Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 843-577-7970;
www.vendueinn.com
; 19 Vendue Range; r incl breakfast $205-425, ste $395-465;
)
This boutique hotel, in the part of downtown known as the French Quarter, is
decked out in a trendy mix of exposed brick and eccentric antiques. Rooms have cool
amenities like deep soaking tubs and gas fireplaces. Even cooler is the aptly named
Rooftop bar. Parking is $14 per night.
Eating
Charleston is one of America's finest eating cities, and there are enough fabulous restaur-
ants here for a town three times its size. The 'classic' Charleston establishments stick to
fancy seafood with a French flair, while many of the trendy up-and-comers are reinvent-
ing Southern cuisine with a focus on the area's copious local bounty, from oysters to
heirloom rice to heritage pork. On Saturday, stop by the terrific
farmers market
(Marion
Sq;
8am-1pm Sat Apr-Oct)
.
Sugar Bakeshop
BAKERY$
(
www.sugarbake.com
;
59 Cannon St; pastries $1-4; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat)
The
staff is as sweet as the cupcakes at Sugar, a teensy space north of downtown. Pop in on
Thursdays for the Lady Baltimore cupcake, a retro Southern specialty with dried fruit
and white frosting.
The Ordinary
SEAFOOD$$$
( 843-414-7060;
www.eattheordinary.com
; 544 King St; small plates $5-25, large $24-28;
from 3pm Tue-Sun)
Stepping through the door you feel like you've arrived at the best party
in town at the Ordinary, a buzzy seafood hall and oyster bar inside a cavernous 1927
bank building. The menu is short, but the savory dishes are prepared with finesse - from
the oyster sliders to the lobster rolls to the nightly fish dishes. Efficient but welcoming
bar works well for solos.
This is the latest venue from Chef Mike Lata, a James Beard winner and owner of be-
loved FIG.
Poe's Tavern
PUB$$$
(
www.poestavern.com
; 2210 Middle St, Sullivan's Island; meals $9-13; 11am-10pm, bar to mid-
night)
On a sunny day the front porch of Poe's on Sullivan's Island is the place to be. The
tavern's namesake, master of the macabre Edgar Allen Poe, was once stationed at nearby
Fort Moultrie. The burgers, are superb, and the Amontillado comes with guacamole,
jalapeño jack, pico de gallo and chipotle sour cream. Quoth the raven: 'Gimme more.'
