Eat and Drink in Charleston, SC
My fiance, dog, and I were lucky enough to spend a month in beautiful Charleston this winter. Charleston has a great food scene, and honestly the amount of recommendations can be overwhelming. Reservations book up quickly, so it’s best to make them as far in advance as you can. If you aren’t able to find the one you want, set a notification on the booking platform, as last-minute cancellations are common, likely because people are booking at more than one place to keep their options open. If you’re in town on a week day, use those days to go to restaurants that are walk-in only.
Here’s where we ate and drank, which spots I really loved, which menu items I loved, and even some recommendations we didn’t get to! Plus, a handy Google map at the bottom.
Restaurants
Most memorable meals
After spending a month in Charleston, my top three most memorable meals are, in no particular order:
Everything at The Obstinate Daughter
Okonomiyaki at Xiao Bao Biscuit
Everything at Chubby Fish
Honorable mentions on my most memorable list, in no particular order:
Fried ribs at Home Team BBQ
Ricotta gnocchi at FIG
Whipped ricotta and homemade focaccia at Le Farfelle
Ice cream from Jeni’s
Brisket (sliced, fatty) at Lewis Barbecue
Wings at Bay Street Biergarten
Biscuits from Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
The Breakfast Crumble at Big Bad Breakfast
Wood-fire kale salad at The Kingstide
Keep reading for more details and everywhere else we ate.
Breakfast + Coffee
The Daily: We came for breakfast our first Sunday morning for avocado toast and biscuit sandwiches. There was a line to order but it moved quickly. It’s a cute spot with indoor and (covered) outdoor seating. Plus they sell local goodies like hot sauce and jam.
Big Bad Breakfast: A diner with Southern flare. Friendly staff, self-serve coffee while you wait, and outdoor seating. The breakfast crumble was delicious.
Babas on Cannon: A really cute space off of King Street, with some outdoor tables. I got their peanut mocha (I love peanut butter, especially with chocolate, so I couldn’t resist), and would have loved to come back for breakfast or even snacks and cocktails later in the day.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits: Such good biscuits! We were lucky to be able to come here during the week when it’s a bit less busy. The shop is small, mainly just for the line and ordering, and then you wait outside until they call your name with your food. They have many flavors, accoutrements, and even gluten free biscuits. The sausage, egg, and pimento cheese sandwich was so good. Bonus: the owner was working the register one of the times we went!
Brown’s Court Bakery: Adorable spot serving baked goods and coffee out of what looks a house. The bagel bomb was delightful.
Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer: We stopped here one morning with our dog since they have a big patio. They have a small breakfast menu, but serve craft beer later in the day too. Worth a stop if you’re on King Street and want to sit outside or need a bathroom.
Recommendations on my list that we didn’t get to:
Millers All Day
Early Bird Diner
Butcher & Bee
The Harbinger Cafe & Bakery
The Rise
Second State Coffee
Queen Street Grocery
The Co-Op
Lunch + Dinner
Chubby Fish: One of my top three meals. It’s not worth if if you don’t like seafood, as that’s pretty much the whole menu. Since my fiancé falls into that category, a visiting friend and I went together. They don’t take reservations, so we were first in line for dinner at 4:30 on a Friday and got two seats at the counter overlooking the kitchen right when they opened at 5. We enjoyed a bottle of sparkling rosé and shared one caviar sammich (on a Martin's potato roll with crème fraîche - nice and rich), the tilefish ceviche on focaccia, and two large plates that aren’t on the menu anymore (wahoo curry and grouper cheeks). This was plenty since the large plates were over rice. Everything was amazing.
Obstinate Daughter: Easily in my top three; this is a must if you can make it to Sullivan’s Island (we went for brunch). Make a reservation. Our table shared the local lettuce salad and the old danger pizza, and I had the pork belly with a kimchi pancake. Everything we ate was memorable!
Xiao Bao Biscuit: Set in an old gas station away from King Street, this popular Asian restaurant is also one of my top three meals in Charleston. They have small-ish lunch and dinner menus, but you can’t go wrong with any of their items. Everyone will recommend the okonomiyaki, and they’re right, there’s a reason it’s on my “most memorable” list above! The dumplings were also really good.
Bay Street Biergarten: We came here twice - once to watch the Super Bowl (large indoor space with lots of TVs) and once on a warm sunny afternoon to enjoy their patio, cold beer, and live music. Both times we got the wings, which are smoked right in the parking lot and are served with Alabama White Sauce - highly recommend. The patio is dog- and kid-friendly.
Edmund’s Oast: We actually ordered delivery from here our first night when we were too tired to go out or cook, and enjoyed their salads and delicious roasted potatoes. If we were in town longer I would have loved to go in person and try some of their beers.
Home Team BBQ: You don’t hear this name as much in the Charleston BBQ conversations (Rodney Scott’s and Lewis are the big ones), but we loved Home Team so much we went here twice. The fried ribs (a regular special) were the real winner, but everything was delicious and, at least downtown, they have a large indoor and outdoor space. The times we went they weren’t nearly as crowded as Lewis and Rodney Scott’s.
Rodney Scott’s BBQ: The pulled pork, ribs, and hush puppies were our favorites here. We didn’t love the wings as much as Bay Street or Home Team. Very busy and popular place.
Lewis BBQ: Lewis is tied with Home Team as my favorite of the three BBQ places I list here, for both the food and the vibe. The line on a Sunday was really long, but we ordered drinks at the bar (watermelon, lime, jalapeño, tequila for me) and it moved pretty quickly. They slice the hot meat as you order it and it’s a beautiful sight! The brisket (fatty, sliced) was the crowd pleaser, but everything we had was good - pulled pork, ribs, slaw, fried, green chile cornbread, and pickles and onions. They also have a large outdoor patio.
