King Street is Charleston's main commercial corridor, running from Broad Street north through downtown to Line Street. It splits into three informal districts: Lower King for antiques, Middle King for boutiques and national retailers, and Upper King for restaurants and bars. Hotels on the street include Hotel Bennett at 404 King Street and Francis Marion Hotel at 387 King Street.
King Street dates to Charleston's colonial-era development and was named for King Charles II of England. It served as an important route through early Charles Towne and developed into a major retail corridor during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Upper King Street underwent major traffic changes in the 20th century: in 1956, a section of Upper King was converted from two-way to one-way traffic, and Upper King between Line Street and Calhoun Street returned to two-way traffic in November 1994. The City of Charleston's King Street Profile tracked storefront occupancy and vacancies along the corridor, with the city saying its profile was compiled through 2024 and subsequently passed to the Charleston Downtown Alliance / King Street Business Improvement District. The city's methodology included walking King Street from Broad Street to Line Street and surveying storefronts and business operators.
What Are the Three Districts of King Street, Charleston?
King Street is informally divided into three sections that reflect distinct retail and dining characters. No official boundary signs mark them on the street, but the three-zone framework is widely used in local coverage of the corridor.
Lower King covers the stretch below Market Street. It is historically associated with antique dealers and retains some of the corridor's oldest storefronts.
Middle King runs between Market Street and Calhoun Street, where national retailers and local boutiques operate alongside each other. The Apple Store at 301 King Street falls in this section.
Upper King, above Calhoun Street, is the most restaurant-dense section of the corridor. Bars, design-focused retail, and newer dining concepts are concentrated here.
King Street Districts at a Glance
| District | Approximate Zone | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Lower King | Below Market Street | Antique dealers, historic storefronts (George C. Birlant & Co., 191 King) |
| Middle King | Market Street to Calhoun St | Boutiques, national retailers (Apple Store, 301 King; M. Dumas & Sons, 294 King) |
| Upper King | Above Calhoun Street | Restaurants, bars, design-focused retail (Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King) |
These zones reflect how the street evolved over time. Lower King's antique character developed earlier in the corridor's retail history. Upper King's restaurant density grew with broader downtown revitalization.
What Stores and Shops Are on King Street, Charleston?
Lower King:
Lower King covers the stretch below Market Street. It is historically associated with antique dealers and retains some of the corridor's oldest storefronts. George C. Birlant & Co., an antiques establishment at 191 King Street, is one example.
Middle King:
Middle King runs between Market Street and Calhoun Street, where national retailers and local boutiques operate alongside each other. The Apple Store is at 301 King Street, while M. Dumas & Sons' flagship store is at 294 King Street.
Upper King:
Upper King, above Calhoun Street, is the most restaurant-dense section of the corridor. Bars, design-focused retail and newer dining concepts are concentrated here. Blue Bicycle Books at 420 King Street is also in this section.
The City of Charleston's King Street Profile tracked storefront occupancy and vacancies along the corridor. Historical King Street Profile reports are available through the City of Charleston. The city's database was built by walking King Street from Broad Street to Line Street and inventorying vacant and transitioning storefronts while speaking with retailers, owners and operators.
Historical King Street Profile reports are available at the City of Charleston King Street page.
What Restaurants and Bars Are on King Street, Charleston?
167 Raw Oyster Bar operates at 193 King Street, serving seafood, oysters and lobster rolls.
The Darling Oyster Bar operates at 513 King Street. Felix operates at 550 King Street and combines a restaurant and cocktail bar. At 224 King Street, Chef Daniel Humm x The Charleston Place occupies the former Charleston Grill space as a residency, serving a seasonal menu built around Lowcountry ingredients and Chef Humm's culinary approach.
Upper King Street above Calhoun carries the corridor's heaviest concentration of bars and newer dining concepts. The density of restaurant options in this section increases going north from Calhoun Street.
What Hotels Are on King Street, Charleston?
Two hotels with King Street addresses are frequently referenced in Charleston accommodation searches.
