Charleston is the perfect destination for your next bachelorette party or any girls weekend! A charming downtown, colorful architecture, beautiful beaches, renowned culinary scene and vibrant nightlife ensure your girls will have a memorable experience together. Your friends with thank you for picking this iconic destination! As a local, here are all the spots I recommend for your Charleston Bachelorette Party!
While Charleston is a big area, I will focus on downtown Charleston for the purpose of this guide. If you are looking for a beach oriented guide, check out my posts on Folly Beach or Isle of Palms!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Where to stay for a bachelorette in Charleston
- Where to eat for a Charleston bachelorette party
- Best brunch places for a bachelorette in Charleston
- Best bars for a Charleston bachelorette
- What to do for a Charleston bachelorette party
- Charleston bachelorette party Itinerary
- FAQ
- What to wear in Charleston
- Bachelorette Party Decor and Favors
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How to Get to Charleston
Charleston is an easily accessible destination on the East Coast whether driving or flying. If flying, you will book your airfare into Charleston International Airport (CHS). It is a smaller airport, but has tons of direct flights across the country including from LAX, NYC, Texas, Ohio, DC, and more! Your group should be able to reach it either nonstop or with 1 stop.
CHS is about a 15 minute drive to reach downtown Charleston, 30 from Folly Beach, and 35 to Isle of Palms.
How to get around while in Charleston
Uber or rental car? Personally, I would skip the rental car. You can uber/lyft anywhere you need to go and not have to worry about where to park. If you take a trip to the beaches, I would arrange a driver since you will probably be drinking anyways.
If staying in downtown Charleston, you can book a hotel or vacation rental within walking distance to most places and plan your itinerary accordingly!
Where to Stay for Bachelorette in Charleston
There are so many amazing places to stay in Charleston! From trendy hotels to charming airbnbs, there are several options that will meet your budget while keeping you walking distance to all the best things to see and do. Since, this guide is focused on downtown Charleston, here all my top choices.
Charleston Hotel Options
Charleston has tons of charming boutique hotels and these are a few of my favorites for a bachelor or bachelorette party. These are all spacious options with a pool – a necessity for any bachelorette party in my opinion!
The Ryder Hotel
The Ryder Hotel is one of the newer hotels to the scene in Charleston. The rooms are spacious so you and your girls can spread out. Plus, the decor is minimalistic with light wood tones and pops of tropical prints.
The best part is the Little Palm Bar and Pool! It’s a super trendy bar and lounge area so you can enjoy snacks and cocktails while getting a little pool time. Pro tip: Be sure to reserve a cabana in advance for a day of relaxation.
The Restoration Hotel
The Restoration Hotel is one of my favorites for groups. The apartment style suites are spacious and you can even get one with three bedrooms plus living & kitchen areas. In addition, it has a quiet rooftop pool and The Watch restaurant with incredible views of the holy city. This is the room I would book for your group!
Leisurely tip: They also sometimes offer rooftop yoga so be sure to inquire about booking for your group!
The Palmetto Hotel
The Palmetto is the newest hotel to the scene in Charleston opening Spring 2023. It is located right on East Bay Street steps from some of the longest running restaurants in the city. You’ll be situated in Charleston’s famed historic district which is a short walk from the city market, waterfront, pineapple fountain, rainbow row, and the battery.
Does this scream girls weekend or what??
The Mills House Hotel
The Mills House Hotel is an iconic Charleston hotel. The pink building really screams girls weekend, and you will be a short walk to the historic battery and rainbow row. I recommend this hotel for its amazing pool area and proximity to all the best things to see and do in historic Charleston!
The whole property has recently been renovated with a brand new coffee shop and trendy courtyard restaurant. The Iron Rose Room is the perfect spot for a group dinner and drinks!
Leisurely Tip: Book the room types labeled “cabana view” or “sundeck” for poolside access.
Best Charleston Airbnbs for a Bachelorette Party
Here are a few airbnbs that I love for groups located in historic Charleston!
so much charm!
Your girls will LOVE this heated pool!
a great location in the historic district
a spacious outdoor area for a relaxing pool day!
Where to Eat for a Bachelorette Party
Charleston is known for its amazing culinary scene. There are so many fabulous dining options from fresh seafood to Carolina barbecue! I’m sharing all the best places suited for groups that your girls will love.
167 Raw
167 Raw is one of the most popular restaurants in Charleston. Think lobster rolls, tacos, rose, and a vibrant atmosphere! The restaurant is very hard to get into so here is what you need to do:
Book a reservation for cocktails at Bar 167 which is around the corner. They do take reservations so I would get one around 5-5:30pm. Then, send one of the girls to 167 Raw to put your name on the list. And, enjoy cocktails and apps while you wait to eat around 7-7:30pm. I do not recommend going with more than 6 people as it is better suited for smaller groups.
