The influx of transplants and tourists in Charleston, SC since the pandemic is noticeable the moment you step off the plane. It’s not hard to figure out why either – it’s a short plane ride from many Northeast cities, the weather is pleasant, and the dining/nightlife scene is thriving. October is a great time to visit as far the weather is concerned. The city is decked out in pumpkins and Halloween décor, making it feel very festive.

We flew out to Charleston mid-day on a Thursday and left on Sunday morning, the perfect amount of time to take in the city. With a little research and recommendations from friends/social media, it was easy to put together an action packed yet still relaxing itinerary (with no shortage of excellent meals throughout).

This is by no means a “travel guide”, but rather a recap of all the places we dined at with some helpful tips sprinkled in if you are heading to Charleston.

Coffee & Breakfast

Babas on Cannon (Downtown Charleston) – This was very close to our accommodation and just an awesome spot in general. They have an excellent coffee program (try the peanut mocha, made with peanut milk!), as well as cocktails, baked good, and various breakfast/lunch options. It’s a small café so it can get quite busy at times, but the seasonal truffle grilled cheese with fresh shaved black truffle ($28) is fantastic, as were the marinated olives (some of the best I’ve had). My wife ordered their avocado toast and apple crumb cake which were both tasty. If we had more time, we probably would have gone back a third time.

The Daily (Downtown Charleston) – An Israeli inspired café offering unique coffee/tea, with a delicious take on café food options that can be enjoyed ‘daily’. The Israeli Upside-Down latte is a must order, featuring slight floral notes from the Onyx southern weather espresso blend that pair perfectly with the rose/cardamom syrup. The drink is garnished with dried rose petals, making it not only tasty, but also very pretty. We kept it simple, ordering the breakfast pita consisting of scrambled egg, Israeli salad, tahini, schug, hummus and cabbage; as well as the avocado toast seasoned with za’atar spice and a side of scrambled eggs. Baked goods were also great here, and all can easily be enjoyed inside or outside on their quaint garden patio. We tried their seasonal sweet potato ginger muffin, was which was absolutely delicious.

Callie’s Little Hot Biscuit (Downtown Charleston) – We ate at their original location on King Street, which is tiny and there is almost always a line out the door. Avoid this place. The biscuits were mediocre and cold. Our breakfast sandwiches included egg substitute that would be right at home on the McDonalds breakfast menu. The shredded cheese wasn’t even the slightest bit melted due to the egg and biscuits all being premade and cold. And if that is how it was meant to be, I don’t even know what to say then. If you’re a Baltimore local, you can find better (and fresher) biscuits at True Chesapeake Oyster on their brunch menu.

Second State Coffee (Downtown Charleston) – After walking all around the historic district via exploring and taking a Bulldog Tour (highly recommended), we needed a caffeine boost in the afternoon. Second State Coffee is a small cafe with an emphasis on the coffee program, but with minimal food options, and usually teaming with students parked in front of laptops. The coffee here is wonderful though. We enjoyed their seasonal oat sweet potato latte over ice – a uniquely delicious concoction. They roast their own beans sourced from around the world, so naturally I picked up some of their Heavy Weight beans for home.

Lunch & Dinner

Leon’s Oyster Shop (Downtown Charleston) – We absolutely loved this place, a true but very well-known gem. Leon’s is no secret amongst locals or tourists. This casual oyster and fried chicken restaurant draws crowds in hoards, and for good reason. The menu is small but focused, and not expensive. However, dining here involves a little planning ahead. They do not take reservations so you need to show up to get added to a list and they will text you once your table is ready (expect to wait at least 30 minutes). We LOVED the Siam salad, featuring napa cabbage, crispy shallots, peanuts, orange supremes, avocado, and mint dressed in a light fragrant combination of fish sauce, palm sugar, and lime juice. I said to my wife I could literally eat this salad every day. The chargrilled oysters and fried chicken are fantastic. We both also said the coleslaw (with buttermilk dressing, currants, and seeds) was the best we’ve ever had. They also have Champagne on tap, as well as frozen Gin & Tonics, amongst the many other drinks/cocktails. Go here!

