Swiftwater Cafe

Right in the heart of downtown Charleston, Swiftwater Café on Capitol Street is a convenient, welcoming stop for a quick meal. In his college years, owner Teddy Queen worked as a guide on the New River and opened Swiftwater Café in 2003, with the name being a nod to his love for West Virginia and the swiftwater rivers that flow through the state.

The café expanded in 2013 to the adjacent Swiftwater General Store. There, you’ll find all the standard essentials of an old-fashioned general store, plus West Virginia souvenirs and all manner of snacks—like Swiftwater’s delicious take on pepperoni rolls.

You can’t go wrong with any of the sandwiches and salads, but some say Swiftwater’s breakfast is the best-kept secret in town: The creative Breakfast Dog has sausage, scrambled egg and cheese, a bite of skillet-fried potatoes, and a little sausage gravy on an English-style hot dog. And, when asked about Charleston’s best soup for the cold winter months, Swiftwater’s Soup of the Day was an overwhelming fan favorite.

Swiftwater Café is located at 405 Capitol Street and open Monday-Friday from 7:30am-2pm. Curbside pickup is also available, which makes it so easy as a grab ‘n go option!