48 Hours In Charleston, S.C.
It is pretty hard not to love Charleston, SC. Charming, quaint, lovely are all words that come to my mind when I think of this picturesque beloved southern town. The first time I stepped foot in this city, I was a junior in college lucky enough to be there for spring break. My friend’s parents had a home in Mt. Pleasant, which is about 15 minutes from downtown. After just one day there, I was in love. The architecture is hard not to admire. The food, a dream and hospitality is bar none. Welcome to the South! My younger sister ended up attending College of Charleston which also led me back there a few times. I loved my college (go friars!), but if I had to pick a second choice it would hands down be CFC.
I have seen Charleston as a poor college student, a scrappy girl in her mid-twenties, and now as a grown up, married with two kids. It has been amazing each and every time. Granted this time around, I enjoyed some of the finer things the town offers but it was just as fun as it has always been.
By no means, do I consider myself a travel blogger. However I am a tad boujee & a huge foodie, so I do think this post is worth a read if you find yourself planning on booking a trip to chuck town.
The Hotel
We stayed at the Hotel Bennett conveniently located right on King St, the heart of town. I have been to many luxury hotels in my lifetime (i told you, i am a tad boujee ;-)), and this was hands down one of our top 3! USA Today named it #1 in best luxury hotels, and it was named #2 for best hotel bars. It has a few other noteworthy accolades you can read more about on their website.
This 4 diamond property is heavy on your wallet, but I promise you, it is so worth it.
Let’s talk about a warm welcome…The moment you arrive the door man pleasantly greets you with an appropriate ma’am or sir and then you step into a Rotonda with murals of 18th century Charleston and then one of the hotel owner’s mansion with dogs on the lawn. Every single employee we encountered was beyond helpful and kind. The rest of the hotel lobby follows suit with custom furnishings and more local artwork.
To the left of the front desk is Camellias Champagne and Caviar Bar which is slowly starting to be dubbed, the champagne room. Think pinks and golds, marble and one big gorgeous chandelier…it is such a dainty pretty room. The decor that truly compliments champs and caviar. I was smitten and what a perfect place for a pre-dinner drink or girls night? We only had champagne, but they offer a full bar, small apps, afternoon tea/desserts, and of course, caviar.
To the right of the front desk is the very spacious and inviting lobby with oversized comfortable chairs & couches surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. The mirrored bar is classic southern inspired with gold accents and of course more chandeliers. Love a good chandelier. The atmosphere is warm & cozy with that sophisticated elegant vibe all wrapped in one. Totally my style and my vibe. It is perfection.
There is a main restaurant off of the lobby called Gabrielle but we only had breakfast there which was great!
Now the rooms are not huge but they are still spacious. They are light & airy with classic white linen bedding, gold trimmed pillow cases and pretty glass lamps. Builtin bookshelves framed our window adorned with an automated black out shade which was key for sleeping in! We had a view of Marion Square and some had terraces.
Sliding french doors open to the pedestal tub in the very sleek bathroom adorned with white marble and pretty art deco mirrors. The rooms have a Nespresso machine which I took advantage of before my morning run. So clutch to have good coffee in your hotel room. A huge plus for me is when the hotel provides a plush, soft & cozy robe. I am a sucker for a good robe.
Other perks of the hotel are the rooftop bar, the pool, and the spa. Unfortunately we only were able to check out the rooftop bar which has a more modern/hip vibe than the lobby bar. The spa looks and sounds amazing. I plan to frequent that on our next visit. Before we left on Sunday, we stopped at La Pâtisserie which is in the hotel but also accessible from King Street. They are open all day for snacks, delicious coffee, and their French pastries and desserts are to die for! Like, wow. Just go there. We brought home an assortment for Stella and my family.
Ok, writing this made me relive it all. As a friend of mine said, “Bennett has ruined Charleston for me. I can never stay anywhere else”. I have to agree.
Food Scene
By now you know, I am a HUGE foodie and so is Jeff. We could sit at a restaurant for 3 hours if the food is good and the atmosphere is on point. Dining out is all about the experience. I believe that is how it should be or else why not just do take out and eat at home? I am sure you have heard rumors about how good the food scene is in Charleston by now. They are all TRUE. This has always been the case, but I think it is even better now. This town is a culinary experience waiting to happen. A foodie’s dream!
Friday night, we met a friend of Jeff’s at Frannie & The Fox. We did not eat here, but a part of me wishes we did. The restaurant is a wood burning concept of shareable dishes…their pizzas looked heavenly. The whole setting immediately draws you in. The bar and indoor dining is hip with just the right amount of lighting, but the whole outdoor courtyard calls your name with comfy couches & chairs perfectly positioned around heat lamps and fireplaces making it warm & inviting. The best spot for drinks and small bites with friends. The bar conveniently has a drink order window making it easy to grab your drinks and head to a comfy spot outside by the fire. This is exactly what we did. My initial thought is why don’t more places do this?!
