Welcome to Charleston Flocon attendees! I’ve prepared this page to serve as a guide of things to do, see, and eat while in Charleston. Keep in mind that this guide represents my own opinions and tastes, so your mileage may vary. Overall, I think most Charlestonians will agree with a lot of my picks. I’ve put an approximate distance away from the conference hotel in brackets for each item.
Best Things to See/Do in Charleston
- Battery Park [10 minute walk] – Located at the edge of the peninsula on the water. Very scenic, and fully of military history.
- Charleston Horse Carriage Tours [5 minute walk] – A great way to see downtown.
- Charleston Ghost Tours (Bulldog Tours) [5 minute walk] – Not really scary, but neat because you get to hear fun stories and go into old graveyards.
- Patriots Point [10 minute drive] – A must see for the military buff. Three military vessels, dozens of warbirds and military aircraft.
- Magnolia Plantation [30 minute drive] – Amazing visuals in this old plantation.
- Charleston Market [5 minute walk] – It’s a bit touristy, but a neat place to see and purchase unique Charleston goods. Several other good shops and restaurants on Market Street.
Things to Eat
This is my favorite part to write about. Charleston has so much amazing food to offer. People who move here often complain of the “Charleston 15” because everyone gains 15 pounds from all the great food.
I’ve listed some of my recommendations, but for things not listed, you should check out the Charleston City Paper “Best of” list. It has food of all types and you can’t really go wrong with it. My opinions will differ from some of theirs.
Once again, I’ve listed approximate time distance from the conference hotel in brackets.
Southern Restaurant
- Fat Hen [25 Minutes] – French/Southern fusion. Well worth the drive, especially for brunch.
- Magnolia’s [10 minute walk] – Fancy southern food. One of the places I take out of towners to.
- 82 Queen [10 minute walk] – Fancier southern food. Where I take out of towners when I can expense it. Best She-Crab soup in Charleston.
- Husk [10 minute walk] – One of the more popular southern restaurants in Charleston. A bit of a nicer casual.
- Hominy Grill [15 minute walk] – Casual southern food. Featured on food network. Home of “The Big Nasty.”
- High Cotton – [15 minute walk] – Another great southern food place. Nicer restaurant with unique items such as duck, rabbit, venison, etc.
BBQ
- Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ [15 minute drive] – Award winning ribs.
- Bessinger’s BBQ [15 minute drive] – Charleston staple.
- Melvin’s BBQ [15 minute drive] – Charleston staple.
- Sticky Fingers [5 minute walk] – Chain that started in Charleston. Not as good as the smaller local places, but close and still pretty darn good.
Steak
- Hall’s Chophouse [5 minute walk] – Friendliest staff you will ever meet anywhere. Great steaks, but pricy.
- Oak Steakhouse [10 minute walk] – Best steak in Charleston, hands down. Especially their dry aged steaks. Pricier than Halls, but worth it if you have the money to spend.
- Cypress [10 minute walk] – Great southern food and steaks as well. Still somewhat fancy, but not as pricy as Halls or Oak.
Pizza
- Monza [5 minute walk] – Brick oven thin crust style.
- Mellow Mushroom [5 minute walk] – Yes it’s a chain, but it is close and good.
- EVO [20 minute drive] – Best pizza in Charleston in my opinion. Brick oven thin crust style.
Seafood
- Coast [5 minute walk] – One of my personal favorite nicer (but not too fancy) seafood places downtown.
- Bowen’s Island [20 minute drive] – Featured on the food network. This place is a bit of a joint, but they have the best oysters in town. They literally pull up to the dock and steam them right there. All you can eat pricing. Fried seafood as well. A bit off the beaten path, but worth it.
- The Ordinary [5 minute walk] – Probably the most popular newer place in Charleston. Really nice and fancy seafood.
- Red’s Ice House [15 minute drive] – One of my favorite places to eat. Good reasonably priced seafood with great views. Really good oysters in-season here too. More casual environment.
- Hank’s Seafood [10 minute walk] – Fancier seafood place.
- Fleet Landing [10 minute walk] – Another nicer seafood place.
Asian
- Xiao Bai Biscuit [5 minute drive] – Amazing unique Asian food from multiple countries. Very creative. A bit pricy, fairly small.
- O-Ku [5 minute walk] – Voted best sushi in Charleston.
- Wasabi [5 minute walk] – More good sushi.
- Basil [5 minute walk] – Best Thai place in town.
Other Notables
- Kaminsky’s [5 minute walk] – This place is a dessert bar. It is amazing. Seriously. Save room and go here after supper one night. You can see everything in the glass case and it will make you happy.
- Crave [30 minute drive] – Voted best Mac and Cheese in the country. It will change your life.
- Wild Olive [25 minute drive] – Best Italian in town, and worth the drive.
- Hom [5 minute walk] – Really good fancy burgers.
- The Tattooed Moose [5 minute drive] – Three words. Duck Fat Fries.
- Glazed Doughnuts [5 minute walk] – Amazing donuts. Famous for their Maple Bacon donut. They run out early, so go there before the conference starts.
- Early Bird Diner [15 minute drive] – Feature on the food network. Best Chicken and Waffles in town. Very low key and cheap, but worth the drive.
- Jack’s Cosmic Dogs [20 minute drive] – Best hot dogs I’ve ever had. Alton Brown agreed on the food network.
- California Dreaming [15 minute drive] – Best views in Charleston. Good all around food with a lot of variety.
- Blind Tiger Pub [15 minute walk] – I’m not much of a bar guy so I’ve never been here, but most of my friends tend to go here when they are downtown.