As a desirable spot to hold corporate events, Charleston has had a seat at the table for several years now. There’s big business in this South Carolina town, from tech to healthcare, production, and government. With lots of room in Charleston for innovation and inspiration, there’s a big corporate draw to this city, all packaged with loads of charm.
If your organization has been drawn to Charleston for a corporate off-site or conference, consider yourself fortunate to have a large selection of private dining when it comes time to host your business cohorts, team, clients, or leadership. The culinary world has turned its collective sights toward Charleston, and remarkable dining has been woven into the rich fabric that makes up this town. Take a look at some of The Vendry’s favorite picks of Charleston's private dining rooms for your next business dinner in this hospitable, warm Southern city.
Private Dining Capacity: 30 seated
Boasting wood-fired dishes in sharable portions, Frannie & The Fox is about as gracious as it gets in Charleston. When dining for your corporate event, this charming spot offers up its cozy private room, which comfortably seats 30. Customize your group’s menu from Chef Tim Morton’s offerings, like his Peach Panzanella Salad or Squid Ink Cavatelli. And with an extensive cocktail list, no one from your party will leave hungry or thirsty.
Private Dining Capacity: 16 seated
Gabrielle sashays onto the list, bringing in an air of refinement. Nestled in the beloved Hotel Bennett, this sophisticated, monochromatic locale serves us stylish Southern cuisine featuring seasonal favorites. Book their private dining space, a room located on the lower level, perfect for high-level dinner meetings. Chef Edgar Cano will work with your team to formulate a menu suitable to your guests’ tastes, focused on Gabrielle’s bountiful seafood choices.
Private Dining Capacity: 45 standing, 32 seated
Offering a warm atmosphere of comfort food with world-class beers, cocktails, and wine, Edmund’s Oast is a welcoming spot on the list to host a private corporate dinner. Offering comfort in Charleston since 2014, this space has a great outdoor courtyard and covered patio, as well as an on-site brewery (oast = a kiln for drying hops). Within Edmund’s Oast is The Library, their completely private dining room. Rectangular in shape and near the kitchen, The Library boasts a long table that seats 32 people comfortably. If a presentation is on your business dinner agenda, have no fear. This scholarly space comes fully equipped with a TV screen and audio capabilities.
Private Dining Capacity: 25
Invite your clients and customers to the private dining room of Rancho Lewis, and it will be a night no one will soon forget. Guests will feel like they’ve been plucked out of Charleston and placed into the Northern Rio Grande Valley. This rustic, authentic space has long, wood tables and family-style portions. Pitmaster John Lewis shares his interpretation of “border-food-meets-cowboy-cooking” with regional ingredients like Hatch red and green chiles, pinto beans, and beef from the actual fields and farms of Texas and Mexico. Set up a custom prix fixe menu and watch your guests devour some of the most unique cuisine in all of Charleston.
Private Dining Capacity: 75 seated
On coveted upper King Street, in a restored Arts and Crafts building, sits Stars Rooftop & Grill Room, a favorite among locals. Classic as they come, Stars serves up American fare like Wagyu porterhouse and duck breast in a traditional and well-respected setting. The Wilkinson Room is their start private dining option, which is a quiet space set apart from the hustle and bustle of the main dining room. There are large windows overlooking Upper King Street, and a nod to the building’s structure with artisan lighting, creating a warm glow. You’ll work directly with Stars’ event venue specialist, who will help you create a custom menu, put together appetizer and drink selections, or choose everything you’d ever want for a striking buffet.
Private Dining Capacity: 100 seated
Offering premier dining in the Historic District, Peninsula Grill is a Four-Diamond, Four-Star restaurant boasting three private dining options. Meticulous style and delicious fare make this elegant restaurant a Charleston must-visit. For your corporate dinner, book The Courtyard, a lush private dining escape, with Palmetto leaves lit by the glow of carriage lanterns. The Garden Room is an extension of the Courtyard and is tastefully appointed with antique mirrors, historic reproduction sideboards, and fabric panels, with the ability to accommodate 80 guests. Or be the hero by booking The Charleston Room, which can seat 32 guests for dinner, then pick out a custom menu suiting the tastes of your team.
