Tourist hotspots and best restaurants in Charleston, SC

Middleton Place by David Banning from Unsplash

Nothing defines the aura of the Old South quite like a green paddy field, and Charleston boasts several of them. Middleton Place is a 65-acre former rice farming estate sitting along the Ashley River. It is a National historic landmark built in 1755 by the father of Arthur Middleton – who signed the Declaration of Independence. Stretching into a magnificent series of descending terraces, hedged galleries, and serene pools, the grounds show off their symmetrical 17th-century European design.

The green areas are America’s oldest landscaped gardens, and they bloom year-round with rare camellias in winter and azaleas in spring. On a tour of the 1755 structure, you will learn about the generational history of the Middletons, as well as see their exquisite furniture, rare book collections, porcelain handicrafts, and portraits maintained by the same family for more than three centuries. The stable yards recreate early life outside the great house, with costumed interpreters demonstrating skills and trades, including blacksmithing, pottery, carpentry, cooperage, and weaving.

Located on the grounds of the longest-standing decorative gardens in the country, lies the historic Middleton Place Restaurant, which offers fresh and seasonal local Lowcountry cuisine. It is an upscale fine-dining venue that uses ingredients grown on the plantation, like Carolina gold rice and seasonal vegetables, along with coastal delicacies. The restaurant is housed inside a vintage barnyard building that has been preserved in its original form. The ambiance is created using natural materials, such as polished wooden furniture, adorned with low brick-lined walls, paved flooring, and beautiful greenery all around.

The kitchen is run by Executive Chef Chris Lukic, who invites you to relish a traditional Lowcountry menu – his homage to James Beard Award-winning Edna Lewis. Patrons of the establishment can opt for classic dishes like she-crab soup, shrimp & grits, pan-seared scallops with chili-lime aioli, grilled pork tenderloin with island peas, and chicken purloo with Andouille sausages. In addition to the delicious food and drinks, guests can enjoy the beautiful vistas of the Mill Pond and Azalea Hillside.

Old City Market photo by Charleston City Market FB

Nestled smack in the middle of the Historic District, the Charleston Old City Market is a central landmark for the tourists. It is an ideal attraction to browse through the loaded colorful stalls, to devote some time to shopping, and just absorb the merry local atmosphere. Having opened in 1807, it is one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the United States of America. The Charleston Walking tour of the place starts by entering through the Greek Revival-styled red sandstone building with green ironwork trim and moving towards the indoor Great Hall full of vendor sheds.

Inside, you will find artisans selling their handcrafts and traditional food products like stone-ground grits. The one-of-a-kind souvenirs of the town are the charming sweetgrass baskets. Visitors can watch Gullah artists in the open-air sheds weave treasures that are among the country's most highly prized heritage. The techniques and patterns showcased had originated in West Africa, but today these baskets have become the quintessential symbol of Charleston.

If you are a lover of fruits de mer, then Hank’s, located on the corner of Hayne and Church Street near the Old City Market, is the place to be. Voted The Best Seafood Restaurant in Charleston 13 years in a row by USA Today, it serves up fresh entrées and raw bar snacks. The hugely popular haunt with locals and tourists alike, Hank’s presents an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere made up of authentic details, including mahogany frames, hand-blown leaded glass windows, pine plank floors, and a copper bar.

The kitchen team has worked out a top-notch menu consisting of classic delicacies like Lowcountry bouillabaisse, rare pan-seared tuna, and roasted grouper with lobster risotto. Visitors can also relish appetizers, such as fish & shellfish ceviche, tuna tartare, fresh oyster stew, and a raw bar selection: Gulf oysters, peel 'n eat boiled shrimp, and jumbo shrimp cocktail. Besides the amazing ocean specials, Hank’s features an extensive bar card that consists of signature cocktails, craft beers, plus full-bodied French and fruity Californian wines to complement your meal.

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge photo by Clayton Malquist from Unsplash

Stretching along 2.5 miles, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is one of the longest cable-stayed structures in the whole country. Connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant and the beaches beyond, this giant became a well-loved landmark immediately upon its completion in 2005. The bridge is an 8-lane engineering marvel built to withstand winds over 300 miles per hour, a 7.4-scale earthquake, and even to prevent collisions with ships. It provides bike and pedestrian paths with the enchanting backdrop of the Copper River.

Not up for these activities? Then simply drive over to reach gorgeous vista points showcasing the city’s skyline, USS Yorktown, and Charleston Harbor. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, then you might be interested in passing right under the bridge on a sightseeing cruise or joining a stand-up paddleboard tour to enjoy the beautiful architecture.

