20 Charleston, South Carolina Event Venues That Attendees Will Love
Ready to host an event in Charleston, South Carolina? Here are the 20 best venues the city has to offer!
If you haven’t noticed, Charleston, South Carolina is having a moment. The city seems to be at the top of everyone’s travel list because of its rich history, inviting atmosphere, and incredible restaurant scene. So we’re not surprised that you’re interested in hosting an event here.
Keep reading to discover the 20 best venues that Charleston has to offer. We’re sure you’ll find one that perfectly suits the event you plan to host next!
20 Charleston, South Carolina Event Venues
1. 5Church Charleston
Source: Charleston City Paper
Location: French Quarter
Capacity: 250
5Church Charleston is one of the most unique event venues in South Carolina, mostly because it’s located in an old church (hence the name). The restaurant serves delicious food, while offering diners remarkable glimpses of the building’s high ceilings, wood beams, and stained glass window. Host your business meeting, wedding reception, or private social gathering in one of 5Church’s three spaces: the Buffalo Room, the Main Hall, or the Garden Patio. No matter which one you choose, you’ll have access to A/V equipment and street parking for all your guests. It’s a fantastic venue and should definitely be at the top of your list when planning an event in Charleston, South Carolina!
2. Historic Rice Mill
Source: Holy City Hospitality
Location: Charleston Village
Capacity: 300
It’s all in the name: the Historic Rice Mill is a true slice of history and a great choice to host your next corporate function or personal get-together. Originally built in 1861, the waterfront venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for rent and unparalleled sunset views. Inside, the Historic Rice Mill features exposed brick walls, wide plank-wood floors, large double windows, and pressed tin ceilings. Catering options are also available for event planners and will allow you to feed your guests restaurant quality meals. There’s a lot to love about the Historic Rice Mill!
3. Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens
Source: Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens
Location: Mt Pleasant
Capacity: 225
Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens is known as America’s most photographed plantation and it’s not hard to see why. The property features 250 year old oak trees draped in Spanish Moss and beautiful views of the Wampocheone Creek. Events of all kinds will feel at home here. Those hosting wedding ceremonies generally love the Cotton Deck, a wooden structure that jets out into the water. Corporate events do well inside the stately plantation mansion. But no matter which space you choose, you’ll have access to an experienced event staff to help ensure your gathering goes off without a hitch.
4. The Gaillard Center
Source: Post and Courier
Location: Wraggborough
Capacity: 1,800
The Gaillard Center, pronounced GILL-Yard, has been open and entertaining audiences for over 40 years. Named after a former mayor of Charleston, the venue has hosted memorable theatrical and orchestral performances as well as jazz concerts. It’s ready to host your event too! Choose one of the theater’s ballrooms, conference rooms, or meeting rooms for your next business or personal gathering. Or go all out and book the Martha and John M. Rivers Performance Hall! Event planners also have access to a first-class catering service so you know your guests will be well-fed. From weddings to conferences to musical performances, The Gaillard Center is a great venue choice.
5. The Carolina Girl Yacht
Source: Carolina Girl Events
Location: Johns Island
Capacity: 150
Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. If that’s how you’re feeling, consider booking your next business meeting, fundraiser gala, or private celebratory party on the Carolina Girl Yacht. The spacious watercraft can accommodate up to 150 people and event planners have access to a 55 inch flat screen TV, wireless microphone system, and tasty food menus. Book the Carolina Girl and treat your guests to a taste of the high-life with gorgeous views of Charleston’s Historic District, Harbour, and the Ashley River Bridge.
6. William Aiken House
Source: Charleston-SC
Location: Radcliffeborough
Capacity: 200
The William Aiken House is another historic location in Charleston, South Carolina. This venue was first envisioned and built by John Robinson in 1820. Unfortunately, the local merchant hit upon financial struggles and had to sell the property. William Aiken Sr. then purchased it and gave it its namesake. Today, The William Aiken House is open for tours and events of all types. Book this venue and wow your guests with the building’s expansive porches, lush grounds, open-air piazzas, and authentic feel.
