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Way Way’s Charleston

Meet Way Way Allen, a local artist who has called Charleston home for more than 20 years. Represented by The Charleston Artist Collective, Way Way sees Charleston through a creative lens. Here she shares her favorite local eateries, shops, and galleries, plus her go-to spot for artistic inspiration.

Stay

My favorite hotel in Charleston is hands down The Dewberry! My husband and I take staycations and celebrate anniversaries there. It has a fabulous spa and the best rooftop bar in the city. I also love the Fieldshop by Garden and Gun on the main floor. It has a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces and exclusive collaborations with southern artisans and craftsmen.

Dine

My absolute favorite restaurant in all of Charleston is The Ordinary. We go there for every birthday, special occasion, and date night. Its menu is always changing but you absolutely must order a seafood tower. Oh, and one of their delicious cocktails! I love the Citrus Club, the rooftop bar at the Dewberry, for pre- or post-dinner drinks. The Harbinger Cafe on upper King Street is a great spot to grab coffee and avocado toast. It also just so happens to be next door to my favorite little wine shop, Monarch Wine — they have the best curated selection of natural wines that hits all price points. Chez Nous is another excellent restaurant for lunch and dinner. It’s tucked away on a little side street downtown and has a beautiful little courtyard. It specializes in dishes from southern France, Northern Italy, and Northern Spain. The menu changes daily!

Shop

I love shopping at Hampden and its sister store Small for special pieces of clothing. Just down the street, Worthwhile is another favorite. For unique fine jewelry pieces I love Jane Pope Jewelry (who happens to be my cousin!). For homewares, I love shopping for antique pieces at Antiques of South Windemere and Fritz Porter.

Discover

The Old Village of Mount Pleasant is a little off the beaten path from downtown but it’s definitely worth exploring (it’s only a 15-minute drive from the center of Charleston). The Charleston Artist Collective is of course my favorite local gallery. There is something for everyone there, at all price points. The Post House Inn is a block down the road from the gallery. It’s a charming B&B with an excellent restaurant — perfect for lunch or cocktails.

ESCAPE

Whenever I find myself in a creative rut, I head 15 miles south of the city to our little creek house at Wadmalaw Island to recharge. It’s on the Leadenwah River and is so quiet and peaceful. You can really hear the sounds of the creek, birds chirping, and wind rustling the leaves. It truly is a little slice of heaven just down the road!

Local Take: Charleston