King Street
Charleston's shopping and dining spine, from Lower King's antiques to Upper King's restaurants and bars.
Short answer: King Street is Charleston's commercial heart, split into three. Lower King is antiques, Middle King is shopping (boutiques and brands), and Upper King, north of Calhoun, is where the best restaurants and bars are. Shop the middle by day, eat and drink up top at night, and time it for Second Sunday if you can.
The three districts
Lower King (below Market Street) is the antiques district, a quiet stretch of dealers and design shops in handsome old storefronts. It is more browsing than buying for most visitors, but worth a slow walk for the architecture alone.
Middle King (Market to Calhoun) is the shopping core, a walkable run of boutiques, national brands, and local labels. This is where most visitors spend their daytime hours on King Street, ducking into shops between coffee stops.
Upper King (north of Calhoun) is the food and nightlife engine, named one of America's top food neighborhoods. Chef-driven restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and rooftop lounges line the blocks, and it is busiest and best in the evening. If you eat one dinner out on this trip, eat it here.
Where to eat
Upper King is the answer for almost any meal that matters. The corridor packs contemporary Southern cooking, raw bars, and late-night spots into a few walkable blocks, and reservations at the headline restaurants go fast on weekends, so book before you arrive. A guided food tour is the efficient way to taste several of the best in one go without choosing blind.
Taste the best of Upper King
The easiest way to sample the corridor is a guided food tour: Savor the Flavors Upper King Street Food Tour, from $110.5, 4.5★ (10 reviews). Check availability, or see all Charleston food tours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is King Street in Charleston known for?
King Street is Charleston's main commercial spine, running the length of the peninsula, and it splits into three personalities. Lower King is the antiques district, Middle King is shopping (boutiques and national brands), and Upper King, north of Calhoun Street, is the dining and nightlife hub with some of the best restaurants and bars in the city.
What is the best part of King Street?
It depends what you're after. For eating and drinking, Upper King (north of Calhoun) is the clear winner and was named one of America's great food neighborhoods. For shopping, Middle King has the boutiques and brands; Lower King has the antique dealers. Most visitors spend their day shopping Middle King and their evening eating on Upper King.
Is King Street walkable?
Very. King Street is flat, straight, and lined with sidewalks the whole way, which makes it the easiest stretch of downtown to stroll. It runs about a mile and a half from the Battery end up past Calhoun, so most people focus on one section at a time rather than walking the entire length.
When is King Street closed to cars?
On Second Sunday, the first portion of King Street closes to traffic from noon to 5 PM on the second Sunday of each month, with shops and restaurants spilling onto the street. It is the best day to wander King Street car-free, and a good one to time a visit around.