of Charleston and East Bay Street. That area has experienced lots of gentrification over the years. I always enjoyed going to John's Island or Sullivan's Island. There are lots of hole in the wall bars and restaurants that are good. Dunleavy's on Sullivan is a fun Irish bar that I loved going to. Nothing fancy but had a "Cheers" type vibe to it. Super friendly people ran it.


I was curious, and this is the first time "blasé" has been uttered on the Sixpack in nearly 4 years. Well done. https://forums.sixpackspeak.com/search.php?searchid=927808
 

DAWGS1.sixpack

Redshirt
Feb 15, 2007
2,503
2
0
Camellias at Hotel Bennett is the most intensely vaginal bar I’ve ever been to, but not sure if that’s the vibe you’re looking for. Shem Creek is always safe. I like wandering into places downtown. Recovery Room if you like dives

Because it’s pink and has a lot of crystal vases and chandeliers and rose’ wine and afternoon tea. If you pick up a woman in there then good luck!
 

Mobile Bay

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2020
4,220
2,156
113
Perhaps I am weird. But the first three thing I am going to do when I get there are the aircraft carrier, the destroyer, and the submarine.
 

Jwsjr

Redshirt
Oct 8, 2013
147
7
18
Shocked no Halls love. All above good suggestions but Halls one of finest steaks I’ve ever laid my lips on …… and he a DAWG to boot.
 

AlSwearengen

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
1,237
0
0
Shocked no Halls love. All above good suggestions but Halls one of finest steaks I’ve ever laid my lips on …… and he a DAWG to boot.

I was about to say Hall’s and surprised it wasn’t mentioned first. Best steak I’ve had and the sides were great also. MSU people as well.

There are a lot of good options in Charleston but if you like Steak, don’t miss Hall’s Chophouse.
 

paindonthurt_

All-Conference
Jun 27, 2009
9,528
2,046
113
Definitely very walkable.

Also, folly beach usually has some awesome vrbo deals but it’s 20 to 30 mins from downtown in traffic.
 

lanceharbor7

Redshirt
Feb 24, 2008
912
49
28
Was in CHS the last 4 days. Fresh Seafood Deliciousness: Chubby Fish and 167 Raw (no reservations). Hall's has good steaks. Leon's has magnificent fried chicken and oysters. Chez Nous is fancy af. Shem's creek is good people watching. Callie's Hot little biscuit.


Making a last minute trip to Charleston, sc this weekend. What are some cool things to do and best places to eat?
 

chefdawg

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2012
79
11
7
Lunch: Leon’s, 167 Raw, Obstinate Daughter
Italian: Wild Olive, Le Farfalle, Indaco, Melfis
Burger: Little Jacks, Rue de Jean, Poe’s
BBQ: Lewis, Rodney’s, Swig and Swine
Seafood: Chubby Fish, The Ordinary, 167 Raw, The Royal Tern
Steak: Hall’s, Oak
Other: Langdons, FIG, Stella’s, Barsa, Malagon
 
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57stratdawg

Heisman
Dec 1, 2004
148,477
24,256
113
Still planning the trip? I meant to ask you in my post, but I thought it might get lost in the thread.
 

BrunswickDawg

Junior
Aug 22, 2012
315
240
43
2 of my long time favorites recently closed - Hominy Grill and Jestines Kitchen.
For dinner, Fleet Landing and Pearlz would be two Id suggest.

Jestine's was the best chicken I've ever eaten, I hated it when I saw they closed.

Poogan's Porch is a regular for our family; Husk;
SNOB, Virginia's on King,
 

Bulldogg31

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2013
8,263
0
0
Plan an afternoon/evening to go visit Sullivan’s Island. Cool area to see and several great places to eat there. Poe’s, Obstinate Daughter, and even the mexican place Mex 1 are all very good. Home Team BBQ is a good place out there too if you get tired of seafood.
 

Bulldogg31

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2013
8,263
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0
Also, out on Isle of Palms there’s a beach bar/dance club called The Windjammer that’s a cool place for a drink, live music and “scenery” (if you catch it right). Looks like some cool acts coming up in the next few weeks, here’s a link:

https://the-windjammer.com/
 

smurphdawg

Freshman
May 5, 2016
129
61
21
I’m not an art critic per se, however I do recognize the work of certain people who are prominent in the avant-garde art scene. I can tell you with 100% certainty that this chandelier piece was designed by none other than Maude Lebowski.
 

