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Few cities in America have both the history and quality of cuisine as Charleston, South Carolina, where the Lowcountry location, and three-and-a-half centuries of life have left their delicious stamp. Here is our rundown of classic dishes like roasted wreckfish and shrimp and grits, hometown specialties such as Firefly's Sweet Tea Vodka, and some must-have souvenirs worth leaving room in your suitcase for—though it might be hard not to gobble Callie's pimento cheese and biscuits on the spot.
Wreckfish: Delicate wreckfish is as local as a food gets: It's harvested eight miles off the coast of Charleston, in the Atlantic's only commercial wreckfish zone. For a classic preparation, try the Roasted Wreckfish at Charleston icon The Peninsula Grill. The elegant restaurant serves this hometown favorite in a winning preparation with baby leeks, sweet corn, and sautéed crab over grilled asparagus with tomato vinaigrette.
She Crab Soup: This Charleston signature is rich and creamy, similar to a bisque, and laced with fresh Atlantic blue crab. Traditionally it was thought that female crabs had a sweeter meat (hence the name), and in the best versions their roe is included, giving the pot a rich orange color. For a taste, James Beard Award-winning chef-owner Robert Stehling serves a popular she-crab soup garnished with sherry at his downtown restaurant, Hominy Grill.
Shrimp and Grits: If there's anything more classic Lowcountry than shrimp and grits, we don't know about it. Charleston's signature dish combines corn-based grits (which were consumed by the area's native Americans) with shrimp, one of the city's most historically prolific catches. At Husk, James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Brock uses local Anson Mill grits to create a seasonal version of the dish that might include tomato broth and sausage.
Oysters: A trip to Charleston isn't complete without some oysters. After all, the city is home to the world's largest oyster festival, and has dozens of places to enjoy the fresh bivalves. The most notable spot to get your slurp on these days is the Ordinary, an "oyster hall" from Mike Lata (of seasonal, sustainable Fig) that was a finalist as Best New Restaurant at last year's James Beard Awards. Grab a stool at the long marble bar to enjoy your oysters on the half-shell, smoked, broiled with Parmesan, or as sliders.
Hometown Spirits: Charlestonians love to get their cocktail on, and a strong selection of locally distilled craft booze makes it easy. Pick up a bottle of Southern-accented Sweet Tea Bourbon or Sweet Tea Vodka from Firefly Distillery, or taste it on the patio of Mad River when you're in town. Striped Pig Distillery, which makes rum, vodka and moonshine, is open for tours hourly from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. High Wire Distilling, located downtown, also offers tours and tastings of its products, including Hometown Vodka and Quarter-Acre Sorghum Whiskey, Thursdays through Saturdays from 1 to 6 p.m.
Madeira: This fortified wine has a long and storied history in Charleston. During the Civil War, when it looked as though General William T. Sherman of the Union Army was moving in to torch Charleston, the city's residents took stock of their priorities and decided to move a large cache of Madeira, then the population's favorite wine, to the state insane asylum 100 miles away. After the end of the war, the madeira was sold to raise funds for the Charleston Library Society. These days you'll find it enriching the lobster cream bisque at elegant steakhouse the Ocean Room, part of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Local Brews: Palmetto Brewery's beloved beers—including red Amber Ale, Charleston Lager, and Espresso Porter—are found on draft all over town. The brewery was founded in 1994, but it takes its name from a historic Charleston Brewery that operated from before the Civil War until the turn of the 20th century. Beer lovers can pop by the tasting room, which is open daily in the afternoons except on Mondays, when it's closed for tastings but Bendy Breski Yoga is offered; check the website for hours and details. Another local craft brew is Holy City Brewing, made in North Charleston. Look for Holy City's southern-inspired flavors like Biscuits n’ Honey or visit the brewery's tap room Mondays through Fridays from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m., or Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
Benne Wafers: These thin, crunchy sesame crackers are uniquely Charleston and a popular souvenir. Olde Colony Bakery has been making them since 1940 and tins of the wafers are available in grocery and specialty stores all over town.
Biscuits and Pimento Cheese from Callie's Charleston Biscuits: Spreadable pimento cheese, made from cheddar, pimento peppers, and other ingredients, is a staple of any Southern kitchen. Try it in town at Butcher & Bee or grab a batch from Charleston-based Callie's to remind you of your trip. Don't miss Callie's signature biscuits, in flavors like buttermilk or cheese and chive, available at Caviar & Bananas and other specialty retailers.
Salt from Bulls Bay Saltworks: Part of the distinctive flavor of Charleston seafood like oysters, wreckfish, and blue crab comes from the area's salt water. This local saltworks extracts the sea salt for home use. There's regular sea salt, salt flakes, smoked salt and Carolina Margarita Salt, which is also great on Bloody Mary glasses. Pick some up at the Charleston City Market.