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Charleston's cuisine is referred to as "Low Country," and Dictionary.com defines that as "a low-lying area of land, especially the coastal plains of the Carolinas and Georgia."

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At the end of Hazel Street, you will reach a stone-paved roundabout where porters and valets will assist you in unloading luggage and parking your vehicle. Once inside, reception will try to expedite the check-in process, but there may be a few minutes wait as they are constantly servicing guests of their 450 rooms. Use this time to fully appreciate the elegant spiral staircase rising up from the equally impressive white marble floor. This is also an excellent people-watching opportunity due to the sheer number of comers-and-goers wandering through the 9,000-square-foot lobby. While a very nice lounge sits tucked away on one side of the lobby, I was disappointed that there wasn't more centrally located seating options.

Following check-in, one of the four very tastefully appointed elevators will efficiently deliver you to your floor. The hotel features a small courtyard, which makes finding your room a "mouse in a maze"-type experience. Upon entering the room, I was a little disappointed by the accommodations. I was certain that I was staying in the most basic setup, but it seemed very cramped for such an expensive and well-regarded hotel. The room was furnished with two full-size beds, a small desk, a large closet, and an entertainment center. Another couple in my group upgraded to one of the Club Level rooms, but here the extra cost just gets access to more services and a bigger bathroom. The rooms are comfortable and clean, but I wouldn't regard them as exceptional.

The hotel does offer some very costly and luxurious rooms, but my feeling is that the location and amenities are what earns Charleston Place such a great reputation. It has a world-class spa and houses Charleston Grill, one of the finest restaurants in the city, both of which I didn't try. The hotel also provides a first-class business center, fitness center with heated pool, and an extremely knowledgeable and helpful concierge service.

I was overly satisfied by the convenience of Charleston Place's location and the hotel's staff, but I believe that I have been overwhelmed by much nicer accommodations elsewhere. The W Hotel chain continually sets the high-water mark for me, especially the Atlanta location. I did enjoy my stay in Charleston, but for my next trip, I would definitely consider other options to Charleston Place.

First, I must admit that seafood is near the bottom of my list of favorite things to eat. I do not enjoy shellfish of any shape or form; however, there are certain types of fish that I really like, talapia being a good example. Alas, two friends and I arrived in Charleston, and we were charged with finding a dinner spot that could accommodate 10 people. The concierge at our hotel recommended the Boathouse and made arrangements for us that evening.

The group of 10 somehow managed to arrive on time for our reservation, and we were seated promptly. The restaurant is decorated with a nautical theme, which is appropriate given its name, and the interior design appears tastefully done rather than cloying. The original timbers used for the warehouse's ceiling remain, and it feels as if you are sitting within the galley of an ancient tall ship, albeit one that has been turned upside down.

Despite our prompt seating, the wait staff is not very organized or attentive. Drink orders and simple requests for condiments were forgotten more than once during our meal. The appetizer and entrée orders placed by the table as a whole did arrive in a timely fashion and without error. However, requesting the bill, providing payment, and receiving change would best be described as sluggish, and that is probably a compliment.

Again, I would like to reiterate that seafood is not one of my preferences. For dinner, I had the blackened grouper with mashed potatoes and collard greens (vile weed!). Since I don't eat seafood often, my meal seemed to be of good quality, but my palate isn't that refined or too difficult to please. For dessert, I really enjoyed the key lime pie, which was quite delicious. Everyone in my group seemed totally satisfied with their meal, and I don't recall anyone issuing a complaint in regards to the food.

I strongly recommend the Boathouse on East Bay for seafood lovers within the Charleston area, and my opinion of the place is even greater when the lively dinner and bar crowd are considered as part of the overall experience. I've also read many reviews that claim that the raw bar, open daily from 4pm to midnight, serves the city's best oysters, littleneck clams, and smoked mussels. Bon Appetit!

The Wild Wing Cafe has every type of chicken dish imaginable, as well as traditional pub grub. All of the food is edible but not memorable. The bar and restaurant provide a spacious area, and you shouldn't have a problem being seated prior to 6pm. During the evening, it draws a larger and younger crowd for the occasional live music performance or its nightly drink specials.

