The Fresh Erica Charleston, SC Guide

I was bitten by the travel bug when my family moved to Tokyo, Japan as a wee lady lass. Since then, I grab any chance I can to make a trek. Luckily, Quentin shares in my wanderlust-y ways! We took our most recent trip to gorgeous Charleston, SC as a last hurrah (for now) of sorts. I started culinary school in late June, and he started a new job with less flexibility in July. Since I'm in school on Saturdays, I knew we wouldn't have the opportunity for many weekend trips in the next year, so we decided to SIEZE LE MOMENT at the beginning of June and hop on a plane for a quick get-away!

We tossed a few ideas for other destinations around, but ultimately landed on Charleston because it's 1. known to be absolutely stunning 2. historical with a lot of learning opportunities and 3. (and most importantly) an AMAZING food city with a burgeoning wellness scene. And I'm so glad we made the trip. We had an absolutely lovely time and ate our weight in scrumptious food.

We both did quite a bit of research leading up to the trip. I picked our hotel and restaurants, and Q planned our activities. We stayed at The Restoration (a bit of a splurge, but we knew this would be our last travel for a bit) which was modern and cozy. For food, I put an emphasis on spots that would be gluten-free friendly. In a surprising plot twist (to no one) many of the restaurants that accommodate we gluten-challenged well were also VERY vegan friendly.

So, without further ado, I'd love for you to reap the benefit of our extensive research. Take a peek at the rundown of our entire trip-- what we ate, where we drank, and what we did!

Where We Ate:

Basic Kitchen

Basic Kitchen was conveniently located right across the street from our hotel so we ended up eating there for breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday during our stay. What can I say, I'm basic and I know it! We arrived early (before 9am) both mornings and were seated right away. The atmosphere is light, casual, and highly instagrammable (think neon signs, fiddle leaf figs, and gorgeous ceramics-- I wasn't mad about it, hehe).

The breakfast/brunch menu is super well rounded, with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options and also some standard but slightly elevated American breakfast fare. On Saturday morning, I ordered the Basic Bowl, and loved it so much that I had to order it again on Sunday. One word of caution, their matcha powder is sweetened. I ordered it without realizing that, but they were happy to replace it with a plain jasmine green tea for me!

Bottom line: this is a wonderful option if you're looking for a balanced and delicious breakfast that can work for both those with and without dietary restrictions. This would be a great spot for a casual lunch as well.

Huriyali

On Saturday, once we'd properly digested breakfast and worked up a bit of an appetite, we decided to venture out on bikes to another spot I'd heard had an awesome gluten-free menu. Huriyali is a bit of a trek from downtown, especially in the heat of the day, so the AC in the very casual cafe-type spot (with a definite new age-y vibe) was SUPES welcome. We ordered at the counter, then I took a moment to ogle the very fun products they had stocked at the front of the cafe. I had the goddess bowl with curry chicken and Q enjoyed the EAT sandwich. My salad was a little less veg-forward than I was expecting; the brown rice and chicken took center stage, which is not my preference when ordering a salad. But the flavors were there so overall, I was pleased. As promised, there were many gluten free and vegan options on the menu.

Bottom line: Huriyali is good, but definitely doesn't make my "must try" list for Charleston. Hit it up if you're looking for a light bite and are in the area or are looking for a budget friendly option.

Cannon Green

We made a reservation for Saturday night at Cannon Green at the recommendation of a good friend. A general note about Charleston: definitely make dinner reservations in advance of your trip. The in-demand spots typically fill up a full month in advance. Cannon Green had some spots on Saturday a week out from our trip, so I nabbed one of them and am so glad we did.

First, the ambiance: it's an absolutely gorgeous setting that is so stunning it doubles as a wedding venue. It's a new structure built around a historical home; you can see elements of the old home from within the new structure. It's unlike any other building I've encountered and is well worth a visit. Second, the service: true southern hospitality here. The servers and staff were all attentive but not invasively so. While the menu is not specifically marked with gluten-free options, the server was super knowledgable and the kitchen was willing to make subs for me, which I always truly appreciate.

Finally (and most importantly), the food:  Everything savory that we ordered (crab and beets to start, pork and scallops for our mains) was beyond delicious. We ordered some peach gelato to close the meal and it wasn't anything to write home about, but our starters and mains were so yum and the service was so lovely that I found it hard to be disappointed by a lackluster dessert!

