| Tank | Jeans | Earrings | Heels | Bag | Watch |
Last week when my friends were visiting me, we stumbled upon a hidden gem that stole our hearts. We were looking for a place to catch the end of the Texas basketball game and noticed a cute little spot that had all their windows and doors open and a TV by the bar, so we decided to check it out. We were so excited to see what was inside! At first glance, you see the full bar and think it might be just a spot to grab a drink, but as you make your way to the counter you’re greeted by a glass case of incredible cakes and desserts! I knew right away that I had found my latest spot to highlight on my Charleston guide.
Read on to see why Carmella’s impressed me so much!
In addition to amazing cakes, Carmella’s also serves a variety of strombolis and sandwiches, charcuterie plates, house-made sorbetto and gelato, pies, fruit smoothies, parfaits, and of course any kind of coffee drink you could desire. They have bar seating, a large community high-top table, and some private tables if you feel like parking it for a while to work.
As if the large selection of food and drink options Carmella’s has for such a quaint spot wasn’t enough, I was also impressed by the friendliness of the staff. When my friends and I were there the first time, someone told us the history of Carmella’s and kindly let us sit at the bar to watch the game even though only one of us was in the mood for coffee. The second time, when I came for this shoot, the staff member there was very busy with lots of customers, but was so sweet and plated all these cakes for me and even made me a latte. Normally I plan these shoots ahead of time, but this one happened to be a last minute thing, and she was totally patient with me and made me and my photographer feel so welcome. This is actually a big difference I have noticed between Charleston and Austin! It seemed like everywhere I wanted to shoot in Austin was off-limits. I was always getting shooed away from restaurants and hotels, but here everyone is so sweet and welcoming! It has been such a nice change.
If you’re visiting Charleston and looking for a great spot for a drink, a to-go coffee, or a decadent cake to share, Carmella’s is your place! They’re located on the corner of East Bay Street and Cumberland Street, right in the middle of the most bustling tourist area in downtown Charleston.
