Our fair Holy City always seems to find herself atop countless “Best _____” (fill in the blank) lists.
It’s a pleasure to see the accolades roll in. Charleston is a great place to visit, and the reasons are readily abundant.
And one of the best ways to experience Charleston’s charms, is by staying in an Isle of Palms luxury beach home. We’ve got you covered there, with our large portfolio of Isle of Palms vacation rentals.
Well, two more superlatives were announced recently, and it’s my pleasure to share the good news…
Travelers’ Choice Awards: “Best of the Best!”
The folks at Tripadvisor know a thing or two about travel. They’re a go-to source for reviews and educated opinions, to help you make the most of your travel time.
Each year, they announce their Travelers’ Choice Awards “Best of the Best,” carefully selected from among their more than 8 million listings.
These are the ones which provide guests with the highest levels of quality and excellence in their category. Winners are based on a large volume of top ratings and reviews, tallied over the last twelve months. Less than 1% of their listings make the cut to be on the list at all, much less take the coveted spot at #1.
The Best Fine Dining Spot in the U.S. is right here in Charleston…
One of Tripadvisor’s main award categories is Restaurants. After all, when you travel, you’re in unfamiliar territory. You’ve gotta eat, but you’ve got limited time and you want to make the most of each outing. Restaurant recommendations are crucial to help find the best place. What better way to maximize your meals out than by hearing from people who have eaten there, and maybe even posted photos of their experience.
The Travelers’ Choice Awards break it down by different restaurant types - Fine Dining, Casual Dining, Hidden Gems, Date Night, One of a Kind, Pet-Friendly, Vegan & Vegetarian, etc. Fine Dining is the crème de la crème.
And lo and behold, the #1 Fine Dining Spot on Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards is… Revival, located at 162 East Bay Street in downtown Charleston.
Here’s how they describe it: “A modern southern eatery. The concept for Revival is modern, yet relaxed dining with a focus on recipes and/or ingredients from South Carolina’s past. The Chef de Cuisine works directly with local farmers to “revive” certain ingredients and utilize them in our dishes. A sample of these ingredients includes the previously extinct Nostrale rice, Jimmy Red grits, or the Bradford Watermelon. Enjoy Revival with a specialty cocktail, an amazing dinner, and later visit the Rooftop for an incredible view.”
Rave reviews include, “One of the best meals I have ever had!” followed by three hearts.
Lowcountry flavors, cocktails at sunset and Thanksgiving dinner…
Revival’s got a lot going for it. A couple menu standouts with Lowcountry roots include:
LOWCOUNTRY PIRLOU - Butter Poached Lobster, Crab, Shrimp, Carolina Gold “Pegao”, Mussels, Saffron, Peas and Black Garlic Aioli.
William Deas’ She Crab Soup - Lump Crab, Amontillado Sherry
Not only did Revival come in at the #1 spot of Best Fine Dining in America, but it also came in at #7 in the World.
Revival is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 5:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. Be sure to start with one of their craft cocktails up on the rooftop and enjoy the sun setting over Charleston Harbor.
Word to the wise, Revival even offers a special Thanksgiving dinner… a great option if you’re here in one of our Isle of Palms beach homes and don’t want to cook for your crowd.
Tripadvisor’s other best fine dining places further down the list include steak houses in New York City, Mexican/Latin American cuisine in Santa Fe, and fresh seafood in Maui. Check out all 25 winners on the list of Travelers’ Choice Awards' Best Fining Dining in America.
Charleston is the Best Small City in America. Again.
As they do every year, the travel-savvy readers of Condé Nast Traveler have weighed in on the best of the best. Their awards are the travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious. In fact, 2025 marks the 38th year of their esteemed Readers’ Choice Awards.
And once again, they’ve declared Charleston to be the #1 Small City in the United States.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Charleston’s won the title. It’s also the 14th time in 15 years.
Here’s what they have to say about our city:
“Charleston may be a small town, but this city punches well above its weight. When you consider everything it has to offer—history, culture, food, charm—it’s no wonder the so-called Holy City has repeatedly topped our list of the best small cities in the US. While its robust food scene, which includes a steady annual circuit of nationally recognized food and culture festivals, continues to be a draw, visitors are rarely prepared for the city's good looks. Stately homes, cobblestone streets, waterfront views, and an abundance of flowering window boxes only add to its welcoming vibe. Find a seat among its many outdoor terraces for a drink and some fresh oysters, and try to resist the urge to up and move here.“
Awww, shucks.
Dan Battista, who serves as the chairman of Explore Charleston’s Board of Governors, had this to say about the honor: “Retaining the distinction of Best U.S. City is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the nearly 55,000 people working in our local travel and hospitality industry each day, as well as the welcoming community that makes Charleston a sought-after destination.”
See Condé Nast Traveler’s gallery of the top ten cities here.
So come check out the best small city in America, home of award-winning cuisine. And stay in one of EP’s Isle of Palms vacation rentals to make it into a beach vacation, to boot.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger
(restaurant photo credit: Revival)