Charleston, South Carolina is ideal for a bachelorette party or any girls’ weekend! With its beautiful beaches, charming downtown, and endless shopping, food, drink, and nightlife, it’s hard to top this Southern gem for a bachelorette party destination. Word on the street is that this gorgeous historical city might be giving Nashville a run for its money, and we can see why! If you’re the type of bride wanting to take things a bit slower, say, sip on daytime cocktails while wearing a pastel colored Lilly Pulitzer sundress, then you’re in the right place and won’t leave disappointed!
Accommodations
Obviously, the number of ladies at your bachelorette party will determine where you’ll stay. If you’re a smaller group looking for a super convenient location around downtown Charleston, there are plenty of hotels within walking distance of everything you’ll want to be doing. But if your group of girls is much bigger, we recommend staying in a house on the beach. Plus, everyone will love all being together versus split up in different hotel rooms.
Zero George: Historic elegance meets sophisticated chic! The Zero George hotel embodies that at every corner with its commitment to upscale hospitality. It’s immaculately restored 1804 building and private courtyard are the ideal ground zero for exploring Charleston. You can stroll around town on their complimentary bikes, indulge in their award-winning dining, or just simply relax with a cocktail in hand on their courtyard.
The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel: The Mills House is the epitome of Southern style. Rested off the beaten path, this uniquely pink hotel offers a rooftop terrace and an outdoor pool allowing guests to immerse themselves in elegance, comfort, and pure leisure.
Hotel Bennet: Talk about grand, yet quaint at the same time. The Hotel Bennet used to be a public library and is now Charleston’s newest luxury hotel. The location is impossible to beat directly on Upper King Street, surrounded by all the shopping and restaurants of your dreams. Each room features a glam deep-soaking pedestal bathtub, and charming-but-contemporary furnishings that will make you feel like it’s your home away from home in the South. Last, but certainly not least take full advantage of the rooftop pool after a long day of walking and sightseeing.
Isle of Palms Water View Retreat: This cute and colorful home sleeps 15 guests making it the perfect bachelorette pad especially given the prime Isle of Palms location and a short half mile from the beach. You and your bride tribe can easily walk to the beach from the house or use the house’s complimentary bikes. Which would make for some chic bachelorette party photos!
Activities
Rainbow Row: If you’re looking for Instagram-worthy spots in Charleston, this is it! This stretch of charming, colorful houses running from 79 to 107 East Bay Street, is one of the most iconic views and historic areas in Charleston. Located in an area known as South of Broad Street, the famous 14 houses in a row are painted in bright pastels all of the colors of the rainbow, and have been ever since about 1740. It’s an absolute must-see for any tourist, and don’t stress you won’t be the only gals posing for a photoshoot at Rainbow Row.
King Street: Nothing defines Southern charm quite like King Street. When walking through the middle of the Charleston peninsula, its wide, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, chic boutiques, antique shops, three-story brick buildings, and a central location make it easy to see why King Street is an unforgettable dining and shopping experience. You can’t go wrong spending a day shopping on, or just strolling down King Street.
Harken Cafe: A cozy little cafe and bakery in the heart of the French Quarter in downtown Charleston, Harken offers counter service for breakfast, lunch, and coffee. Small tables dot the exposed wood and brick space filled with thriving plants and intriguing trinkets on the shelves. The coffee menu offers unique choices like the Jack Rudy espresso tonic and a spiced vanilla latte.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit: Stop by Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit for breakfast or even a late night snack when you’re stumbling down King Street past 1am with the girls and craving home-made Southern biscuits. This tiny bakery restaurant boasts a wide variety of topped and filled biscuits such as Buttermilk, Cheese & Chive, Shortcake, Blackberry, Cinnamon, Black Pepper Bacon, and Country Ham.
Millers All Day: Calling all brunch-goers! Start your day off right with a gin breakfast martini or yogurt daiquiri paired with buttery biscuits and fried chicken or ham and fig. For tea-lovers, the Chai Greyhound is a funky combination of chai vodka, grapefruit, cinnamon, and ginger.
Butcher & Bee: If you’re looking for a darling brunch spot in Charleston with a patio, look no further. Butcher & Bee serves Southern and Middle Eastern inspired cuisine with food culture in mind. Meaning, they source all their ingredients from local farmers who produce spectacular flavors.
5Church Charleston: 5Church’s cutting edge interior design and sophisticated ambiance is the perfect setting for your next social gathering. Did we mention this posh dining destination is located in a former church with dramatic decor? Complete with original windows and gorgeous sky-high ceilings as if you need more convincing to be able to say you got drunk in church.
Where to Eat
You’ve got a bed to sleep in and a long-list of daytime activities, so let’s move on to dining. Many come to Charleston with one thing on their mind: food. Think, the best shrimp and grits you’ll ever have, as well as amazing seafood and seasonal farm-fresh eats.
