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martini spots

The 5 Best Martini Spots in Charleston

The martini is one of the most iconic cocktails in the world dating back to the 1800s. Throughout the years it was often seen swooshing around in the hands of movie stars and singers, such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The strong cocktail is known to make the drinker look and feel more confident and relaxed. Order it dry, wet, dirty, with a twist, shaken or stirred and hold it up proud.

Below we’ve ranked the best places to find a Martini in Charleston.

1. Halls Chophouse

What to order: Key Lime Martini, Sweet, and Spicy Martini, Jalapeno martini

2. High Cotton Restaurant

What to order: Katie’s Last Word, Espresso Martini

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Happy Hour #pineapplevodkamartini #chs

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3. Market Pavilion Rooftop Bar

What to order: Espresso Martini, Sweet Tea  Martini

4. O-Ku

What to order:  Habanero Vodka Martini, Sugar & Spice Martini

5. Grill 225

What to order: Sweet Tea Nitrotini, Chocolate Nitrotini

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Nitrotinis 🍸🌬

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Eat & Drink

culinary tours

Explore Charleston And Unleash Your Inner Foodie On These Culinary Tours

Image: Charleston Culinary Tours/FB

If you identify as a proud foodie- Charleston is the place to be. The southern city is home to hundreds of restaurants that definitely know their way around a kitchen. Serving delicious dishes from southern staples to dry-aged steaks or high-end Mexican cuisine, Charleston has a restaurant for every mood and occasion.

The only issue with having so many great choices is that it’s almost impossible to try them all, which is exactly why Charleston Culinary Tours has made an effort to feature the best restaurants in Charleston. Find a tour that explores the area you wish to discover the most or plan to try them all.

Upper King St. Culinary Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours

When: Monday thru Saturday at 3 pm

This tour showcases the culinary innovations and experimental designs of the top restaurants located on Upper King Street. The up and coming neighboorhood is filled with energy and vibrancy. It is the perfect area to gain insight into Charleston’s ever-changing culinary scene.

Charleston Dinner Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours

When: Wednesday at 4:30 pm

This tour showcases four restaurants on Upper King Street and the surrounding area who demonstrate exquisite cooking in what is known as the New South. If you’re in search of a more adventurous dinner experience this is the perfect tour for you.

Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours

When: Monday through Sunday at 2pm-3pm

This tour explores Charleston’s French Quarter and visits four restaurants that serve some of the most flavorful food found in Charleston. Make your way through the historic area while walking on some of the oldest streets in the city.

Farm to Table Experience

Duration: 3 hours

When: Saturdays from mid-April to mid-December at 9:30 am

This tour allows guests to experience a true farm to table experience, showcasing some of the best chefs in the city and the award-winning farmer’s market. The daily participating chef helps you pick fresh ingredients from the market for your meal. Then, the guide takes you on a 45-minute walking tour while the chef prepares a meal using all of the different ingredients.

Sustainable Seafood Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours

When: the 3rd Thursday of every month at 5 pm

This tour showcases some of Charleston’s most reputable restaurants who serve locally sourced and responsibly harvested seafood. On this tour, you not only become part of the movement to protect our oceans but also get to enjoy freshly caught seafood right from our waters.

Which tour would you be most interested in taking?

 

Eat & Drink

bourbon spots

The 5 Best Places To Drink Bourbon In Charleston

Is a nice glass of bourbon the way to your heart? Do you know whether you like it neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail? A fine bourbon can make any bad day great again. And lucky for us Charlestonians, there some fantastic bars and cocktail clubs in town with impressive bourbon lists.  

Here are the top 5 spots in Charleston you have to stop at if you’re a bourbon snob:

Paddock and Whisky

This comfortable neighborhood bar in James Island has a curated bourbon selection. The owners of this bar successfully made a place where both whiskey enthusiasts and vodka-soda lovers can enjoy a drink or three. Take your pick from favorites like Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Weller, and Jefferson’s Presidential and enjoy your night sipping on your favorite liquor.

Bourbon and Bubbles

King Street needed an upscale bourbon bar and that’s exactly what they got this past fall. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable about bourbon and can point you to the best selection based on your preferred taste. Head there for happy hour and get a flight of bourbon for $20.

