Boutique Shopping in Charleston, SC

Shopping in Charleston is an experience you don’t want to miss! While there are literally hundreds of little boutique shops from which to choose, this article will cover a select group that would be considered unique.

Showroom - 1854 Wallace School Rd, Charleston, SC 29407

Brackish is an American accessories brand comprised of a team of artisans in Charleston, South Carolina. Brackish artisans handcraft all natural, sustainably sourced feather accessories for men and women. It boasts a full line of adornments with each piece focused on repurposing the beauty found in nature, incorporating feathers from peacocks, guineas, and pheasants, as well as Plum Thicket Pins and Cummerbunds.

After Bill Murray discovered Brackish and wore one of their designs at the Oscars in 2014 many celebrities took notice and bought their own unique pieces. Brackish is always adding to its product-line with new designs and new products. Their men’s collection includes bow ties, pocket squares, plum thicket pins, cummerbunds, lapel pins, feather cufflinks and tux studs. Their women’s collection includes feather-adorned earrings, cuff bracelets and necklaces in a variety of attention-getting designs and trend-setting creations.

Visit Brackish to view their current collection at brackish.com

Headquarters - 1465 Pipefitter Street, N Charleston, SC 29405

Smithey’s coveted line of cast-iron pans are all hand and machine-worked in Charleston. The founder started Smithey with some simple thoughts about what constitutes a piece of premium cast iron cookware: surface smoothness, weight, wall angle, handles, and pour-spout dimensions. Some of these elements (and more) are important for you to enjoy a first-rate piece of cookware. 

Smithey’s cookware is made by a team of designers, engineers, foodies, foundrymen, metal grinders, craftsman having a passion and commitment to making impressive cookware. They make premium cast iron and carbon steel cookware that you, your family, and friends will enjoy and rely on for generations. It can be displayed in your kitchen and used daily and will last long enough to pass on to the next generation.

Visit their website at smithey.com

308 King Street, Charleston, SC

You will find Charleston-inspired jewelry and accessories designed by Croghan’s fourth-generation sisters, “Mini” Hay Avant and Kathleen Hay Hagood. Mini designed the store’s signature Goldbug Collection: Charleston’s unofficial mascot, the palmetto aka cockroach. It gets its name from an Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, which was inspired by the author’s time stationed at Fort Moultrie. The critters accent everything from hoop earrings to drop pendants, cuffs, and key chains for a distinctive, six-legged memento of the Holy City.

To shop online visit croghansjewelbox.com

4500 Goer Drive, North Charleston, SC 29406

Candles handmade in Charleston, South Carolina since 2009. Every vessel designed to be repurposed. The founders say, “Making candles is a way to tell stories about the things we love through fragrance. Every story is a labor of love, shaped and shared by many hands…It began with a love for wine, food, and candles – and a passion for repurposing.” Rewined Candles caters to oenophiles with wine-scented candles inspired by grapes from chardonnay to cabernet sauvignon. Its champagne candle emanates bread notes, citrus, and honey. All candles are showcased in recycled wine bottles.

Explore their collection at rewinedcandles.com

Charleston Shucker Company is the original shop for personalized oyster and fish fillet knives. They are a family-owned business engraving and shipping knives straight from their home in Charleston, South Carolina. Every home in Charleston has oyster shuckers on hand—they’re often given as housewarming presents. While they’re ubiquitous enough to be found at local hardware shops, a more personal option is Charleston Shucker Co.’s original, wood-handled Lowcountry shucker, which can be customized by adding a monogram to both sides of the blade.

When you buy from Charleston Shucker Co., you not only receive a quality oyster knife, you’ll be treated with the same southern hospitality you read and hear about all the time. That’s just what you get from a company that’s based in Charleston – we do live in one of the friendliest cities in America after all! Charlestonians want to make sure you have the best oyster knife and are treated with southern hospitality. Front porch pickups are available to locals.

Get shucking at charlestonshuckerco.com

489 King St. Suite 100, Charleston, SC 29403

Named for James Dean’s character in “Rebel Without a Cause,” J. Stark stitches handsome waxed-canvas and bridle-leather products in its shop on King Street. Selections including J. Stark x rowing blazers, wine totes, dopp kits, backpacks, briefcases, crossbody bags, duffle and travel tote bags, leather bags, wallets, belts, dog collars and leashes, plus other unusual accessories.

Shop online at starkmade.com

2408 Ashley River Rd Unit Q, Charleston, SC 29414

Charleston Specialty Foods is for food enthusiasts who want to take a piece of the Lowcountry home. They offer a variety of delicious, authentic southern treats from the best brands. Their locally based selections are always made from the finest ingredients and traditional recipes – the best of Charleston for over 35 years.

