10 Great Restaurants in Charleston

The Darling Oyster Bar is one of the most popular spots for seafood in Charleston. This trendy restaurant’s central position on King Street and at the corner of Morris Street makes it easy to reach from anywhere in Charleston’s downtown area.

Their large menu features fresh seafood options like oysters on the half shell and scallop ceviche, as well as tasty entrees of seared diver scallops and lobster and king crab rolls. Complement your meal with handcrafted cocktails like London Fog or a Basil Daisy, made with vodka, Aperol, fresh lemon and basil.

Husk in Charleston offers elevated dining that highlights traditional ingredients from the American South. Nestled in a side street between King Street and Meeting Street, the restaurant was once home to a wealthy family and much of the beautiful features of this Victorian-era home were restored to keep the Southern charm intact.

The menu changes often depending on what’s in season, but most of the local ingredients remain the same. Some menu highlights that appear frequently include cornmeal fried catfish, pickled okra, pimento cheese, and Carolina gold rice.  

Poogan’s Porch is a chic restaurant in Charleston known for its inventive menu that celebrates the unique flavours and ingredients of Lowcountry cuisine. Located on Queen Street and close to the intersection of Meeting Street, this restaurant is near the water and within walking distance of a few parking garages.

Menu highlights include Southern favourites like fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, buttermilk biscuits, bone-in fried chicken with collards and hot honey, and sweet tea-glazed salmon. Reservations go quickly so make sure to book in advance before your trip to Charleston.

Lewis Barbecue is a popular Texas BBQ spot in Charleston with a laidback environment and mouthwatering dishes. Located north of the city centre in East Central Charleston, Lewis is only a few minutes' drive from downtown. The incredible cuisine at Lewis Barbecue makes it well worth the venture.

The ambience is easygoing and there’s plenty of first-come-first-served seating on their huge backyard patio. Head to the counter to order when you first get there and enjoy an ice-cold sweet tea while you wait for your BBQ platter. Menu highlights include USDA prime beef brisket, creamy mac and cheese, slow-cooked collard greens, and homemade sausage.

FIG is a high-end restaurant in Charleston known for its simple Southern dishes that are loaded with flavour. Located at the corner of Meeting Street and Hasell Street, FIG is in the heart of downtown Charleston and is only a few blocks southeast of the College of Charleston’s campus.

This fine-dining farm-to-table restaurant is open for dinner 5 nights a week and serves popular refined dishes including chicken liver pâté with toasted brioche and Lowcountry bourride with red shrimp, mussels, Carolina gold rice, and sauteed softshell crabs.

Le Farfalle is a beautiful Italian restaurant in Charleston with an inviting tree-lined patio and a creatively designed atmosphere. Le Farfalle is just a few steps away from the hustle and bustle – a block west of King Street in Charleston’s charming Harleston Village.

Known for handcrafted dishes and fresh pasta, the menu is filled with Italian classics such as warm rosemary focaccia, whipped ricotta, spaghetti alla puttanesca, and grilled branzino. No meal is complete without a tasty dessert and Le Farfalle’s panna cotta and Christal’s 24-karat cake are among the best in town.

Magnolia’s is a fashionable fine-dining restaurant in Charleston that’s known for its soulful dishes. Located on East Bay Street, Magnolia’s is just 2 blocks from the water and the beautiful Pineapple Fountain.

Known for its artful plating techniques and creative use of ingredients, Magnolia’s is a local favourite for special occasions. Some of the most popular dishes include spicy shrimp and sausage, fried oysters, blackened catfish, Lowcountry bouillabaisse, and buttermilk-fried chicken breast. Stop by for lunch if you’re looking for a smaller portion of some of their top-selling dishes.

The Ordinary is a bright and beautiful seafood restaurant located in a former bank. Located at the corner of King Street and Cannon Street, this restaurant is in the heart of the city and is known as one of the most attractive venues in Charleston for dining out.

All their dishes are plated to impress, and the big windows make it easy to snap an Instagram-worthy photo of your dinner. Popular dishes include oyster sliders, cornmeal fried white shrimp, okra gumbo, and pickled littleneck clams. If you’re looking for a great way to celebrate the evening, make sure to order one of their impressive seafood towers.

Edmund’s Oast is a brewery and restaurant that has a laidback vibe and extensive menu of comfort food, beers brewed on-site, and handcrafted cocktails. You can find the restaurant on Morrison Drive, north of Charleston’s city centre.

Dining at the restaurant is on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is a different menu for both indoor and outdoor dining. Brewers at Edmund’s Oast love to experiment with flavours and you’ll often find one-of-a-kind beers on their menu like peanut butter and jelly flavoured choice and a sour cherry ale, in addition to favourites like the house blond and milk stout. Menu highlights include fried chicken, spicy pimento cheese, and fried shrimp po’boys.

Stella’s is a Greek restaurant in downtown Charleston. It’s known for its fresh Mediterranean flavours and authentic Greek dishes, including popular starters like spanakopita, dolmades, fried calamari, avgolemono soup, and grilled octopus. You can find it just one block off King Street at the corner of St Philip Street and Warren Street in the city’s historic Upper-King neighbourhood.

A highlight of their menu is the comprehensive selection of hearty entrees like moussaka, souvlaki, shrimp Santorini, and braised lamb shank. Since their menu is large, you may want to order a few things to share with the table so you can sample the varied dishes as a group.