Prohibition

A classy, but upbeat atmosphere with 3 bars to choose from. Ask for a bourbon list and you’ll be very impressed with the selection. If you’d rather drink a bourbon cocktail, you have to try the Bourbon Tyme. It’s amazing.

Bar Mash

Located next to the old Cigar Factory is this gem of a bourbon bar. Their extensive list of bourbons has all bourbon lovers coming in to enjoy a drink and delicious food that pairs excellent together. Have it on the rocks or try one of their specialty bourbon cocktails.

Bar at Husk

Order anything bourbon here and you’ll be in good hands. The staff makes you feel at home and is more than willing to answer any questions about the long list of bourbons they place in front of you. Ask them to make you a bourbon cocktail with your desired taste in mind and you won’t be disappointed. Plus, they have fun making and mixing.

Where is your favorite bourbon spot in Charleston?

 

Eat & Drink

Charleston Doughnut Shops

We Donut Lie, These Are The Best Doughnut Shops In Charleston

Featured Image: Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts/FB

Doughnuts are a delicacy that deserves to be cherished, celebrated and enjoyed. Seriously, try naming one person who doesn’t like doughnuts. They can be enjoyed in the morning with a cup of coffee, as a snack during the day, or at night with a glass of milk before bed. And, while we love the classic doughnut shops, Charleston has some major doughnut game going on with some of the best artisan doughnut shops in the state.

Here are our favorites:

Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts

Located on busy Upper King, this doughnut shop is everything your doughnut dreams are made of. The bakery has 200 different flavors and styles to chose from that are sure to spark your sweet tooth. Oh!- and it’s open late night when you need a sugar rush after the bar.

The Daily

There’s nothing The Daily can’t do when it comes to whipping up delicious bites in the kitchen. Their doughnuts are nothing short of irresistible with every bite being rich and cakey. Try the crowd favorites, such as the blueberry doughnut and the sweet potato doughnut in the fall.

Brown’s Court Bakery

As soon as you walk into this bakery your tastebuds will be salivating from the fresh smell of pastries. The doughnuts here are so savory and delicious, getting just one isn’t enough. Try favorites like blackberry, pistachio, or local strawberry and Nutella. Not feeling adventurous? That’s okay, you can go classic with glazed sprinkles and Boston Cream.

Mercantile

The pastry chefs at Mercantile are all about taking your doughnut experience above and beyond! Your favorite flavors are served with a themed work of art that is sure to make you smile. Try the banana custard doughnut topped with a monkey made of icing.

BkeD

The local doughnut shop serves huge doughnuts in the shape of a square to eliminate waste. Their tasty flavors are phenomenal and even have vegan options for their customers to enjoy. You can’t go wrong with Poptart, Cookies and Milk, StrawberryKumquat (V) or Animal Cookie (V). These sugary treats will have you coming back for more!

 

Eat & Drink

insta-worthy dishes Charleston

Become A Foodstagrammer With These Insta-Worthy Dishes In Charleston

Feature Image: King Street Dispensary/FB

Who hasn’t ordered a dish just becuase it would make a great IG pic that will cause a serious case of FOMO for all your followers? Don’t worry, us too. And since Charleston is a culinary destination and everyone lives by the cardinal rule of ‘Gramming before grubbing these days we’re picking out some of the most-insta worthy dishes around the Holy City.

King Street Dispensary

Order: The Dispensary Burger

If you haven’t tried this burger, you’re missing out! For only $6 on Wednesday, you’ll get two double bacon-crusted patties topped with melted cheese on a delicious bun and a side of truffle fries (that are quite possibly the most addicting fries you will ever eat) along with a pic that will qualify you as a major foodstagrammer. If your followers weren’t hungry before, they will be after they double-tap this pic.

 

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Saltwater Cowboys

Order: The Trashcan Nachos

Trying to up your game from a still image to a fire boomerang or drool-worthy Insta story? Head over to Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek and order the Trashcan Nachos. Make sure your phone is ready because when the server lifts the can and reveals the mouth-watering layers of tortilla chips, black beans, pico, sour cream and drizzled queso, you won’t want to miss a beat. 

