Best Charleston Coffee Shops, Bakeries, & Creameries – Updated Regularly

Sharing the absolute best Charleston coffee shops, bakeries, and ice cream shops!

The Best Charleston Coffee Shops, Bakeries, and Ice Cream Shops | Best of Charleston Sweets | Louella Reese

Continuing my best of Charleston series with the Best Charleston Coffee Shops, Bakeries, and Ice Cream Shops! Honestly, my personal favorites! My sweet teeth is no joke and more often than not I would prefer to grab a sweet treat than a full meal – I know, not the healthiest but hey, it’s definitely okay when on vacation! Especially when visiting a spot like Charleston that is overflowing with coffee shops offering the best baked goods, ice cream shops with unique flavors, and bakeries with the best cupcakes you have ever tasted! 

This post will be updated after each visit Charleston. Adding additional places that are new to me or have recently opened. So if you’re headed to the charming South Carolina town be sure to check back often for this post (and the others to come) to help you plan your trip.

Cutest Charleston Coffee Shops | Where to Grab Coffee in Charleston | Louella Reese
Cutest Charleston Coffee Shops | Where to Grab Coffee in Charleston | Louella Reese

The Best Charleston Coffee Shops

The Harbinger Cafe & Bakery: My absolute favorite coffee shop in Charleston, it is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. From the cozy interior to the beautiful patio out back. Not to mention the gorgeous plates and mugs they use to serve their yummy goodness. Seriously their baked goods incredible! 

You cannot miss Black & Blue bar, Peanut Butter Fig Bar, and the Best Friend cookie. 

hours: monday – friday: 7a – 5p, saturday: 8a – 3p, sunday: 8a – noon

One Broad Street: casual, full of natural light, and the perfect spot to meet friends. This coffee shop offers the most space out of all of them. Aside from the space, it is centrally located and has so many delicious baked goods. As well as full on breakfast/lunch if that’s more your style! 

hours: monday – friday 7:30am – 7pm​​, saturday: brunch 9am – 4pm, sunday: 9am – 3pm

The Rise Coffee Bar: this is the smallest of the three. More grab and go kind of style. Unless it is nice outside, then they have a small patio on the side that is perfect for enjoying a little break in between shopping on king street. The Rise is full of natural sunlight and beautiful white marble. They also have some baked goods, kombucha, and additional menu items to enjoy. 

hours: monday-friday 7 am-5 pm, saturday-sunday 8 am-5 pm.

Cutest Charleston Ice Cream Shops | The BEST Charleston Creameries | Louella Reese
Cutest Charleston Ice Cream Shops | The BEST Charleston Creameries | Louella Reese

The Best Charleston Creameries & Ice Cream Shops

Off Track Ice Cream: found just off King Street in the heart of downtown Charleston. They  create traditional and vegan Ice Cream in classic and incredibly unique flavors. They make their  ice cream from scratch using only clean ingredients. 

To give you some idea of their amazing flavors…Rye Spiked Cedar & Molasses Cookies, Key Lime Pie, and Cookies & Cream (literally the best I’ve ever had). And vegan flavors…Deconstructed Samoas, Caramel Latte Cookie Crumble,  and Campfire S’mores. 

hours: Sunday – Wednesday 12pm – 10pm, Thursday-Saturday 12pm – 11pm

Cutest Charleston Bakeries | The BEST Charleston Bakeries | Louella Reese
Cutest Charleston Bakeries | The BEST Charleston Bakeries | Louella Reese

The Best Charleston Bakeries

Sugar Bakeshop: Sugar Bakeshop is a short three to five minute drive from downtown Charleston. 100% worth the short drive! It is the cutest little bake shop you have ever seen! Filled with cupcakes, cookies, and other yumminess. Oh and be sure to try the Vanilla Blueberry, it is incredible! 

hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 11am-5pm, closed on Sundays.