Leon’s Oyster Shop: Fried chicken and oysters… does it get more Charleston than this spot? The indoor/outdoor rustic-chic restaurant is a local’s favorite hangout for fresh oysters, crispy fried chicken, delicious cocktails, and a cozy patio that’s perfect for bachelorette babes. It’s so good you’re going to want to go two times in one weekend.
Poogan’s Porch: Tucked away on charming Queen Street, Poogan’s Porch is Charleston’s oldest independent culinary establishments. With a fresh approach to Lowcountry cuisine, this beautifully restored Victorian townhouse features wrap- around porches and a massive wine cellar. The menu has everything you could ever want and more! Fried alligator salad? Only in the south!
Slightly North of Broad (SNOB): This contemporary Southern American bistro is a Charleston staple. From scallops, to Carolina flounder, to lamb, to shrimp and grits, SNOB is one of the best restaurants in Chucktown. But wait, you haven’t even heard the desserts, yet. Sour cream apple pie, banana cream pie, and Creme Brûlée. You’re already dialing the restaurant to get a reservation, aren’t you?
The Ordinary: The chef behind downtown’s FIG is also responsible for this Southern oyster bar and seafood hall concept on King Street. Like many popular Charleston restaurants, The Ordinary is housed in a historic building, this one used to be a bank. The Ordinary stands out thanks to its spectacular Southern seafood line-up. Expect to see raw bar towers everywhere, along with plenty of hot dishes from BBQ white shrimp to crispy oyster sliders and steamed grouper.
Home Team Barbecue: With three locations across the city, downtown Charleston, West Ashley, and Sullivan’s Island, Home Team is where you want to head for a super casual fun dinner with delicious wings, pulled pork nachos, and their signature frozen game changer cocktails.
Renzo: Sleek and stylish, this wood-fired pizza and wine spot is dominated by a dark wood and brass bar. But it still feels like a neighborhood haunt, especially if the night is nice, and the door is open to the street. Keep in mind that this is an intimate spot to share wine and cocktails with your close-knit squad.
Night Life
Being a college town and a young professional haven, the nightlife in Charleston is unmatched. With lots of live music, sporty pubs, upscale bars, and bachelorette parties looking to have an unforgettable time, you’ll find a number of hotspots, but here are a couple of our favorites to get your night started!
Uptown Social: Calling all social butterflies! Sip on classic frozen cocktails while listening to live music surrounded by your besties at Uptown Social. Interested in hosting a private event for your bachelorette party? The second floor of Uptown features three one-of-a-kind event spaces. Whether you’re looking for a speakeasy over looking King Street, a French bistro vibe, or a gorgeous back porch.
Republic Garden & Lounge: Republic is a must for any bachelorette party going to Charleston. It’s more of a club than you would ever expect on King Street. Think, live DJ’s with VIP bottle service and a fancy dress code. Don’t be surprised if you run into the Southern Charm cast here!
The Cocktail Club: This upscale lounge is such a hip vibe for delicious hand-crafted cocktails, plus it offers a rooftop terrace. It’s located on the second floor of a restaurant and mimics a Speakeasy when you’re climbing the stairs. It’s stylish, cool, and a perfect spot to go with your girls.
Stars Rooftop & Grill Room: Stars Rooftop Bar is a hot spot at night and in the morning for their frozen Bellini’s, mimosas, and Bloody Mary’s. This place is particularly great for big bachelorette parties with it’s number of tables and couches set up lounge-style. Be sure to get there early in the night, though! It’s a popular destination, and you don’t want to be waiting in line.
The Rooftop at Vendue: The Rooftop offers sweeping views of the Charleston Harbor, Waterfront Park, The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and gets rather rowdy after sunset. The energy rises on weekends when both locals and visitors alike converge for a fun lively evening of socializing and unbeatable views.
Necessities for your Southern Charm Bachelorette Party
From putting together the perfect itinerary for your girl’ weekend to decorating the Airbnb and filling up the beach house pool with an excessive amount of floaties, we’re here to help by sharing some of the most darling must-have accessories and make this weekend celebration the best one ever!
Set the vibe with printable Charleston invitations and itineraries featuring the popular Rainbow Row and tropical palm trees. Get creative with fonts, font color and background color to match your event needs!
For an ultra chill pool day, what could be better than a personalized floppy straw beach hat with your squad? Kick back and relax, uncork a bottle of champagne for afternoon mimosas and take in quality hang time with the bride-to-be. If matching hats aren’t quite enough, complete your getup by sporting coordinating swimsuits. Below are some seriously fun and flirty themed swimwear for the bride and bridal party!
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