Circe&#x27;s Grotto

The sandwich was really good and had such a unique flavor! Definitely not your average sandwich…read moreshop--they have some fun and interesting combos that are worth trying. The staff was super nice, and I loved the vibe inside. It's a pretty small space though, so it might be hard to find a table if you're with a bigger group.

The best breakfast in Charleston hands down! Not only the food but the owners and employees are top…read morenotch! Have been coming here for several years and they never disappoint. The breakfast burrito is a golden choice but this O.G. Sammie with ham is legit and legendary!!

Breakfast Burrito

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The Jabroni (awesome)

Harken Cafe

4.4(391 reviews)

•$

Oh my goodness! This easily has become my new favorite coffee shop. The treats are delicious! The…read morecoffee is great. In two days, we've tried the maple latte, an Americano, and an iced matcha. Every one was delicious. The inside is precious. Everything is well thought out and planned with the space. It is a little cramped and can be a little loud, but it's worth it. We'll be in the city another two days and will most certainly be back.

Harken Cafe was super cute and I really liked the aesthetic of the place, but my experience was a…read morebit mixed. I waited about 30 minutes in line, and while the service was decent, it felt very rushed once I finally ordered. I got an iced vanilla latte and it was very disappointing, which was a letdown because I really wanted to love this spot. From my personal experience, I would probably skip it.

Inside

Butter Me Up with Bacon

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Turmeric apricot loaf

Queen Street Grocery

4.2(267 reviews)

0.3 mi•King Street

What a hidden little gem I didn't know about. I went in early Sunday afternoon. It's a small little…read moreplace, so it takes a little while to get your order and food out. However, I got the James Island crepe with a black cup of coffee, and I was not disappointed. My friend got the Cuban sandwich and it looked amazing. Every Panini sandwich I saw come out looked so good. I will come back and try the sandwiches next time. By the way, the coffee is brewed with an old style Bunn brewer. It was delicious

stopped by for a quick bfast and had the most delightful experience. they had omelettes, bfast…read moresammies, smoothies, crepes, etc. the girls working at the counter were so sweet and answered my touristy questions! the vibe was immaculate- great music playing, everyone was friendly and happy to be there, and the food tasted great. i had a western omelette and a smoothie and it hit the SPOT. they also had a variety of hot sauces which i mega appreciated! defintely stop by if you're in town!

This is the Murray that was supper good.

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Cuban

Gaulart & Maliclet

4.0(454 reviews)

Stopped in this place offhand from a locals recommendation. Seating is limited to a few tables and…read morebar seats. It was decent. Maybe I didnt order the right things. The menu wasnt all that interesting so it was hard choosing something. Went with a ham and cheese croissant and watermelon gazpacho. The croissant was good. Nothing to write home about. The gazpacho was not for me. The watermelon made it taste off. All in all, it was disappointing meal.

Wonderful little hole in a wall. We had a small but satisfying lunch and service was excellent…read more Definitely recommend it for a quick pit stop if you're in the area.

Dining area

Broccoli soup

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House wine

The Pass

4.5(130 reviews)

0.8 mi•Cannonborough

My husband picked The Pass for one of our lunch stops during our foodie trip to Charleston, and I'm…read moreso glad he did. It's tucked into a cute neighborhood and was super close to our Airbnb, making it an easy stop while exploring the city. We ordered the Italian Girl and split it since we had a full day of eating planned ahead of us. Honestly, I think it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, the ingredients were high quality, and it was beautifully put together. The burrata really made the sandwich feel special and took it to another level. Every bite was packed with flavor without feeling heavy. It's one of those meals that sticks with you long after your trip is over. I'm still dreaming about this sandwich and will absolutely be back the next time I'm in Charleston.

