Travel to Charleston and Eat, Drink & Stay Like a DC Local
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The Hotel Bennett, a new boutique hotel in Charleston, SC, launched by the Salamander Hotels and Resorts hotel brand. Photo courtesy of Hotel Bennett.
By Tim Ebner, Edible DC
Charleston is one of the top food cities in America, and while it may seem far away—more than 500 miles due south of the District—several food and beverage connections make this historic city feel as if it’s an extension of Washington, DC.
For starters, we have a few restaurants and chefs in common. Estadio opened its second outpost in Charleston in October. Meanwhile, both Oak Steakhouse and O-Ku have long-standing Charleston roots. Also, an entire roster of chefs spent time cooking in both cities. Specifically, we have Aaron Silverman (Rose’s Luxury), Jeremiah Langhorne (The Dabney), and Connor Hartman (Cicely & Sorrel).
But we’ve also sent some DC talent down south to make waves in the Lowcountry. Here are four essential spots that have a unique DC connection.
Hotel Bennett. In January, Washington Mystics President Sheila Johnson and her Salamander Hotels and Resorts hotel brand, based in Middleburg, Virginia, opened a boutique hotel and spa in the heart of Charleston. The property’s suite-style layout, heated rooftop pool, and concierge-level service are reasons alone to book a stay here soon.
But there are also elevated food and beverage options that make this an easy pick for discerning diners looking for a full-range of Charleston flavors. Start in the lobby for champagne and caviar service at Camellias—an all pink-style bar that even has a pink marble counter, reclaimed from the library facade where Hotel Bennett now stands. If happy hour is more your speed, head to the roof for sunset drinks at Fiat Lux, which offers bar bite and cocktail specials with a 360-panorama of downtown Charleston skyline.
The main attraction, however, is dinner at Gabrielle. Chef Michael Sichel (previously of Galatoire's in New Orleans) highlights Southern food favorites alongside Charleston seafood staples, like oysters Rockefeller, prosciutto-wrapped monkfish, and shrimp remoulade cocktail.
404 King St, Charleston, SC. Website: hotelbennett.com
Burgers at Chuck and Patty’s, by Jacob Hunter, formerly of DC’s Dirty South Deli food truck and Taylor Gourmet. Photo by Andrew Cebulka.
Chuck & Patty’s at The Workshop. If you’re more in the mood for a burger than fancy white tablecloth service, look no further than Jacob Hunter’s burger stand located in a communal food hall space. Hunter happened to be the brains behind DC’s Dirty South Deli food truck and served in a year-long stint at Taylor Gourmet.
Although he’s no longer involved in the food truck or hoagie operation, his burger bar includes many of the truck’s fan favorites, including Capri Sun pouches. Before you go, follow Chuck & Patty’s on Instagram for burger specials that rotate weekly. But the essential burger to order is the one that’s been on the menu since day one—the CP Single, a Big Mac-inspired burger. And did somebody say milkshake? At Chuck & Patty’s, it can come topped with either rainbow sprinkles (for the kids) or spiked with a shot of bourbon (for adults only).
1503 King Street, Charleston, SC. Website: workshopcharleston.com/kitchens/chuck-pattys
Photo courtesy of Harken Cafe.
Harken Cafe. Remember: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And there’s no better place in the French Quarter of Charleston to fuel up and stay caffeinated than Harken Cafe, which opened in October and comes from another DC transplant, Greer Gilchrist (she was the baker at Blind Dog Cafe and her brother Cullen Gilchrist is the co-founder of Union Kitchen). At Harken, you’ll not only feel the buzz from expertly made coffees and espressos but also dine in a space that has an Instagram-worthy aesthetic, as well as some picturesque pies and pound cakes.
62 Queen St, Charleston, SC. Website: harkencafe.com
Sommelier Femi Oyediran of Graft Wine Shop, co-winner of the Food & Wine 2019 Sommelier of the Year. Photo courtesy of Graft Wine Shop.
Graft Wine Shop. Fun fact: Sommeliers Femi Oyediran is a DMV local, and told Eater that he got a lot of his people skills by working a high school job at the now-defunct Circuit City in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Since then, he’s come a long way, working his way through Charleston’s food and beverage community, as well as earning Food & Wine’s 2019 Sommelier of the Year, along with his partner and co-founder Miles White.
Oyediran remains a big fan of Virginia wines—recently, he shot a commercial for the state’s tourism board, but his love for wine is greater than any specific wine region. At Graft Wine Shop, you’ll find decently priced bottles—240 labels in total—sourced from around the world. You can also sample anything from off the wall, for a $15 corkage fee, or order one of the two dozen or so wines served by the glass at the shop’s bar.
700b King St, Charleston, SC. Website: graftchs.com
Tim Ebner is a Washington, DC based food and travel writer. He is a regular contributor to Edible DC, and to The Washington Post, Washington City Paper, Eater DC, and Capitol File Magazine. He works full-time as a senior editor for Associations Now. Follow him @ebnert.
