Sports Bar in Downtown Charleston, SC

If you've made your way through the essential brunch restaurants in Charleston and still yearn for another mimosa in a different setting, we present this list of the new spots servicing the early crowds. To be on the Brunch Heatmap, these establishments must be less than a year old (with some consideration for those barely over the mark or changes in the kitchen).

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The owners of El Molino Supermarket opened a Mexican coffee cafe named Kooben, which serves brunch daily. The menu features items like chilaquiles, huevos divorciados, churros, pancakes, and more.

Hot newcomer the Archer extends its neighborhood restaurant vibes to brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Expect eggs Benedict, bread pudding French toast, duck leg hash, baked oysters, and the Archer burger, which is gaining a reputation for being one of the best in town.

At the new East Side location of City Light Coffee, you can get a mimosa and a breakfast sandwich any day of the week. Stop in for a BEC on Texas toast or opt for a vegan sausage and tofu egg version.

For those in search of a killer bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich in Mount Pleasant, make your way to the new location of Bodega. This is the second outpost of the downtown Bodega, which specializes in breakfast sandwiches, brunch cocktails, and New York-inspired lunch items, like a chopped cheese on a kaiser roll.

Buzzy restaurant the Select offers a brunch menu of greatest hits — from shakshuka to chilaquiles to French toast. Be sure to order an enormous cinnamon roll for the table.

Upper King bar Bourbon N’ Bubbles now offers a sophisticated brunch service with caviar deviled eggs, bomboloni, a crispy rice bowl, and plenty of espresso martinis.

Posh hotel restaurant Gabrielle now serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Chef Edgar Kano puts out sophisticated plates like truffle deviled eggs, a lobster and crab roll, an egg white frittata, steak frites, smoked salmon Benedict, and more.

Brunch is back at the Glass Onion. After a hiatus due to COVID, the West Ashley mainstay has reintroduced its breakfast and brunch program. Order Southern favorites like shrimp and grits or a fried green tomato po-boy. The restaurant also offers French toast with peach jam or a farmer’s frittata with Goat Lady goat cheese.

Caviar for breakfast? Italian restaurant Sorelle can make that happen. The swanky Broad Street spot launched brunch service with selections ranging from stone fruit caprese to carbonara pizza to mortadella panino. For real indulgence, pair the caviar service with lobster Benedict and a round of champagne.

The Harlow brings its oysters and burgers to brunch, plus crab omelets, breakfast burritos, and shrimp and grits. The kid-friendly spot has a children’s menu of favorites, like chicken fingers or French toast.

The owners of El Molino Supermarket opened a Mexican coffee cafe named Kooben, which serves brunch daily. The menu features items like chilaquiles, huevos divorciados, churros, pancakes, and more.

Hot newcomer the Archer extends its neighborhood restaurant vibes to brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Expect eggs Benedict, bread pudding French toast, duck leg hash, baked oysters, and the Archer burger, which is gaining a reputation for being one of the best in town.

At the new East Side location of City Light Coffee, you can get a mimosa and a breakfast sandwich any day of the week. Stop in for a BEC on Texas toast or opt for a vegan sausage and tofu egg version.

For those in search of a killer bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich in Mount Pleasant, make your way to the new location of Bodega. This is the second outpost of the downtown Bodega, which specializes in breakfast sandwiches, brunch cocktails, and New York-inspired lunch items, like a chopped cheese on a kaiser roll.

Buzzy restaurant the Select offers a brunch menu of greatest hits — from shakshuka to chilaquiles to French toast. Be sure to order an enormous cinnamon roll for the table.

Upper King bar Bourbon N’ Bubbles now offers a sophisticated brunch service with caviar deviled eggs, bomboloni, a crispy rice bowl, and plenty of espresso martinis.

Posh hotel restaurant Gabrielle now serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Chef Edgar Kano puts out sophisticated plates like truffle deviled eggs, a lobster and crab roll, an egg white frittata, steak frites, smoked salmon Benedict, and more.

Brunch is back at the Glass Onion. After a hiatus due to COVID, the West Ashley mainstay has reintroduced its breakfast and brunch program. Order Southern favorites like shrimp and grits or a fried green tomato po-boy. The restaurant also offers French toast with peach jam or a farmer’s frittata with Goat Lady goat cheese.

Caviar for breakfast? Italian restaurant Sorelle can make that happen. The swanky Broad Street spot launched brunch service with selections ranging from stone fruit caprese to carbonara pizza to mortadella panino. For real indulgence, pair the caviar service with lobster Benedict and a round of champagne.

