mercato martini
marion square farmers market
peninsula grill
# BLUE NOTE & BIRDLANDER
DuBose Heyward set his novel Porgy amid the crumbling beauty of a mansion-turned-tenement known as Catfish Row, a fictional Charleston neighborhood. Tin Pan Alley maestro George Gershwin visited Charleston in 1934 to compose the Porgy and Bess score. Gershwin was inspired by Gullah music and the joyous bedlam of church revivals, which can be heard in the haunting nocturne Summertime. Hear distinctively Lowcountry refrains when the The Sound of Charleston concerts at Circular Congregation Church (September 6, 13, 19 & October 5, 9, 16, 23, 26) put the area’s rich musical heritage in the spotlight. Mercato—the vibrant nightspot on North Market Street, where the cocktails are cold but the jazz is hot—is a gathering place for noted local musicians, including Frank Duvall Trio, Robert Lewis, Ron Wiltrout, Jordan Gravel, Pulse Trio, Gerald Gregory, and Simon Harding. Top picks at the bar include the Adderly, Belini, Gypsy, and Elderflower Sparkler.
# URBAN FORK SAFARI
Here is a local’s tip: savvy, in-the-know Charlestonians stock up on seasonal vegetables at the Marion Square Farmers Market (Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.), and they arrive early to beat the rush at the crêpe stand. Vendors with tangy pickles and relishes, savory chutneys, organic herbs, artisanal breads, and more wrap around the sprawling park. Craving culinary inspiration? Head to Heirloom Books, where an extensive selection of rare, out-of-print, and new cookbooks is a sight to behold. From a first edition of Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking to Charleston Receipts, the oldest Junior League cookbook still in print, this nook is a trove of rare recipes. Pick up a barbecue sandwich and a bag of benne wafers from Food For the Southern Soul ‘Cue-osk in the City Market’s Great Hall. These flavors—one savory, one sweet— represent Charleston’s more than three centuries of culinary history.
# EPICUREAN
The décor is distinctively Charleston Lowcountry—seagrass flooring and commissioned artwork depicting local scenery; while velvet-lined walls and antique cypress wainscoting add an air of understated opulence. The result is a classically styled dining room that sets the stage for Charleston’s most sophisticated culinary experience: Peninsula Grill. The restaurant’s adjoining courtyard is one of the city’s true gems. Illuminated by flickering gas carriage lanterns, candlelight, and starlight, the romance of this urban enclave is without peer in the city. The finest Lowcountry produce and seafood is married with the very best ingredients flown in fresh daily from points around the world to create the iconic menu. Standout favorites include Lowcountry oyster stew with wild mushroom grits, bourbon glazed Berkshire pork chop with Wadmalaw Island collards and barbecue jus, and the Ultimate Coconut Cake®.
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