CharlestonUSA

A pastel-painted stretch of 13 Georgian row houses on East Bay Street that forms one of the most photographed streetscapes in the American South.

A grand promenade lined with antebellum mansions and cannons overlooking Charleston Harbor where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers meet.

One of the oldest public gardens in the country, draped in ancient oaks and Spanish moss with sweeping views of the Ashley River.

Accessible only by ferry, this harbor island fort is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861.

A lesser-visited but profoundly important Gullah Geechee heritage site on James Island that centers the story of enslaved people with rare candor and depth.

This brooding 1802 gothic structure once housed pirates and Civil War prisoners and now offers spine-tingling guided tours off the usual tourist trail.

A health-forward café beloved by locals on King Street that serves nourishing grain bowls and cold-pressed juices in a bright, minimalist space.

Unlike many preserved plantation homes, this 1820s urban mansion retains its original outbuildings and slave quarters, offering an unusually unvarnished window into antebellum life.

Housed in the only surviving building used as an enslaved-people auction gallery in South Carolina, this small museum delivers a sobering and essential piece of American history.

Tucked on Wadmalaw Island outside the city, this family-run distillery is famous for originating sweet tea vodka and offers laid-back tours through its scenic grounds.

Housed in the former carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion, this intimate restaurant delivers refined Low Country tasting menus in one of Charleston's most romantic dining rooms.

Set on Sullivan's Island with ocean breezes drifting through the windows, this spot serves inventive wood-fired pizzas and impeccable local seafood in a relaxed coastal setting.

Housed in a beautifully restored 1927 bank hall, this grand oyster bar and seafood brasserie by Mike Lata is the best place in Charleston to work through a tower of local shellfish.

Chef Mike Lata's James Beard Award-winning flagship on Meeting Street champions hyper-local Lowcountry ingredients in an intimate, ever-changing seasonal menu.

With only a handful of tables and a menu of just two appetizers, two entrées, and two desserts, this intimate Elliotborough bistro changes nightly and demands advance reservations.

An intimate oyster bar on Cannon Street that shucks some of the freshest bivalves in the city alongside a legendary lobster roll in a no-frills setting.

A compact, dimly lit craft cocktail bar on Meeting Street where bartenders blend house-made syrups and bitters into meticulously researched classic and original drinks.

Upper King Street's neighborhood taproom pours refreshing coastal lagers and IPAs from its gleaming brewhouse in a welcoming, industrial-chic space.

A serious brewery and gastropub in the NoMo district pouring inventive house-brewed beers alongside an ambitious farm-to-table kitchen menu.

A relaxed craft-beer bar on Upper King with an eclectic tap list, ping-pong tables, and a sprawling outdoor patio popular with locals.

Charleston's pioneering craft brewery on Dorchester Road pours flagship IPAs and seasonal releases in a laid-back taproom with a huge outdoor lot perfect for lazy afternoons.

A no-frills neighborhood dive bar on James Island beloved by locals for cheap drinks, strong pours, and a refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere.

A lively live music bar on Market Street that books local and regional bands nightly, keeping the dance floor packed until the early hours with a rowdy, welcoming crowd.

Housed in the Victorian carriage house adjacent to the restaurant, this moody whiskey-focused bar pours an extraordinary selection of American spirits until well past midnight.

A beloved late-night haunt in the NoMo neighborhood with strong cocktails, eclectic DJs, and a dimly lit vibe that attracts a creative local crowd.

A long-running King Street nightclub spread across multiple floors with DJs spinning hip-hop and Top 40 for a young, energetic crowd well into the early morning hours.

A speakeasy-style supper club on King Street that transforms into a swinging jazz and burlesque venue after dinner, channeling genuine 1920s Charleston glamour.

Charleston's most storied live music venue on Upper King Street, hosting national touring acts and local legends in a gritty, sweat-soaked warehouse atmosphere.