For the month of March, we decided to feature the top up-and-coming cities in the U.S. Condé Nast has rated Charleston as the “Top City in the U.S.” three years in a row, and once you’ve visited it’s easy to see why. When I picture the quintessential charming Southern city, I picture Charleston. With cobble-stoned streets and so much heritage and culture, it is no wonder that it’s one of Posh Voyage’s favorite cities in not only the U.S., but the world.
We have put together a hour-by-hour schedule of the chicest, most luxurious, and quaintest places in Charleston. To see all of our favorite fashion pics from Charleston check out the shop below!
Thursday:
2:00 pm- Check-in to the most perfect little hotel in Charleston, Zero George. What was once a carriage house built in 1804 has now been transformed into a chic hotel. The hotel’s decor has been described as that of “southern sophistication with a contemporary twist“. The design of each room is influenced by Charleston’s history as a colonial port.
If you’re wanting to stay a little outside of the city of Charleston, the perfect hotel for you is The Inn at Palmetto Bluff (article coming Friday).
4:00 pm- The hotel is located in the Historic District of Charleston, which is comprised mainly of residential dwellings in addition to commercial, ecclesiastical and government buildings, so take a stroll!
8:30 pm– Dine at the hotel restaurant, Zero Café+ Bar. The a-la-carte menu is approachable, hyper-seasonal, and features the freshest herbs and vegetables from the on-site kitchen garden. No wonder Zero George was name a “Top Foodie Hotel” by Condé Nast.
Or, take a cooking class at the hotel, The Cooking School offers guests an opportunity to create a range of traditional and contemporary dishes with Executive Chef Vinson Petrillo.
10:30 pm- Head the The Gin Joint for an after-dinner aperitif and play “Bartender’s choice”. He’ll create you a one-of-a-kind cocktail based on your preferences.
Friday:
10:00 am- Breakfast at The Butcher & Bee. Brunch is BYOB at Butcher & Bee, so don’t forget to pick up a bottle of bubbly to pour in your OJ. My personal favorite is the French toast or venture out and try the shakshuka, a Tunisian dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce.
1:00pm- Check out the Charleston City Market, the perfect place to buy some fresh southern spices, homemade baskets, and other homemade goods.
5:30 pm- In the late evening, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge lights up like a christmas tree. At dusk, take a bike ride across the bridge and watch the sun set across the river.
8:30 pm- For a trendy dinner option, head to Husk. The archetype of what chef Sean Brock does best: heirloom Southern food prepared with a connoisseur’s sensibility and a deft culinary touch. Must-Order: The cornbread.
Or try The Ordinary, at chef Mike Lata’s high temple of Neptune’s bounty, the oyster sliders are the perfect combination of crispy and savory.
10:30 pm- Head to Belmont , this upper King Street bar pours a beautiful drink. One specialty is its sourcing of rare, small-batch whiskeys and herbal Fernet liqueurs that you’ve probably never heard of (but will be tempted to try).
Saturday:
10:30 am- For the typical southern breakfast head to Hominy Grill, which has been feature on every cooking/food show imaginable. Order the Charleston Nasty Biscuit—it’s a gluttonous construct of fried chicken, cheese, buttermilk biscuit, and sausage gravy.
2:00 pm- Spend an hour or two walking around the Charleston Farmer’s Market and sample the exquisitely fresh food and homemade goods. Located in Marion Square, the Farmer’s Market operate from 8:00am – 2:00pm every Saturday.
4:00pm- Wander along King Street, Charleston’s premier shopping street full of mom-and-pop restaurants and some of the cutest boutique shops.
8:30 pm- Eat at the local favorite restaurant, FIG. This local favorite with an excellent bar handles grits, shad roe, and pig’s trotters as a French chef with a thing for the American South would.
The Two Boroughs Larder is a great alternative option. With rough-hewn wood, rickety tables the best thing on the menu is the Pork Scrapple Sandwich, on a hard roll, with aged Cheddar and a silky farm egg cooked over-easy.
10:30PM- After a yummy dinner, head to McCrady’s, a Charleston staple. Built in 1788, with an entrance on an alley, parts of McCrady’s feel like an elegant cave, but then the bar ceiling soars to high windows.
Sunday:
10:30 am- Edmund’s Oast is the place to eat breakfast on Sundays. With a vast beer selection, creative cocktails, and a country pâté sandwich (among other tasty treats), this restaurant has something for everyone.
12:00pm- If you have time on your way out, stop by the South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor. The perfect place for a little family time, check out the Saltmarsh Aviary, albino Alligator exhibit, 4-D adventure theatre, and the interactive stingray exhibit.
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