Charleston’s eclectic character makes dining downtown a truly fascinating and memorable experience. With its historical charm and Southern grace as the backdrop, the city is home to a variety of eating establishments offering local and global fare. Choices abound for almost every taste. For a unique Southern flavor, you can order salmon and grits from Hyman’s Seafood Company or enjoy “imaginative American cuisine with a Southern flair” at The Library at Vendue Inn. Station 22, now 14 years old, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant on Sullivan’s Island. It offers a gallery of nostalgic black and white photographs of the island’s history. Whether you are looking for the ambience of an old Southern town or the excitement that greets the senses when sampling foods from around the world, Charleston delivers.

How barren would an attractive waterfront be if you were unable to find good seafood? A.W. Shucks offers she-crab soup, raw bar and stuffed shrimp. Anson’s, which is only open for dinner, also serves up she-crab soup along with light entrees. For a different taste, try their shrimp and grits or their cashew-encrusted grouper. The Boathouse boasts a surf and turf selection, raw bar and waterfront dining. The Wreck is a cash-only restaurant overlooking Shem Creek, serving Low Country seafood. Fans of the film Forest Gump will want to stop by the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on Market Street.

Close your eyes for a moment and you may be able to hear the carriages clopping through the streets of the old town. The aura of the city’s former wealth can be experienced in the richness of its present. For a taste of upscale Southern cuisine there is Charleston Chops, where you can listen to live piano music while savoring steak, seafood and wine. The Charleston Grill on Main Street is the place to go for local game, seafood and produce. There you can sample some baked grits or Vidalia hash pie. Southern cooking is an art at Magnolia’s with shrimp sausage and grits, down-south egg roll and veal meatloaf. For local ingredients and a good, modestly priced wine, try Old Post Office Restaurant. Peninsula Grill serves more conventional items and boasts an award-winning wine list. Meat lovers will appreciate Vintage, where they can get beef oxtail and lamb short ribs. Spirit of Carolina offers a dinner cruise through Charleston Harbor. Cypress is an upscale restaurant without the upscale prices. It is housed in a building constructed in the 1830s and jackets are required downstairs.

If the taste of city life is not for you, you can escape without traveling too far. More classic, Low-Country meals can be found at places like Hominy Grill, which serves shrimp with brown gravy and fried green tomatoes. Bookstore Café provides country cooking for breakfast and lunch as well as catering services. Jestine’s Kitchen is another excellent place to go for an old-fashioned meal, while Portside Café and Rosebank Farms Café offer something more eclectic.

Even with its regional character, Charleston remains cosmopolitan as evidenced by the international flavor found in its eateries. Rue De Jean is an authentic French Bistro and has been described as “being in Paris.” A Taste of India serves North Indian dishes for lunch and dinner. You will feel like a Polka after sampling the Wiener Schnitzel at Max & Moritz Restaurant. Come to Athens for a wide selection of Greek fare. Enjoy some fish and chips then retire to the sofa and piano lounge at the Bull & Finch. Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub and Seafood Restaurant is a family place owned by true Irish. Get a taste of islands at Beaches of the Caribbean. Dream of Mardi Gras at Latasha’s Taste of New Orleans. Charleston has several fine Italian restaurants; some of the best are Brett’s, Capriccio Restaurante and Fulton Five. Sushi Hiro is an authentic Japanese sushi bar. Binh Minh serves Vietnamese cuisine. If you want a more generic sampling of Asian food, try My Tho.

Want to stop for a cold one? 82 Queen is a favorite watering hole for the Broad Street business professionals. Dine outside or just hang out with friends. Blind Tiger Pub takes you across the Atlantic to an English style establishment. The Guinness is chilled and if you are hungry, the Four Corners Café is right next door. Cumberland’s entertains a younger crowd with a diverse selection of live music.

These are just a few of Charleston’s favorite places to eat and drink. There is something for everyone and you do not have to be a native Southerner when you arrive to appreciate it, though you may feel like one when you leave.

Charleston offers a splendid mix of events and activities to stimulate the mind, body and spirit. Some of the more interesting ones appear below though it represents barely a drop in a vast ocean of activities.