A Recap of the Accolades Charleston Tallied in 2022

To many residents’ chagrin, the media’s love affair with the Holy City continued in 2022. Below is a list of all the awards, accolades, and honors that were bestowed upon Charleston, its businesses, its restaurants, its people, and more.

FYI – You can click on the award name to learn more.

• # 1 Best City in the U.S. – Condé Nast Traveler
• # 1 Best City for Veterans Transitioning Out of Service – Navy Federal Credit Union
• # 1 Top City in the U.S. – Travel + Leisure
• # 1 City to Retire To – Wallethub
• # 1 Best South Carolina Beach: Kiawah Island – U.S. News & World Report
• # 1 Seller of PBR in America: Recovery Room
• Minor League Team of the Year: Charleston RiverDogs – Baseball America
• The South’s Best City – Southern Living
• The South’s Best Brewery: Palmetto Brewing – Southern Living
• South Carolina’s Best Coffee Shop: Sightsee – Food & Wine
• # 2 Best City Hotel in the Continental U.S.: The Loutrel – Travel + Leisure
• # 2 Best High School in the Country: Academic Magnet High School – U.S. News & World Report
• # 2 Best Island in the Continental U.S.: Kiawah Island – Travel + Leisure
• # 2 Top Island in the Continental U.S.: Kiawah Island – Travel + Leisure
• # 2 Top Island in the U.S.: Kiawah Island – Condé Nast Traveler
• # 2 “Trending Destination” in the United States – TripAdvisor
• # 3 Best Bakery in the South: The Harbinger Cafe and Bakery – Southern Living
• # 3 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States: Halls Chophouse – TripAdvisor
• # 3 Best South Carolina Beach: Sullivan’s Island – U.S. News & World Report
• # 5 Top Resort in the South: Wild Dunes – Condé Nast Traveler
• # 3 Best Resort in the South: Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Southern Living
• # 4 Best Museum in the South: Aiken-Rhett House Museum – Southern Living
• # 4 Pet-Friendly Road Trip Destination: Mt. Pleasant – BestPlaces
• # 4 Top Hotels in the United States: French Quarter Inn – TripAdvisor
• # 5 Best City for Country Music Fans – LawnStarter
• # 5 Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the Country: Halls Chophouse – TripAdvisor
• # 5  Best Minor League Sports City in the Country – Livability
• # 6 Best City for Dating – Sterling’s BestPlaces
• # 6 Best Place for Date Night: Circa 1886 – TripAdvisor
• # 6 Best Restaurant in the Country: Jackrabbit Filly – Yelp
• # 6 Best South Carolina Beach: Folly Beach – U.S. News & World Report
• # 7 Top Resort in the South: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Condé Nast Traveler
• # 8 Best City Hotel in the Continental U.S.: Wentworth Mansion – Travel + Leisure
• # 8 Best South Carolina Beach: Isle of Palms – U.S. News & World Report
• # 8 Highest-Rated Vegan Restaurant in the US: Rush Bowls – BonusInsider
• # 9 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States: Circa 1886 Restaurant – TripAdvisor
• # 9 Best Midsize College City in America – WalletHub
• # 9 Best Place for EveryDay Eats: Queology – TripAdvisor
• # 10 Best Warm Destination for Winter Travel: Charleston – Wallethub
• # 10 Barbecue Joints of 2022: Lewis Barbecue – Southern Living
• # 10 Best Best City for Pastry Lovers – Lawn Love
• # 10 Top Resort in the South: The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina – Condé Nast Traveler
• # 11 Best City for Sandwich Lovers – Lawn Love
• # 12 Best Hotel in the Country: French Quarter Inn – TripAdvisor
• # 12 Best Summer Travel Destinations: Greater Charleston Area – Wallethub
• # 13 Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the Country: Circa 1886 – TripAdvisor
• # 14 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States: Peninsula Grill – TripAdvisor
• # 14 Best Place for EveryDay Eats: Acme Lowcountry Kitchen – TripAdvisor
• # 18 Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the Country: Peninsula Grill – TripAdvisor
