So, what is it like to live in downtown Charleston? Despite its outsized reputation, Charleston is a small city. According to official government data, the City of Charleston’s population is just over 150,000. However, this figure includes not only downtown Charleston (known to locals as “the peninsula”), but the surrounding areas of Daniel Island, James Island, Johns Island, and West Ashley as well. If you look solely at the peninsula, the city has a population of just about 35,000 full-time residents.
For many visitors, the peninsula’s small size comes as a surprise. They expect the Holy City to be much bigger—but it isn’t. As a result, downtown Charleston is walkable and bikeable, and residents never feel trapped downtown (as is often the case in larger urban areas). Designated resident parking means that owning a car in downtown Charleston isn’t an issue (and many downtown homes have their own driveways and garages), and the closest of the Charleston area’s five main public beaches are just about a 20-minute drive away during off-peak hours.
As a result, residents (and visitors) can do a lot in a day. In fact, for your average Charlestonian, a typical weekend day might start with having breakfast at a downtown coffee before heading to the beach in the morning to beat the crowd. After lunch, the afternoon might be taken up with a walk downtown or a stroll around Hampton Park, and dinner at one of Charleston’s famous restaurants might be followed by an evening watching the sunset from a rooftop deck that overlooks the Ashley River or the Ravenel Bridge. Taking out your boat stored at Charleston City Marina or The Harborage, kayaking, standup paddle boarding (SUP), fishing, and taking in a Charleston RiverDogs baseball game or a live show at the historic Sottile Theatre might be in the cards as well.
In short, living in Charleston is what you make it. As we said above, you can write your own story. When you live here, it’s easy to see why people fall in love with Charleston, and why the Holy City deserves its title as one of the United States’ best places to live.
Eating Out in Downtown Charleston
Many people come to Charleston for the food alone. Among its many superlatives, Charleston is known as a food city, with upscale fine dining and Lowcountry classics alike drawing residents, locals, and visitors from around the world.
Like many cities, Charleston lost some of its most well-known restaurants in 2020. But, many long-time favorites remain, and new restaurants are replacing those that have vacated the ground floors of many of downtown Charleston’s historic buildings.
Asking someone where to each in Charleston is like asking about their favorite color. The answer you get will be based on the person’s personal preferences; and, if you ask five Charlestonians, there is a good chance that you will get five different answers. The best advice is to try as many of Charleston’s eateries as you can—from world-renowned restaurants like Husk, Magnolias, and Basic Kitchen to local favorites like FIG, SNOB, and Butcher & Bee.
Things To Do in Downtown Charleston
As is the case with restaurants, when it comes to things to do in downtown Charleston, residents and visitors are spoiled for options. There are indoor and outdoor options, free and high-end options, options for families and couples, and options on land and on the water.
Let’s start with options on the peninsula itself. Walking in downtown Charleston is a common pastime activity for residents and visitors alike. King Street and the Battery never get old, nor to places like Waterfront Park, the French Quarter, and Hampton Park. Many local families have memberships to the Charleston Aquarium and Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, and residents in downtown neighborhoods like Wagener Terrace and Lowndes Point can put their kayaks in the water blocks (if not steps) from home.
Charleston is home to several historic theaters that continue to host live events to this day. These include the Dock Street Theatre, Gaillard Center, Sottile Theatre, and Charleston Music Hall. The Charleston RiverDogs, an MiLB baseball team, play at Joe Riley Stadium (“the Joe”) on the peninsula, and the Citadel and College of Charleston have fields and arenas downtown as well.
Then, there is the Gibbes Art Museum, which is located just north of the historic district and South of Broad. There are also several art galleries downtown, as well as all types of local businesses located on and off King Street.
Now, let’s talk about things to do on the water. We already mentioned kayaking, but even residents who don’t have direct water access in their neighborhoods can shove off from downtown locations like Brittlebank Park. There are several marinas on the peninsula, and many downtown residents own slips or are members of boat clubs at Charleston City Marina, The Harborage, or Seabreeze Marina. Residents (and visitors) can also take dinner cruises or sunset sailboat charters, or walk to the middle of the Ravenel Bridge and watch the ships in Charleston harbor.
Finally, while there is plenty to do on the peninsula, Charlestonians can find even more to do in Mt. Pleasant and West Ashley, as well as on Charleston’s barrier islands. The Charleston Battery are a professional soccer team that plays at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant; and, as we already mentioned, there are several beaches just a short drive away.
Real Estate in Downtown Charleston
Some of the most famous photos of Charleston include the stately homes along the Battery or the brightly colored historic homes on Rainbow Row. Homes in these areas can get expensive—well in excess of a million dollars in many cases.
But, if you don’t have a multi-million-dollar housing budget, you can still find lots of options on the peninsula. Real estate in downtown Charleston is still reasonably affordable in many areas; and, along with historic houses and recently-remodeled homes there are still fixer-uppers to be found.
Unlike many other cities, downtown Charleston does not have distinct residential and business districts. While there are quiet neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and the famous historic neighborhoods like South of Broad, many Charlestonians live right in the action and within walking distance to all that the city has to offer. Downtown Charleston’s neighborhoods include:
- Ansonborough
- Cannonborough Elliotborough
- East Central
- Eastside
- French Quarter
- Hampton Park Terrace
- Harleston Village
- King Street
- Longborough
- Lowndes Point
- Mazyck-Wraggborough
- North Central
- Radcliffeborough
- South of Broad
- Wagener Terrace
- Westside
Apartments in Downtown Charleston
Along with homes for sale, there are several options for individuals who are looking for apartments in Charleston as well. This includes newer luxury apartment buildings like WestEdge in Harleston Village, as well as individual apartments on the upper floors of buildings on King Street and other avenues downtown.
