Destination
Type of Restaurant
Type of Meal
Editors Pick
Read More167 Raw
What started as a small seafood company has become one of Charleston’s most successful restaurants. This downtown establishment serves creative and exceptional seafood dishes within a fun, lively atmosphere. Expect a rotating list of oysters from the raw bar, plus...
Read More167 Raw Sushi Bar
The original restaurant in the 167 Raw franchise, 167 Sushi is 24-seat sushi bar that's great for fresh lunch or dinner of nigiri, sashimi and futomaki along with other favorites such as charred octopus and kimchi and crab fried rice....
Read MoreBakehouse
This sunny spot serves coffee, pastries sandwiches and sweet treats. The sea salt caramel brownies are spectacular.
Photo by Jen Barr courtesy IndagareRead MoreBar 167
Bar 167 is just around the corner from the popular Oyster Bar and handles the spillover for guests willing to wait for a table over cocktails or who are just looking to enjoy bar bites or good small plates such...
Read MoreBasic Kitchen
This is an easy spot with fun surfer-style vibe and vintage feel for a quick breakfast or brunch on weekends. At lunch, small plates and salads as well as yellow coconut curry or salmon bowls and fish tacos are perfect...
Read MoreBasico
Located at the members-only Mixson Bath & Racquet Club (but open to non-members), the low-key eatery specializes in seasonal taqueria cuisine, like the popular buttermilk fried chicken taco with pickled watermelon rinds. The lovely patio is enhanced by three gardens...
Read MoreBay Street Biergarten
With 60 beers on tap, Baystreet Biergarten represents the great culmination of Charleston's craft beer. Situated on East Bay Street with vaulted ceilings and a spacious patio, the space includes a community table serving gourmet bar food as well as beer-tap...
Read MoreBin 152
Set on the corner of King and Queen Streets, this wine bar, art gallery and antiques market is the perfect place to stop before dinner south of Broad Street. The owners, a husband-and-wife duo, provide a selection of 30 wines...
Read MoreButcher & Bee
While not as conveniently located as other downtown lunch stops, the artisan sandwiches at this small spot are worth a pedicab ride. Catering to younger generations, Butcher & Bee is open late on weekends (until 3am).
Read MoreCallie’s Hot Little Biscuit
Long-established biscuit brand Callie’s Charleston Biscuits is behind this tiny storefront on King Street, serving flaky treats to eager patrons in the morning, throughout the day and well into the night. The menu features seven flavors (Buttermilk, Onion and Chive,...
Read MoreChasing Sage
This trendy spot is quickly becoming a favorite of many. The vegetable-first menu sources ingredients from an 18th-century farm northwest of Charleston and prepares small plates with fresh flavors. A self-described “adventurous foodies’s paradise,” Chasing Sage is a great place...
Courtesy Chez NousRead MoreChez Nous
Spun from a romantic vision by the French owners of sister restaurant Bin 152, Chez Nous is an off-the-beaten-path restaurant that’s as charming as it is delicious. The friendly staff is happy to walk you through the daily hand-written menu...
Photo by Mira Adwell, courtesy Chubby FishRead MoreChubby Fish
This intimate restaurant is a delightful neighborhood spot serving sustainably-sourced seafood, including oysters and popular small plates such as Wahoo crudo and poached Grouper. Those willing to venture away from King Street will be rewarded with dishes that pack a...
-
Read MoreCocktail Club
Located above the restaurant Macintosh, this bar serves artisanal cocktails and light bites in a rarified setting.
-
Read MoreCru Café
Sit outside on the porch for lunch at this casual restaurant situated in an old single-family house. Offers include salads, wraps and sandwiches, and a specialty is the delicious shrimp BLT, a local favorite.
-
Read MoreEdmund’s Oast
This groundbreaking pub has become one of Charleston's hottest spots for foodies and beer enthusiasts alike. The uniquely styled eatery, which features a “meat-case” to house their charcuterie, is the place to go for modernized down-home cooking (think cornbread pudding,...
-
Photo by Jen Barr courtesy IndagareRead MoreFIG
Short for “Food Is Good,” this buzzing restaurant is a favorite among locals, and for good reason. The pioneering restaurant features ingredients from the greater Charleston area, served in exciting and thoughtful ways.
-
Read MoreFuel
This gas station turned funky Caribbean cantina is a laid-back retreat for the local set. The dog-friendly patio is the setting of many bocce games and boasts all the makings of a relaxed hangout for guests of all ages.
-
Read MoreGin Joint
This modern, small spot is well located near lots of restaurants, making it a great stop for a pre- or post-dinner drink. The Gin Basil Smash is particularly delicious.
-
Read MoreGlazed Gourmet Doughnuts
Swing by Glazed for a sugar high unlike any you’ve ever experienced. Foodies know that a visit here is the only way to begin a Charleston stay. New, inspired flavors—curry, cheddar and Champagne are all frequent ingredients—are constantly being added...
-
Read Moregoat.sheep.cow north
The second location of the popular Charleston fromagerie, the new shop offers seating so its patrons can enjoy wine with select cheeses and charcuterie.
-
Read MoreGrocery
This farm-to-table restaurant, run by chef Kevin Johnson, features oysters, small bites and family-style dishes such as cassoulet and bouillabaisse.
-
Read MoreHalls Chophouse
The family-run Halls Chophouse serves guests no-frill plates with impeccably prepared cuts that speak for themselves. The mahogany-clad chophouse is always full of people and energy and turns out reliably unforgettable meals.
