Planning a girl’s weekend in Charleston? Well, I think you’ve chosen wisely. With it’s pastel houses, trendy cocktail bars, unique shopping and amazing dining, Charleston is a dream girl’s trip!
For the past 4 years, my high school friends and I have taken a trip to a different destination to reconnect and sightsee. This year we chose Charleston! I have to admit, while Charleston has already been on my radar for some time, I am an avid Bravo fan and watching their series “Southern Charm” really made me want to visit ASAP. Here are the highlights and recommendations to help you plan your fun girl’s weekend in Charleston!
STAY
Church Street Inn | 177 Church Street, Historic District, Charleston, SC 29401
When looking for a place to stay for your girl’s weekend in Charleston, you may have some issues. Charleston’s a very popular destination right now and we really struggled even months out to find a decently priced AirBnB in a good location. I found this one through Booking.com. The reviews were amazing and the price was surprisingly low for the location (under $200/night, split between 3 people). The rooms are 2 floor suites with a kitchenette, living area, 1/2 bath and TV downstairs and 2 beds, full bath and TV upstairs. The decor is a bit dated/old fashioned but it’s clean and the location is UNBEATABLE. We were right in the heart of the historic district, could walk to plenty of shops & restaurants and were right next to the Charleston City Market (see below). I would most definitely recommend this place!
CASUAL EATS
Charleston is SUCH a foodie city. Before we went I joked with my friends that we would have to eat 8 meals a day during our trip to get everything in. While we didn’t do THAT, we were able to hit some great spots during our time there. I’m still dreaming about the scallops at The Macintosh…
Second State Coffee (formerly Black Tap Coffee) | 70.5 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401
Cute coffee shop a little off the beaten path downtown. Try the famed “Black Julep” – very refreshing! They also have wifi and plugs aplenty if you are trying to get some work done there.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits | 476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, Also in Charleston City Market
So good! We went to the location in the Charleston City Market as it was so convenient to our hotel. It was SUPER busy on a Saturday morning, so if you want to beat the line maybe try it during the week if you can. The wait was worth it though – I tried a 3 pack of their mini biscuits which was the perfect amount of food for breakfast. I had the Cheese & Chive, Blackberry & the Buttermilk Biscuit.
Bitty & Beaus | 159 Church Street, Charleston, SC
Another coffee place! A really special place where they employ people with physical and intellectual disabilities- it was so warm and inviting. The coffee was really good too! Please support this business if you can.
FANCY EATS
The Obstinate Daughter | 2063 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Oh my gosh – where do I begin? Our lunch here was epic. We got there right at noon (this was on a Thursday) and had our total pick of seating & we chose the porch. As we were leaving it had really filled up, so getting here early is good. Thee Pan Bagnat comes with the most delicious balsamic veggies and is AMAZING. The Chicken, Brussels & Farro is equally good if not better – everything is so flavorful and seasoned perfectly! I also had their Blonde Bloody Mary- not as salty as a normal bloody and made with yellow tomatoes, quite tasty and refreshing! Please eat here – you will not regret it.
FIG | 232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
All my resources and everyone we encountered in Charleston said FIG is THE BEST. So of course, we had to try it for our girl’s weekend in Charleston. As soon as you know you are going to Charleston, go to their website and try to snag a reservation.
Wonderful ambience, amazing food (“elevated takes on Southern Classics”), awesome service. They change their menu frequently, but we got their pillow-like gnocchi as an app & the grouper and they were both excellent. It was pricy but not crazy, I think we payed around $100 for the both of us (just 2 of us on the trip went to FIG) plus wine. If you want to treat yourself, this is the place.
TIP: If there aren’t tables available, you can add an alert for yourself on the RESY app telling you if/when a table opens up for the date and time of your choice which is exactly how I was able to get us a table at 8pm on a Thursday.
The Macintosh | 479 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
This place was also VERY good. Hipster vibe with exposed brick and industrial lightbulbs. Our waitress knew a lot about food & wine and was really fun, suggesting things for us & making good conversation. It’s tapas style so the 3 it’s fun to share bunch of yummy treats. They also have the best scallops I’ve ever tasted. It’s a similar price point to FIG and closer to the bars and restaurants on King St for going out after if you choose.
NIGHTLIFE
Republic | 462 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Okay I’ll admit – I dragged my friend here because they often go here on Southern Charm and I was hoping for a cast sighting. Honestly I thought it would be a little cheesy…but it was surprisingly cool! It was a Thursday when we were there and the outdoor patio was really nice, we were able to get drinks and a seat right away. There was also live music! The inside seemed less quaint and I can imagine it gets really busy and possibly annoying on weekends.
The Commodore | 504 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
This was another Southern Charm pick – cast member Shepard Rose is a co-owner. A little off the beaten path this place has a total retro 70s vibe. The staff was friendly, we got a seat right at the bar and they had good live music. TIP : Go early before they start charging a cover! It started getting crowded right as we were leaving.
Kamiskys | 78 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
This is a well known dessert place in Charleston. If you go for Happy Hour you can enjoy $5 dessert martinis with your decadent pastry! We all split the cherry crumble and each tried a different dessert martini. I had the Kahlua Espresso for a pick-me-up and my friends tried the Thin Mint & Chocolate respectively, all delicious.
DO
Sullivan’s Island Beach | Atlantic Ave, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
This beach was clean and pretty – there was a lot of wind when we were there but otherwise, it was very pleasant! Folly Beach is known to have a little more going on in terms of bars, restaurants, and shops but I like this quieter beach. It was also during the week when we went so I imagine it would be more crowded on the weekends/in the summer.
(From Top Right: Sullivan’s Island Beach, The Obstinate Daughter Restaurant on Sullivan’s Island)
SHOP
A girl’s weekend in Charleston HAS to involve some shopping, right? Walking up King Street you will find everything from antique stores, high end designers, chain department stores & local boutiques. Here are a few special spots:
The Charleston Preservation Society Shop |147 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
Loved all the local flair at this shop! The owner/staff were so nice and they carried a variety of items made in Charleston as well as a large collection of books. I was obsessed with the Brackish Bowties, made entirely of feathers.
The Skinny Dip Charleston Edition | 345 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina
Beautiful space with clothing & accessories. They have such a nice collection of local Charleston designers and cute/preppy southern staples! Also, they have an upstairs which is a cafe/bar with a terrace! Hello? You have everything you need right here.
The Charleston City Market | 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
This reminded me a bit of the French Market in New Orleans – a large (partially enclosed) corridor with vendors selling local products, food, art & souvenirs. The locally crafted famous Sweetgrass baskets are also for sale here and are a popular (but expensive) souvenir!