CochiseCowbell

Heisman
Oct 29, 2012
14,797
12,498
113
We spent last weekend at the Isle of Palms (IOP). Should you venture that way, Long Island Café had great seafood and some of the best grits I've ever had. Another night we went to The Obstinate Daughter. I highly recommend both places.

We had lunch one day at Red's Ice House in the Mt. Pleasant / Shem Creek area. It was good as well, but no where near the other two.

All of three of these were very proud of their food. The first two earn it, the lunch spot...not so much.
 

Beerbully

Redshirt
Dec 1, 2013
382
0
0
Among the cool things to do in and around Charleston, be sure to visit the city market where the artisans weave those sweetgrass baskets. It's an old and fascinating Gullah art form, and they make some beautiful stuff. Here's a link: https://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/main/sweetgrass-baskets

Another suggestion--Go see the Angel Tree on John's Island. It's a huge live oak, probably 300 to 400 years old.
 
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Sep 21, 2017
909
657
93
The wife and I made that trip about two years ago.

Restaurants we enjoyed
Hank's was amazing
Fleet Landing
Bowen's Island Restaurant get there early because it get busy on the weekends. Bypass the line and go sit at the bar.
Lewis BBQ
Rodney Scott BBQ
Hominy Grill was amazing to bad it is closed. Our Air B&B was just down the road and we ate there almost every morning.

Things we enjoyed
USS Yorktown - You can kill an entire day here. They have done a good job with interactive exhibits.
Carriage rides thru down town
Drayton Hall and Magnolia Gardens
 

CochiseCowbell

Heisman
Oct 29, 2012
14,797
12,498
113
Damn, I don't know how I forgot the Yorktown was there. Spent two big weekends sleeping on the racks in the berth, took a tour of the submarine, etc, as a Scout. It was awesome but I probably didn't fully appreciate the historical significance of it then. I need to go back for a day tour.

Speaking of Subs, the Hunley museum is in North Charleston as well. https://www.hunley.org/

Cochise Sr. took the trip up there to witness the Confederate Funeral when they exhumed the sailors in 2000. He figured it was worth seeing, for no one would ever witness one again.
 

Jeffreauxdawg

All-American
Dec 15, 2017
8,871
7,935
113
I'm jealous I cannot go. Lewis BBQ would be a must. John Lewis is a Texas BBQ legend. Original pitmaster that helped Aaron Franklin get started. Did the same with La Barbecue.

I have not been personally, but enough people I trust have. Best brisket east of the Mississippi. Do yourself a favor and take 10 minutes to watch this, you will appreciate Lewis BBQ before you go.

 

J-Dawg

Junior
Mar 4, 2009
2,222
309
83
Alot of the places I'd recommend have already been mentioned. 82 Queen and Poogan's Porch are both great for dinner. Really enjoyed 82 Queen, but it, Husk and Poogan's are 3 of the most popular in town, so they are stupid crowded.

Also recommend Amen Street for a cool lunch spot. It's on Bay Street about a block south of Market. Huge oyster menu.

We also ventured out to the Angel Oak on Johns Island one day and stumbled on an awesome joint called the Tattoed Moose. Highly recommend it if you are out that way.

As far as touristy stuff, my favorite thing we did in Charleston was USS Yorktown self-guided tour. My wife had to drag me out of there. And of course, Ft. Sumter was cool too.
 

LexSCDOG

Sophomore
Aug 5, 2014
324
100
43
Making a last minute trip to Charleston, sc this weekend. What are some cool things to do and best places to eat?

People have listed every place that I would have except for : The Darling: Seafood: Reservations required. Also get the Pimento Cheese and cracked pepper bacon biscuit at Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Upper King Street(The Darling is across the street and up a bit.
 

Ddawg69

Redshirt
Dec 27, 2019
36
34
18
Charleston dining can be overwhelming. It kind of depends on how fancy you want to get. Hall's is great but be prepared to drop some coin. Some of the other "nice" places downtown are going to be good but probably in general overhyped.

I'll make a few suggestions. If you've got a chance to get out of downtown, go to Wild Olive on Johns Island. It is the best restaurant in the area in my opinion and a lot of people would agree with that. You can also make a trip out to the Firefly distillery. It used to be on Johns Island but may have moved? If you want seafood I'd go to Fleet Landing downtown. You get great food, on the water, and a little less bougie than some of the other spots. Saltwater Cowboy across the big bridge in Mount Pleasant on Shem Creek is another good spot by the water for a little more of a casual dining/drink experience.

Side note: A few BBQ spots are pretty good. Lewis BBQ is great but be hungry. Hometeam is a little more standard but still a good spot and they have multiple locations.