I am still thinking about my drink, rightly named, “Spirit Animal” with mezcal, pisco, breckenridge bitters, lime, egg whites. I had two. Oops.
we sat right by this fireplace.
Pleasantly buzzed off of my two spirit animals, we headed to Circa 1886. Here is the description from their website:
“Tucked within the original carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion, Circa 1886 evokes the romance and old-world charm of historic downtown Charleston. Look beyond its original pine floors and charming architectural details and discover an unexpectedly modern take on the city’s classic Lowcountry cuisine. Circa 1886 regularly ranks among the finest restaurants in downtown Charleston SC.”
Jeff did a tasting/wine pairing menu and I ordered al la carte which was a great way for us to get to taste a little bit of everything. The food was creative and very well done. However I thought it was a little “stuffy” inside. Or maybe I was more in the mood for a basic burger after those two strong mezcals. The chicken fried duck breast (Hoppin’ John, Turnips & Tops, Orange & Grapefruit Salad, Buttered Biscuit Gravy) and the 1885 Beef Tenderloin (Melting Potatoes, Spinach, Bell Peppers, Horseradish Espuma, Applewood Cheddar Mornay) were the highlights. I was excited for the Southern Grilled Cheese (Pimento Cheese Mousse, Grilled Brioche, Surryano Ham, Paddlefish Caviar, Cured Yolk Powder), but it was surprisingly not great.
The two highlights of this restaurant were the dessert wine and the actual dessert. We were introduced to a white wine that is similar to a port. It is sweet, but not like a moscato. I was shocked how much we both like it because we do not like sweet wine. I highly recommend it and you can get it at Total Wine. It is $$ but save for a special occasion. The Apple Rum Souffle (Hot Toffee Sauce, Candied Praline Ice Cream ) will probably go down as one of the top 3 best desserts I have ever had. That hot toffee sauce mixed in with the souffle was pure heaven…pure heaven!!! My mouth is watering right now. Are you hungry yet?!
Saturday we got a late start. I went for a run along the battery and Jeff researched where we would stuff our faces that day. Hah. But seriously. Everyone raved about 167 Raw which is known as the best raw bar in charleston. With that, the 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor, and my love for oysters, we wanted to be sure to check it out. It opens promptly at 11am, and there is always a wait. People get there, put their names down and expect to wait at least 90 minutes for a bar seat or table. So we got there right at 11, and only had to wait about 5 minutes to be seated at the bar. Thank God we did because let me tell you, this was the best part of the day.
The food is creative without being overdone or too trendy. It is real, good, and flavorful that hits all the right spots.
We ordered frose’s because when in Charleston, order a frose. Yes, it is a thing. And for good reason! The tuna tataki is the best I've ever had, so I ordered 2. I know I keep making these bold statements, but it is true. The halibut ceviche was amazing and I don't even like halibut. Their oyster selection is expansive with a combination from west & east coast including local like SC. If you don’t care for raw, get fried. I MEAN…WOW.
The rest of the day was spent walking off our meal on King Street with a little shopping and sightseeing. Who am I kidding, it was mostly shopping. They have quite the stores especially for men. Dumas & Jordan Lash were two of Jeff’s favorites. I did some damage on Stella + Jack at “Little Almond Blossoms”. It is 3 stories worth of children's clothing, accessories, toys etc all for ages 0-5 years.
For a mid-day break we headed to The Watch for drinks on their rooftop. It was such a pretty day with a high of 71 and sunshine, so ideal for afternoon outdoor drinks. The restaurant is a farm to table style with pretty sweet views of the city. We didn't eat there, but the menu looked awesome. No surprise, it’s Charleston.
By the time 5pm rolled around we still had so much of King St to conquer and more sites to explore, but we were exhausted. After retreating back to the hotel we collapsed in one of the oversize chairs in the lobby bar, a sparkling rose for me and beer for Jeff while we debated where to eat next. Hah. Jeff had made reservations at this renowned french restaurant, but we were both in the mood for something more casual with a more relaxed menu. Meanwhile it is Valentine’s weekend, and everywhere was BOOKED. We ventured to Edmund’s Oast, a restaurant and brewery. I had actually hosted an event there when I worked in Atlanta. I remembered the vibe being on point and perfect for what we wanted.
Charleston has that “IT” factor. Once you visit you have no doubt in your mind why it is so beloved. The food is beyond, the bar scene loved by all, and it is the charm y’all; pure & quintessentially southern. That alone is pretty damn special because who doesn’t love the South?