They do offer takeout so if you have an airbnb or hotel room with dining space, have dinner in before you go out to the bars!
Leon’s Oyster Shop
Leon’s Oyster Shop is one of my favorite places to eat as a local. Fresh oysters, fried chicken, seafood, and great drinks. Get the frozen rosé or frozen gin & tonic, avocado toast, and lots of oysters!
You can book a group reservation for larger parties. They do only offer limited reservations so you will want to do it well in advance!
Edmund’s Oast
Edmund’s Oast is a great spot for lunch on their outdoor patio. It is super spacious with table and lounge seating for groups. The food is amazing with salads, hearty sandwiches, and curly fries! You can also dine inside for dinner with an extended menu featuring the most incredible desserts and innovative cocktail program! My favorite dishes are the crunchy salad, pickled shrimp, and fish + greens!
It is also a great place for leisurely day drinking!
HomeTeam BBQ
HomeTeam BBQ is a fun place to have lunch, drinks, and hangout for a while. Make sure to order the nachos for the table and the infamous game changers (frozen painkillers) all around!
Rancho Lewis
Rancho Lewis opened in 2022 and is a tex-mex style restaurant. Think authentic Mexican with homemade tortillas, fresh veggies, and salsa bar! The frozen margs are the best in Charleston. It’s a big restaurant, perfect for groups with room to hangout in the courtyard.
Maya
Another Mexican fave is Maya. It is located right on King Street so will likely be walking distance for wherever you stay downtown. Maya is upscale Mexican, but with things like tuna tostada, chilaquiles at brunch, and brussells sprouts.
Bodega
Bodega is a great spot for a casual breakfast or lunch. They have salads, sandwiches, great drinks and open air space! Bodega along with neighbor Sharehouse are popular places for day drinks, too!
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
If you find yourself craving some late night food, head straight to Callie’s. It is located along the bar scene in Charleston and stay open late. The cinnamon biscuits are to die for!
MUST DO: You can also plan ahead and pickup a few dozen to have at your airbnb or hotel for the weekend for breakfasts!
Best brunch places for a bachelorette in Charleston
Where to grab a boozy brunch in Charleston with a group.
Halls Gospel Brunch
Halls Gospel Brunch is one the most authentically Charleston things to do. Enjoy your breakfast favorites at this popular steakhouse along with gospel singers performing southern hymns. It’s right on King Street so will be an easy spot to reach!
Park & Grove
Park & Grove is a go to brunch place for me. They have all your favorites like avocado toast, BEC sandwiches, shakshuka, and bloody mary’s + mimosas.
Poogans Porch
Poogan’s Porch is an iconic Charleston restaurant that serves a classic southern brunch. It’s housed inside of a historic Charleston house along Queen Street. Great for groups!
Basic Kitchen
I love Basic Kitchen for a healthy, plant based option! They have things for all your vegan friends, but also burgers for the meat eaters too. Win-win!
Best Bars for a Charleston Bachelorette Party
I won’t go into too much detail on each of these, but here are all the places you will want to hit for fun nightlife! Upper King Street is our main area for bars and these are all within a few steps of each other.
- Uptown Social – party scene, college kids and beyond, live music, good pizzas!
- Vintage Lounge – more upscale, 30-somethings, wine bar + cocktails
- Dispensary – casual, party crowd, live music
- Bourbon and Bubbles – more upscale with lots of champagne + snacks
- Stars Rooftop – great view of the city on their rooftop deck, more lowkey
- Citrus Club at The Dewberry – amazing views at the highest rooftop in charleston, super trendy, laid back, geat for pre-dinner drinks
- RITUAL – newest spot on the Charleston bar scene, Tulum vibes, rooftop space
- Trio – more club scene with DJs
- Deco – more clubby as well
- Cocktail Club – I love cocktail club for a fun spot with indoor bar and outdoor quaint patio.
- The Peacock – newest restaurant and night club with 3 floors including a rooftop deck!
What to do for a Charleston Bachelorette Party
A few of my favorite things to do with a group!
Stroll through the gardens at Middleton Place
There are many historic homes and gardens in Charleston, but I love Middleton Place for it’s manicured, English style gardens. It’s like strolling through Downton Abbey. Will be great for a photo op!
Shop on King Street & Explore Historic Downtown
Stroll down King Street and window shop or pop into some local favorites. Don’t miss a stop at Lake Pajamas, Croghan’s Jewel Box, Dumas, Candlefish, and more! Swing by The Battery, Rainbow Row, and Waterfront Park before hitting the Charleston City Market.
