Hotel Hopping | Clerks Coffee in Charleston SC
Hotel hopping in Charleston just to see the scenery (and try the coffee) is a new must! Hotel Emmeline shocked us with her incredible lattes…
ALWAYS Go Hotel Hopping in Charleston!
If you ever have the chance to go hotel hopping in Charleston, DO IT! We gave hotel hopping a new meaning on our recent visit, stopping in each esteemed hotel for a gander and a treat. As always (almost always) we did our research before and found that one very beautiful hotel had a coffee shop inside so we had to make it square one of this downtown adventure that morning. This is what we thought!
The Atmosphere
If you’ve ever been to Charleston, you know that there is just a certain ambiance about every little thing there. The sights are what you would see in a basic city — dirty streets and people walking constantly on the sidewalk and sketchy overpasses — but after you’ve been downtown for a while you realize that there is something otherworldly about it that makes it stand out. The huge market overtaking downtown is buzzing, kids pass out bamboo flowers on the sidewalk, a carriage passes by, and everyone is happily shopping all while it’s a random Thursday morning. That sets the stage for what you can expect about Clerks.
The beautiful Hotel Emmeline overlooks the market and it rich with history and beauty. While some coastal hotels can be small, this one boasted a huge hotel lobby and a full-sized coffee shop — it wasn’t the bunk bed sardine feel you have in most coffee shops in hotels. The high ceilings and long study bar add to the effect, with plenty of seating and just an overall extravagant yet friendly atmosphere. A European style with American hospitality — that goes for the city as well as for this shop!
The Coffee
We ordered per the barista’s recommendation as usual. I got the lavender latte which I dream about to this day and mom’s honey cinnamon latte was perfection. There is good espresso and there are good treats but this shop clearly knew how to combine them both into a uniquely flavorful latte. Our drinks both came in baby pink mugs, apparently a Clerks coffee staple which of course made them even more enjoyable! While it was in a hotel, there were clearly people there who were residents of the town, studying, working, catching up, and meeting for breakfast. While it was packed, it never felt crowded and we felt right at home! This is definitely a place you could stop by on your way out of the market or while just browsing around town! Now about that breakfast…
The Food
As for the food itself, we got a mozzarella tomato basil flatbread that was simply perfect. A sandwich and coffee, Charleston style at its finest with bold flavors presented in the most delicate way! Their other pastries looked amazing too, clearly made with the same Charleston set of values. As we planned to make more hotel hops, the sandwich was the perfect bit for us but I can picture going back for a round two!
Overview
Overall, of the coffee shops we tried in downtown Charleston, this one deserves a feature because of its pure Charleston excitement! The food and coffee were spot on, the atmosphere perfect for any occasion, and the hotel was by far our favorite to explore. Just around the corner was a bar that led to a greenhouse style dining room and a patio out back! If I had to choose a place to stay in Charleston, it would be Emmeline with all of her stately southern glory!
