This week our Digital Marketing Manager/liaison to the Holy City, Emily Stevenson, takes us to her favorite Charleston haunts and provides a deeper look into her favorite things about living in the South Carolina Lowcountry. If you’re looking for a visit to a sunny spot with mild weather, seafood towers, and breathtaking sunsets, look no further than our guide to Chucktown.
Emily would tell you it’s not required, but it’s certainly useful to have an affinity for seafood if you’re heading to the Chuck. She advises a raw and briny approach to snacking by heading to either 167 Sushi Bar or 167 Raw Oyster Bar. Run under the same ownership, both spots are always packed due to their popularity. If you’re lucky enough to snag one of the 24 bar seats at 167 Sushi, she highly recommends the crab rangoon (her latest hyper-fixation snack) or udon noodles with shrimp. The food here is “12/10.” Head to 167 Raw Oyster Bar for red wine, oysters, or Emily’s favorite, the lobster roll. While they don’t take reservations, it is always worth it to put your name on the waitlist.
Her newfound adoration for Charleston sunsets inspires Emily to take time each day to go for a walk in her neighborhood or on the Battery or Mount Pleasant beach. In the off-season, walkers can let their dogs off leash, which Emily and her friends love to do. The sunsets have been breathtaking and give Emily a deep appreciation for her new home.
Another Charleston gem includes oyster season and oyster roasts. Being from Maryland, Emily firmly believed oysters were only meant to be *safely* consumed in months ending in “-er,” which isn’t the case in Charleston! In South Carolina, oysters are best consumed October through May. Therefore, she feels she moved at the perfect time.
For an old school Chucktown brunch, look for the house converted restaurant, 82 Queen. With wallpapered retro dining rooms and the “bird room” upstairs with floor-to-ceiling green bird wallpaper and decor, this spot is so fun and a must-go for brunch. Her crew ordered the French toast, crab benedict, and bloody mary. Wow, crab benedict…
If you really want to dive into the community, walk through 2nd Sunday on King Street. Emily randomly stumbled upon the biweekly event one Sunday and loved it! Visitors and locals are invited to shop, dine, and enjoy King Street.
Who doesn’t want to enjoy a mimosa flight with friends in an old church? That might actually warrant some responses we didn’t imagine, but we promise Church and Union is a fabulous spot to walk through with friends. Stop for burrata with fig jam and arugula while taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Market Street.
Located in an old body shop owned by Leon Ravenel, a businessman who served the Charleston community for many years, Leon’s Oyster Shop is unmatched with world famous, char-grilled oysters. The space preserves much of Charleston’s industrial history, complete with functioning garage doors, concrete floor, and memorabilia from Leon himself.
Alright all you Southern Charm fanatics, Sewing Down South on King Street is open for business and you may even get lucky enough to see Craig himself. If you’re a Bravo lover, this is an exciting and hilarious activity. If you’re a pillow connoisseur, this place will appeal to you as well.
We owe Emily a HUGE thanks for this delectable and nostalgic guide. So, do you want to move to Charleston now, or is it just us? If you love the city as much as we do, check out our South Carolina Pattern to show your appreciation for Emily’s city!
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