-
Courtesy Leigh-Ann BeverlyRead MoreHarold’s Cabin
This rustic and cozy eatery offers an American menu with innovative spins on classic southern dishes, focusing on homegrown produce and local meats. Diners sit in the reclaimed wood paneled dining room with eclectic décor like green-gingham and red-leather upholstery,...
-
Read MoreHigh Thyme
A staple for Charleston locals, this Sullivan’s Island institution is a lovely choice for a relaxed but refined night out. The menu rotates periodically, but dishes might include crab cakes with Old Bay slaw and grilled rosemary hangar steak with...
-
Outside of Husk, in food-forward Charleston.Read MoreHusk
Situated in a 19th-century home, this elegant yet rustic restaurant serves exceptional high-end Southern cuisine. All ingredients must come from the American South in order to earn placement on the menu, resulting in the chefs creating new takes on tried-and-true...
-
Read MoreHusk Bar
Associated with, but in a separate building from the award-winning restaurant Husk, this watering hole offers a dignified list of bourbons and cocktails.
-
Read MoreLe Farfalle
Charlestonians head to this airy and elegant downtown osteria for reliably delicious and innovative Italian fare, such as fresh, hand-rolled pasta.
-
Photo by Peter Frank Edwards, courtesy Leon'sRead MoreLeon’s Oyster Shop
A former auto body repair shop, Leon’s recreates a classic New Orleans oyster house.
-
Courtesy Andrew CebulkaRead MoreLewis Barbecue
Hipsters and barbecue-lovers flock to this joint on North Mission drive for the best ribs and brisket in town, all prepared in enormous custom-built smokers. Diners can enjoy their grub counter-side or bring their trays out back to one of...
-
Photo by Jen Barr courtesy IndagareRead MoreMelfi’s
Run by the owners of Leon’s across the street, this clubby, Italian trattoria-style restaurant serves up salads and Roman-style pizza and such classics as osso buco, grilled Bronzino and steak Florentine along with freshly made house pastas like cacio e...
-
Read MoreMixson Market
Hawking “quality provisions,” Mixson Market stocks an eclectic array of merchandise, from home goods and vintage cookbooks to gourmet goodies and spectacular artisanal sandwiches. The one-stop shop is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the terrace and neighboring bocce...
-
Read MoreMonza
This casual family-friendly restaurant, named after the illustrious Italian raceway, serves thin-crust pizzas made with local ingredients.
-
Read MoreOak Steakhouse
This Broad Street staple allows guests the best of both worlds: fine dining in a setting nearly as comfortable as being home. Year after year, Chef Brett McKee serves mouth-watering home cooked classics, while owner Steve Palmer makes sure every...
-
Read MoreOff Track
Off Track attracts College of Charleston students and families and serves yummy homemade vegan and gluten-free/non-dairy ice cream in an abundance of flavors such as key lime pie and pumpkin mocha swirl. Vegan options include: peppermint bark, maple oat milk...
-
Read MorePavilion Bar
The Market-Pavilion Hotel’s rooftop boasts an incredible view, especially during sunset, and serves refreshing drinks.
-
Read MorePeninsula Grill
The Low Country cuisine in this elegant restaurant emphasizes grilled dishes, especially pork chops and steaks, and seafood (don't miss the scallops). The restaurant's décor is lush, featuring sisal rugs and velvet walls, and oil portraits chosen by famed designer...
-
Read MorePoe’s Tavern
Named after a famous Sullivan’s Island resident, writer Edgar Allen Poe, this burger joint produces some of the best cheeseburgers in the city. The Golf Bug is named after the Poe tale inspired by the island itself. Just two streets...
-
Photo by Victoria O'Leary, courtesy IndagareRead MorePost House Inn
This quaint inn has an equally charming restaurant located on its first floor. Serving seasonal fare and classic cocktails in a cozy atmosphere, it makes for an exceedingly pleasant evening and has become a difficult spot to secure a weekend...
-
Read MoreR. Kitchen
R. Kitchen is one of Charleston’s best kept dining secrets, with two low-key locations (one downtown and another in West Ashley). Its farm-to-table approach means a different menu every night, and the chef describes each course as it comes out...
-
Read MoreTaco Boy
Well worth the short drive from Charleston’s epicenter, Taco Boy is heaven for anyone having a Mexican craving in the Low Country. The authentic, easy-going atmosphere makes it a perfect spot for lunch on the patio, and the restaurant has...
-
Read MoreThe Belmont
Located on upper King Street, this old-timey cocktail bar carries a variety of upscale scotches, bourbons, and creates specialty cocktails. Share a meat or cheese plate with your group and watch classic black-and-white films projected onto the back wall.
-
Read MoreThe Darling Oyster Bar
This adorable oyster bar and restaurant on northern King Street makes a great spot for afternoon cocktails and appetizers or weekend brunch.
-
Courtesy Andrew CebulkaRead MoreThe Obstinate Daughter
For those willing to venture 20 minutes outside of Charleston, The Obstinate Daughter will not disappoint. Located on Sullivan's Island, which is known for its lovely beach and rich Revolutionary War history, this eatery serves up delicious Italian food in...
-
Courtesy Andy SebulkaRead MoreThe Ordinary
The team behind FIG celebrates Charleston’s coastal location in this seafood hall and oyster bar. Rooted in farm-to-table support of local fishermen and historical preservation of the old bank it resides in, this restaurant is as beautiful as it is...