Bottom line: definitely hit Cannon Green up if you're looking for an amazing dining experience from the moment you walk through the door. It's on the pricier side, but we felt it was more than worth it.

The Harbinger

For lunch on Sunday, we ventured out to The Harbinger for some lighter fare. This is another really casual cafe leaning in the coffee shop vibe direction. There were quite a few students doing work in the main seating area but there is also a gorgeous garden where, weather permitting, you can enjoy your food outside. As with many of the other spots on this list, The Harbinger has a plethora of savory vegan and gluten-free options. But the real draw for me was its extensive GF baked good offering. I ordered the mixed salad plate (delicious) and Q had a breakfast sandwich (he enjoyed) and followed the meal up with a sublime GF dessert. Their pastries rotate daily, and from what I can tell, you really can't go wrong with any of their treats!

Bottom line: another awesome spot for a budget-friendly light meal. A must-visit if you're looking for gluten-free or vegan treats!

The Ordinary

We had our reservation for The Ordinary a full month in advance of our trip, so needless to say, I was excited for our experience there. This spot is extremely buzzy, and with good reason. It's housed in a stately building that was formerly a bank. Its vaulted ceilings and subtly nautical decor give it an upscale vibe without feeling stuffy or overly-fancy.

The menu is seafood-centric and has many gluten-free options (not marked). Expect to see a raw-bar tower at most tables! We followed suite and ordered one of their smaller towers with a few add-ons along and the swordfish entrée. Quentin also ordered the Hawaiian rolls (decidedly glutenous) which he devoured. Everything was super fresh and seasonal (my jam). We closed the meal out with the Chocolate Hazelnut Budino--it was a silky-smooth super rich and thick mouse-like pudding topped with some perfectly whipped creme that I all but inhaled (with a little help from Q). Overall, very much enjoyed this entire meal.

Bottom line: another great option if you're looking to treat-yo-self while on vacation. The menu is not marked up with gluten free options, but the servers are more than willing to guide decisions.

Gnome Cafe

For our final breakfast in Charleston, we decided on Gnome Cafe. We took bikes from our downtown hotel and arrived ready for a hearty breakfast. The entire menu is vegan and there are quite a few gluten-free options (marked on the menu), including pancakes, which I couldn't resist. I added a side of brussels sprouts to get some veggies in. Quentin ordered the hemp sausage breakfast sandwich. Once we ordered at the counter, we took a seat; this is another very casual but trendy looking spot. Not as comfortable as Basic Kitchen, but the service was super quick, so we weren't hanging out too long! My pancakes and brussels were each yummy and fairly large servings. Quentin's sandwich was on the smaller side, but he enjoyed it.

Bottom line: I wouldn't put The Gnome on my must visit list. It's a good option if you need a casual spot with a ton of vegan options and are looking for a wallet-friendly meal!

Xiao Bao Biscuit

We'd heard amazing things about this Asian-Fusion spot from multiple friends, so we decided to close out our trip with lunch from Xiao Bao Biscuit. Unfortunately, this spot had a pretty limited GF selection (two options on the already small menu) and the server didn't offer to make alterations to other menu items. We went ahead and ordered those two items to split between the two of us. They were both good, not great. Some of the glutenous dishes on other tables looked VERY yum. I can see how this would be an amazing spot if you're able to digest gluten well!

Bottom line: not worth the trip if you're avoiding gluten, but definitely check it out if not!

Jeni's Ice Cream

Jeni's is not native to Charleston, but there's a reason lines at these ice cream shops often wrap around the block--it's undeniably delicious. They have a couple dairy-free offerings, but the vegan options are fairly limited compared to the extensive non-vegan offerings. I went for one scoop of their vegan chocolate ice cream with a coconut base, and one scoop of the classic (and full-blown dairy) strawberry ice cream. I enjoyed more dairy on this trip than I typically do, and felt pretty good! This sweet treat was the perfect way to close out our trip.

Bottom line: delicious ice cream. 'Nuff said.

Where We Drank

The Watch

We had cocktails The Watch, which is a rooftop bar that is conveniently located in The Restoration, before our dinner at Cannon Green on Saturday. I ordered "The Dutch," a coconut water-raspberry-gin concoction. It arrived with a thick foam, and I realized that their simple syrup mixture included egg whites--vegans, be sure to double check about this. The bartender replaced the drink with an egg-free version no problem. There's a good view from this bar, but the service was a bit slow!