7. The South Carolina Aquarium
Source: Wedding Spot
Location: Wraggborough
Capacity: 500
The South Carolina Aquarium invites you to “make waves” with your next business or personal event. The venue offers creative food menus, bar service, exciting entertainment options, and incredible animal encounters from its downtown, waterfront location. An in-house events team is also available to help you plan and run your entire shindig. Whether you’re trying to impress corporate clients, get married in style, or celebrate a life milestone, the South Carolina Aquarium is an amazing event venue that you should definitely have on your list.
8. Husk
Source: Husk
Location: French Quarter
Capacity: 30
Choosing the right event venue is never easy. When in doubt, book a space with stellar food options because a tasty meal is an easy way to win over attendees. Husk is one of the best Charleston event spaces and restaurants the city has to offer. You and up to 29 guests can feast on expertly crafted southern dishes prepared by head chef and lowcountry native, Travis Grimes. You’ll also be able to drink from a collection of over 100 different bourbons. It’s the perfect location for business meetings, intimate birthday parties, or even a simple night out with friends. Book Husk today and enjoy a night of delicious food and drinks with your corporate or personal guests.
9. Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, Autograph Collection
Source: Vroomz
Location: French Quarter
Capacity: 120
The Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, Autograph Collection is a Marriott hotel. But it’s much more unique than most of the hospitality chain’s other locations due to its boutique status. Event planners can host their guests in one of five different spaces including a private dining room and outdoor terrace. And all events have access to free WiFi, modern A/V equipment, as well as the hotel’s scenic rooftop bar. All in all, an event held at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, Autograph Collection is sure to be luxurious and memorable.
10. Frothy Beard Brewing Company
Source: Charleston City Paper
Location: Charleston, SC
Capacity: 100
Frothy Beer Brewing Company was “grown out of a passion for creativity, culinary arts, zombies, epic novels, board games, the outdoors, and beer. Mostly beer.” Sounds like an amazing place to host an event to us! Any casual to semi-casual gathering is a perfect fit for this venue. Private parties can be held in one of Frothy’s secluded spaces, but the taproom and patio are also available and offer a more inclusive environment. Whichever you choose, you and your guests will have access to the 20+ house-brewed beers on tap, A/V equipment, and free WiFi.
11. North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center
Source: WhereTraveler
Location: North Charleston
Capacity: 14,000
Does your event strategy call for a lot of space? Then the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center may be the perfect location for you! There’s 77,000 square feet of Exhibition Hall space you can utilize for your next conference or trade show. Intimate events are welcome at the Coliseum as well and event planners can book small spaces equipped with rich, dark woods, stainless steel adornments, and LED lighting. For any event, large or small, the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center is ready to accommodate.
12. Alhambra Hall
Source: Mount Pleasant Ventures
Location: Mt Pleasant
Capacity: 350
If you don’t mind a quick drive out to Mt Pleasant, SC, Alhambra Hall is definitely an event venue to keep your eye on. The former ferry terminal is nestled in the Old Village section of the city and overlooks the Charleston Harbor. It has beautiful hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, and large, southern-style porches that surround the venue on three sides. But that’s not all. Alhambra Hall has other amenities as well, such as a catering kitchen, tables and chairs for rent, and an elevator that will transport your guests between the venue’s two levels. It really is a beautiful space and perfectly situated to host any corporate function, wedding reception, or private soiree.
13. The American Theater
Source: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group
Location: Radcliffeborough
Capacity: 200
The American Theater opened in 1942 as Charleston’s go-to movie house. These days, the Art Deco structure hosts fabulous events with “timeless Hollywood glamour.” Every kind of get-together (from wedding ceremonies to business seminars to dinner receptions) can be hosted inside its historic walls. Your guests will love the hand-made milk glass chandeliers in the grand ballroom and comfortable cinema seating. And you’ll love the state of the art A/V equipment, wireless internet, and handicap accessibility. In a nutshell, the American Theater is a major win for both event planners and their esteemed guests.
14. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
Source: TripAdvisor
Location: Mt Pleasant
Capacity: 1,500
What has unmatched views of the Charleston Harbor and city skyline, room for up to 1,500 attendees, and historical significance? If you guessed the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, you’re exactly right! Host your next business or personal event on 42,000 tons of steel named the USS YORKTOWN and treat your guests to a night they’ll never forget. But don’t worry, you won’t have to bend over backwards to offer your attendees this experience. The Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum works closely with catering, entertainment, lighting, and sound vendors to ensure your event has everything it needs to be a smashing success.