Private Dining Capacity: 40 seated
The carriage house of Wentworth Mansion is home to Circa 1886, a favorite restaurant in historic downtown Charleston dripping in Southern charm. Circa 1886 receives accolade after accolade, all for good reason. Work with their experienced staff to customize a Lowcountry, seasonal menu for your corporate event. Best of luck deciding between sous vide pork belly or lobster tail with basil oil (maybe both?). If the dinner for your business cohorts is on the small side, select the 12-person Garden Room, which is just as charming as it is intimate. For a group of 40 seated, choose the Tack Room located upstairs, which features not one but two fireplaces. Charmed, for sure.
Private Dining Capacity: 12
If you need a spot to “wow” some clients, and you’d appreciate a lovely, outdoor patio, then Kwei Fei is your place. Located next door to Charleston Pour House, this space is named after an 8th-century consort of the last Tang Dynasty Xuanzong, who was known for her beauty and fondness for alcohol. Here, Chef David Schuttenberg brings the vibrant, spicy, and colorful foods of western China to Charleston. Book their covered (and heated if you need it) outdoor patio surrounded by broad-leaf greenery – your party of 12 will have it all to yourself. There’s typically a seasonal prix fixe menu, but their friendly staff will accommodate anything off the menu for your special event.
Private Dining Capacity: 40 standing 28 seated
Lowcountry specialties are served up at Hank’s Seafood, located in the Market District since 1999. This Charleston mainstay serves up a little extra with its private dining option: Hank’s Loft is not only a secluded space to hold your event, but it’s also a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home with all the amenities of a luxury hotel. This space can serve as a retreat with spaces for breakout sessions or presentations. There’s also Hank’s Social Hall, an exposed brick, flexible room that delivers the classic Hank’s Seafood white jacket experience and has room to seat 120.
Private Dining Capacity: 50 seated
Sometimes all your organization needs is a private space to celebrate and toast a major “W”, with no need for an entire sit-down dinner. These times are when The Cocktail Club saves the day. Located in the desirable upper King Street area, this upscale lounge is strongly dedicated to the art of craft cocktails. With creative concoctions like “The Stay At Home Dad” and “Yoga Pants”, The Cocktail Club delivers farm-to-shaker beverages with appetizing light fare. There are four options for private spaces at this laidback joint. Choose from The Hemingway, The Sidecar, The Manhattan, or even The Outdoor Terrace, with varying space for 15 to 50 guests.
Neighborhood: Rancho Charleston
Private Dining Capacity: 80 standing, 60 seated
Classic as it is stylish, High Cotton is looking to host your private dinner at their charismatic locale. High Cotton is the crown jewel in the Hall Family’s long tradition of hospitality in Charleston and beyond. Lowcountry favorites are the star here, with a varied menu of seasonal delights. For your corporate dining needs, there are two options. Choose the French Quarter Room, with heart pine floors, crown molding, and a delightful patio for al fresco entertaining, seating 60 of your clients or customers. Or select the East Bay Room, with its arched doorways, ornate fireplace, and crystal chandeliers, serving as a special room that can host 30 seated. Both rooms are warm and inviting, and feature the cuisine that has made High Cotton a local staple.
Private Dining Capacity: 45 standing, 35 seated
Looking for a heavenly experience? Then take your team to Church & Union, located in the heart of Historic Downtown Charleston. Housed within a breathtaking, 106-year-old church with 60-foot cathedral ceilings and original stained glass windows, this place will have your associates looking to thank a higher power. With everything from ravioli to poke bowls, this varied menu will not disappoint. Select the Buffalo Room for your private dining experience, with original stained glass that can be opened toward the small private patio that overlooks historic Market Street, allowing for a separate space for pre-dinner cocktails, and room for 35 at a seated dinner.
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Hosting a Corporate Event in Charleston
Putting on a corporate event in the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, can be a very rewarding experience. Not only is it a coveted vacation spot for many Americans, there is almost always plenty of great sunshine and lots to explore. Naturally, there’s an old-world Southern appeal to the town that is captivating, but Charleston has more than risen to the occasion of making itself modernized in every sense of the word.
From a corporate retreat, company off-site, or team-building activity, Charleston is an excellent option for a memorable event. There is no shortage of venues in which to host your event, including the aforementioned private dining options for hosting a meal after a big day. Charleston is rich with cultural attractions and historical sites, as well as museums and galleries. There is no shortage of things to explore during the “free time” of your company’s conference or meeting here in town. And lastly, the awesome, year-round weather makes for great opportunities for outdoor, team-building activities, like golf or kayaking.
Feel the Southern Charm when you book a Charleston private dining room through your search on The Vendry. Filter your choices for private dining rooms through The Vendry’s unique search engine and request proposals directly from your findings!
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