Hotel Bennett opened on February 1, 2019, at 404 King Street. It has 179 rooms. The property includes Gabrielle Charleston (a two-story restaurant with a terrace), La Patisserie (French pastries and coffee), Fiat Lux (a rooftop bar and pool), Camellias (a champagne bar), and more than 12,000 square feet of event space.
Francis Marion Hotel at 387 King Street opened in 1924. It has 234 rooms and rises 12 stories. The hotel overlooks Marion Square and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 1999.
What Historic Landmarks and Buildings Are on King Street, Charleston?
The Riviera Theatre at 225-227 King Street is a 1939 Egyptian Art Deco theater. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was restored and reopened as a performance venue after decades of other uses. Beemok Hospitality Collection acquired the property in 2021.
The Patrick O'Donnell House at 21 King Street is an Italianate-style structure that was home to poet and writer Josephine Pinckney for much of the early 20th century.
Marion Square sits along King Street at Calhoun Street and is bordered by several downtown buildings, including the Francis Marion Hotel and Hotel Bennett. The square has served as a public gathering space for the city and hosts regular community events including the Charleston Farmers Market.
King Street also intersects with Broad Street at its southern end. The Four Corners of Law area (City Hall, the County Courthouse, the Federal Post Office, and St. Michael's Episcopal Church) is one block east at Meeting and Broad.
What Events Take Place on King Street, Charleston?
2nd Sunday on King Street is a monthly event held on the second Sunday of each month. The section from Queen Street to Calhoun Street closes to through traffic from noon to 5 p.m., creating space for pedestrians, shops, artists and food vendors.
Marion Square hosts the Charleston Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the 2026 season, which runs from April 4 through November 21.
Charleston Fashion Week and the Charleston Wine + Food Festival are among the annual events that can add activity to the downtown Charleston area.
Is There Parking Near King Street, Charleston?
Two convenient parking garages near King Street are Midtown Garage at 558 King Street and Marion Square Garage at 399 King Street. The City of Charleston currently lists parking at these garages at $1 per 20 minutes, with a $24 daily maximum. Rates can change, so check the City's parking information before visiting.
How Close Is 257 Rutledge Avenue to King Street?
257 Rutledge Avenue is in the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood, a residential area north of Charleston's central historic core. The property is four short blocks from King Street, making the shopping, dining and nightlife along the corridor accessible on foot.
The property at 257 Rutledge offers four private-entry suites, five apartments with full kitchens, a standalone three-bedroom home and a shared heated saltwater guest pool. Guest parking is available on the property.
Accommodation options and direct booking are available at 257 Rutledge.
FAQs: King Street Charleston SC
King Street is Charleston's main commercial corridor, running from Broad Street north through downtown to Line Street. It is commonly divided into Lower, Middle and Upper King, with antiques, boutiques, national retailers, restaurants and bars distributed along the corridor.
The City of Charleston defines the King Street commercial corridor from Broad Street to Line Street. A precise mileage figure is not confirmed by official sources. The corridor covers several blocks through the downtown peninsula and is walkable end to end across its three districts.
King Street has restaurants throughout the corridor, with a particularly strong concentration on Upper King. Current examples include 167 Raw Oyster Bar at 193 King Street, The Darling Oyster Bar at 513 King Street and Felix at 550 King Street. At 224 King Street, Chef Daniel Humm x The Charleston Place currently operates as a residency at The Charleston Place.
Two parking garages directly on King Street are Midtown Garage at 558 King Street and Marion Square Garage at 399 King Street. The City of Charleston currently lists a rate of $1 per 20 minutes at both garages, with a $24 daily maximum. Check the City's parking information before visiting because rates can change.
2nd Sunday on King Street takes place on the second Sunday of each month, with the section from Queen Street to Calhoun Street closed to through traffic from noon to 5 p.m. Marion Square also hosts the Charleston Farmers Market on Saturdays during the 2026 season, from April 4 through November 21, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.