Lowcountry, Low-Key

Yes, Charleston is capable of keeping things casual.

- Jai Jones

FOR VISITORS, THINKING OF CHARLESTON might conjure up images of seersucker suits, cobblestone strolls, and candlelit prix fixe dinners—and yes, there’s plenty of that. But just beneath the city’s genteel surface lies a more relaxed rhythm and a come-as-you-are culinary scene, where counter service lives comfortably alongside white-tablecloth classics. It’s this version of Charleston I always seek out on a stay.

These are the real neighborhood joints—the spots you walk into wearing flip-flops after the beach or in dusty sneakers to pick up a midday pastry as you explore downtown. They’re the kind of places that locals keep in their back pockets as little secrets but where travelers are always welcome. Yes, Charleston has earned its place as one of America’s top dining cities, but it’s the excellence of its everyday eateries that makes it unforgettable.

From downtown pastry shops with cult followings to revamped motels with retro bars, these are the casual and quietly exceptional places that prove Charleston is as welcoming as it is world-class.

WHERE TO STAY

THE CHARLEE ON CANNON