• # 18 Best Hotel in the Country: HarbourView Inn – TripAdvisor
• # 18 “Trending Destination” in the World – TripAdvisor
• # 19 Barbecue Joints of 2022: Palmira BBQ – Southern Living
• # 19 Best City for Breakfast Lovers – Lawn Love
• # 19 Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the Country: FIG – TripAdvisor
• # 19 Best Foodie City in the Country – Wallethub
• # 19 Best Hotel in the Country: The Spectator Hotel – TripAdvisor
• # 20 Best Coffee Shop in the U.S. and Canada: Lodi Coffee – Yelp
• # 20 Best Hotel in the World: The Loutrel – Travel + Leisure
• # 22 Best Restaurant in the Country: LoLa – Yelp
• # 22 Best-Run City in America – Wallethub
• # 22 Fastest-Growing Place in the U.S. – U.S. News & World Report
• # 23 Top City in the World – Travel + Leisure
• # 25 Barbecue Joints of 2022: Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog Barbecue – Southern Living
• # 25 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the United States: 82 Queen – TripAdvisor
• # 25 Best Island in the World: Kiawah Island – Travel + Leisure
• # 25 Top Hotels in the United States: The Spectator Hotel – TripAdvisor
• # 25 Top Overall Experiences: Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class – TripAdvisor
• # 38 Barbecue Joints of 2022: Home Team BBQ – Southern Living
• # 49 Barbecue Joints of 2022: Swig & Swine – Southern Living
• # 99 Best Hotel in the World: Wentworth Mansion – Travel + Leisure
• Best New Hotels in the World: Post House – Travel + Leisure
• Best of Weddings 2022: Uptown Hospitality Group – The Knot
• Best of Weddings Award for “Best Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Shower and Parties”: Uptown Social – The Knot
• One of America’s Best Christmas Light Displays: Brookgreen Gardens’ Nights of a Thousand Candles – U.S. News and World Report’
• One of America’s Best Eye Doctors: Dr. Savannah Coker (The Vision Center at Seaside Farms) – Newsweek
• One of the 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in America for 2022: Fleeting Landing Restaurant & Bar – OpenTable
• One of The Best Bars in America, 2022: Little Palm in The Ryder Hotel – Esquire
• One of the Coziest Small Towns in America: Beaufort – My Dating Advisor
• One of the Coziest Small Towns in America: Isle of Palms – My Dating Advisor
• One of the Coziest Small Towns in America: Pawleys Island – My Dating Advisor
• One of the Most “Breathtaking Places and Experiences for 2023”: International African American Museum – National Geographic
• One of Top Fishing Spots for this Labor Day – Fishing Booker
• One of the Top Libraries in the U.S.: Charleston County Public Library – Library Journal
• One of Yelp’s 2022 Foodie Cities – Yelp
• Runner-Up in the Made in the South Awards: Butcher & Bee – Garden & Gun
• Runner-Up in the Made in the South Awards: Life Raft Treats – Garden & Gun
• Runner-Up in the Made in the South Awards: Tekton Game Calls – Garden & Gun
• Star Award: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Forbes Travel Guide
• Star Award: The Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island – Forbes Travel Guide
• Star Award: Hotel Bennett – Forbes Travel Guide
• Star Award: The Ocean Room – Forbes Travel Guide
• Star Award: Grill 225 – Forbes Travel Guide
• Star Award: Market Pavilion Hotel – Forbes Travel Guide
• South Carolina’s Best BBQ: Rodney Scott’s BBQ – Southern Living
• South Carolina’s Best Nachos: Queology – Mashed
• Top Luxury Hotels: Wentworth Mansion – Travel & Leisure
• Top Minor League Market – Sports Business Journal
• Top Small Stays: Wentworth Mansion – Travel & Leisure
• Top Pizzeria in South Carolina: Baker’s Bar – Google
• Wine Spectator Award of Excellence – SAVI Cucina + Wine
• WTA 500 Tournament of the Year: Credit One Charleston Open – Women’s Tennis Association