Had to check this place out. Read about them in the local City Paper. The sandwich options are…read moreplentiful, atmosphere cozy and the staff are very friendly. The sandwiches though . You won't disappointed. Glad we'll have "The Pass" in Mt. Pleasant soon. Three thumbs up and 5 Stars from the Mrs. and me :)

Bar area

Such a Nice Italian Boy

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Such a Nice Italian Boy

The Black Door Cafe

4.2(87 reviews)

The Black Door Cafe is a lil cafe located inside the Mills House Hotel…read more I came here looking for a quick spot with wifi and to grab lunch (+ a matcha, of course). It was easy to find and there was seating both outside and inside the hotel. There was able seating and very easy to put in an order at the register. I tried out one of their seasonal specials- the matcha breeze which had matcha, coconut water, pineapple-passionfruit cold foam, served iced. I also got a little pastry. Both weren't too great unfortunately so I ended up tossing both. The matcha was too sweet and the flavors didn't really compliment each other. Not an ideal spot for matcha. The space itself, however, was a great spot to work from. I took a quick meeting here and there was a fair amount of seating inside the cafe.

Went here today with my parents and sister for a quick cold drink after our Charleston tour from…read moreBulldog Tours. We definitely got different kinds of drinks such as iced coffee and iced Chai to keep us cool and refreshing. The service there was also quick and friendly. Finally, I would definitely go here again next time when I visit Charleston someday in the future.

Seating area

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Iced Mocha

Millers All Day

4.4(1.4k reviews)

A review posted in honor of the experience one of my friends had this past week -…read more My husband and I came to Charleston specifically for the food, and out of all the amazing meals we had, Miller's All Day was hands down our favorite. We came for breakfast and started with the banana bread with Nutella cream cheese -- absolutely incredible. We also split the cornmeal pancakes, which were so good we came back the next morning just to have them again. I ordered the B.E.C. with the home fries, and I can honestly say they may have been the best potatoes I've ever had in any form. Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and they practically melted in my mouth. My husband had the turkey club and said it was fantastic as well. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and memorable. We loved it so much we went back the very next day. 10/10 -- highly recommend if you're visiting Charleston!

Very cute spot, bright, clean and lots of space to not feel crowded…read more Server was great, was on top of it but didn't rush us. He also had a meal removed from the bill - it was brought out Luke warm unfortunately. Overall food was good everyone was happy with their choices. Burger didn't come with fries but was big enough to fill up an 18 year old boy. Salad had a great sauce, was a little thrown off with the cold waffle but it's supposed to come like that server said. The avocado toast was so good but eggs were cold unfortunately. It didn't ruin the taste so still recommend. Visited on vacation but I would go back and try other plates.

Inside

Club Sandwich

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Cinnamon Roll

Poogan's Porch

4.1(5.1k reviews)

0.3 mi•French Quarter

Make a reservation first. This will very much improve your experience…read more Poogan's is a staple when it comes to downtown Charleston dining for us. One of the oldest in Charleston and super cute from the outside in. I also love that they named the place after their loyal pupper dog. For my taste, Poogan's makes one of the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. They also have phenomenal she crab soup, pimento cheese fritters with bacon jam, and collards. My friends got the fried chicken which I hadn't had before and the fry was literally perfect. Not too thick but a major crunch. We will continue to bring our friends and family here when showing them downtown.

Poogan's Porch was a solid pick. I'd last been the 15-20 years ago, before I met my hubby. For his…read morefirst time in this town, I figured I'd try it again. It was Labor Day and things seemed on the quiet side in town. The ambience was great and we were on the second floor. We got right to the libations (he had a Malbec and I, the cider they had available). And then the entrees - hubby got the shrimp and grits, that's usually my dish but I was glad he got it so I could taste. I got the fried chicken, with hoppin John over white rice, and collards. So good! And I wasn't even hungry but I had to test the "award winning" and "famous" labels on our dishes. The chicken is a huge serving - 4 pieces of juicy, tasty chicken - an entire quarter. The hoppin John was good - I just wish there were more hoppin John and less rice. Service was 5 star. Donte was a real treat and looked after us well. For dessert, I was hoping for bread pudding, but it wasn't on the menu, and everyone in the dining room was ordering the banana pudding so we got that to share. It is a large serving, enough for two. The presentation was cute, the taste was regular, and I didn't taste a hint of alcohol (it was a bourbon or some other alcohol).

Hardwood floors and colonial decor

Fried Green Tomatoes

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Barbecue pork slider, and collard greens

goat. sheep. cow.

