The Perfect Weekend in North Charleston for Craft Beer Lovers
This post is sponsored by Visit North Charleston — your guide for all things North Charleston!
You probably know Charleston for its rich history, miles of sandy beaches, and southern architecture.
But did you know that just 20 minutes away, The City of North Charleston has its own gritty history — and it has blossomed into a diverse and progressive city that we highly recommend visiting.
Mel and Melis (AKA @thegirlwithbeer) spent a weekend romping around North Charleston, particularly in the Park Circle area, and we've got the perfect guide for you if you love local craft beer, good eats, and stunning views.
WHERE TO STAY IN NORTH CHARLESTON
There are a lot of great options of places to stay in North Charleston, and we opted to check out the newest hotel of the bunch: the Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport hotel.
This 4-Diamond boutique hotel has an upscale, modern lobby bar and lounge, plus an on-site restaurant, Sweetgrass Restaurant & Porch, that has all of the Lowcountry cuisines you could ever ask for.
The rooms themselves were extremely spacious, and we [obviously] hit up the fitness center when we were in town. While we didn't jump into the pool, they do serve food and drinks on our poolside patio and deck — which would be perfect for a hot summer day.
It was a quick 8-minute drive into the heart of Park Circle, and it's directly adjacent to the Tanger Outlet Mall (just in case you're looking to shop a bit while in town).
WHERE TO DRINK IN NORTH CHARLESTON
While we normally focus solely on craft beer, we did hit up a variety of boozeries on this trip. Check out our suggestions below:
Commonhouse Aleworks
One of our favorite spots of the entire trip, Commonhouse Aleworks is a staple in the North Charleston community. This beautiful brewery and taproom has a wide variety of beers on tap, a huge outdoor space with tons of picnic tables, plus a stage for music, poetry readings, and more! They also have what is possibly the best soft pretzel we have ever eaten in our entire lives. (No joke — y’all have to get the soft pretzel with beer cheese/maple mustard!)
Outside of all of that, they are just doing so much good for the community. From hosting Pride events to donating a portion of their proceeds to local non-profits, they are a model business in North Charleston. Go grab a beer (or two) from them!
Holy City Brewing
We popped by Holy City Brewing during one of their local markets, and it was buzzing with excitement! This gorgeous brewery boasts multiple bars, a beautiful event space, and a huge outdoor area for all of your drinking festivities. We'd highly recommend grabbing a beer and attending one of their markets!
Paddock and Whiskey
Um, not to be dramatic, but we are literally obsessed with this place. Paddock and Whiskey was the perfect space for a nightcap. This absolutely stunning bourbon bar offers private tastings in an old bank vault, and they also have a wide variety of cocktails (not just bourbon-based) that are sure to make your taste buds dance.
We had what is without a doubt the best mocktail we've ever had here — so, even if you're not trying to booze all night, they've got some incredible options.
Accent on Wine
If you've beered yourself out, Accent on Wine is a great option to sip on some vino and people-watch in the middle of Park Circle. We suggest adding a cheese board into the mix, as well!
Bonus: Orange Spot Coffee
Four words: Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew. I don't care how basic you think we are, this coffee was delicious (so much, in fact, that we ordered it two days in a row). Orange Spot Coffee is an adorable coffee shop in the heart of Park Circle. It is decorated with plants, and fun wallpaper — plus, it has an outdoor patio to enjoy your coffee. Trust us, you'll love this spot.
momo-north-charleston
WHERE TO EAT IN NORTH CHARLESTON
Not to brag, but we got to play "foodies" this trip — and we loved every second of it. Check out a few of the all-star restaurants we visited:
MOMO
While not in Park Circle, MOMO actually sits right on the water at Riverfront Park. This husband and wife-owned restaurant absolutely kills it when it comes to the aesthetic, the mood, and, of course, the food. We unashamedly ordered the Double Seafood Tower along with some cocktails, and, wow, were we impressed. We'd highly recommend this for a date night or a girl's night out!
LoLA
Oh, LoLA. What a special spot. This Louisiana-inspired restaurant serves up a variety of cajun and creole dishes — making you think you're in the heart of New Orleans. While the oysters were to die for and the hurricanes gave us the buzz we needed, what really makes this spot special is the people. We just adored the staff here. Always support good people, y'all.
Southern Roots Smokehouse
Looking for a taste of BBQ? Check out Southern Roots Smokehouse! We inhaled the Brisket Wrap and the Baby Back Bites, but everything on the menu looked pretty drool-worthy!
Sesame Burgers and Beer
We got to experience Sesame Burgers and Beer on National Cheeseburger Day! (Yes, that is a thing.) This casual burger bar is just on the outskirts of Park Circle (about a 5-minute walk). We recommend the "Napa Valley" with a side of sweet potato fries!
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND THE CHS BEER FEST
We are ridiculously excited for this year's CHS Beer Fest. This festival has been one of our favorite events to attend because it is truly a unique event. Check out why we think the CHS Beer Fest should be added to your calendars ASAP:
It takes place in the beautiful Riverfront Park
It has a wide variety of games/contests, from inflatable pony races to pizza-eating contests — it's always entertaining to watch
There is good live music
There is a variety of local food trucks
It benefits a local non-profit (Palmetto Community Care)
And, of course, there is a wide variety of craft beers that you can sample
What are you waiting for? Grab your tickets here.
Cheers to exploring North Charleston!
We had such an amazing time exploring North Charleston, and we hope you are able to check out some of our favorite spots when you plan your trip! (Hint: we recommend planning a weekend around the CHS Beer Fest... Knock out great food, a ton of beer, and beautiful settings all in one trip!)
Let us know if you visit any of the above locations, and remember to tag us in all of your beer-drinking adventures @workforyourbeer.