29 Best Places to Shop in Charleston, South Carolina

Ring the doorbell for fine new jewelry and antiques at this Charleston institution that's been facilitating proposals, weddings, and anniversaries for more than 100 years. You'll also find wonderful wedding gift items. Should the need arise, Croghan's does excellent repair work too.

You'll find mostly 18th- and 19th-century English antiques here, but keep your eye out for a Charleston Battery bench (seen at White Point Garden), for which the store is famous. Founded in 1922, Birlant's is fourth-generation family-owned and home to the oldest working freight elevator in the country.

One of the city's trendiest boutiques attracts the young and well-heeled, who come here for an edgier, New York--influenced style. Hot designers like Alexandre Birman and Mara Hoffman help make it a premier destination for the latest in fashion.

Designer clothing, shoes, and jewelry make it fun to shop at this boutique in a 19th-century historic home. You can also find artsy and hip baby gear.

Charleston's own Ben Silver, premier purveyor of blazer buttons, has more than 800 designs, including college and British regimental motifs. The shop, founded in the 1960s, also sells British neckties, embroidered polo shirts, and blazers.

Family-owned since 1883, this Charleston institution has a reputation as a destination for special-occasion clothing. Expect preppy styles, suits, and stylish threads from European designers. There's a women's store next door to the men's shop and a complimentary parking lot across the street.

The darling of Southern tailors offers fashion-forward shoppers the best in aristocratic men's and women's clothing. Be sure to check out the basement sale racks—in one of the few true basements in Charleston—where prices are slashed as much as 50%.

Stop in for custom-made copper gas and electric lanterns based on designs from downtown's Historic District, as well as a host of other lights and accessories.

This upscale specialty market and café features classic paninis, salads, and every type of fancy, fizzy drink imaginable. It's an ideal spot to prep for a picnic. Note the locally produced items, such as Callie's Pimiento Cheese and Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Small Batch Tonic Syrup. There's even an airport location, which is your best bet for a quick before-flight bite.

This cluster of shops, covered stands, and restaurants fills Market Street between Meeting and East Bay streets. Sweetgrass basket weavers work here amid trinket and souvenir booths, T-shirt shops, and upscale clothing boutiques. In the covered market, vendors have stalls selling everything from jewelry to purses to paintings of Rainbow Row. The middle section of the market is enclosed and air-conditioned. From April through December, there's a night market on Friday and Saturday from 6:30 until 10:30 pm, featuring local craftspeople and street musicians.

On the site of the former Ritz Theater, Choice Collectibles is as retro as the sign for the theater's box office displayed over the cash register. You could get lost in time perusing the fascinating and inexpensive finds from decades past.

Tony clothing and accessories by designers from Italy, such as Piazza Sempione, are represented here, as is the European line Intropia. Known for its evening wear, the shop has pricey but gorgeous gowns and a fine selection of cocktail dresses. High-end fragrances add to the luxurious air.

This longtime local clothier sells trendy dresses and apparel from designers like Trina Turk and BB Dakota. There's also an accompanying shoe store next door and two satellite locations in Mount Pleasant.

This mother/daughter-owned boutique carries exceptional apparel, jewelry, and handbags by such designers as Joie, Tory Burch, and Etro.

In the Shops at Belmond Charleston Place, this branch of the fashion powerhouse carries a full line of handbags, luggage, jewelry, and even a dress or two.

French imports make up much of the selection here, and the rest are either European or English from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Decorative arts include ceramics, porcelains, and crystal. From the candlesticks to the armoires, all are in exquisite taste.

The city's main shopping strip is divided into informal districts: Lower King (from Broad Street to Market Street) is the Antiques District, lined with high-end dealers; Middle King (from Market Street to Calhoun Street) is the Fashion District, with a mix of national chains like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn and locally owned boutiques; and Upper King (from Calhoun Street to Spring Street) has been dubbed the Design District, known for both its restaurant scene and clothing and interior-design stores. Check out Second Sundays on King, when the street closes to cars all afternoon from Calhoun Street to Queen Street. Make sure to visit the Saturday farmers' market in Marion Square throughout the spring and summer months.

Across the Ravenel Bridge, this mall has 60 stores, including Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, and the locally owned Copper Penny.

The city's most renowned hotel is flanked by an indoor mall of upscale boutiques and specialty shops, as well as several restaurants, including Charleston Grill, Meeting at Market pub, and the Community Perk coffee shop. Retail offerings include Gucci, Kate Spade, and a Mary Martin Gallery of Fine Art. It's an excellent respite from the heat or the rain, and the city's finest publicly accessible restrooms are downstairs near the shoeshine station.

This is where Charlestonians go to pick out wedding china and build a bridal registry. Possibly the only Charleston store to offer Herend, Royal Crown Derby, Haviland, and Spode, the store is a discerning bride's dream. Linens and cookware are also great reasons to pop by.