Every Charleston traditional food you could possibly crave, from shrimp and grits to benne wafers, is stocked at this fine local purveyor that ships across the United States. Everyone’s favorite pecan pralines, fired in copper kettles with candied sugar and sweet cream butter, are the ultimate sweet snack.

Get your Charleston taste buds ignited at charlestonspecialtyfoods.com

270 King Street, Charleston, SC

At Candlefish, you’ll find a wide selection of unique handcrafted candles, gifts and accessories, all things candle-related. The store has its own on-site fragrance library containing some 100 different fragrances, each hand-poured and labeled on-site in their dedicated candle workshop. Regular BYOB classes offer hands-on tutorials on how to become a master candlemaker (aka ‘chandler’) in a friendly setting. Customers coming into the store are also invited to work one on one with a chandler to create their very own personalized candles and fragrances.

View their collections or sign up for a class at candlefish.com

90 Society Street, Charleston

French chocolatier Christophe Artisan decided to call Charleston his home several years ago, having learned his trade from his father in Toulouse, France. He eventually opened a gourmet sweet shop, Christophe Artisan Chocolatier-Pâtissier with his wife, Carly. Today they satisfy the cravings of a loyal band of patrons who go there daily to pick up chocolates, truffles, pastries, French-style macarons and gourmet coffee, as well as eye-catching chocolate sculptures and custom logo chocolates.

For the best chocolate available on planet earth visit christophechocolatier.com

1238 Camp Road, Charleston

For fans of vintage interior pieces, The Island Bazaar is the place to go. It has a superb selection of “timeless, mid-century modern pieces and funky finds”. The store has character and a warm charm along with highly favorable prices compared with what you’ll find at bigger retail store. It not only sells classic furniture but also quirky novelties, handmade goods, and even lustrous rocks and gemstones that will make your home glow with a unique touch.

To preview and shop some of their current inventory visit chairish.com

272 Meeting Street, Charleston

Gourmet patrons know that Charleston is the place to go for top quality olive oil. Lowcountry Olive Oil is a cozy store that sells over 60 olive oils and balsamic vinegars in a variety of creative flavors, locally blended and infused, supporting local food artisans and family-owned olive farms across the Lowcountry. You can visit the store in downtown Charleston’s historic Ansonborough district where visitors are encouraged to ‘try before they buy’, with samples of herb olive oil, smoked olive oil, Georgia pecan and green peanut oils, strawberry champagne vinegars and bourbon balsamic vinegars among the delectable delights. The store also sells locally infused honeys, dipping spices, candles and other gourmet treats and gifts.

Visit lowcountryoliveoil.com today.

191 King Street, Charleston

This upscale shop is a chosen destination for antique enthusiasts in Charleston. Specializing in 18th- & 19th-century English Georgian furniture & housewares, the family-owned business offers the very best in antique furniture, silver, porcelain, crystal, brass, fireplace accessories, longcase clocks, and impeccable reproductions, as well as hosting regular estate auctions both in-house and on location throughout the southeast.

To explore fine antiques visit birlantantiquescharleston.com

Located in The Restoration Hotel, 5 Wentworth Street, Charleston

The Mercantile is a uniquely curated shopping experience, featuring handcrafted goods and beautiful mementos ready to be cherished. Housed within the upscale Restoration Hotel, The Mercantile is a rustic, quirky store and a curio-seeker’s delight with its diverse mix of often rare and exotic goods, with everything from artisan trinkets and glitzy family-heirlooms to everyday essentials and touristy souvenirs.

Learn more at therestorationhotel.com/charleston-community-outlets

51B George Street, Charleston, SC

A funky, stylish boutique-style setting for Charleston’s edgier and more fashion-conscious types, but without the mind-blowing prices of many other chic fashion stores.

Learn more at houseofsage.com

74 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

This store is filled with beautiful and unique art pieces of many kinds, and represents Frogman, Satava Art Glass, Storypeople, Rollin Karg Art Glass, Glass Eye Studio, Kitras Glass, Andy Brinkley, as well as 100+ artists from all over the US. One of a Kind has a wide selection of handcrafted jewelry, ornaments, pottery (raku, whimsical and functional), wall art (copper and brass trees), pet prints, Gullah dolls, kaleidoscopes, mobiles and wind chimes, tiles, lots of dog and cat art, and much more!

If you are looking for something unique visit oneofakindgallery.com

32 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

Take a walk down a nostalgic candy-filled lane. This large store, with its old-fashioned wooden floors, has display after display of timeless, wistful candy. On the Great Wall-O-Candy, you can package exactly what you want in a mix-and-match style. Get freshly made candy, fudge, pralines and caramel apple, as well as the ever-popular large chocolate turtles. It’s a fun stop for all ages.