15. Prohibition Restaurant and Cocktail Bar
Source: Yelp
Location: Cannonborough Elliotborough
Capacity: 399
The Prohibition Restaurant and Cocktail Bar is a swanky joint and a nod to the classic speakeasies of the 1920s. It has a bourbon barrel ceiling, vintage inspired decor, and is ideally suited to host a wide range of events (including birthday and anniversary parties, rehearsal dinners, and corporate luncheons). Choose from one of four distinct spaces to host your guests in and serve them delicious food and drinks prepared by renowned culinary experts. For small to medium-size events, we recommend the Prohibition Restaurant and Cocktail Bar.
16. The Alley
Source: TripAdvisor
Location: Cannonborough Elliotborough
Capacity: 400
Maybe you’re not looking for swanky, historic, or large event venues. Maybe you just want a medium-sized space that has a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of entertainment options. If so, we suggest The Alley. This restaurant, bar, retro arcade, and bowling alley is perfect for casual events where fun and good food are required. Invite your guests and take a load off. If you absolutely have to get a little work done, there is a media room and A/V equipment available. But for the most part, we suggest booking The Alley to relax with your friends, family, and/or co-workers and really enjoying the moment.
17. Middleton Place
Source: Middleton Place
Location: Charleston, SC
Capacity: N/A
At Middleton Place, “there are always more stories to reveal.” Will your event be the venue’s next page turner? It just might be if you’re looking for a beautiful and historic location with both indoor and outdoor spaces. The property is 65 acres large and features stable yards, gardens, a museum house, and incredible views of the Ashley River. For corporate gatherings to wedding receptions to award ceremonies, you can’t go wrong with Middleton Place.
18. Belmond Charleston Place
Source: Hideaway Report
Location: French Quarter
Capacity: 1,700
Belmond Charleston Place is where “southern charm meets timeless elegance.” Does that sound like the kind of space you want to host your next business meeting or personal shindig in? Then book this award-winning hotel and invite your co-workers, board members, friends, family, and whoever else to one of Belmond’s impressive ballrooms or fully-equipped meeting rooms. The technology is on point, the appointments are luxurious, and the location is perfectly situated in Charleston’s French Quarter. There’s also an experienced events team you can utilize to ensure your gatherings go smoothly. Win!
19. Stars Rooftop and Grill Room
Source: TripAdvisor
Location: Radcliffeborough
Capacity: 140
The Stars Rooftop and Grill Room has something many other Charleston event venues don’t: a beautiful rooftop bar with 360 degree views of downtown. But outdoor gatherings aren’t the only ones that happen at Stars. The Grill also has two indoor spaces named the Wilkinson Room and the Vintage Room. No matter which space you choose, your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, anniversary celebration, or business meeting will get access to custom dining menus, media hook ups, a sound system, and an experienced event planning team. Book the Stars Rooftop and Grill Room today for your next corporate or personal event.
20. Charleston Area Convention Center
Source: TripAdvisor
Location: North Charleston
Capacity: N/A
And finally, we have the Charleston Area Convention Center. This space is large and perfect for expos, trade shows, and conferences. It actually happens to be located directly next door to the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center, mentioned earlier. In fact, the two spaces are linked by a skywalk so if you really need a lot of room, you could book both spots and host the biggest event in Charleston! But let’s focus on just the Convention Center for now. The Center’s Grand Ballroom is 25,000 square feet, has 24 foot ceilings, and zero pillars, which means each of your guests will have unobstructed views of everything happening during your event. There’s also 21 different breakout rooms you can book if you need less space. Basically, the Charleston Area Convention Center can host just about any event with ease.
Wrapping Up: Impress Your Attendees With the Perfect Charleston, South Carolina Event Venue
Charleston is an amazing city with a wealth of quality event venues. Whether you’re looking for the perfect location to host a business powwow, entertain your friends, or get married, one of the venues listed above will fit the bill.
Just remember, venue selection is only one small piece of the event planning puzzle. To help ensure you get every other detail right, we recommend investing in event management software. After using this tool, you’ll wonder how you ever planned an event without it!
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