A Touch of France in Charleston Courtesy of Felix Landrum

Félix Landrum’s dream became real the moment he stepped foot in Charleston. In 2015, vacationing with his family at Hilton Head also included a side trip to historical downtown Charleston. “I fell in love!” he proclaimed to his wife Leslie. “I would love to open my own place here.” A year later they were looking at restaurant space.

They found the perfect spot, situated next to the Ordinary on upper King Street in downtown Charleston. And so began a journey that has culminated in Félix Cocktails et Cuisine and La Cave, (the cellar, in French) – an elevated sipping lounge and salon privé next door, that opened its doors last week!

Born into a family steeped in French origins, cooking and restaurants have obviously influenced Landrum’s life and career. His  parents are from Paris, and a grandmother from Nance. Her recipes are even used for certain menu items. If you have been seeking an authentically classic French Onion Soup, or Soupe à l’Oignon, it resides at Félix. And as time consuming as it is to make, “it comes down to making the guest feel comfortable and being accessible,” says Landrum.

After completing law school, he spent three years working in Washington, DC, before changing tacks and returning to Michigan to help run the family’s French restaurant. That lasted for 19 years until the move to the Holy City, when he chose to follow his passions for “cultivating an experience” and providing the pleasure of superb hospitality at Félix.

Fulfilling a dream, of course, is not always easy. The Landrums moved with their three kids, lock, stock and barrel to Charleston and had the perfect space for their business, but they still had to fund it. After a few attempts, Landrum basically utilized a home equity loan to get started. “With everything, you have to have a splash of crazy!” he notes. About three years after opening, the pandemic struck the hospitality industry. “Thankfully, we survived and were literally turning people away because of our small space. We began thinking about more space, but did not want to open a second location,” he said.

The Landrums began considering ideas around offering private dining (salon prive) and a more relaxed atmosphere. Thus La Cave came into being, offering a convivial atmosphere for groups of all sizes, especially large parties. The space, designed by Leslie Landrum, brings to life inspiration from the couple’s frequent travels to the south of France. The inspiration is evident in the cozy banquettes and antique mirrors that cast warm lighting throughout, with natural wood finishes, curved light stone walls, organic lavender accents, and a palette of lush lemon and lime trees. 

La Cave aims to induce an ambience of the South of France through its beverage offerings such as high-quality French wine with a 100-bottle list, cordials, and rare whiskeys. Curated cocktails include Jardin Party, made with Citadelle Jardin Gin, melon liqueur, rinomato and Sweatman’s tonic. A Sidecar de Figue is concoted with cognac, bitter melon, peppercorn, dry curacao lemon, demeriana and fig foam. Cuisine features lighter fare like a mini bouillabaisse with Chilean sea bass, littleneck clams and shrimp in a white saffron broth; oysters crudo; roasted prawns; and filet tartine with mushrooms, whipped chevre, basil and olive oil on baguette.

Félix  and La Cave provide guests with a socially elevated experience. Landrum explains: “This is  a living, breathing thing, always evolving and growing. It is a culture of positive energy; the staff are happy and people want to be a part of that. This is the slice of hospitality, not just service, which is enjoyed here.”