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$$$ | Upper King |
The menu may be nearly illegible, the space minuscule, and locating the tucked-away location like finding Waldo, but the food is almost always sublime. Each night only two appetizers, two entrées (like snapper with a vin jaune [type of white wine] sauce or gnocchi with chanterelles), and two desserts are offered. Sharing multiple dishes is a good option. Chef Jill Mathias writes down her menu daily, and her lovely calligraphy is often hard to read, but the attentive staff is happy to explain all the offerings. If the dining room feels too snug, head to the outdoor patio, perfect for dinner or brunch.
6 Payne Ct., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Romantic hideaway dining
- Unique French, Spanish, and Italian fare
- Constantly changing menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Market |
With an abundance of accolades, Husk serves an ambitious menu steeped in the South, and the South alone—everything is sourced regionally, barring exceptions like chocolate and coffee. A large chalkboard lists the ever-changing artisanal dishes available, as the menu sometimes varies twice daily. Supper favorites include seafood such as snapper, catfish, and flounder, frequently paired with heirloom vegetables. Try the fried-chicken skins or skillet of smoky bacon cornbread—both are terrifically popular. The building itself, balcony intact, dates to the late 19th century, and the freestanding bar beside the restaurant is lined with 100-year-old exposed brick and several Kentucky bourbons and whiskeys. If you can't score a reservation, Husk Bar next door is arguably just as good for intimate drinks and a burger.
76 Queen St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- The Husk burger, modeled after In-N-Out's famous offering
- The throwback stand-alone bar with its great bourbon menu
- Smoky bacon cornbread for a side
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$$ | South of Broad |
The owner of Marsh Hen Mill co-owns this breakfast joint that caters to the white-collar Broad Street crowd, balancing blue plate breakfasts with fancy morning entrées like lobster toast on house-baked brioche. It's hard to choose between the biscuits loaded with pimento cheese, fried chicken, or country ham with fig jam.
120 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Known For
- Grits prepared to perfection—there's even a grit mill in the storefront window
- Possibly the best Bloody Mary in town
- To-go doughnuts and muffins
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$$ | Hampton Park Terrace |
Although it's billed as a pizza parlor, this neighborhood trattoria stuns taste buds with its entire menu, including anchovies in pepper and grapefruit and entrées like swordfish with horseradish mustard. The thin-crust pizzas are complemented by an impressive selection of natural wines and a daily cocktail special.
384 Huger St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Collaborations with outside chefs
- Occasional bagel Sunday
- After-dinner drinks at the Faculty Lounge across the street, a watering hole from the same owners
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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$$$ | Downtown Historic District |
Affectionately known as S.N.O.B., this former warehouse with atmospheric brick-and-stucco walls has a chef's table that looks directly into the open kitchen. Many of the specialties, including wild game and other less common meats, are served as small plates that are perfect for sharing. The $14 daily lunch specials are often memorable, such as mussels with spinach, grape tomatoes, and smoked bacon, or a hearty chicken pot pie.
192 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Bustling lunchtime service
- History as the forefather of the farm-to-table movement in Charleston
- Upscale, authentic Southern fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Market |
Executive chef and owner Kevin Johnson's outstanding restaurant sits in impressive quarters near the corner of Cannon and King Streets. The menu suggests a humble, considerate approach, as the dishes represent local flavors: the wood-roasted carrots come with feta, raisins, and pistachio crumble, while the wood-roasted whole fish is delivered with salsa verde. The high wainscoting and tall shelving filled with jams and jellies, pickled vegetables, and vintage kitchenware add to the earthy, unassuming presence.
4 Cannon St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Down-to-earth dishes designed for sharing
- A monstrous wood-fired oven
- Decadent cassoulet
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Upper King |
Once the local darling among the Indigo Road properties, which also includes Oak Steakhouse and O-Ku, the Macintosh lost some of its luster over the years, but a string of new executive chefs put the one-time trendsetter on a path back to relevance. The menu is still rife with house classics, including gnudi, strip steak, and the Mac's ever-popular truffle fries.
478 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Creative seasonal starters
- Bone marrow bread pudding for dessert
- Sophistication without pretense
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch except for Sun. brunch
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$$$ | Lower King |
This landmark mainstay continues to thrive as an atmospheric, fine-dining establishment. As always, the food has strong Southern leanings, with seafood highlights, including Charleston bouillabaisse; don't miss the creamy grits (perfection) or authentic fried green tomatoes. Indoor and garden dining make this a great place to linger, perhaps under a gazebo or in an elegant, art-rich (and air-conditioned) room inside the historic residence. Also notable is the genuinely caring service and extensive wine list featuring new varietal blends (no house wine here), which has earned it high and consistent praise.