 

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The Daily

Order: The Avocado Toast

Look up the definition of millennial and we’re pretty sure you’ll find the words Instagram and avocado toast somewhere. And, if you want Insta-worthy avocado toast, The Daily is where you need to go. They start with a slice of crunchy sourdough bread and top it with zesty avocado spread, then leave it up to you to add tomato, bacon, or an egg for a tasty Instsa snack. Tip: snap a pic from an above angle for optimal aesthetics.

 

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Leon’s Oyster Shop

Order: The Char-Grilled Oysters

Even if you’re not an oyster fan, these chargrilled oysters prepared with butter, parmesan cheese, lemon, and parsley are hard to pass up. They’ll have you flagging down your server for another order before you can even finish your first. The presentation of this dish is just as amazing as the oysters themselves.

 

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We know it’ll be hard to avoid taking a bite of any of these dishes before ‘gramming but don’t forget. ‘Gram before grub.

Eat & Drink

OpenTable Restaurants Charleston

Results Are In: The Top 10 Overall Restaurants In Charleston

Featured Image Source: Peninsula Grill Facebook

The results are in and OpenTable users have spoken.

Each month OpenTable reads hundreds of thousands of reviews and sorts the results by category to help users discover new, delicious food.

Here are the top ten restaurants to try in Charleston according to OpenTable users:

1. McCrady’s Restaurant

McCrady’s is a tasting-menu-only restaurant located in historic downtown, Charleston. A meal here is $125 per person and is worth the splurge. The restaurant holds the honor of a AAA Five-Diamond Award and is one of Wine Enthusiast’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants in America. Looking to pair a glass of wine with your food? Alcoholic pairings are $80 per person and $160 per person for reserve pairings.

2. Charleston Grill

Located in the fabulous Charleston Place Hotel, Charleston Grill offers Lowcountry cuisine with a French accent. If you’re really looking to go all out and make for an impressively romantic evening, you can dine in the private Vinter’s Room featuring walls of glass-fronted wine cellars showing off their magnificent collection from around the world.

3. Cru Cafe

Looking for some comfort food? Try Cru Cafe. It’s a favorite among tourists and locals and is in a classic single-style Charleston home off the beaten path. It’s consistently ranked as one of the top eateries in Charleston and we can see why.

4. Peninsula Grill

Peninsula Grill is truly a Charleston gem. With delicious food, a beautiful courtyard to dine in, and a fabulous champagne room offering some of the world’s best champagne, it’s no surprise Peninsula Grill made the list. It’s been recognized by several publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, The New York Times, Southern Living, Travel + Leisure, and others.

5. Circa 1886

If there’s one thing we can say about Circa 1886, it’s that Circa 1886 is unlike any other Charleston restaurant. Inspired by dishes from around the world, Chef Marc Collins curated a menu that offers a Lowcountry spin on many well-known dishes.

6. Ella & Ollie’s

One of the two restaurants on the list that is not in downtown, Charleston, Ella & Ollie’s is located on Edisto Island and is a cute southern seafood restaurant. Their food is so loved that they opened a second space next door using the same inspiration and ingredients to create tacos unlike any other.

7. Indaco

Indaco is the only Italian restaurant in Charleston to make the list and we can’t argue it. Indaco offers a great atmosphere, delicious dishes, and one-of-a-kind cocktails that make for a great birthday dinner, anniversary, or just a regular night.

8. Oak Steakhouse

There is no shortage of amazing steakhouses in Charleston and with Oak being the only steakhouse on the list, it’s obviously a must-eat in the Lowcountry. With an exquisite selection of signature cuts, delicious seafood specialties, and a great selection of vegetarian options, Oak Steakhouse has earned its spot on this list.

9. 843 Korean BBQ & Sushi House

The second of the two restaurants not in downtown, Charleston, 843 Korean BBQ & Sushi House is located in North Charleston. It’s dinner and a show at this restaurant as the chefs prepare your dinner right at your table. More of a sushi fan? Try one of their delicate sushi rolls prepared by sushi artists.