The Wild Wing Cafe is a good spot to mingle, especially around the horseshoe-shaped bar. You will find both the staff and crowd to be outgoing, talkative, and friendly. Patrons are an eclectic mix of tourists, rednecks, bikers, recent graduates, and staff from the surrounding restaurants. Despite the diversity of the crowd, you'll be as comfortable here as you would be in your favorite dive back home.

The restaurant keeps the decor simple, and its furnishings are little more than lightly stained wood affixed together into tables and chairs. Whether the restaurant is almost empty or overflowing with patrons, prompt and attentive service is guaranteed during your visit. If nothing else, the staff wants to ensure that every customer is treated like family.

If you don't enjoy seafood, especially shellfish, you probably aren't going to find many things to your liking on the menu. Unfortunately, seafood is not one of my favorite things, so I ordered buffalo wings and hush puppies. The side order of tasty hush puppies is easily enough to provide for three or four people, and we made the mistake of ordering two baskets. The buffalo wings are not (and never will be) a Hyman's specialty, but the other people in my group raved over the Shrimp Po Boy sandwich and the "best Bloody Mary’s" in town.

To ensure that you have been properly attended to during your visit, a Hyman family member is usually on site and will check in with your table. Following your meal, you will be provided with a small sticker to wear on your clothing. If someone from the Hyman family spots the sticker while you are out in Charleston, your next meal is on the house.

Personally, I didn't care for the food, and the limitations of the menu in regard to non-seafood lovers was disappointing. While my friends enjoyed their food, they didn't feel that Hyman's was one of the best places to eat in Charleston. In my opinion, the restaurant draws hoards of customers based on a sense of nostalgia and the staff's overall friendliness.

Within the section dedicated to Charleston, Schultz recommends dining at Magnolias to experience the best of low country cuisine. My hope is that I don't die anytime soon, but just in case, I decided to enjoy a meal at Magnolias while I was visiting the area.

The restaurant is conveniently located within the historic district, and my group was able to secure a reservation for 16 people on a Thursday evening. We made the reservation just one day in advance, however, we were split into two eight person groups for dinner. I don't know if they can accomodate a single setting for a really large group, but they managed to seat our two tables right next to each other.

The dining room was packed with customers due to Magnolias’ reputation for excellent food. It has been showered with accolades from epicurians and foodies from across the country. Tables are set very elegantly, and the seating is tight but comfortable. The surroundings are a perfect combination of dark wood, wrought-iron, and fine art.

The menu has an extensive number of choices for food lovers of every taste. Dishes include seafood, red and white meat, and even game. It didn't take me long to review the menu and decide upon the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast. It is served with cracked pepper biscuits, mashed potatoes, collard greens, cream style corn, and sausage herb gravy. If it was socially acceptable, I would have licked the plate clean. There is also a long list of wines available for order.

When I was living at home in Knoxville, my mother made dinner for the family nearly every evening. Fortunately for me, she was an excellent cook. I bring up my mom's prowess in the kitchen because my meal at Magnolias was equal to her best efforts, and that is quite a compliment to the chefs in Charleston. The food, service, and setting were all flawless, and you would be doing yourself a disservice by missing out on a meal at Magnolias.

I've come to learn that the Silver Dollar is something of an institution, and one of the first bars to open in this now hot nightlife district. It was established on New Year's Eve of 2000, and the owner, Steven Sher, picked the location to avoid city zoning that would require it to close at 2am. It’s a large space that gets crowded with locals coming to enjoy the cheap drinks, live music, trivia, and two pool tables.

Steven Sher opened the Silver Dollar to honor his grandfather, Harry Sher, who operated a bar in Boston of the same name. Most of the photographs lining the bar's walls were pictures taken at the original bar. The Boston-based Silver Dollar was established in the 1940s, and it was famous for its 100-foot-long bar, the longest in the country. The Charleston based location is also famous, locally, for once being named "one of the best places to go for a one-night stand."

The Silver Dollar opens at 8pm, and the crowd remains lively until closing at 3am (at least it did on the Friday and Saturday I was there). If young, drunken whipper-snappers don't frighten you, I recommend giving the place your patronage for at least a few adult beverages. The locals are very friendly, and I even had a large, burly fellow offer me a shot for being the tallest person in the bar. I declined because I was holding court with two comely young blondes... and also a little out of fear of his further intentions for me. I saw "Deliverance."