Have a Spa Day
You can never go wrong with a spa day! There are some amazing spas at our hotels like The Dewberry, Hotel Bennett, Charleston Place and more. We also have Woodhouse Day Spa which is great for larger groups!
Visit the Beaches
The Charleston area beaches are the best in South Carolina. Visit Folly Beach for it’s surfer, hippie vibes and have lunch at Taco Boy. Or go to Sullivan’s for its residential nature and be sure to get frozen rosé at The Co-Op. Or Isle of Palms is more family friendly, but has fun bars with live music like The Windjammer.
Sunset Dolphin Sail on the Schooner Pride
Charleston is even more beautiful from the water so I always recommend getting on the boat. Take a sunset sail on the Schooner Pride, a tall ship that will cruise around the harbor. It leaves from downtown Charleston so will be a short uber ride.
Kayak or Paddle board
If your group is active, book a trip to kayak or paddleboard around the serene waterways of the Lowcountry.
Have a picnic at Hampton Park
I’m sure you have seen those adorable picnic parties that popped up during the pandemic. Have one setup at one of the area’s parks so you can have a relaxed celebration.
LEISURELY TIP: If you have brunch at Park & Grove, be sure to take a walk through the park before or after!
Yoga Class at The Works
Take a hot yoga class at local studio, The Works. The classes are intense, but so much fun. A great way to burn off all the extra calories you will consume while bonding as a group.
Tea at Camellia’s at Hotel Bennett
This bar is perfect for any girl’s trip. It’s completely pink with beautiful floral wallpaper. Book a reservation for tea with the girls – don’t worry you can have champagne, too!
Other fun things to do in Charleston with a bachelorette group:
- Candle making class at Candlefish
- Wine blending class at Grand Bohemian Hotel
- Tastings at Firefly Distillery
- Visit the winery at Deep Water Vineyards
- Take a Brewery Tour
- Make your own charm bracelets at HART
- Sip n Shop Tour through the best shops in CHS
- Take a cooking class with Nordic Cooking or Chef Bob
ALL THE BEST TOURS FOR YOUR GIRLS GROUP:
- Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise
- Price: $45.00
- 2-Hour Charleston Stand-Up Paddleboard Rentals
- Price: $38.50
- Get a Photoshoot and a Tour in Charleston
- Price: $32.00
- Historic Charleston Supper Club
- Price: $99.00
Charleston Bachelorette Party Itinerary
I put together a great itinerary if it is most people’s first time to Charleston! I have kept this pretty laid back with leaving ample room to relax. Plug in some of the other suggest activities I listed above if you want to schedule more to do!
Thursday - Welcome to Charleston
- Arrivals
- Drinks and dinner at 167 Raw
Friday - Sightseeing Day
- For breakfast, plan to pickup an order of Callie's Biscuits for the house
- Morning walk to explore historic downtown Charleston on foot
- See the battery, rainbow row, city market, shop on king street
- Brunch at Basic Kitchen
- Shop on King Street following lunch
- Happy hour at The Citrus Club
- Dinner at Maya
- After dinner drinks on Upper King Street - Vintage Lounge, Uptown Social, Bourbon & Bubbles, Cocktail Club, etc.
Saturday - Rest and Relaxation
- Take a yoga class at The Works
- Casual brunch/lunch at Edmund’s Oast Patio
- Relax at the hotel pool or book spa appointments
- Early Dinner at Leon’s Oyster Shop
- Sunset sail on the Schooner Pride (usually 7pm-9pm)
Sunday - Brunch & Home
- Halls Gospel Brunch or Park & Grove
- Depart via Charleston International Airport
Charleston Bachelorette Party FAQ
A couple common questions when planning a bachelorette!
I would skip the rental car. You can uber/lyft anywhere you need to go. If you take a trip to the beaches, I would arrange a driver since you will probably be drinking anyways.
There are so many places to pick up some snacks for the house or airbnb. I would get a cheese board from Goat Sheep Cow, breakfast biscuits from Callie's, sandwiches from Caviar and Bananas, beer and wine at Edmund's Oast Exchange, and there is a Publix for all your other staples!
What to Wear for a Charleston Bachelorette Party
Charleston girls definitely dress to impress! You can totally wear workout clothes to brunch, but you should dress up for dinner and nights out. Here are some outfit ideas that I would recommend. You’ll feel cute, without trying too hard! Also, see my full post on what to wear in CHS so you can be prepared for any season.
Leisurely Tip: Always go with wedges or a block heel. The streets in Charleston are historic so they tend to be pretty uneven and it's easy to trip.
Daytime Charleston Outfits
Some of the best daytime outfits for your trip to Charleston! For the girls and the bride-to-be!