Girls' Weekend Guide To Charleston

Time with your girlfriends is so good for the soul, especially when it’s in warm and sunny Charleston! I was so excited to escape gray and cold NYC last weekend for a quick, but much needed, trip to Charleston with Ali, Jillian, Mackenzie and Lauren! One of the best things about blogging is making friends like these incredible girls and it was so fun to spend actual time together over shopping, great meals and cocktails. While I wish we would have had more time together, Jillian was an amazing host showing us all her favorite local spots so I couldn’t wait to share all about our weekend with you all! It’s been two years since I last visited (make sure to read my food and drink guide from my last visit too!) and it was so fun to try some new spots while in town.

WHERE TO STAY
First up, our stay at The Inns couldn’t have been more perfect for all us girls! We had the upstairs unit on at 154 Spring Street that had two master bedrooms/bathrooms, a galley kitchen, spacious living room and outdoor porch and a smaller twin bedroom as well so it was perfect for our group of five. The entire space was decorated so chic and had the most comfortable beds we’ve all ever slept in! We seriously could not stop talking about how dreamy they were. One of the best parts was its amazing location, which was walking distance or a quick Uber ride to everything we did. We loved having happy hour on our private porch with a cheese board from Goat Sheep Cow and had enough space for all of us to get ready. Definitely recommend booking for your next girls’ trip!

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
Basic Kitchen: We had brunch here on Saturday and it was my favorite meal of the weekend! Everything is healthy with a twist (aka still can have your cocktails and carbs too!) and it was perfect for our group as we had a vegetarian and dairy allergy in the mix. Our favorites were the Cauliflower “Wings”, the Coffee Cake and the Sweet Potato Fries with Cashew Cheese and we honestly could have ordered another round of everything! The space is gorgeous too with amazing light and colorful accents everywhere.

Citrus Club at The Dewberry: This rooftop bar just opened on top of The Dewberry hotel and I’m so glad Jillian brought us here! The bar is so chic and had a Mad Men vibe with the wood bars and coral colored seating. The outside part of the bar though has an incredible view of the city and can only imagine how busy its going to be there this summer! From the citrus branding to our fun cocktails, it was the perfect place to kick off our Saturday night! Make sure to make a reservation if wanting to stop by.

Vintage Lounge: While we waited for our table at dinner, we stopped for another cocktail at the Vintage Lounge, which has a great art deco feel as well. We were able to grab the cozy booth seats near the front and it was an ideal spot for more girl talk and drinks! They also have live music that was starting later so would be fun for an after dinner drink spot too.

Trattoria Luca: We were all craving Italian for dinner and Trattoria Luca definitely hit the spot! We each had a different homemade pasta off the menu and couldn’t get over how incredible they all were. We also couldn’t resist getting two of their famous Cauliflower appetizer that is so unique and delicious and an absolute must if you dine here!

The Park Café: After a few too many cocktails the night before, we were in need of a classic breakfast to help our hangovers before we left town and this spot did the trick! The Park Café had a ton of options from breakfast sandwiches to avocado toast and hit the spot with everyone. They don’t take reservations and can get busy for brunch so make sure to head there a little early to put your name in.

Sugar Bakeshop: I was so sad I had missed trying a cupcake from Sugar Bakeshop last time I was in town (they’re closed on Sundays!) so I was so excited to finally taste their famous treats! I brought back a variety of flavors for us to try back at our room and our favorite was definitely the lemon cupcake. Make sure to bring a few back home with you when you visit!

WHAT TO DO
Shop Downtown: There’s so many adorable local shops on King Street and we had so much fun wandering and picking up a few things. Hampden Clothing is the best to wander around in and drool over all the incredible designer pieces (wanted EVERYTHING!) and their new sister store down the street, Small, is perfect for more affordable pieces from brands like Ulla Johnson, Rhode Resort and Kule. However, our favorite stop was definitely LAKE Pajamas stunning new store. I’ve shared before my love of LAKE because they truly make the best pajamas around. So soft and so many different options to choose from, they are my favorite gift to give (and receive!). The store is designed by Olivia Brock and such a dreamy spot to shop with your girlfriends!

Take A Candle Making Class: While I sadly missed joining the girls’ for this fun afternoon as I was still at work, they couldn’t stop raving how fun it was! Candlefish is one of my favorite stores in Charleston and I couldn’t resist picking out a new candle as well when the girls went back to pick up theirs. They also sell some of their signature scents at Anthropologie if you’re looking to try one too! Such a fun and unique souvenir to bring back home with you!

Walk Around The Neighborhoods: One of the best parts about Charleston is wandering the different neighborhoods and looking at all the adorable houses. My favorite is Traad Street, where the famous pink door house is (and where we ran into Jenn Lake too!) as the street has so many adorable pastel houses and flower filled yards. We also got to stop by Jillian’s new house that she is renovating with her husband and cannot wait to see it all come together! Amazing what a weekend of sunshine and girl talk does for you!