For some great pics and to see what others are saying click here.

270 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Although they sell honey, their mission has always been about the bees. They say, "Everything we do at Savannah Bee Co. is so bees can continue their sacred work of building hives, pollinating flowers, powering our food supply, and spreading beauty." You can shop for exclusive honeys and other sweet products as well as signature health, beauty and body care products, books, apparel and accessories. And, you’ll be helping save the bees!

Learn more at savannahbee.com

170 Church St Ste A, Charleston, SC 29401

The Spice & Tea Exchange offers a variety of fine spices, handcrafted seasonings, loose-leaf teas, salts, sugars, gifts, and more! Explore some of the best Charleston gifts and accessories in town. They’re known for their over 85 handcrafted seasonings, that are hand-mixed in-store daily. It’s one of the best Charleston Gift Shops.

Learn more at spiceandtea.com

205 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401

An exclusive collection of world-famous stores in the heart of downtown Charleston. The ultimate shopping experience. From Louis Vuitton to Gucci and Soma to White House Black Market, this abbreviated shopping experience is indoors and accented by long dramatic hallways filled with shops, cafes, lobbies, and other places to take in the scenery. So. dine or spend the night in the humble abodes above you. Be ready to rub elbows with the swankiest population in town. Just the common spaces are a sight to see as you head out to shopping on King Street.

Learn more at charlestonplace.com

221 Burns Lane, Charleston, SC

This Italian Boutique for Fine Living works directly with Italian artisans to create the finest products. From luxury furniture, linens, one-of-a-kind Italian jewelry, stationery, ceramics, fine clothes, and many more specialties from Italy are showcased for your pleasure.

Learn more at thehiddencountship.com

4 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401-2114

Indigo is a cute little gift shop by the pier that has a little bit of everything - jewelry, clothing, ceramics. It offers eclectic household and personal items, original art and delightful gifts. Owners state their goal is to discover an ever-changing product mix to delight their customers.

Learn more at indigohome.com

84 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

The jewelry is unique, high quality, and reasonably priced. The owners and staff make you feel like valued customers. Check out the Southern Gate collection and rice beads.

Learn more at dacubasfinejewelry.com

377 King St Unit B, Charleston, SC 29401

This is a funky little hat and accessory shop with friendly, smart clerks. If you’re looking for a high-quality chapeau, Goorin Brothers is the place to go. They really know their stuff and are able to explain the various styles and designs that are so necessary for keeping cool in steamy South Carolina. They have a wealth of knowledge and will tell you the origins of the authentic straw Panama hats, for instance. Goorin has a really fun and creative range of beautifully made hats for all sizes; and they will make sure you are perfectly fitted.

Learn more at goorin.com

409 King Street, Suite 101, Charleston, SC 29403

From elevated essentials to standout staples in women’s clothing and accessories, Beckett is the ultimate style guide in Charleston. Beckett has a curated selection of new and emerging lines seeks to reflect both the easy glamour of Charleston and the unconventional edginess of Upper King Street.

Learn more at beckettboutique.com

445 KING STREET. CHARLESTON, SC 29403

Throughout her work, Amanda has kept the focus on breezy sophistication and vibrant layers of texture and color – the hallmarks of inviting spaces to host family and friends. Her products were born from the breezy, joyful sensibility of Amanda's Bahamas home. White duck, boldly colored fabrics in solids, stripes, and jaunty prints, rattan and cane seating, whitewashed or colorfully painted English case furniture, canopied beds, straw matting—these are but some of the signature ingredients of an Amanda Lindroth interior.

Learn more at amandalindroth.com

188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

The Charleston City Market is a Charleston landmark and one of the nation’s oldest public markets. It’s the cultural heart of Charleston spanning four city blocks and is home to more than 300 talented local artisans and entrepreneurs. In 2010, a $5.5 million makeover of the entire Charleston City Market got under way; and in June of 2011, the newly refurbished City Market reopened to the public. The centerpiece of the historic landmark, the Great Hall, is now enclosed and air-conditioned with twenty new and returning merchants. Its walkway is now a straight central aisle that runs the entire length of the building, matching the open aisles in the reworked open-air sheds. There is always something to see, do, taste, and take home as a souvenir; and it is open every day except December 25th! Get to know the passionate entrepreneurs, traditions, and certified authentic, “Made in Charleston” items found at the Market. It’s a fun and exciting shopping atmosphere that keeps both visitors and natives returning to see the newest items offered.

Learn more at thecharlestoncitymarket.com