Tinder Box Internationale is a long, narrow store lined with humidified glass cabinets showcasing a vast selection of premium stogies. The cigars being offered for sale here are not inexpensive, but the store is not associated with Club Habana, so they aren't marked up either. Tinder Box Internationale is open until 11pm, so make sure you purchase enough to satisfy your jones into the early morning hours.

When your jacket pockets have been filled to capacity with tobacco treasures, climb the stairs to find Club Habana's 10-seat bar. If the bar is crowded or you desire more secluded seating, head left into the three small rooms furnished with small tables; padded velvet chairs; and long, soft sofas. Let your eyes adjust to the sultry, dark environs before ordering one of the specialty martinis or some of the smooth, aged Scotch listed on the menu. Personally, I'm a less-sophisticated social drinker, and I spent the evening partaking of the locally brewed Palmetto Ale.

Upon arrival in Charleston, my friends and I had stopped into a local watering hole to grab a quick bite for lunch. I queried our friendly bartender for a rundown of the city's hot spots, and he told me that Club Habana would be full of scantily clad women later in the evening. While I did notice a few nicely dressed Southern belles in smallish cocktail dresses, the bar was mostly being occupied by small groups of 30-something males. All of Club Habana's employees are female, but hitting on the help almost always results in swift rejection. I also found the seating arrangements within the small rooms to be less conducive to mingling.

Typically, cigar bars with their smoky atmosphere are habitats catering to a mostly male clientele. Club Habana actively promotes their air filtration systems, which make the space attractive to smokers and their nonsmoking company. Since New York State instituted a smoking ban in public places, I've become less tolerant of cigar- and cigarette-friendly establishments. After a couple of hours, my eyes could no longer handle exposure to even the modestly smoke-filled room. That being said, if you are a social smoker or enjoy a higher-class bar experience, Club Habana is probably your kind of place.

The Pavilion Bar & Cafe's greatest selling point is the atmosphere that only a lofty rooftop bar can provide. The space is entirely enclosed within a tall Plexiglas barrier to diminish the chilly ocean breeze. And, for really cool evenings, propane heat lamps are spread throughout the area to match the hotness of the attractive crowd.

The large space has plenty of standing room, as well as a variety of seating options, from bar stools to chaise lounges. A cute girl stretched out on one of the lounge chairs presented me with the opportunity to approach her and ask "Should I apply some lotion so you don't get a moonburn?" One of my female friends challenged me to use that line, and I was game enough to try it. I personally found it amusing and so did the young lady... it got me an invitation to join her for karaoke at another bar (which I declined). Feel free to steal it if fate provides you with a similar opportunity.

The Pavilion Bar & Cafe is located on the corner of Market and East Bay Streets, and it's open daily from 11:30am to closing (food served until midnight). It could easily be transplanted into the New York City social scene and find instant success. While I was in Charleston, it didn't have the buzz of other hot spots (like it should have), but I enjoyed it much more than the over-hyped Club Habana. The only thing that freaked me out was walking across and standing on the clear plastic covering over the dimly lit pool.

If you are going to spend a few days in the lovely city of Charleston, give the Pavilion Bar & Cafe a visit. I'm certain you won't be disappointed. Also, from what I've read and seen of the Market Pavilion Hotel, you may want to consider it as accommodations for your stay.

Wet Willie's setup reminded me of the hurricane bars found throughout New Orleans. The bar features a row of machines along the back wall serving 18 different flavors of frozen daiquiris - some with buzz-inspiring names like "Call a Cab" and "Shock Treatment." Steer clear of the "Monster Melon" variation, as it was deemed "god-awful" by all taste-testers in attendance. For more manly drinks, the bar is also fully stocked with standard libations, as well as draught and bottled beer.

The bar area is quite large, with a nicely appointed gameroom located in the back. Based on the unpretentious decor (generous use of oft-scrawled-upon wood), the owners cater to a less sophisticated (a.k.a. young and rowdy) clientele. Every surface is covered with a sticky film, similar to a movie theater floor, from many spilled drinks over many wild nights. I assumed that the allure of fruity concoctions would attract hordes of young women, but alas, the most lively group in the bar was my own. Unfortunately, the lack of patrons left me alcoholically sated but socially unsatisfied.

Wet Willie's is actually a chain of eight Southern bars of the same name, and there is an official site with pictures from the various establishments.