82 Queen St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- One of the city's quintessential she-crab soups
- Romantic dining
- Extensive and unique wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | South of Broad |
One of Charleston's oldest speakeasies, the Blind Tiger can go toe-to-toe with any newcomer. Name the beer, name the backdrop, and the Tiger can deliver in spades, starting with two indoor bars and a historic, handsome outdoor patio. The kitchen also turns out solid bar food—the bacon and blue burger and the fried pickles make this a regular lunch spot for Broad Street attorneys.
36–38 Broad St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Atmospheric courtyard at both lunchtime and late-night gatherings
- Pub fare that's a few steps above average
- Hopping weekend scene that draws Charleston's well-to-do
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Upper King |
Thanks to its impressive 28-day-aged USDA steaks, Halls Chophouse is regarded as one of the top steak houses in town. The 28-ounce Tomahawk rib eye, the New York strip, and the slow-roasted prime rib are especially recommended. The bustling bar is a good place to rub shoulders with a variety of well-to-do locals. A heads-up: the service borders on excessive (or is it obsessive?); the staff takes uncommon heed of its guests, though the lavishly prepared steaks offer the restaurant's greatest source of hospitality.
434 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Hopping upscale bar scene
- Sunday brunch featuring live gospel singers
- Amazing variety of steaks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Downtown Historic District |
This Charleston classic remains unchanged by time: lazily spinning paddle fans, lush palm trees, and exposed brick walls. The kitchen serves up regional classics like a Lowcountry boil and bacon-wrapped stuffed rabbit loin. If you want a traditional dinner, there are thick cuts of steaks and chops with your choice of sauce and side dishes like fried Brussels sprouts and creamy white corn grits. For dessert, the pecan pie baked with bourbon brown sugar caramel and the high-rising peanut butter pie are like rich Southern blessings.
199 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Live jazz and bluegrass music at the bar
- One of the city's finest Sunday brunches
- High-rising peanut butter pie for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Downtown Historic District |
The theme at this extremely popular—and worthy—tourist destination is evident in the vivid paintings of white magnolia blossoms that adorn the walls. The menu pays homage to classic dishes like fried green tomatoes with white cheddar grits, caramelized onions, and country ham. Lunch is a more affordable way to sample the best of Lowcountry cuisine.
185 E. Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Collard-green-and-tasso-ham egg rolls that spawned a Southern-fusion revolution
- Daily vegetarian entrée showcasing local produce
- Affordable Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$ | |
Locals and visitors alike tend to (mistakenly) overlook this Mount Pleasant staple in favor of the more stylish picks downtown. Chef Ben Berryhill leans on his Texas roots to formulate a South-by-Southwest approach, cooking venison sausage, double-cut pork chops, and rib-eye steaks on a wood-burning grill he calls "The Beast." Also sample savory beef empanadas or large "fork-and-knife" tacos from the bar, and head out to the outdoor patio for a beer or beverage. The nightlife here is lively.
803 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29466, USA
Known For
- Bustling evening bar scene
- Tex-Mex weekend brunch
- Local seafood prepared with spice and flair
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Market |
Local artist Honey McCrary spent over a year building the 700-square-foot undersea mosaic on the ceiling of this seafood eatery. The beautiful artwork is reason alone to step inside, and it underscores the effort and intention put into the overall design and menu at this fine-dining haven along the City Market. The simple menu features 10 shareable plates—including ceviche with the day's catch—and five fish entrées, including seasonal specials like red drum.
32C N. Market St., Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
Known For
- Simple yet quality menu of seafood favorites
- Lightly fried flounder over an oyster stew reduction
- The bomboloni pastry, smothered in chocolate glaze
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$ | North Morrison |
If it looks like a cross between a veterans' hall and a dive bar, that's because the Tattooed Moose is going for a decidedly unpretentious vibe. With 90-plus beers on the menu and a large moose head behind the counter, the place cuts a distinctive figure; homey eats like house-smoked barbecue brisket, chicken salad, jumbo chicken wings, and fried turkey breast are just some of the offerings. The bar's famous duck club is a menu showstopper—it relies on duck confit, apple-smoked bacon, garlic aioli, and ripened tomatoes bounded by sweet Hawaiian bread. If you find yourself on Johns Island, the Moose now has a larger satellite location that caters to families and the happy hour crowd.
1137 Morrison Dr., Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, USA
Known For
- Decadent duck club sandwich with apple-smoked bacon, garlic aioli, and ripened tomatoes bounded by sweet Hawaiian bread
- Weekend brunch that's a great value
- Chill and eclectic vibe
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