Thursday, July 16, 2026
By Zoe Shields
Charleston in July is ripe. It’s a slow Southern summer, as seen in the farmers market selection on Saturday morning: sweet corn, stem-and-leaf peaches, sun-warmed heirloom tomatoes.
The season offers a palette of red and chartreuse — fresh produce, clipped herbs, the green of growth against brick — and with it much to see, do, buy and try.
Choices to inspire the season: a read on coastal interiors and life lived close to the tide, a tomato tarte tatin at FIG, gauzy textiles at Wentworth.
FIG
FIG is a cornerstone of Charleston’s contemporary dining scene, often cited as one of the city’s defining expressions of its farm-to-table ethos. Don’t miss the tomato tarte tatin, slow-roasted and served with whipped goat cheese fromage blanc, black olive purée and fresh herbs.
The Dunlin
Designed by Amanda Lindroth, the Dunlin evokes the timelessness of a Lowcountry summer house: wicker, cane, batik and ticking stripes. Set on the banks of the Kiawah River, it feels deeply connected to its landscape of tidal marshes, live oaks and winding waterways. Its gracious porches offer the perfect perch for an afternoon cocktail. Lindroth’s book, “Island Dreaming,” captures her enduring vision of coastal living.
The Gibbes Museum of Art
On view through late September at the Gibbes is “Mary Whyte: Salt of the Earth,” an exhibition marking a timely reflection of America’s semiquincentennial. The series centers workers and makers across the country, including South Carolina oystermen, through portraiture that elevates labor, craft and the people who shape place.
Leon’s Oyster Shop
A casual, quintessential Charleston spot for summer dining, known for oysters, rosé and its fried chicken sandwich. Founded by restaurateur and entrepreneur Brooks Reitz, it captures the city’s seafood-forward culinary culture in a setting that feels especially local.
Croghan’s Jewel Box
A century-old, family-owned jeweler and Charleston institution known for its selection of fine and antique pieces. I’m drawn to their Temple St. Clair Small Sea Star Pendant, set with luminous blue moonstone and diamond accents.
Wentworth
Operated by Gregory Blake Sams, Wentworth is a tightly edited selection of tabletop wares, gifts and accessories, including linen textiles and beautifully made objects for everyday. New-in highlights include Karst woodless artist pencils and Cambridge Imprint’s Animalcules Bawden Green hardback notebook: 80 pages of cream paper, sewn and bound into a slim book made for summer wandering.
Zoe Shields, who writes on art, interiors and culture, leads Bramble & Cane, a studio crafting concept-driven visual identities.