Broad Street facing west, circa 1900
The Civic Center: Laid out in 1680 as a firebreak in the walled city, Broad Street (originally named Cooper Street) evolved into a hub for businesses, banks, and government offices, including the famous Four Corners of Law at the Meeting Street intersection.
Long a host for law offices and financial institutions, Broad Street began seeing an influx of fine dining restaurants in the mid-aughts.
Oak Steakhouse (center) at 17 Broad Street, in the circa-1848 South Carolina Loan & Trust Co. building
17 Broad Street
Turning Up the Heat: Oak pioneered fine dining on Broad Street, converting a two-story bank into handsome dining spaces and offering prime dry-aged steaks and seafood specialties.
Place with a Past: Built in 1853, the three-story, Renaissance Revival brownstone that now houses Brasserie La Banque was once owned by the company of former blockade runner and Confederate treasurer George Trenholm.
One Broad Street
Bar Vauté, below Brasserie La Banque
Brasserie La Banque’s airy dining room features original architectural details, such as the plaster cornice and frieze.
Sidewalk seating outside the Mercato at Sorelle, a hot spot for morning lattes
Sorelle chef Nick Dugan in the elegant second-floor dining room
88 Broad Street circa 1933
Well-Established: The Establishment chef Elliott Howells has witnessed a resurgence since the pandemic. “We’re coming into year five after being reopened from Covid, and we’re watching business grow every year, which is great,” he says.
28 Broad Street
The aptly nicknamed F ast and French café is a Broad Street staple, that’s been serving casual French fare since 1984.
The intersection of Broad and Church streets
Bullish on Broad: Mike Shuler, owner of stalwart tavern Blind Tiger, is opening his Quarter French restaurant next door this fall.
The Blind Tiger Pub
How a growing number of restaurants along the historic thoroughfare are reshaping the city’s culinary landscape