Situated at 601 Meeting Street, Gale is an Italian-Southern fusion restaurant established by hospitality veterans – Mari and Brett Chizinski. Dishes here are meant to elevate the bountiful produce and protein found in the Lowcountry area in a family-style setting. The Chizinskis worked with the Middleton Group – a local interior design firm – to build out the dining space, which possesses a bright and modern decor consisting of an open kitchen, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, velvety soft seating, dark wooden furnishings, and earthy color palette.

Visitors are encouraged to come and feel at home with dishes that are served to be shared, including old-school wood-fired Italian pizzas and pasta options. You can dine on scrumptious specialties like house-made pig head mortadella corn dog, picnic-style shrimp-corn pasta salad, cauliflower curry with focaccia bread, cacio e pepe with asparagus, local shrimp pizza with scallions, and penne alla vodka with prosciutto and pepper greens. Leave some room for a sweet kiss from across the ocean – their tender desserts: cannoli with whipped ricotta filling and chocolate ganache cake with sea salt caramel.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum by Angelique from Unsplash

Located in the picturesque Charleston Harbor, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, established almost fifty years ago, is one of the city’s most famous destinations for a hands-on learning experience. This tourist magnet is not just an ordinary carefully preserved collection of memorabilia. Here, visitors can climb aboard the USS Yorktown – a vintage aircraft carrier that earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II, as well as 5 battle stars for service in Vietnam.

Aboard the USS Laffey, you can explore the most decorated surviving WWII-era US destroyer and dive into an exposition that uses holograms to simulate life on a naval support base during wartime. The museum has introduced several educational programs. Operation Overnight – arguably the most fascinating one among them – offers you to become a US sailor: walk the vessel’s labyrinths, sleep in one of the cabins aboard, dine in one of the galleys, and so much more.

For an eventful waterfront dining experience, book a table at Charleston Harbor Fish House. Conveniently situated on Patriots Point, it boasts hearty Southern fare from land and sea. The establishment’s rooftop seating delivers alluring views of the coastline, Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and all the way out to Fort Sumter. The front of the house is spacious, consisting of reclaimed wood interiors, industrial metal elements, and an awe-inspiring open-plan design.

The restaurant serves an impressive seafood menu filled with local favorites: shrimp & grits, surf & turf, baked oysters, fried crab cake, crispy fried calamari, Carolina Gold mushroom risotto with grilled scallops, and grilled herb chicken in citrus beurre blanc. Along with an enticing dinner and lunch menu, Fish House also offers a delicious and wholesome breakfast selection of waffles, pancakes, fried chicken, and eggs Benedict.

Charleston Museum by The Charleston Museum FB

Often considered to be the first exhibition hall in the country, Charleston Museum is a great tourist spot to get a broad overview of local historic legacy. Founded in 1773 under the Charleston Library Society, it features displays ranging from Lowcountry dinosaur skeletons to Revolutionary War artifacts. The collections are vast, arranged in several permanent themed sections that begin with Native Americans and early settlers in the Lowcountry History Hall, where you can see authentic tools used in rice growing.

Today, the imposing brick building also houses a wide variety of luxurious furniture, silver accessories, early weaponry, an Egyptian mummy, as well as Greek and Roman antiquities. On the premises, there are two more historic properties worth taking a look at – the Heyward-Washington House and the Joseph Manigault House.

After a visit to the grand halls of Charleston Museum, head over to the nearby fine-dining establishment – Halls Chophouse. It is a family-run steakhouse originated in the Upper King District of the city, which has spread over five other locations in America. Halls Chophouse presents delicious cuisine in an energetic and visually striking ambiance. The decor features exposed brick walls, leather banquettes, an antique African mahogany bar, a hardwood lounge area with a masterful 350-bottle wine rack, and warm lighting true to old-world traditional venues.

The menu includes dry-aged cuts of only USDA Prime steaks and a massive wet-aged porterhouse, all sourced from Allen Brothers of Chicago. Besides the meats, diners can also indulge in specialties like jumbo shrimps, lobster tails, roasted farm quail with collard greens, grilled vegetable ravioli, and rack of lamb with roasted rosemary potatoes. For a sweet finish, we recommend ordering key lime pie, whiskey bread pudding, or cinnamon roll cheesecake – an unmissable delight.

Charleston is a jewel of the South renowned for its beautiful mansions, magnolia-scented gardens, and heady mix of influences from as far away as France, Africa, and the West Indies. This living port city with a deep and complicated past presents endless opportunities for combining fun and frolic with educational activities for all kinds of travelers.

If you’d like to find out more information about local culinary traditions, check out our article Discovering unique regional food of Charleston, South Carolina.