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Last Updated: 7/8/25
It seems not a day goes by without the Holy City being given another award. It’s getting harder and harder to keep track of how amazing our city is, so I decided to compile a master list for quick and easy referencing. In a nod to Stephen Colbert, one of Charleston’s favorite sons, I’ve borrowed (ok, stolen) the title of one of his popular Colbert Report segments for the title of this list. So, without further adieu, here is “Who’s Honoring Us Now…”
You can see past year’s awards, rankings, and more here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2010-2013
Click on the accolade to read more details:
- Best Biscuits And Gravy You’ll Ever Taste: Maple Street Biscuit Company - Family Destinations Guide
- Best Cheeseburger In South Carolina: Big Gun Burger Shop & Bar - LoveFood
- Best Hole-in-the-Wall Spot for Fried Chicken in South Carolina: Bertha's Kitchen - Cheapism.com
- Best Hors d’Oeuvre: Beet Hummus Rounds by Hamby Catering & Events - Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence (CATIE) Awards
- Best Italian Restaurant in South Carolina: Carmella's Cafe & Dessert Bar - 5 Reasons to Visit
- Best New County Retreats - The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Johns Island - AFAR
- Best New Hotels - The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Johns Island - Town & Country
- Best New Hotels of 2025 - The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Johns Island - Esquire
- Best New Southern Getaway - The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Johns Island - Modern Luxury
- Best Seafood in South Carolina: 167 Raw Oyster Bar - Yelp
- Best Steakhouse in South Carolina: Halls Chophouse - LoveFood
- Gold Medal for South German-Style Hefeweizen: Holy City Brewing - World Beer Cup
- Gold Medal for Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout: Indigo Reef Brewing Co. - World Beer Cup
- Hot List 2025: The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Johns Island - Condé Nast Traveler
- No. 2 Best Food Destination in the U.S. - Traveladvisor
- No. 3 Best Beach Bar in the South: The Windjammer - Southern Living
- No. 3 Best City in the U.S. - Travel + Leisure
- No. 3 Best Continental U.S. City Hotel – Wentworth Mansion
- No. 4 Best Seafood Dive in the South: - The Crab Shacks - Southern Living
- No. 4 Best U.S. Restaurant for Food & Drink: Lowland Tavern - Food & Wine
- No. 5 Best U.S. City for BBQ - Yelp
- No 6. Beach in America: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island - Dr. Beach
- No. 6 Best City to Find a Job - Wallethub
- No. 6 Best City to Start a Career - Wallethub
- No. 6 Best U.S. City for Food & Drink - Food & Wine
- No. 6 Best Seafood Dive in the South: - Bowens Island - Southern Living
- No. 7 Best Island in the United States – Kiawah Island
- No. 9 Best Continental U.S. City Hotel – John Rutledge House Inn
- No. 9 Best Resort in the South: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Southern Living
- No. 9 Best Travel Destination in the U.S. - Traveladvisor
- No. 10 Best Classic Hotel in the South: Francis Marion Hotel - Southern Living
- No. 13 Best Place To Live In 2025 - U.S. News & World Report
- No. 14 Happiest City in America - Wallethub
- No. 17 on the list of ‘Top 100 Places to Eat’ for 2025: Jack of Cups Saloon - Yelp
- No 18 Best City for Summer Jobs - Wallethub
- Best Best Barbecue Joint in South Carolina: Lewis Barbecue - Southern Living
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: The Dewberry - Travel + Leisure
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: Hotel Bennett - Travel + Leisure
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: John Rutledge House Inn - Travel + Leisure
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Travel + Leisure
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: The Spectator Hotel - Travel + Leisure
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: Wentworth Mansion - Travel + Leisure
- One of the Best Hotels in the World: Zero George - Travel + Leisure
- One of The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year: The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection, Johns Island - Travel + Leisure
- One of the 20 Best New Restaurants in the South: Lost Isle - Southern Living
- One of the 20 Best New Restaurants in the South: Marbled & Fin - Southern Living
- One of South Carolina's Best Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants: Bertha’s Kitchen - Cheapism.com
- One of South Carolina's Best Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants: Workmen’s Cafe - Cheapism.com
- One of The Best Bakeries In The South: Weltons Tiny Bakeshop - Southern Living
- One of the Best Beach Towns in the South: Sullivan’s Island - Southern Living
- One of the Best Beach Towns in the South: Folly Beach - Southern Living
- One of the Best Beach Towns in the South: Kiawah Island - Southern Living
- One of the Best Beach Towns in the South: Isle of Palms - Southern Living
- One of The Best Burger Restaurants in South Carolina: Smash City Burgers - Go To Destinations
- One of The Marathons Worth Traveling For In 2025: Kiawah Island Marathon - Forbes Traveler
- One of The Most Exciting Hotel Openings of 2025: The Cooper - Condé Nast Traveler
- One of The Southern Restaurants At The Top Of Our Readers' Bucket Lists: Chubby Fish - Southern Living
- One of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America - Livability
- South Carolina's Best Museum: The Charleston Museum - Condé Nast Traveler
- Triple Five-Star Rating: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort - Forbes Travel Guide
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Charleston Grill
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Costa
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Circa 1886
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Halls Chophouse (Downtown AND Summerville)
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Husk
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Legami
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Magnolia's
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Marbled & Fin
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – The Ocean Room
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Peninsula Grill
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Water's Edge
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Wild Common at Cannon Green
- Wine Spectator's 2025 Restaurant Awards – Zero Restaurant + Bar
Remember, you can see past year’s awards, rankings, and more here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2010-2013