Allora is now open
The latest concept from Free Reign Restaurants is now open at 114 Spring St. The menu highlights handmade pastas, fresh crudi, antipasti, and conserva di pesce, paired with Amalfi-inspired cocktails, a wide spritz menu, and boozy pops. Check out the menu here.
Photography by Piper Jones.
Flying to Cancun?
Breeze Airways is planning to fly internationally for the first time early next year – on Jan. 17, 2026, a non-stop flight will operate once a week from Charleston to Cancun International Airport, pending final government approvals.
Molly Joseph × Alfred & Lu
Artwork by Molly Joseph Fine Art is now on the shelves at King Street shop Alfred & Lu. The Charleston-based mother-daughter duo is known for illustrated maps and recipes, fine art, live painting, and wedding stationery.
Molly Joseph: This is a dream come true, and we are so excited for our art to be on the shelves of such a beautiful shop.
Manytown: Now that this dream has come true, what’s next?
We’re expanding our collection to include new regions and coastal towns our customers have been asking for.
Rivayat is opening tomorrow
The Indian restaurant, which is owned by the owners of Spice Palette, will open tomorrow at 210 Rutledge Ave. Check out their menu here.
New restaurant to open in Kultura’s space
The Filipino restaurant, which is relocating from its original location at 73 Spring Street, will be replaced by Xolo, an Oaxacan-inspired spot serving breakfast burritos, pancakes, chilaquiles and more. Led by Asheville chef Luis Martinez, Xolo will also offer dinner twice a week and the place is expected to open in November.
New Italian restaurant to open on Oct. 1
Allora, the latest concept from Free Reign Restaurants, will open at 114 Spring St. on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The menu highlights handmade pastas, fresh crudi, antipasti, and conserva di pesce, paired with Amalfi-inspired cocktails, a wide spritz menu, and boozy pops.
Fleet Landing has a new cookbook
The Charleston restaurant has published the Fleet Landing Cookbook, which includes 68 recipes of its signature dishes and coastal classics.
Traffic
The City of Charleston is holding a public meeting Thursday, September 4th from 5-7 PM at Bethel United Methodist Church to discuss a feasibility study on converting Coming Street, Rutledge Avenue, and Ashley Avenue from one-way to two-way traffic. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate – RSVP here.
Odd Duck Market is coming to downtown Charleston
The cafe and retail market located in Park Circle will open its second location at 637 Rutledge Avenue in early 2026.
Chef and owner of Eleven Madison Park is coming to Charleston
Three-Michelin-starred chef Daniel Humm will open a yearlong pop-up at The Charleston Place starting October 2, taking over the former Charleston Grill space. The collaboration, titled “Chef Daniel Humm x The Charleston Place, Presented by Resy,” emphasizes plant-forward, climate-conscious cuisine featuring Lowcountry ingredients through a $135 five-course prix fixe menu.
Beyond dining, the partnership includes an apprenticeship exchange program between Charleston culinary professionals and Eleven Madison Park staff, along with additional guest chef residencies throughout the year.
Reservations open September 2 via Resy.
Short-term rentals
According to AirDNA, a firm that compiles and analyzes Vrbo and Airbnb data, Charleston ranked 3rd nationally in short-term rental revenue growth this summer, posting a 14.5% increase compared to last July. A recent research conducted by the College of Charleston's Office of Tourism Analysis revealed that in 2024, Charleston attracted nearly 8 million visitors, generating a record $14 billion economic impact.
New book
Charleston author and resident Stacy Willingham has released her new Southern thriller, Forget Me Not. Twenty-two years after her sister Natalie's murder was seemingly solved, investigative journalist Claire Campbell returns home and takes a summer job at Galloway Farm, a vineyard where Natalie once worked. What begins as an escape turns sinister when Claire discovers an old diary detailing unsolved crimes—and starts to suspect her sister's case may be connected to something much darker than anyone realized.
Charleston County to increase parking fees in two downtown garages
The county-owned garages at 90 Cumberland Street and 85 Queen Street will have new rates of $1 per 20 minutes (a dollar more per hour). The daily maximum will increase from $20 to $24 and lost ticket fees will be $50 instead of $30.
Cleats is closing
The sports bar and restaurant on Meeting street will close its doors at the end of the month. [Post and Courier]
2026 Culinary Village
Charleston Wine + Food announced that the Culinary Village will return to The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium in 2026. Pre-sale Culinary Village GA tickets go on sale this Thursday, August 21 at 11 AM. GA tickets are $185 (+ fees) – this offer ends September 1, 2025. The festival, which runs from March 4-8, will feature bites from local and visiting chefs, craft beverages, and live music.
New in town: Hope Bruns
At 27, Hope made a spontaneous decision – she resigned from her job in Raleigh, packed her bags, and moved to the Charleston area, which is starting to feel like home. [...]
SC to remove 120-foot Navy vessel
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will remove the derelict Navy torpedo retriever from Bohicket Creek, which has been stuck in the creek for over four years and leaking oil. SCDNR will remove the vessel on Aug. 19 alongside Stevens Towing, a Charleston-based marine transportation and salvage company, which was awarded a $235,000 contract to remove the vessel and tow it to a drydock.
Timber Pizza Co. officially opens
The pizzeria, which started in 2014 and was named Pizzeria of the Year by Bon Appétit magazine in 2017, officially opened in downtown Charleston. The spot, which is located at 741 Meeting Street Suite 102, can seat 34 indoors and 16 outdoors.
CCSD launches new bus tracking app
Charleston County School District has launched FirstView, a redesigned, real-time GPS vehicle tracking and student transportation monitoring app. The app offers an easy-to-use platform for parents and caregivers to monitor their child’s bus location, receive updates, and stay connected throughout the school day.