To many residents’ chagrin, the media's love affair with the Holy City continued in 2020 (despite the ongoing pandemic). Below is a list of all the awards, accolades, and honors that were bestowed upon Charleston, its businesses, its restaurants, its people, and more.
FYI – You can click on the award name to learn more.
- # 1 Best Small City in the U.S. – Condé Nast Traveler
- # 1 Best City After Service – Navy Federal
- # 1 Best New Restaurant: Tempest – 10Best
- # 1 City in the United States – Travel + Leisure
- # 1 Top City in the South – Southern Living
- # 1 Top Public School in the South Offering Master's Degree: The Citadel – U.S. News & World Report.
- # 1 Best BBQ Joint in the South Carolina: Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ – Southern Living
- # 1 Best New Hotel in the South: The Dewberry – Southern Living
- # 1 South Carolina Restaurant Great for Outdoor Dining: Fleet Landing – OpenTable
- # 1 Seller of PBR in America: Recovery Room
- South Carolina’s Safest City: Isle of Palms – SafeWise
- # 2 Best Food City in the South – Southern Living
- # 2 Best Hotel Bar in the Country: Camellias at Hotel Bennett – 10Best
- # 2 Best New Restaurant in the South: Melfi’s – Southern Living
- # 2 Best Classic Restaurant in the South: FIG – Southern Living
- # 2 Best Local Restaurant in the South: The Grocery – Southern Living
- # 2 Best Bar in the South: The Living Room at The Dewberry – Southern Living
- # 2 Fastest Growing Lager in the Southeast: Island Coastal Lager – Brewbound
- # 2 Friendliest City in the United States – Condé Nast Traveler
- # 3 Best City to Retire – Wallethub
- # 3 Best Garden Shop in the South: Abide A While Garden Boutique – Southern Living
- # 3 Best Resort in the South: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Condé Nast Traveler
- # 4 Best City for Staycations – Wallethub
- # 4 Best Hotel Bar in the Country: The Bar at The Spectator Hotel – 10Best
- # 4 Best New Hotel in the South: Hotel Bennett – Southern Living
- # 4 Best Dive Bar in the South: The Griffon – Southern Living
- # 4 Top School for Study Abroad Programs: College of Charleston – Institute of International Education
- # 5 Best U.S. Island: Kiawah Island – Condé Nast Traveler
- # 5 Neighborhood in the South: Hampton Park Terrace – Southern Living
- # 5 Bookstore in the South: Blue Bicycle Books – Southern Living
- # 6 Top Moving Destination – Penske Truck Rental
- # 7 Best Classic Restaurant in the South: Bertha's Kitchen – Southern Living
- # 7 Best U.S. Island: Kiawah Island – Isle of Palms
- # 8 Best Boutique in the South: Hampden – Southern Living
- # 8 Best Resort in the South: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Condé Nast Traveler
- # 9 Best Airports in the U.S. – Charleston International – Condé Nast Traveler
- # 9 Best BBQ Joint in the South: Home Team BBQ – Southern Living
- # 18 Best City in the World – Travel + Leisure
- # 34 on America's Top 100 Places to Eat in 2020: Lewis Barbecue – Yelp
- # 48 Best Place to Live in the U.S. – Livability.com
- Double Gold at the New York International Spirits Competition – Boone’s Bourbon
- One of the Best New Restaurants: Tempest – 10Best
