How to Spend 48 Hours Charleston, SC Edition

Where to stay

Places to Stay: Mills House Hotel, close to the peninsula and right near the battery and following restaurants and dining establishments, and experiences! If you love a pool and it is non-negotiable check in here! There are other great hotels all downtown, but I highly recommend this one as its newly renovated and the staff is very on point and accommodating to groups and or families traveling! You can request for early check-in at 10am and enjoy their pool and rooftop bar, and you can also request late checkout at 1pm to really enjoy and soak up your time in Charleston, SC. This is a full day after checking in. We did the pool immediately after checking in at 11am – this schedule is for the following day!

Itinerary

7:30am – Wake up and head downstairs to the onsite café at the Mills House Hotel, The Black Door Café. Highly recommended booking a hotel with an onsite café as you want to make your hours count! They always have seasonal specials and I always enjoy trying something new each time and their classic BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) breakfast sandwich.

8:30am – Go do a workout to get your adrenaline going and burn off those calories you will be eating in the next 24 hours, Mills House Hotel offers workout classes on their rooftop terrace. Make sure to reserve your spot a day ahead of workout class.

10:30am – Stroll down their street to visit the Gibbes Museum of Charleston, or if you have kids head to the Children’s Museum of The Lowcountry or the SC Aquarium located within minutes of the hotel. The aquarium may be a bit of a walk so I suggest driving or getting an uber. Downtown has limited street parking, most are metered, or you will have to pay for garage/lot parking nearby.

11:45am – Head to Bodega for a NY style feel and casual lunch with the family. They have the most loaded sandwiches and always rotate their special sandwiches. I have not had one I disliked so far. They also have light fare and salads for those wanting a lighter lunch. Do not skimp on their drinks and coffees. One of my favorite matcha lattes in town!

1:00pm – Head to Carmella’s Dessert and Bar to indulge in some decadent and delicious treats! They are most well known for their “birthday cake” cake as well as their “cannoli cake,” I personally love a good sorbet in the summer heat and their flavors are non-dairy and just scream summer in your mouth.

2:00pm – Head back to the hotel and enjoy the pool if y’all have kids with you! If not head back a little earlier and refresh for a private cocktail making class (available on a limited capacity basis, make sure to call ahead for the number in your party) at Satellite Bar located with a skyline rooftop view above STARS Restaurant and Bar. You are guaranteed to have an enjoyable time and learn to make the most magnetizing drinks!

4:00pm – Next, head to the newly opened The Habit! The Habit is a new concept which features 3 levels of each different themed restaurant and bar, with yet another rooftop bar with views and a little garden aligned at the peninsula with water views. At night they also have speakeasy on the second level called “V’s Speakeasy at The Habit” and it is a whole vibe that takes you back in time. During the weekends they have live bands and shows as well as cinematic movies playing. This is an era vibe! The first tier is family friendly for dining, second tier and above is 21+ and has the finest dining by Chef Matt Greene. The third tier is the rooftop bar which is more casual and has a smaller menu.

7:00pm – Make a reservation at The Iron Rose restaurant located back at your hotel so you know you will be able to walk straight up stairs to your room after a full day and get a good night’s rest! The Iron Rose cocktails are easily gulp-able as they are pretty. They have an extension top notch bar and restaurant. Their menu celebrates the south but has a bit of everything from seafood to flat iron steak for meat lovers. If you are vegan/vegetarian, please let your server know as they are super accommodating and will make the changes for you! Please refer to my latest blog post about Mills House Hotel for hotel happenings, events, as well as tasting menus! If you’re looking for a more family friendly restaurant head over to Rudy Royale where they specialize in the best chicken entrees and they have a $10 Kids Menu!