4.4(88 reviews)

0.5 mi

We stumbled upon this place during our trip to Charleston. Given the rarity of quality cheese shops…read moreback home, we were overjoyed to see the quality and sheer diversity of what was on hand. Wine selection was good, if not as diverse as the cheeses. As impressed as we were with their products, I have to honestly say that this was the very first fromagerie in my life where there was an absolute and complete absence of joy in what they're doing. It's truly a shame, and I sincerely hope we simply stumbled upon an off day for them.

Really great venue (reminded me of shops in NYC), fresh food items (meats, cheeses, olives etc)…read morewith a great wine selection. Knowledgeable staff.

Outside

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Outside

Da Toscano Porchetta Shop

4.5(131 reviews)

1.0 mi

Love this place! Adorable shop, very unique. Old school meat slicer. Not really a place to sit down…read moreto eat, however we got them to go and sat near the Pineapple Fountain to eat which was fantastic. Perfect picnic meal! We came for the focaccia sandwiches and they didn't disappoint! The whipped ricotta honey and prosciutto was our favorite! My daughters loved the caprese sandwich and chicken cutlet Cesar salad. Definitely will be a staple when visiting Charleston!

We had an amazing experience at Porchetta shop and it ended up being our favorite spot we ate at…read morewhile visiting! The shop itself is small and charming, right in the middle of town, with tons of sandwich options on the menu. The staff was incredibly welcoming and warm, and the service was super quick when we visited on a weekday (though we've heard weekends can get busy). We ordered the Chicken Milanese sandwich, which came on focaccia with bacon and an incredible sweet chili sauce that brought everything together perfectly. It was easily one of the best sandwiches we've had. We also tried the Bollito sandwich, a rich beef sandwich that came with a dipping broth on the side--absolutely unreal and packed with flavor. Overall, the experience was fantastic and the food was outstanding. If you're in Charleston, this place is a must-visit!

Indoor

Bollito - Simmered Beef Cheek, Chili Oil, Salsa Verde, Horseradish Crema, and Dipping Broth.

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Pork is king here.

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Kacie S.

3 years ago

Circe's Grotto has truly won me over with their fantastic service and delicious offerings. The Chicken Caesar Wrap is a personal favorite, and the refreshing Ice Green Tea complements it perfectly. The chip selection is diverse and adds a delightful crunch to the meal. What truly sets Circe's Grotto apart is their exceptional customer service. During a recent corporate lunch order, I forgot to grab a receipt. The staff at Circe's Grotto went above and beyond, ensuring that I received the receipt promptly. Their commitment to customer satisfaction is truly commendable. From the scrumptious food to the outstanding service, Circe's Grotto has become my go-to lunch spot. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a delightful dining experience. read more

Maxwell L.

11 years ago

Circe's sandwiches are by far the best in Charleston, possibly all of South Carolina. This quaint sandwich shop offers a wide verity of fresh, quality sandwiches. The staff is great, Nick always has a smile on his face. If you haven't been your missing out! read more

Andrea B.

9 years ago

Best sandwiches place in Charleston. My favorite is the Cali B.L.T. , you must try and don't forget the mango ice tee too. You will be amazed. The owner is super cool and friendly, i love this place and I'm going every week there. Thank you guys. read more

Daniel R.

7 years ago

A family owned restaurant that serves up damn good sandwiches!! My favorite is the one with turkey, cranberry sauce and stuffing!! Highly recommend stopping by this place! Always a great staff and always great service! And clean!!! read more

Kenzie K.

10 years ago

I'm not much of a sandwich person, but this was the best panini I have ever eaten. Ever. Many employees at stores recommend this place to me! Glad I listened;) I will definitely be back soon! read more

B. H.

2 years ago

Best food in CHS! No joke. We had a great time. Everything was so fresh! We ate the egg and avocado sandwich, and my free had the Mozzarella panini sandwich. read more

Susan L.

9 years ago

Best sandwiches in town! I highly recommended for everyone. Must try Cali BLT and mango ice tee.

Kellie S.

9 years ago

Only been there once but it was excellent! Cuban isn't authentic but delicious just the same.

Pat B.

11 years ago

I stopped here while I was visiting Charleston and had the best sandwich in my life!!!

Circe's Grotto - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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