The Harlow brings its oysters and burgers to brunch, plus crab omelets, breakfast burritos, and shrimp and grits. The kid-friendly spot has a children’s menu of favorites, like chicken fingers or French toast.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Charleston said they’re zeroing in on increasing opportunities for residents, and one way they said they’re doing so is by building affordable housing options.

Charleston is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and this growth continues to drive up the cost of living for many.

Due to an increase in housing prices, the Housing Authority and the City of Charleston are working on not only bringing more affordable housing to you but also making sure it’s near you.

The 12 apartments at 275 Huger Street will soon be torn down and replaced with 85 affordable housing units.

City of Charleston Chief Policy Officer Logan McVey said less than 10% of city employees live within the city, meaning most of their workers commute every day from places like Summerville or Goose Creek.

McVey said they haven’t received much backlash from the community regarding the new development, and most issues brought to their attention were about traffic.

He said because of this, they’re focusing on transit-oriented developments that should help alleviate pressure on road systems, like the Huger Street project,

“The reason that people are moving there is because they can’t afford to move to the peninsula, which means that now Maybank Highway catches all those cars. 26 catches all those cars. So, when people talk about being opposed to growth and traffic, and I sit on 17 for an hour every morning coming into work, those people, part of what we have to do to help them is to get people closer to the places they work and that they’re going,” McVey said.

He said right now they’re in the process of finalizing stormwater, engineering, and design plans.

McVey said the Huger Street project is a perfect example of how they plan to use space they already have and turn it into something that benefits current residents.

He said the cost of these units will be up to the affordable housing committee, but it typically addresses people at 120% or below the area’s median income.

He said the current income for an individual is around $74,000.

The city’s technical review committee will meet Thursday at 9 a.m. to further discuss the project.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

There are dozens of art galleries in downtown Charleston, from longtime establishments to newer spaces full of varying creations and diverse media.

But if you head off the Peninsula, there are some pretty remarkable arts initiatives happening as well. Two of them happen to be galleries with free admission that also serve as community centers and event venues, with plenty going on all year long.

In Park Circle, you'll find the aptly named Park Circle Gallery, run by the city of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, and its accompanying event space and community center in the middle of the circle.

In Summerville, you'll discover the Public Works Art Center, a nonprofit organization that resides in the former town post office.

Here's more on those endeavors, what you'll see within their walls and how you can get involved with the community work they are doing.

Park Circle Gallery

Ann Simmons has been working with the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department since shortly after her graduation from the College of Charleston in 2006. Working her way up from an arts coordinator to deputy director, Simmons has been an integral fixture in promoting the Lowcountry's arts scene for nearly two decades.

She's one of the leaders behind the only art gallery in North Charleston, the Park Circle Gallery, where each month two different artists are featured on the gallery's walls — all regional or local artists selected from submitted applications. The space is free and open to the public.

"The purpose of the gallery isn't to make sales, it's to make the arts accessible to the community," said Simmons.

The current application period for July 2025 through June 2026 is open through the end of November, and artists can submit online at northcharlestonculturalartsdepartment.slideroom.com.

"We work way ahead," offered Simmons, adding, "We like to do things a little differently than others."

Before the space opened at 4820 Jenkins Ave., she helped coordinate the same type of dual artist setup in two designated corridors at the Charleston Area Convention Center, a meeting space adjacent to the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center.

"People were experiencing those artists' works whether they wanted to or not," said Simmons of the old space. "Because of that, we had to be careful and more mindful of what kind of art we accepted. Now, we have more freedom, though we lost some of that thru-traffic. We're a little more off the beaten path but in an arts-friendly part of North Charleston."

In addition to the gallery, a lot more community outreach is happening, from after-school arts enrichment programs with 12 North Charleston elementary schools to in-school residencies and performances at the more than 35 schools in the city to classes and events offered at the brand new Park Circle Community Building space, which is right by the largest inclusive playground in the world.

The Community Building is now playing host to a wide range of gatherings, from the Lowcountry Friends of Old-Timey Music's meetups to the Tango Club and Scottish Country Dancing's dance sessions. There's a popular Bob Ross painting class, too.

"It's something different every day," Simmons said.

There's also space included for a rotating quarterly artist-in-residence. The first to be featured was Shayn Green, a North Charleston native who used her time in the dedicated 270-square-foot studio to create a series called "Big Nose Baddies," which highlighted the beauty of African American facial features.