34 Comments

  1. Dana Mannarino wrote:

    Charleston coffee shops are some of my favorites!! I love that you rounded up your faves!

    Dana | The Champagne Edit 

    Posted 11.6.19
  2. Morgan wrote:

    I LOVE the Rise coffee shop!! The aesthetics are off the charts great for me haha. I’ve yet to try Sugar but want to the next time I go! Those cupcakes look so good!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

    Posted 11.6.19
    • So very true! It is perfect for you. Oh you NEED to try Sugar – so amazing!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.6.19
  3. Ah this coffee shop sounds great. As does the bakeries and ice cream shop. Would love to visit Charleston one day. Your photos make it look so inviting!

    Allie of
    http://www.allienyc.com

    Posted 11.7.19
  4. Kelsey wrote:

    all these places sound great, the cupcakes look delicious!
    Xo, Kelsey

    Posted 11.8.19
  5. Maureen wrote:

    I can’t wait to try these out for myself! I hear a lot of good things about Charleston and I can’t wait to visit!

    Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

    Posted 11.11.19
    • You will love it – such a sweet town and so many amazing places to eat!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.11.19
  6. Rach wrote:

    I’ve always wanted to go to Charleston! I need to bookmark this post bc wherever I travel, I always love checking out coffee shops!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

    Posted 11.11.19
  7. Lizzie wrote:

    I want to go to all of these! I’m not a coffee drinker but I do love cute coffee shops! And of course bakeries are a no-brainer with my massive sweet tooth haha!

    Lizzie
    http://www.lizzieinlace.com

    Posted 11.11.19
    • With you on that gal – I only drink tea. Hopefully one day we’ll like coffee haha. Also with you on the massive sweet tooth 🙂 you’ll definitely have to visit these spots.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.11.19
  8. rebecca wrote:

    ooooh this is such a good idea for a post! i need to do this for Richmond! looks like some yummy spots.

    xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com

    Posted 11.11.19
    • Aw thank you Rebecca! Appreciate that 🙂 yes – you absolutely should!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.12.19
  9. Stephanie wrote:

    I have a post like this for RVA and you’ve just reminded me that I need to update it haha! I love this list and I can’t wait to visit Charleston one day and head to your favorite spots.

    Posted 11.11.19
    • Haha perfect!! Oh you will absolutely love it – seriously such a wonderful, unique town.

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.12.19
  10. I have to come back to the city and do cafe hopping. Your pictures are great as always.

    ❥ tanvii.com

    Posted 11.11.19
    • Yes you absolutely do! And thank you 🙂 I really, really appreciate that!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.12.19
  11. I need to visit! These all sound perfect for a cute date. Thanks for sharing!

    Posted 11.11.19
  12. You totally nailed it with this post!! Love all of these perfect spots!

    Posted 11.11.19
  13. Anna English wrote:

    I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but I love Rise! The decor is so cute there.

    Posted 11.12.19
    • With ya gal – tea only for me! But Rise does have an amazing tea from a local tea farm!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.12.19
  14. I need to check out some of these bakeries! The Sugar Bakeshop has some seriously delicious looking cupcakes, yum! I am also glad you included the hours of operation for these restaurants as some places can be closed on odd days! You never know.

    XO Amanda

    Posted 11.13.19
    • Yes you absolutely need to! Oh Sugar Bakeshop is the best!! If we had one in Charlotte I would be in trouble haha. And yes, very true!

      xo Laura Leigh

      Posted 11.14.19
  15. Patricia wrote:

    Oh how pretty if I ever get the chance to visit Charleston I need to visit the bakery, what a delicious bunch of sugary treats. Saved the post directly to my faves and must sees.

    Bisou from Berlin

    Posted 11.17.19
  16. Kristina wrote:

    The Harbinger looks adorable!! I need to go next time I visit.

    Posted 11.17.19
  17. kileen wrote:

    i need to visit charleston!

    xo,
    kileen

    Posted 11.24.19

Comments are closed.