10. The Macintosh

Closing out the list is The Macintosh, known for their local ingredients. Executive Chef and partner Jeremiah Bacon creates his menu using seasonal ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. And, once you finish your dinner and drinks here you can head upstairs to its sister lounge, Cocktail Club for a delicious cocktail.

Which one will you try first?

To view the list and make a reservation visit OpenTable, here.

Eat & Drink

Charleston Live Music

Check Out These 5 Places In Charleston For A Fun Live Music Experience

If you’re a fan of live music, there are plenty of great places in Charleston for you to enjoy a show. I mean we’re home to Hootie & the Blowfish, so duh!

These are just a few of the best places in Charleston offering great live music, Charleston vibes, and sometimes (fingers crossed) free entry.

Charleston Pour House


Charleston Pour House offers one of the best live music experiences in Charleston. Their mission is to be the “regional epicenter for music lovers, artists, and other like-minded individuals”. They welcome local musicians and touring bands of all levels to their stages. On a nice day, you can catch a show on the back deck in the afternoons and early evenings. Don’t worry though, the music doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, it just moves inside.

Royal American


Located in the building that was once the local source for commercial ironwork, the Royal American welcomes music acts of all levels. They are home to some seriously delicious bar food (you have to try the beef jerky), cheap beer, and some of the best live music acts in town. Royal American is proudly a dive bar located on Morrison Drive on the outskirts of downtown Charleston.

Revelry Brewing


Named for the definition of Revelry – lively festivities, while enjoying beer – this venue is where you want to go if you want a large selection of local beer, an upstairs deck that screams Charleston, and some awesome live music. It’s truly a Charleston gem and definitely a local favorite.

Uptown Social


What happens when you combine a Brooklyn legend and a group of hospitality pioneers? Uptown Social. It’s one of the hottest bars in Charleston and with good reason. They have a total of four bars which means you can grab a drink without missing any of the show whether it’s downstairs, upstairs, or on the back deck. Helpful hint: GET THE PIZZA.

King Street Dispensary


One of the best bars on King Street, Dispensary offers nightly live music, killer specials, and a mouthwatering brunch on Sundays. There’s nowhere else you can enjoy $6 burgers and fries, $3 bourbon, and some of the best local music acts, but here. As soon as you order a drink the staff makes you feel like a friend and the atmosphere is one of the best in Charleston.

Grab your friends and head to one of these venues to catch some pretty amazing talented musicians.

 

Eat & Drink

Charleston Happy Hours

5 Charleston Oyster Happy Hours That Are A Shuckin’ Good Time

What’s better than happy hour? Happy hour with oysters.

Here are a few of our favorite oyster happy hours around Charleston:

Chubby Fish


Tucked away in Charleston’s Historic Elliotborough neighborhood, Chubby Fish proudly serves local sustainable seafood and produce. For happy hour, Tuesday through Saturday locally-sourced, shucked-to-order oysters are only $1. Even better, you can pair them with $2 Tecates or $6 glasses of Oysterman wine from French importer Frederick Corriher.

The Darling Oyster Bar


Located on King Street, pedestrians can see the stunning interior of the Darling Oyster Bar from the huge windows looking into the restaurant. During the week, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., select oysters are only $1. Sit at the raw bar for a great view of King Street while enjoying a $2 Miller High Life Pony alongside your dollar oysters.

Rappahannock Oyster Bar


Tucked away in the newly renovated 19th-century cigar factory, Rappahannock Oyster Bar offers half-off oysters from its Virginia farms and $1 dollar select oysters Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Discounted bar snacks, as well as beer and wine selections, go along great with the bivalves.

The Ordinary


Known for its top class seafood, at top class prices, Charleston residents and visitors can experience the well-known seafood mecca with half-price oysters from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar


It’s hard to find a better-priced dozen of half-shells than Amen Street with dozens during happy hour (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays) only costing $9.95. Pair that with house liquor drinks for $3 or High Life Bottles for $2 and there’s no better deal on the peninsula.

Next time you and your co-workers want to have an after work adult beverage head to one of these Charleston oyster happy hours and pair your favorite seafood with a delicious beverage.

Happy shuckin’