Things to Do in French Quarter, Charleston
Gallery-heavy historic core near the market, St. Philip's, and cobbled lanes. Best for first-time walks, architecture, and dinner reservations.
Plan French QuarterPlan your French Quarter tripFree · and No sign-up By TripSapien · Updated September 3, 2026
Top things to do in French Quarter
Dock Street Theatre
★ 4.8 · 896Theater★
Ornate playhouse with elegant woodwork & cobblestone courtyard presents dramas, comedies & musicals.
St. Philip's Episcopal Church
★ 4.8 · 317Famous Protestant Church★
State's oldest congregation (founded 1680) in 1838 church built of stuccoed brick with porticoes.
- Mon–Thu
- 10 AM – 4 PM
- Fri
- 10 AM – 1 PM
- Sat
- Closed
- Sun
- 8 AM – 12 PM
Old Slave Mart
★ 4.4 · 2.5kHistory Museum
South Carolina's last remaining slavery auction house is now a museum devoted to its own tragic history
- Mon–Fri
- 9 AM – 5 PM
- Sat
- 9 AM – 5 PM
- Sun
- Closed
Robert Lange Studios
★ 5.0 · 419Art Gallery
Brick-walled art gallery featuring work from visual artists in a modern-industrial interior.
- Every day
- 11 AM – 5 PM
Where to eat & drink in French Quarter
The Establishment
★ 4.7 · 702Seafood· $60-100
Change is constant at The Establishment, set in a historic building on Broad Street.
- Mon
- Closed
- Tue–Fri
- 5 PM – 10 PM
- Sat
- 5 PM – 10 PM
- Sun
- Closed
The Rooftop at the Vendue
★ 4.6 · 4.6kRooftop Bar· $10–50
Stylish rooftop bar offering imaginative craft cocktails, sandwiches & light bites with city views.
- Every day
- 11:30 AM – 12 AM
Blind Tiger
★ 4.4 · 3.2kCocktail Bar· $20–30
Upscale bar food in an alehouse dating back to 1803, featuring a charming, brick-walled courtyard.
- Every day
- 11 AM – 1:30 AM
Slightly North of Broad
★ 4.7 · 2.8kSoul Food· $50–100
Modern Southern & Lowcountry cuisine served in an airy, 18th-century warehouse.
- Mon–Fri
- 11 AM – 10 PM
- Sat
- 11 AM – 10 PM
- Sun
- 10:30 AM – 10 PM
Magnolia's
★ 4.7 · 5.3kAmerican· $30–80
A refined take on traditional Southern cooking, served in a warm, sophisticated environment.
- Mon–Thu
- 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 4 PM – 9 PM
- Fri
- 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 4 PM – 10 PM
- Sat
- 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 4 PM – 10 PM
- Sun
- 11 AM – 3 PM, 4 PM – 9 PM
The Griffon
★ 4.5 · 3.2kAmerican· $10–20
Intimate English pub for fish 'n' chips, burgers & craft beer, with walls covered in signed dollars.
- Mon–Wed
- 11 AM – 12 AM
- Thu–Fri
- 11 AM – 2 AM
- Sat
- 11 AM – 2 AM
- Sun
- 12 PM – 12 AM
Harken Cafe
★ 4.6 · 867Coffee Shop· $10–20
Cozy establishment with a country-chic vibe, serving breakfast, baguettes & cakes.
- Mon–Fri
- 7 AM – 3 PM
- Sat
- 8 AM – 3 PM
- Sun
- 8 AM – 1 PM
High Cotton Charleston Restaurant
★ 4.7 · 3.0kSeafood· $50–100
Spacious, refined eatery featuring Lowcountry fare cooked using ingredients from nearby farms.
- Mon–Thu
- 4:30 PM – 10 PM
- Fri
- 4:30 PM – 11 PM
- Sat
- 10 AM – 2 PM, 4:30 PM – 11 PM
- Sun
- 10 AM – 2 PM, 4:30 PM – 10 PM
Ruby Sunshine
★ 4.5 · 1.3kBrunch· $10–20
A restaurant offering sweet, savory, or syrupy menu items.
- Mon–Fri
- 7 AM – 2 PM
- Sat
- 7 AM – 3 PM
- Sun
- 7 AM – 3 PM
The Palmetto Lobby Bar
Bar· $20–30
A bar at The Palmetto Hotel, it offers southern-inspired cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere with cozy seating for pre-dinner drinks or nightcaps.
- Mon–Thu
- 4 PM – 11 PM
- Fri
- 11 AM – 12 AM
- Sat
- 11 AM – 12 AM
- Sun
- 11 AM – 11 PM
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French Quarter map
Ranked using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Dock Street Theatre
- 2St. Philip's Episcopal Church
- 3The Establishment
- 4The Rooftop at the Vendue
- 5Blind Tiger
- 6Old Slave Mart
- 7Slightly North of Broad
- 8Magnolia's
- 9The Griffon
- 10Robert Lange Studios
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Turn these French Quarter picks into a day-by-day Charleston plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.
Dock Street TheatreTheater
St. Philip's Episcopal ChurchFamous Protestant Church
The EstablishmentSeafood
