Springtime in Charleston

When you live in the Northeast at some point each winter you start to dream of flying south. If your dreams consist of beautiful architecture, warm hospitality, and exceptional food, Charleston is the place for you. 

We usually stay with friends while in Charleston, but on this trip we booking in for a long weekend at the enchanting 86 Cannon boutique hotel. As a lover of historic architecture and interior design, stepping into this meticulously restored 1860s mansion felt like uncovering a hidden gem.

A stay at 86 Cannon offers a seamless blend of old-world charm and contemporary sophistication, while being a short walk to many of Charleston's hottest restaurants like Vern's, Chez Nous and Chubby Fish. Upon checking in you feel as if your chic friend has invited you down for the weekend. The rooms are filled with antique furnishings, saturated hues in the wall-coverings and textiles, and modern accents that create an elegant yet homey ambiance that felt both timeless and utterly inviting. Each of the seven guest rooms and suites have their own character and charm, with plush bedding, beautiful fixtures, and access to outdoor seating areas in the property's many porches and courtyards. We stayed in one of hte garden suites and it was laid out like an apartment or pied-a-terre, you could comfortably stay here for weeks, and believe me you'll want to! While they don't have a restaurant on site it's not needed, as they're a short walk to some of the best spots in town. However they do offer a fabulous breakfast and happy hour featuring the most delicious cheeses from goat. sheep. cow. every afternoon.

Charleston is small and you can walk the full length of the peninsula in under and hour but my favorite way to get around the city was by bike. 86 Cannon has a handful of beautiful bikes you can borrow complete with basket and lock and we loved riding down to the Battery to take in the sunset - plus it's a fun way to get in a little movement while on vacation!

If I had to pick an all-around favorite restaurant from our time in Charleston it would be Chez Nous. From the simple yet elegant interiors to the beautifully handwritten menu that changes every day (preview what they are serving on their Instagram here!) It's my platonic ideal of a restaurant. Chez Nous is the kind of place where the neighboring table orders a bottle of wine at lunch and we had the most gorgeous leisurely lunch here and were transported to France for an afternoon. Other favorite restaurants from our trip include:

• Vern’s – A cozy neighborhood bistro with a warm, inviting atmosphere, Vern’s serves refined yet unfussy dishes with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and a stellar wine list. Be sure to book ahead as they're very popular, however you can also get lucky if you check for cancellations same day and don't mind eating late!
• Chubby Fish – A seafood lover’s paradise, Chubby Fish showcases hyper-local, sustainably sourced catches with creative, ever-changing preparations that highlight the best of the Low-country. There are no reservations so you have to stand on line before they open to put your name down, and people get there early!! Be sure to get the "not friend chicken ice cream" looks like fried chicken, but is definitely ice cream. Hilarious and delicious!
• Xao Bao Biscuit – A playful fusion of Southern and Asian flavors, Bao Biscuit delivers bold, unexpected combinations with dishes like fluffy bao buns stuffed with Lowcountry-inspired fillings. They will not modify their menu, not even to add one egg to a dish that already contains egg so don't even dare to ask!
• Harken – A beautifully designed café with an old-world feel, Harken is the perfect spot for artisan pastries, expertly crafted coffee, and a peaceful retreat in the heart of Charleston.
• Darling Oyster Bar – A lively and stylish raw bar, The Darling serves up pristine oysters, creative seafood dishes, and expertly mixed cocktails in a beautifully restored King Street space.
• 1 Broad (La Banque) – Housed in a historic bank building, this spot offers an elegant yet laid-back setting for big trays of oysters and thoughtful Southern-inspired fare. We met up with a friend here who lives South of Broad and the place feels very local, and you'll see many tables greet each other throughout the night.

Of course, the true highlight of my stay at 86 Cannon was meeting Lori and Marion, who bought the property in 2015 and have been loving restoring it themselves. (Our first morning I stepped out on the porch and Marion was on a ladder fixing a light himself!) They are deeply embedded in the fabric of Charleston, and the Hawkins family have been leaders in the community for generations. Marion was especially passionate about historic preservation and if that's your thing be sure to ask him for stories about how the area has changed, and which historic properties are worth a visit. He's a wealth of knowledge!