The end of vacation is a little more bearable with a few hours left to kill in Charleston, S.C.
We packed our cars in the rain and headed out of the Isle of Palms this morning. And while Charleston probably wasn’t thrilled to see my unkempt hair frizzing in the humidity, I was happy to end the vacation on a happy note.
Here are my favorite brunch spots and small shops to browse when I have an extra few hours to spend in the city.
Millers All Day
Millers All Day recently opened in March 2018 on King Street, so they’re pretty new to Charleston. They serve breakfast all day. These are my kind of people. And if you’re all about grits, check out their 175-plus-year-old mill machine still operating in their front window. The atmosphere is impeccable and their menu has a lot to offer, including items like waffles, Millers plate (pictured above), biscuits, grits, sandwiches and salads. Here’s what I think you need to know: BACON. They have the best bacon I’ve ever eaten in my life. Be right back — I have to clean the drool off my keyboard.
The Park Cafe
The Park Cafe is the spot I hit when I don’t want to dive too deep into the heart of the city. It’s a perfect location when you’re too hungry to look for a parking spot downtown. They serve breakfast and lunch all day. They have everyday breakfast items, such as the Walk in the Park (pictured above), featuring a classic breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon or sausage, and fruit or potatoes. They also have items like sandwiches, avocado toast and heirloom tomato toast (pictured above) among others. But what I like the most is the grapefruit. That serrated grapefruit spoon is everything.
Sweetwater Cafe
Sweetwater Cafe is everything you could imagine in a class Southern restaurant. This place is dishing out cooked-to-order menu items in a comfortable cafe setting. They offer breakfast (pictured above), including grandma-approved pancakes, salads, burgers and sandwiches. The cafe is also a short walking distance from both the Charleston City Market and King Street. It’s a the perfect place to grab a bite to eat in the middle of the city.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
I can’t go to Charleston and not go to Callie’s. I even made a special trip on my way out of Charleston once just to buy one of their mugs. It’s a biscuit experience unlike any other. They have two locations in Charleston — one at the Market and one on King Street. They offer all sorts of biscuits. My go-to is the cinnamon biscuit or the shortbread. And if you get the shortbread, you HAVE to get the peach basil jam to go with it. I would be just as happy with that jar of jam and a spoon.
Candy Shop Vintage
Forget everything you know about jewelry shops. Founded in 2009, Candy Shop Vintage has offered masterfully curated pieces of jewelry with exceptional vintage flair along with some Candy Shop Vintage originals. If you’re in the market for a conversation piece, this is where you need to be. Here you’ll find earrings, brooches, necklaces, rings and more.
Mac & Murphy
Hello there, Type A people. This one is for you. If you break out your planner on a regular basis and swoon over the perfect, ball-point pen, Mac & Murphy is your place. They have a wall lined with cards for every occasion and shelves stocked with the best in planners, journals, note pads and pens among others. They carry some of my favorite retailers like Ban.do and Rifle Paper Co. I wanted to buy everything. It seemed like a rational idea at the time.
Sugar Bakeshop
Sugar Bakeshop is a little treasure filled with the most delicious baked delicacies. How so much goodness can fit in one tiny building, I’ll never know. They sell cupcakes, cookies, tarts, pies and cakes, which makes this place perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s located on the same street in between Candy Shop Vintage and Mac & Murphy, so take a break from all that shopping and grab a cupcake.
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