And there is, of course, the North Charleston Arts Fest, an annual multi-day program that spreads art across the city. Next year's festival is set for April 30-May 4.

"Because North Charleston is lacking in arts venues, that speaks to why the Arts Fest is the way it is, putting arts into unique spaces," said Simmons.

New next year will be the city's first mural festival, MELT (Murals, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Tradition). Simmons is helping to plan the event slated for next September, with goals for participating muralists to paint around seven or so building walls near Rebel Taqueria.

Public Works Art Center

In Summerville, Jana Riley is a founder and the current executive director of an arts nonprofit that sprung up due to some community members' tenacity — and a little help from the city.

"Public Works Art Center is a real underdog story," said Riley, who was raised in Summerville and is a graduate of Summerville High School and Gardner-Webb University.

Back in 2018, nine community members rallied for a downtown arts space, with the former town post office in mind.

"Right in the heart of the historic district, (it) was the perfect place for a cultural cornerstone of the community, but it was literally a million dollars," Riley said. "We had no real money to speak of, but we did have a lot of heart and gumption."

That won them the support of the Commissioners of Public Works, who owned the building at the time, in the form of a year of free rent. For all of 2019, funds were raised, including a one-time grant from the Town of Summerville. The building was renovated before opening in 2020, three weeks before COVID-19 hit the Lowcountry.

After closing for four months, Public Works Art Center reopened to spotlight local artists, hosting local classes and providing accessible art to the Summerville community. Individual donors — including monthly patrons paying $10 to $100 — grants and commissions from arts classes, camps and studio rent have kept the cultural hub running.

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Part of Public Works Art Center's mission is to break down barriers to art for all. That's why it offers free admission and scholarships for classes and camps.

"There are myriad reasons why people may feel they are not welcome in art spaces, and we’ve put banners on the front of the building that say 'This is For You,'" said Riley. "We’ve worked to develop trust within many different communities to foster relationships that will allow people to feel safe to enter our doors and recognize that this is truly a space that welcomes them with open arms."

Once a year, there's an exhibition for which Riley and staff say "yes" to every piece submitted by all ages. It's called the Spark Community Exhibition, and its goal is to help people build their artistic resumes and get the chance to see their creation on a gallery's walls.

As with many other galleries, the exhibitions here are booked far in advance. In fact, the space's three galleries currently are being booked for 2027. Those stages also are home to open mic poetry readings, concerts and other events.

A range of classes are offered throughout the year, led by local teachers and booked by program director Emily Epling. These range from pottery to sculpture to painting and cake-decorating.

"One of the things that really fills my heart is when I meet people here who have reconnected with themselves through art, after sort of losing themselves taking care of others for years, even decades," Riley said. "More often than not, it’s women who have been focusing on being wives and mothers. I absolutely love seeing them just finding themselves again."

Charleston Scene

Among Riley's goals is to bring people together in creativity and community in an age of increasing isolation.

"More than ever, we need to be improving mental health through creative expression and consumption, listening to our neighbors and hearing new stories and developing or furthering our understanding of people different than us," she said. "We certainly don’t need to be alone. We need community, and art can bring us together."

Just placed on display, and up through January 2025, is an exhibit by Adrian Rhodes entitled "Every Good Intention." It examines generational trauma, inheritance and memory through the symbolism of scissors, which both create and destroy. Also up is Ken Hamilton's "Objects Are Smaller Than They Appear," a series of miniatures that invites a new perspective.

And aligned with Public Works Art Center's educational outreach programs is a student exhibition featuring burgeoning artists from all over the tri-county area.

Charleston is and has always been a “happy hour city,” with establishments providing discounted libations and appetizers to get the party started in the late afternoon. But what makes a happy hour essential? These Charleston destinations provide the best deals on booze and bites, along with an environment fit for socializing with the group. Next time, when the afternoon hits, head to one of these 13 Charleston establishments.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The Tattooed Moose serves some of the best bar food around, and corn dogs and duck fat fries are only $2.50 during happy hour. A 16-ounce can of PBR will only set you back $1.50 and shots of Jameson are $4. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where else can you find $1 oysters and $2.50 glasses of bubbly? Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant might be the only spot around. There’s always a special here, including half-priced wine on Wednesdays. Be sure to have that Uber lined up.

Edmund’s Oast calls it “Sad Times Happy Hour.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, customers can order the following items for half off: frozen drinks, house draft beer, curly fries, fish sauce and vinegar chips, and Korean chicken “dunkaroos.”

