Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the CHStoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Charleston a better place to live. From high-level dining experiences and accommodations to places to hang with your friends — here are your top choices in each of our categories.
🍸 Adult Crowd (21+)
Amazing drinks, delicious food options, a vibrant social atmosphere — all of these make for a great place for locals to have a good time.
- First place: Felix Cocktails et Cuisine
- Runners Up: Frannie & The Fox and The Royal American
🧸 Kid-Friendly Activities/Venues
Charleston is a fun hub for the littles in your family to explore, engage, and make childhood memories.
- First place: South Carolina Aquarium
- Runners Up: Charleston County Parks and Bee City Zoo & Honey Bee Farm
🎉 Venues for Family
Ditch staying at home for something new. Across Charleston, there are plenty of fantastic activities to take your whole family for a fun outing with light bites and nature walks.
- First place: Charleston County Parks
- Runners Up: South Carolina Aquarium and Charleston Battery
🐾 Pet-Friendly Places
Did some-pawdy say bon-a-pet-treat? Charleston has purr-fect hot spots for you to bring your BFFs — best furry friends — to stroll around + enjoy.
- First place: Chico Feo
- Runners Up: Estuary Beans & Barley and Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
🥞 Brunch
When you’re ready for the avocado toast and mimosas, Charleston’s variety of brunch spots are ever-growing with delicious cuisine options + morning libations.
- First place: Millers All Day
- Runners Up: Felix Cocktails et Cuisine and 82 Queen
🍽️ Outdoor Dining
Between historic, waterfront patios and seafood in the countryside, our illustrious town adds a charming twist to going out to eat.
- First place: Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
- Runners Up: Ellis Creek Fish Camp and MOMO riverfront park
🎵 Music/Event Venues
Supporting local music has never been easier with Charleston’s music halls and event spaces.
- First place: Charleston Music Hall
- Runners Up: The Windjammer and Credit One Stadium
🍻 Brewery/Distillery
Ale you need is love? More like a fresh pint. CHS is home to some of the most creative distilleries and historic breweries in the area.
- First place: Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.
- Runners Up: Holy City Brewing and Firefly Distillery
☕ Coffee Shop
Full steam ahead: The coffee shops in Charleston are not your average joes.
- First place: blūm
- Runners Up: La Pâtisserie and Lodi Coffee
⛳ Golf Course
You spilled the tee to us and let us know there’s quite a few incredible courses to check out locally for an afternoon of golf.
- First place: The Ocean Course
- Runners Up: Topgolf Charleston and Links At Stono Ferry
🏠 Apartment Complex
From amenities like pools and tennis courts to varying floor plans, where you live is so important.
- First place: The Jasper Apartments
- Runners Up: 10 WestEdge and The Reserve at Wescott
🏋️ Fitness Center/Gym
Beyond the yoga classes and CrossFit gyms, fitness is all about the community you find, paired with your favorite workout styles.
- First place: HYLO Fitness Charleston
- Runners Up: The Works and MUSC Wellness Center
🍲 Restaurant
Charleston knows how to eat. From smoky barbecue to Parisian inspired dishes, the restaurant scene is known for quality and memorable ambiance.
- First place: Lewis Barbecue Charleston
- Runners Up: Felix Cocktails et Cuisine and Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
📍 Staycation Location
Time to relax and recharge? Charleston’s list of fun accommodations are worth booking for your next local vacation.
- First place: Hotel Bennett
- Runners Up: The Dewberry and Kiawah Island Golf Resort
🖥️ Home Service Provider
Whether it be plumbing, tree care, HVAC, car repair — you name it — CHS has some of the best and most reliable service providers.
- First place: Blanton & Sons - Heating, Cooling and Plumbing
- Runners Up: Preferred Home Services and Forget Me Knot Alterations & Design Studio
💅 Salon/Spa/Wellness
Putting the ahhh in spa day, Charleston’s most relaxing spots include salons, spas, and wellness centers that give you access to some of the best quality experiences.
- First place: Woodhouse Spa - Mount Pleasant
- Runners Up: The Spa at Hotel Bennett and Wild Hearts Salon
🏠 Real Estate Agent/Group
It’s all about location, location, location — in the Best City in the South. Your local realty groups are ready to connect you to your dream home, and you let us know who’s the best at matching you to the perfect property.
- First place: Coastal Island Properties
- Runners Up: Carolina One Real Estate Downtown and Lauren Cox
🧒 Childcare
While raising your family in and around CHS, you can’t do it without the help of your amazing local childcare providers.
- First place: Ashley Hall
- Runners Up: La Petite Academy of James Island and Sundrops Montessori School - Bridge Campus
🛣️ Road Trip Destination
Whether you’re looking for a picture-worthy spot or your next adventurous experience, Charleston’s road trip destinations create vibrant memories for your local vacay.
- First place: Cypress Gardens
- Runners Up: Brookgreen Gardens and Mepkin Abbey
🧑💼 Coworking Location
It’s always fun when you get to work with other professionals in a coworking space, and Charleston has the best spots for you to knock out your projects.
- First place: Mercantile & Mash
- Runners Up: Harbour Club at WestEdge and Clerks Coffee Company
♻️ Community Impact Brand
Lending a helping hand to others and providing things like nourishing meals for impoverished families is a great way to give back to your community. There are amazing organizations throughout CHS that provide you with these opportunities.
- First place: South Carolina Aquarium
- Runners Up: Historic Charleston Foundation and Warrior Surf Foundation
