Whether you’re ballin’ on a budget or just balling out, there are plenty of options around town to enjoy a quintessential Charleston day — all within various price ranges.
Well folks, here’s how we’d spend a day in the Holy City on a $20 vs. $200 budget.
$20 budget
First stop of the day? Coffee. Swing by Brown Fox Coffee at 307 Simmons St. for a 16 oz. drip for $2.60. Heads up: This is the cost of the joe + your milk of choice, but any flavored syrup can be added for 40 cents.
Head across the street to Vintage Coffee Cafe at 219 Simmons St. for an order of avocado toast served with tomato-onion marmalade + olive oil. The cost of this masterpiece is $6.
The weather is most likely sunny, so drive downtown to stroll through Waterfront Park, check out the iconic Pineapple Fountain + enjoy panoramic views of the Charleston Harbor while getting our steps in for the day. Cost = free.
Just a short walk away from Waterfront Park is Rainbow Row. Soak in the sun and appreciate the vibrant colors at 83-107 E. Bay St. for free.
By this point, you may be pretty hungry. Walk over to Benny Ravello’s at 520 King St. for a massive slice of cheese pizza at $5.
To wrap up the day, swing by happy hour at The Cocktail Club for a $6 glass of wine on the outdoor patio at 479 King St. — above The Macintosh.
Total: $19.60
$200 budget
Start your day with some movement at The Works. Choose from a sculpt vinyasa, HIIT, yoga flow, or strength training class for a $27 drop-in fee. The studio has two locations: Mount Pleasant at 1421 Shucker Cir. + downtown at 465 Meeting St.
Brunch + coffee are next on the agenda. Roll out to The Darling Oyster Bar at 513 King St. for $5 hushpuppies, the $23 Seafood Frittata + an oyster shooter for $6. In case you didn’t know, The Darling serves a mean Bloody Mary, so it’s definitely on our list. Expect to spend $25 for the cocktail.
If you’re big beach people like we are, the next stop is Sullivan’s Island. But first: Frosé. Enjoy a 16 oz. frosé for $11 from The Co-Op + snap a few photos in front of the infamous neon sign. Find the sign at the Sullivan’s Island location — 2019 Middle St. — or swing by the business’ Isle of Palms + downtown locations.
Grab a few friends and spend some time listening to the ocean + enjoying the weather beachside at no cost. If you plan to be out there for a while, we’d recommend grabbing a Cali Turkey from The Co-Op at $10.50.
Catch the sunset at a RiverDogs game with an $8 ticket. Pro tip: Read up on the history of the team before you go. Find the team at The Joe: 360 Fishburne St.
Afterward, swing by the Island Cabana Bar at 50 Immigration St. to split a $15 bucket of beer with some friends. The drinks are good + the views are even better.
Round out the evening at Le Farfalle — 15 Beaufain St. — starting with an order of the octopus carpaccio for $18 before the main course: Squid ink spaghetti for $26. You’ll want to leave room for some chocolate cake dessert, which costs $10.
For those who like an evening stroll: Enjoy a brisk walk around Colonial Lake to wrap up the evening. Cost = free.
Total: $184.50
And there you have it: A Charleston day through the lens of two separate budgets. Let us know how you’d spend your $20 or $200 day in the Holy City.
*And just so y’all know: These prices do not include the cost of gratuity. For the sake of this piece, we only included the price of the items themselves, but prices would be higher with tip + tax. Be sure to factor that in.