Neighborhood spot Herd Provisions offers an expansive happy hour menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar or on the patio. Find a $7 Old Fashioned, $4 beers, and $6 bubbly. The burgers (beef and vegetable versions) or a piles of poutine are only $8.

Newcomer the Archer now has a daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Meeting Street restaurant offers $10 espresso martinis, $10 daiquiris, $8 wines, $6 beers, and $5 fried oyster sliders.

Rutledge Avenue dive bar Moe’s Crosstown has a generous weekday happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The unpretentious service features PBR for $1.75 and appetizers like mac and cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers for $5.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can score a super cold mini martini (a tiny ‘tini) at Babas on Cannon for just $5. These gin cocktails may be small, but they pack a punch. The best deal in town is on Fridays when Babas hosts an apertivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free snacks like olives, boquerones, tapenades, dips, and plenty of bread and chips.

Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Italian restaurant Indaco offers $7 glasses of wine and pints of beer, as well as discounts on polpette, flatbread, and a margherita pizza. This is a great jumping off point for King Street adventures.

Head towards Shem Creek, because French seafood spot Nico features $5 glasses of wine and beer. Happy hour goers can also sip discounted champagne while munching on $1.75 oysters. Discounts apply Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Jazz Age bar Prohibition offers happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and it includes discounted snacks (try the wings) and $7 house cocktails and wine.

Stop by Mexican spot Pink Cactus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, for tequila and taco hour for $6 margaritas and $3 queso. The patio is a perfect place to end the work day.

Catch Estadio’s happy hour quickly (it’s only from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), because you don’t want to miss the gin and tonics for only $5. Try the Sevillana version with orange gin, Aperol, and orangey Sweatman tonic. There’s also $5 sangria and a $5 snack bowl.

Seafood spot Delaney Oyster House offers discounted drinks and snacks on Monday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oysters are $2.50 and a martini will only set you back $10.

The Tattooed Moose serves some of the best bar food around, and corn dogs and duck fat fries are only $2.50 during happy hour. A 16-ounce can of PBR will only set you back $1.50 and shots of Jameson are $4. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where else can you find $1 oysters and $2.50 glasses of bubbly? Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant might be the only spot around. There’s always a special here, including half-priced wine on Wednesdays. Be sure to have that Uber lined up.

Edmund’s Oast calls it “Sad Times Happy Hour.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, customers can order the following items for half off: frozen drinks, house draft beer, curly fries, fish sauce and vinegar chips, and Korean chicken “dunkaroos.”

Neighborhood spot Herd Provisions offers an expansive happy hour menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar or on the patio. Find a $7 Old Fashioned, $4 beers, and $6 bubbly. The burgers (beef and vegetable versions) or a piles of poutine are only $8.

Newcomer the Archer now has a daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Meeting Street restaurant offers $10 espresso martinis, $10 daiquiris, $8 wines, $6 beers, and $5 fried oyster sliders.

Rutledge Avenue dive bar Moe’s Crosstown has a generous weekday happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The unpretentious service features PBR for $1.75 and appetizers like mac and cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers for $5.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can score a super cold mini martini (a tiny ‘tini) at Babas on Cannon for just $5. These gin cocktails may be small, but they pack a punch. The best deal in town is on Fridays when Babas hosts an apertivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free snacks like olives, boquerones, tapenades, dips, and plenty of bread and chips.

Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Italian restaurant Indaco offers $7 glasses of wine and pints of beer, as well as discounts on polpette, flatbread, and a margherita pizza. This is a great jumping off point for King Street adventures.

Head towards Shem Creek, because French seafood spot Nico features $5 glasses of wine and beer. Happy hour goers can also sip discounted champagne while munching on $1.75 oysters. Discounts apply Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Jazz Age bar Prohibition offers happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and it includes discounted snacks (try the wings) and $7 house cocktails and wine.

Stop by Mexican spot Pink Cactus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, for tequila and taco hour for $6 margaritas and $3 queso. The patio is a perfect place to end the work day.

Catch Estadio’s happy hour quickly (it’s only from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), because you don’t want to miss the gin and tonics for only $5. Try the Sevillana version with orange gin, Aperol, and orangey Sweatman tonic. There’s also $5 sangria and a $5 snack bowl.

Seafood spot Delaney Oyster House offers discounted drinks and snacks on Monday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oysters are $2.50 and a martini will only set you back $10.