Bottom Line: worth it just for the view, but don't expect top notch service.

The Cocktail Club

We decided to a do a mini-bar crawl before our dinner at The Ordinary on Sunday (very out of character for me, but hey, vacation!) and The Cocktail Club was our first stop. We arrived at around 5pm and it was nearly empty. It's a dark, pretty large bar with a really extensive cocktail list, but the drinks we received were extremely sugary. There was an outdoor space as well, but we opted to sit inside and out of the heat of the day.

Bottom Line: I can see how this spot would be fun on a crowded Saturday night, but I'd skip it for pre-dinner drinks.

Darling Oyster Bar

The Darling Oyster Bar is just that--darling. It's a small-ish bar/restaurant specializing in fresh, local seafood. The interior is beautifully open and airy and there was room for us to sit right down at the bar. I opted for some pink wine (rosé to the uninitiated) to keep my sugar intake a bit lower and Quentin ordered a beer. The service was great, and I absolutely loved the atmosphere. I'll definitely be back for a full meal at Darling next time we're in Charleston!

Bottom Line: great spot for pre-dinner drinks!

The Ordinary

We ended our little crawl with some drinks at The Ordinary, where we had our dinner reservations for the night. As mentioned above, this is a really happenin' spot, so be ready to wait, even for the bar! Luckily, our table was ready when we arrived, so they sat us right away. The Ordinary is perhaps as well known for its daiquiris as it is for it's seafood towers so we made a point to give a couple a try. I ordered the Air Mail. It was a perfect, light, summary drink option.

Bottom Line: we were as pleased with our drinking experience as we were with our dining experience at The Ordinary!

What We Did:

The Charleston Farmer's Market

Y'all know I'm obsessed with all things food. Like...I can spend hours in a grocery store, just takin' it all in. Put that grocery store outside and fill it with fresh, LOCAL food and I'm in hog heaven. If possible, I make a point to visit the farmer's market in any new city, and Charleston was no exception. We took a stroll there after our breakfast on Saturday morning. We picked some 'booch up from One Love Kombucha then spent a good 45 minutes just hanging, chatting with vendors, and tasting some delicious food.

Bottom line: check this market out if you're looking for a chill outdoor activity that also involves FOOD (duh!).

Strolled Through The College of Charleston

Our hotel was just a block away from the stunning campus of The College of Charleston. We took our first walk there on Saturday, and walked through at least 5 more times on during our 3 day trip. It's gorgeous, and an excellent spot to snap some pics.

Bottom Line: highly recommend taking a quick walk here, especially if you're in the 'hood. If anything, you'll leave with some beautiful photographs!

Bikes!

We didn't rent a car while we were in Charleston for our 3 day stay. I'd read and heard that it is pretty unnecessary. Thanks to our hotel's free bikes available for rental, that turned out to be true! We took bikes out for any trek longer than a mile. Bikes are also an awesome option to see the historic mansions that pepper the city. Locals often favor bikes as well! If your hotel doesn't have bikes available, or you're AirBnB-ing, the city has an easy and affordable bike-share program!

Bottom Line: plan to hop on some bikes while you're in Charleston. They're an awesome way to see the small-ish city, and you'll feel like a local.

The Big Walk

To be honest, I always like to plan my trips around EATING (surprise, surprise), so I typically handle the bulk of the reservation making and restaurant planning for any trip Q and I take together. I let Quentin take the lead on activities (which I view as time-killers between meals!). The thing he put the most effort into planning for us for this trip was a BIG OL' WALK. We easily could have turned it into a bike ride, but wanted to be more leisurely. We covered Water Front Park (and the famous pineapple fountain), Rainbow Row, The Battery, and Legare Street.

Bottom Line: walking is a great way to see the city! Take advantage and get your steps in!

The Nathaniel Russel House

We had some time to kill before our flight on Monday, so we decided to take a tour of The Nathaniel Russel House, one of the historic homes in Charleston. It was a 30 minute tour that covered the history of the home and it's owners, and highlighted some of the beautiful original artwork and interior design still on display in the home. I'm not much of a museum or tour person, but this one was short and sweet.

Bottom Line: not a "must see" but definitely a good option if you're a nut for historical homes/architecture, or if you're looking to round out your trip with an educational component!

To Sum It Up

All in all, we loved our trip to Charleston. It was the perfect way to kick of a little travel hiatus. Have you been to Charleston? Or are you planning to go? Drop a comment below and let me know!