Guidebook for Charleston
Food Scene
Fresh farm-to-table comfort food with a modern edge. Our specialties are vegetarian and omnivorous dishes made from ingredients naturally sourced within West Virginia and the Appalachians.
A great place to catch some live music. Their specials change seasonally and always offer something you'll be glad you tried.
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Bluegrass Kitchen
1600 Washington St EFresh farm-to-table comfort food with a modern edge. Our specialties are vegetarian and omnivorous dishes made from ingredients naturally sourced within West Virginia and the Appalachians.
A great place to catch some live music. Their specials change seasonally and always offer something you'll be glad you tried.
The best fish tacos you'll find anywhere and to-die-for hot dogs. This place is no-muss, no-fuss casual. On a hot day, sit on their deck with a margarita and you'll barely miss the ocean.
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Tricky Fish
1611 Washington St EThe best fish tacos you'll find anywhere and to-die-for hot dogs. This place is no-muss, no-fuss casual. On a hot day, sit on their deck with a margarita and you'll barely miss the ocean.
Go here for a full breakfast on the weekends (try their amazing omelets or made-from-scratch bagels and English muffins) or just a cup of coffee and made-fresh pastry during the week. In a quirky and charming space, it's a hidden gem.
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Starlings Coffee & Provisions
1599a Washington St EGo here for a full breakfast on the weekends (try their amazing omelets or made-from-scratch bagels and English muffins) or just a cup of coffee and made-fresh pastry during the week. In a quirky and charming space, it's a hidden gem.
Delicious homemade ice cream in the middle of downtown Charleston. All of the ice creams, sherbets, gelatos, and sorbets are made on the premises. Ellen’s also offers coffee, tea, and espresso as well as lunch options such as homemade soups, green salads, pasta/grain salads, wraps, and more. The menu includes many vegetarian and vegan options.
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Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream
225 Capitol StDelicious homemade ice cream in the middle of downtown Charleston. All of the ice creams, sherbets, gelatos, and sorbets are made on the premises. Ellen’s also offers coffee, tea, and espresso as well as lunch options such as homemade soups, green salads, pasta/grain salads, wraps, and more. The menu includes many vegetarian and vegan options.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Red Carpet is an institution in Charleston. Go there to see and be seen . . . in what you might conclude is the most unlikely place!
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The Red Carpet Lounge
308 Elizabeth StThe Red Carpet is an institution in Charleston. Go there to see and be seen . . . in what you might conclude is the most unlikely place!
Another Charleston institution. Live music at its finest.
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The Empty Glass Cafe
410 Elizabeth StAnother Charleston institution. Live music at its finest.
Don't miss Mountain Stage at the Culture Center Theater, a 2 minute walk from this listing. This two-hour music radio show, first aired in 1983, produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed worldwide by National Public Radio is recorded live right here. Hosted by Larry Groce, the program showcases diverse music, from the traditional to modern.
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Cultural Center station
Don't miss Mountain Stage at the Culture Center Theater, a 2 minute walk from this listing. This two-hour music radio show, first aired in 1983, produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed worldwide by National Public Radio is recorded live right here. Hosted by Larry Groce, the program showcases diverse music, from the traditional to modern.
Shopping
It's hard to categorize this place because it encompasses so many things - bookstore, coffee shop, live music venue, art gallery, indie movie theater. It's the heart of Charleston, both literally and figuratively. Not to be missed.
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Taylor Books
226 Capitol StIt's hard to categorize this place because it encompasses so many things - bookstore, coffee shop, live music venue, art gallery, indie movie theater. It's the heart of Charleston, both literally and figuratively. Not to be missed.
Capitol Market has grown from a modest farmers’ market to a vibrant indoor-outdoor retail, dining and social hub open year ‘round. Saturday morning coffee, daily business lunches, after-work shopping, weekend excursions with the kids, cooking classes and other fun events are all a part of the Capitol Market experience. So are Christmas tree and pumpkin picking, spring garden planning and summer picnic shopping.
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Capitol Market station
Capitol Market has grown from a modest farmers’ market to a vibrant indoor-outdoor retail, dining and social hub open year ‘round. Saturday morning coffee, daily business lunches, after-work shopping, weekend excursions with the kids, cooking classes and other fun events are all a part of the Capitol Market experience. So are Christmas tree and pumpkin picking, spring garden planning and summer picnic shopping.
Arts & Culture
Check out the art museum, attend a symphony concert, or take in a 3D movie at the planetarium and IMAX-type theater.
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Clay Center
1 Clay SquareCheck out the art museum, attend a symphony concert, or take in a 3D movie at the planetarium and IMAX-type theater.
Learn more about West Virginia at the state museum, walking distance from this listing.
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West Virginia State Museum
1900 Kanawha Blvd ELearn more about West Virginia at the state museum, walking distance from this listing.
Entertainment & Activities
A great place to take in a baseball game - the WV Power.
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Appalachian Power Park
601 Morris StA great place to take in a baseball game - the WV Power.
Parks & Nature
Only 15 minutes away, Kanawha State Forest offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Also offers popular picnic areas, playgrounds and camping.
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Kanawha State Forest
7500 Kanawha State Forest DrOnly 15 minutes away, Kanawha State Forest offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Also offers popular picnic areas, playgrounds and camping.
A green urban oasis near downtown Charleston. You'll forget that you're in the middle of town. Limited parking at the trail head, or walking distance from this listing. The trail was originally built by Governor William A. MacCorkle in 1905 to transport building materials drawn by oxen to the top of the hill to construct the Governor's Mansion, also known as the Sunrise Mansion.
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Sunrise Carriage Trail
746 Myrtle RdA green urban oasis near downtown Charleston. You'll forget that you're in the middle of town. Limited parking at the trail head, or walking distance from this listing. The trail was originally built by Governor William A. MacCorkle in 1905 to transport building materials drawn by oxen to the top of the hill to construct the Governor's Mansion, also known as the Sunrise Mansion.