Living in Charleston, you are more than likely familiar with the acai bowl trend and may have even tried one. An acai bowl is typically a thick acai-based smoothie topped with a variety of fruits, granola, or even chocolate. I consider myself a connoisseur and have been exposed to most of the bowls in Charleston ranging from the ideal ice cream texture to downright liquid. 

The best 

Huriyali – nutritious perfection

Starting off strong with Huriyali. Huriyali is a health-conscious cafe tucked away on upper-peninsula Huger Street. In addition to acai, they offer vegan nachos, avocado toast, and a plethora of nutrient-rich and creative lattes. Part of what makes Huriyali so great is that they have a menu that will no-doubt cater to ALL of your health guru friends and a spacious venue. Their OG bowl has a base of acai berries blended with banana, strawberry, and coconut water topped with homemade peanut butter, kiwi, coconut flakes, cacao, banana, strawberry, granola, and pumpkin seeds. I have never seen another acai place use coconut seeds as a topping and they certainly give Huriyali bowls a unique crunch. As Bishop England senior Georgie Collins puts it, the acai at Huriyali “tastes healthy.” So depending on your perspective, this could be a benefit or a drawback. Personally, I opt to indulge in an acai bowl that both tastes good and will make me feel good, rather than a dessert. If you have not made the trip to Huriyali, it is a must-try. 

Tres Palmas  – a local favorite

Tres Palmas is a tried and true classic that began out of a truck and now has two stores. I have been a Tres fan since owner Wyatt and his mom were in the parking lot of LTP when I was 13. Now at 17, Tres Palmas has an undeniable quality that keeps me coming back. Seniors might remember when the Tres Palmas truck came to AMHS for lunch in our 9th-grade year. Much to the teachers’ dismay, all Tres bowls are blended to order so the acai was being blended well into third block. The blend tastes very real and not overly sweetened. Part of the reason I hold Tres Palmas so dearly is because of its proximity to my house. My go-to order at Tres Palmas is usually either the OG, the bougie, or the tropical depending on my mood. They also have smoothie bowls with different bases that Laura Robertson swears by. My only drawback for Tres Palmas is that if you’re in the mood for something sweet and opt for the choco bowl,  you should anticipate a boatload of Nutella. Looking at it from a health perspective, two tablespoons of Nutella has 200 calories and 21 grams of added sugar. The choco bowl at Tres has well over 2 tablespoons so those avoiding added sugar should beware. If you are not so worried about your added sugar consumption like my 7th-grade sister, then the choco bowl is for you. Overall, Tres Palmas is a classic and my family and friends will keep coming back. 

Beech – best bowl in Charleston 

Beech is my top pick for Charleston Acai. They have a King Street, Daniel Island, and a newly opened Mount Pleasant location in the Target parking lot. This Mount Pleasant has been a game changer for me and has become a part of my Saturday routine post the Works also off rifle range. This Target location is also the perfect place to stop by for your pre or post-IOP acai fix. I swear by the BAB bowl, with its fabulous base and topped with almond butter, banana, strawberries, and raspberries. I love both almond butter and raspberries and this combination is perfect. I think about the BAB bowl more than I should so I definitely recommend you try it. 

The worst 

Playa Bowls – more of a dessert than a smoothie bowl 

Now this may create some controversy. I know many other Charlestonians who love Playa and I do admit that I myself even have a history with these bowls. Their King Street location is iconic for many and definitely makes me nostalgic for my Charleston Day years. I used to go to Playa at least once a week, carelessly dropping ten “hard-earned” dollars on a bowl topped with nutella. So when did I break up with Playa? When I learned their blend contains ADDED sugar. It is a smoothie bowl not a dessert. Fruit contains enough natural sugar and by adding sugar into the bowls that is taking away from the whole essence of eating nature’s dessert. This is also misleading for consumers who think they are making the healthy choice by eating a Playa bowl when they really should be going to Beech near the downtown location or Tres Palmas near the Mount Pleasant location. I have another bone to pick with Playa. Their new Mount Pleasant location right next to Tres Palmas is just wrong. Tres Palmas is local to Charleston and Playa Bowls is a nationwide chain. 

Vintage – too liquidy 

Vintage Cafe off Coleman is a well-known breakfast and brunch spot. For some unknown reason, Vintage offers subpar acai bowls that are more of a soup than a smoothie. As our president Vishwa Veeraswamy states, “I always have high expectations when I order a bowl, but am let down time and time again.” Vintage should stick to coffee. 

Clean Juice – frozen pieces 

Clean Juice bowls are overpriced and usually not blended all the way. Acai lovers do not want to bite into the smoothie bowl base after spending upwards of $15 per bowl. Their smoothies and toasts are definitely the better options.

Blend Juice Bar – also too liquidy 

Once again Blend bowls fall short for being too liquidy. Even though it is a juice bar, the acai should not be juice also. The ideal acai bowl is thick and smooth which is where so many establishments fail to capture.