Radcliffeborough/Elliottborough/Cannonborough

North of Calhoun and west of King Street, south of the Crosstown
Miles to Campus: one or less
Average Room Rent: $600

In these neighborhoods, you’ll get a yard for flip cup tournaments and maybe even a driveway for roughly the same rent you’d pay in Harleston Village, give or take a few Benjamins. These rooms are bigger and sometimes nicer, and it’s less likely (but still probable) that cops would be called on house parties. School is less than a 10-minute bike ride away. Watch out for stray cats and bums though, and pick and choose which strangers you befriend. “Vanderhorst” is pronounced like Luther the singer’s last name (i.e. van-dross). The Cozy King Street Grocery (435 King St.) is convenient to the bar scene and neighborhoods.

Hampton Park/Wagener Terrace Area

Between Rutledge and President Streets, north of Huger Street and the Crosstown
Miles to Campus: half a mile
Average Room Rent: $450-$600

Located north of the Crosstown and south of North Charleston, this part of town is becoming more and more popular with the twentysomethings. The houses have that Southern appeal — with backyards for animals, balconies for sitting, the Citadel bugle sounding off in the distance, and neighbors who take the time to garden. While most Hampton Park (near the Citadel campus) residents are harmless, some others who frequent the area might scare you. Gunshots are not unheard of in this rapidly revitalized area. Old-school grocery store Jaber’s (635 Rutledge Ave.) and the newer Food Lion (1015 King St.) and sizeable Piggly Wiggly (445 Meeting St.) are close by. Free WiFi is available at Rutledge Coffee & Cream off the Crosstown. Rent is usually in the $450-$600 range, and the location has residents sequestered away from the tourists, close to the bridges off the Peninsula, and less than a 20-minute bike ride to class.

Harleston Village

South of Calhoun St., just west of the College
Miles to Campus: roughly a quarter to half a mile
Average Room Rent: $700-$800

John Belushi and his COLLEGE sweatshirt would have lived here with his bottle of whiskey, if he could afford it. This is a “I must live here” neighborhood for college students. You can walk to class, get a coveted residential parking decal, and be in the middle of all the campus happenings. Search hard and don’t settle. The houses are very old here, and some apartments are slummy while others are grand. Depending on the house, location, and amenities, these landlords will charge tenants anywhere from $550-$800 for a room to hang posters and photos of your soon-to-be ex-sweetheart off at some other school. Smaller neighborhood shops include College Corner (1 Coming St.), Queen Street Grocery (133 Queen St.), Wentworth Station (131 Wentworth St.), J&W Grocery (28 Pitt St.), and Lil’ Cricket (56 State St.). Free WiFi is available at the CofC Addlestone Library (205 Calhoun St.).

South of Broad

Literally south of Broad Street, the lower half of the Peninsula where we keep Rainbow Row and The Battery
Miles to Campus: roughly half a mile
Average Room Rent: $1,400

A college kid named Daniel House recently quipped, “If you’re even living south of Calhoun Street, you must be balling.” But a college kid living south of Broad Street, well that’s just monetarily unthinkable, unless that student still lives with mom or dad, or is receiving a hefty allowance (you know, one of those lucky Trustafarians). This neighborhood is quiet — and has wealth beyond belief. These white-collared inhabitants go to sleep early and have children who drive nice cars. A keg party here won’t last too long, and recent rental listings off Tradd and Legare Streets were asking $2,800 for two bedrooms. The quaint Burbage’s Grocery (157 Broad St.) is cool, but the affordable supplies are best found at the Harris Teeter up East Bay (290 East Bay St.). All the bustling action at the touristy City Market is only a few blocks away (up meeting and East Bay Streets) as well.

Cool Night Life & Cheap Eateries to Check Out:

  • A.C.’s Bar & Grill (467 King St.)
  • Big John’s Tavern (251 E. Bay St.)
  • Blind Tiger (38 Broad St.)
  • The Brick (213 E. Bay St.)
  • Charleston Beer Works(468 King St.)
  • Cumberland’s(301 King St.)
  • Johnson’s Pub (12 Cumberland St.)
  • Kickin’ Chicken (337 King St.)
  • King Street Grille(304 King St.)
  • La Hacienda (354 King St.)
  • Mellow Mushroom (309 King St.)
  • Moe’s Crosstown (714 Rutledge Ave.)
  • Music Farm (32 Ann St.)
  • Norm’s Pizza Subs & Grill(225 Calhoun St.)
  • O’Malley’s Bar 7 Grille (549 King St.)
  • Silver Dollar (478 King St.)
  • Tonik (479 King St.)
  • Torch Velvet Lounge (545 King St.)
  • Upper Deck Tavern (353 King St.)
  • Vickery’s (15 Beaufain St.)
  • Wild Wing Café (36 N. Market St.)

Ten of Downtown’s Finest
Food and Booze Deals

Every popular downtown hotspot has a few killer food and drink deals on their regular menu and their weekly specials boards. Listed below are 10 of the most popular weekly and daily specials on the Peninsula.

  • Half-price burgers at Moe’s Crosstown Tavern on Tuesdays (7-10 p.m.)
  • $2 pints of draft beer (house-brewed and commercial) at Southend Brewery & Smokehouse during happy hour (5-7 p.m. M-F)
  • Half-priced pizza and half-priced domestic draft beer at Norm’s Pizza on Thursdays (all day)
  • $1 “Mystery Beer” at Salty Mike’s on Fridays (all day)
  • $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon at Mellow Mushroom (daily)
  • $2 pints of draft beer (imports, microbrews, domestics) at Charleston Beer Works during happy hour (5-8 p.m. daily)
  • Half-off all draft beer at O’Malley’s Bar & Grille during happy hour (4-8 p.m. daily)
  • $1 “Mystery Beer” at Cumberland’s on Monday nights (after 5 p.m.)
  • $6 for two large cheese pizza slices and draft Pabst Blue Ribbon (or soft drink) at Andolini’s Pizza
  • $1 cans of Miller High Life and Pabst Blue Ribbon at Vickery’s during happy hour (4-8 p.m. daily)

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