S.N.O.B. Slightly North of Broad (Downtown Charleston) – Our first meal in Charleston and it was a good one. This place gets very busy, so reservations are highly recommended. The menu is a contemporary take on low country classics that stay true to the region but aren’t dated. We enjoyed the charcuterie plate and the barbeque shrimp appetizers (barbeque rub, rather than traditional sauce), both served with grilled baguette which was necessary for soaking up all of that delicious shrimp sauce. For entrees, we enjoyed the wreckfish which showcased their fall preparation with confit sweet potatoes and a miso turnip sauce, as well as the seared scallops served with Carolina gold rice, bok choy, corn, red miso and toasted benne seeds. Our server (who was wonderful all night) could tell we couldn’t choose between the peanut butter chocolate pie and the banana cream pie (their desserts are made in house), so she brought us both – one of which was with the restaurant’s compliments. Both were delicious. The waitress also brought us two complimentary glasses of sparkling wine, as she knew we were celebrating our 9 year anniversary.  The restaurant also has nightly live music, which on this evening was a guitar/drum duo which played a wonderful eclectic mix of jazz, funk, and soft rock. We noticed right away that Charleston takes Halloween/Fall very seriously. The entire restaurant and bar area was decked out in fall décor, which my wife really appreciated.

Delaney Oyster House (Downtown Charleston) – A newer seafood joint, but quickly gaining popularity due to delicious standout dishes. We started with some raw oysters, including two of their Oyster’s Delaney (dressed with caviar, cultured cream, chive and champagne). They Delaney Oysters were good but I’m not sure I would pay $9 each again for them. Their Caesar salad is unassuming but absolutely fantastic, with copious amounts of dressing, buttery brioche croutons, and coarse black pepper. We both thoroughly enjoyed our lobster roll and seared tuna banh mi sandwiches. The drinks here were fantastic as well. I had the very instagrammable Smugglers Cove cocktail of vodka, passionfruit, lime, mint and soda.

The Obstinate Daughter (Sullivan’s Island) – Another place that doesn’t accept reservations, requiring you to put your name down and they text you when your table is ready. TOD is located on Sullivan’s Island, just a few hundred feet from the beach. The menu is very approachable, offering eclectic Southern cuisine with Italian inspired options such as handmade pastas and artisan pizzas. We enjoyed their gnocchi with fall apart short rib ragu sauce, The Moultrie pizza with craft pepperoni and shitake mushrooms, and broke up the carbs with very tasty local lettuce salad in buttermilk dressing. Everything we tasted, including the cocktails, were executed very well using top notch ingredients. We would have loved to sample more menu items but we had a dinner reservation coming up, and needed to leave room for our final meal in Charleston.

82 Queen (Downtown Charleston) – This restaurant appears on countless “best Charleston restaurants” lists, and perhaps it was at some point, but based on our experience seems to be living off old glory. The menu is classic low country cuisine, with offerings like she-crab soup, barbeque shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and jambalaya to name a few. We tried the she-crab soup, which at first I had to send back because it was barely warm and the cream was separating from the broth. Upon receiving another dish of it, there wasn’t much improvement beyond temperature. Anyone who has had good cream of crab here in Maryland would be embarrassed by this rendition. The shrimp and grits were decent, but relied too much on the bacon pieces for flavor. Our crispy duck wasn’t very crispy, with little rendering of the fat to crisp the skin properly, while also being too heavily lacquered in a barbeque style sauce. The accompanying haricot verts and dirty rice lacked flavor and texture. I would consider other places over this one.  

Cocktails

Doar Bros. (Downtown Charleston) – Maybe this sounds familiar at this point, but you have to put your name down and they text you when there is availability. The cocktails at Doar Bros were worth the wait though. The small intimate space and expertly prepared drinks are a winning formula. I had an excellent negroni poured tableside, while my wife enjoyed a very strong espresso martini. Before ordering another round we enjoyed the cheeseboard, showcasing three different artisan cheeses – one of which I had them write down the producer because I loved it so much (mountaineer cheese from Meadow Creek Dairy). For the next round I enjoyed a spiced pear cocktail which was more refreshing than expected. This is the type of place where you could describe flavors you like and the bartenders are skilled enough to make you something delicious on a whim. Doar Bros was a perfect end to our foodie trip. I’m glad we came here, because ending the trip with 82 Queen would have been disappointing.