In this guest post, Alden W. Smith shares his amazing experience in Charleston, S.C. Visit his beach-focused blog AldenWSmith.com.
A Winter Brunch in Charleston: Unforgettable Memories
Are you ready to experience one of the best brunches on the East Coast? Then you’re in for a treat. Follow along while I take you on an unforgettable journey through Charleston, South Carolina where you can find some of the best eating, shopping, and sightseeing on the East Coast.
After a brutal cold spell, I escaped Washington D.C. to take a holiday road trip down the East Coast and enjoy some Christmas Cheer on the Miami Beaches. On the way back I took the chance to stop by one of my favorite tourist cities around – Charleston, SC.
I spent the first 6 months of my Navy Career in Charleston so I’m familiar with the city to a certain extent but it always seems to have some new corner to explore especially after all the growth of the last 15 years!
In this Blog Post, I’ll walk you through some of the best places to eat, shop, and stroll in this incredible city – especially those brunch spots in Charleston that will warm your heart and your belly.
Cocktail Culture
I arrived in Charleston after a day of travel. I woke up that morning in the Hardy State Forrest outside of Jacksonville where I’d been Car Camping the previous night. After a few hours of work at a nearby coffee shop I spent most of the afternoon and evening driving from Jacksonville to Charleston. So, by the time I arrived, I was ready for a drink.
As you would expect from a creative city in the deep south Charleston has several hip bars serving handcrafted cocktails. Charleston can’t quite rival New Orleans in the cocktail department but it still puts a good foot forward. In Charleston, the largest concentration of cocktail lounges is on King Street near the intersection with Woolfe Street, and quite near the College of Charleston (imagine that).
That evening I snuck into an upstairs speakeasy aptly named, “Prohibition”. I can’t say enough good things. From the service to the drinks to the rooftop patio, the whole scene was a great break from the road. My favorite feature was how the interior designer striped the walls and ceilings down to expose the square timber framing. This really opened up the space while still defining the seating and performance areas.
After a day on the road, I didn’t stick around for the band that started at 10:00 – I needed a good night’s sleep.
Charleston has an Amazing Brunch Scene
So brunch in Charleston during the winter is an absolute must-do! The restaurants really know how to do it right with menus that combine classic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, and gravy-soaked biscuits with more modern fare like avocado toast and acai bowls.
For those fighting a hangover, or just trying to power up for some sightseeing there is a strong Coffee Shop game here as well. Local favorites like Clerks Coffee Company and The Black Door Cafe offer freshly baked pastries, bagels and cream cheese, and of course a great breakfast sandwich. Maybe they aren’t a full brunch spot but they will certainly get you going.
Meanwhile, the cocktail scene extends to brunch in Charleston too. I mean mimosas and bloody marys really do round out the perfect brunch experience.
I Just Love Poogan’s Porch
Downtown Charleston is littered with incredible restaurants. Many are steeped in the culinary traditions of the area, but recently a number have popped up catering more fusion-inspired creations to the younger crowd that roams the city. What they all tend to share is the ambiance that comes from being surrounded by buildings that are over a hundred years old. They all seem to take a nice slow approach to their meals and pay attention to all the fine details.
My favorite downtown restaurant has always been Poogan’s Porch. Poogan’s Porch is a restaurant situated in an old residential house on Queen Street, right in the middle of the bustle. The establishment is named after an old dog who lived in the house at the time of its conversion into a restaurant. The rumor is when he wasn’t touring the neighborhood he used to escape the noise in the shade of the veranda. While Poogan, unfortunately, passed of old age in 1979 his memory lives on throughout the establishment.
The house retains its original divisions with table seating provided in both the front parlor and the old living room in the rear. You get welcomed with a tight squeeze but plenty of southern hospitality as you enter past the front staircase arriving at the hosting station next to the bar which, I think, used to be the household kitchen. If you are interested in outside seating you can eat on the front porch or even make your way into the garden courtyard out back!
This time I sat at the bar as there was quite the holiday crowd. I got to watch as all the best brunch cocktails were expertly mixed – the Bloody Marys were hefty, loaded down with all the trappings, and, of course, mimosas flowed freely.
I settled for coffee to rev me up for what turned out to be a delicious brunch! First came the fried green tomatoes, a Charleston staple, served with this exquisite savory sauce. Then I was overwhelmed by one of the house omelets, served open-faced with feta, artichoke, tomato, and all sorts of goodness. I thought I had saved room for an order of the french toast that was truly other-worldly; however, I succumbed with one slice left. Perhaps the chicken and waffles, another southern classic, might have been a more manageable combination of sweet and savory.
However you order, you can’t go wrong. Poogan’s Porch has been around for 52 years and continues serving the old family recipes that have made them famous.
Other good brunch spots in charleston
If the line at Poogan’s is out the door, here are some other great brunch spots:
- The Palmetto Cafe -for those feeling indulgent
- F.I.G. – The sign says it stands for Food Is Good but I have heard other interpretations as well
- High Cotton – for the seafood lover
Window Shopping the Charming Boutiques
After an amazing brunch at Poogan’s Porch, I walked off the pending food coma by strolling up and down King Street and Meeting Street. Within a short few blocks along this main strip, you’ll find no shortage of boutiques to peruse. I was just window-shopping but the experience was still enlivening. The sun even held out for me keeping temperatures feeling great.
All the shops were right on top of each other and each had its unique style. It reminded me a bit of Europe in that way. You can find everything from high-end designer clothing to handmade jewelry and art. The shopkeepers are usually quite friendly too!
Gallery Hopping
Gallery hopping is also a popular activity in Charleston. There are dozens of galleries lining King and Meeting Streets, each showcasing a different type of art. From contemporary paintings and sculptures to historic photography and prints, there’s something for everyone. I tend to be a fan of impressionist landscapes and found some great examples on King Street.
Whether you’re looking for a new outfit or some new artwork for your home, you’ll find plenty of boutiques and galleries to explore in Charleston.
Sightseeing
Part of the charm of Charleston is just how compact the downtown is. All inside a few blocks are all the good shopping spots as well the surviving landmarks like the old market, four or five of the original churches, and the beautiful old homes on Rainbow Row and the Battery.
I absolutely loved seeing all the old churches. Each one was so different from the next and they were all so architecturally inspiring. I also really enjoyed walking through the old market. It was so interesting to see the modern vendors packed into spaces built for the same scene so long ago!
What I Missed this Time
So greater Charleston offers even more than just the amazing, historic downtown. Charleston harbor lies at the confluence of the Wando, the Cooper, and the Ashley Rivers.
With such a large natural harbor there are plenty of maritime activities for those so inclined. Sailing cruises and harbor cruises are some of the more popular.
The history isn’t limited to the mainland either. Fort Sumpter guarded the approaches to Charleston Harbor for many years before it gained infamy by hosting the first shots of the American Civil War. Similarly, one of the first combat uses of a vessel designed to go underwater, the C.S.S. Hunley took place nearby and is commemorated in a museum in downtown Charleston.
If you love beaches as much as I do, you can’t miss out on the barrier islands that flank either side of Charleston Harbor. The most accessible is Isle of Palms to the north.
That’s it for Now!
All in all, it was a great day and I’m so glad I got to see all these amazing sights that I did on this trip and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure!
So if you’re starting to plan your next getaway I’d argue that there’s no better place to go than Charleston. You’ll find some of the best food around, as well as lovely boutiques and historic sights. Be sure to check it out!
About the Author:
Alden Smith is a lifestyle photographer, blogger, and outdoorsman based in the D.C. area. After years traveling the world with the Navy his penchant for digital creativity lead him to start the beach-focused blog AldenWSmith.com.