Goulette: A neighborhood bistro with a simple menu. Unfortunately the rotisserie machine was down, so we didn’t get to enjoy their chicken. But the steak, fish, and duck were delicious, as was the wine served to us by the owner.
Poogan’s Porch: I wouldn’t put this at the top of my list as it’s become quite touristy, but it’s a good meal in a charming old house. Everything has a southern flare, such as sweet-tea glazed salmon and cornbread croutons.
Berkeley’s: Local friends took us here for a great brunch, and they also serve dinner. They seem to be known for their sandwiches, but everything we had was really good, service was great, and the space is well designed. It’s off the beaten path, meaning it’s a bit easier to get a table and it’s more relaxed. Try the frozen pinot grigio or sangria on a warm day, or order them mixed together like our waiter recommended.
Leon’s: You’ll probably hear Leon’s recommended frequently. Their main menu items are fried chicken and oysters, but they have great salads and sides too, set in a fun atmosphere. They don’t take reservations.
FIG: This was a lovely meal, and perfect if you want something a little nicer. Their menu changes regularly based on local and seasonal ingredients, and I see that most of what we ordered isn’t on the current menu, except the ricotta gnocchi alla bolognese, which is a staple dish of theirs. I’ve had a lot of gnocchi in my life, and these are up there as some of the best; they melt right in your mouth.
The Kingstide: My fiancé surprised me here for part of my birthday celebration (the one meal I didn’t plan!) and he did good. It’s on the water on Daniel Island, so a bit of a drive from downtown. We sat on the porch for dinner and then went up to the rooftop for an after-dinner drink. The views are picturesque and the food was one of the best meals we had in Charleston. The wood-fire kale salad is one dish I can’t stop thinking about.
Le Farfalle: Le Farfalle is another good option for a nicer meal. I definitely recommend the whipped ricotta with honey, olive oil, and black pepper as a starter (on my “most memorable” list). The ricotta comes with bread, but our waiter recommended also ordering the homemade rosemary focaccia, which was good alone or with the whipped ricotta and the other dips it comes with. We shared homemade pasta and the coriander-crusted duck - all delicious!
Basic Kitchen: I came here for lunch on my birthday and sat alone at the bar with my book. It’s a bright and airy space with a focus on vegetables. I had the basic bowl and added salmon. It was a nice mix of flavors and filling while not being too heavy. I also had the beet margarita, which was a delight.
Red’s Ice House: My friend and I sat on their back deck along the water for lunch on a warm day. The food wasn’t anything to write home about, but the atmosphere was fun and laid back, and we saw dolphins swimming by!
R. Kitchen: This is a fun meal. They have two seatings a night in their intimate and quirky space, offering a 5-course meal that changes daily based on what they feel like making. We didn’t eat anything too wild, but it might not be a good fit for a picky eater since there are no options or substitutions. Seats are along the bar and the chef pauses the music as they serve each dish to explain what we’re eating. Our meal also included a bottle of wine, all for just $60 per person. The atmosphere and unique restaurant style lends itself to chatting with your neighbors, which we did. They have a downtown and West Ashley location; we went to the latter because downtown was booked.
Recommendations on my list that we didn’t get to:
Little Jack’s Tavern - good burger
Melfi’s - Italian
Maison - French
Hank’s Seafood
Peninsula Grill - fancier
167 Raw - all seafood
Lenoir
82 Queen
Fleet Landing - fried fish on the water
Drinks
Vintage Lounge: A large bar with a dark and moody inside and a bright outdoor patio. They mainly focus on cocktails and wine, and have cheese and charcuterie for food. Good for a pre- or post-dinner drink, and likely a more mature crowd than some of the King Street bars.
Citrus Club at The Dewberry: A gorgeous rooftop with city views. The cocktails are pricier here ($18), but worth it if you are looking for a nice rooftop.
Bedford Falls: A local bar that we stopped into for a pre-dinner drink.
Felix: Very popular, with locals and tourists alike. A large airy space with leather chairs, serving a full food menu and a unique cocktail menu.
The Belmont: A dark and moody cocktail bar on upper King Street.
Bin 152: A cute wine bar on lower King Street, perfect for a glass of wine before dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits: We came here for a late-night drink (we closed the place down) so can’t speak to it in too much detail, but the wine was good, and they have indoor and outdoor seating.
Prohibition: A fun bar! If you don’t want to feel too old, leave before a certain hour on the weekend. Otherwise, a good spot for a casual drink and a bite to eat, with a large indoor space, multiple bars, and a back patio.
Uptown Social: Similar to Prohibition, Uptown Social will serve a younger clientele after a certain hour. We came for a drink before dinner on their rooftop one warm night. They also have tons of TVs so it would be a good spot to watch a game.
Bay Street Biergarden: We came here twice as it was a 5-minute walk from our Airbnb. On a nice day, the patio is perfect for day drinking while listening to live music, plus it’s kid- and dog-friendly. The inside is large with plenty of TVs.
Church and Union (formerly 5 Church): This restaurant is in an old church, so is pretty cool. The bar is huge but gets crowded. It’s in the more touristy area but is a good spot before dinner at FIG or another nearby restaurant if you don’t eat here.
Recommendations on my list that we didn’t get to:
Last Saint - cocktail bar
Dalila’s - cocktail bar
Zero Restaurant & Bar - a hotel in an old house with a bar and restaurant
Babas on Cannon - I came here for coffee, but they serve cocktails later in the day
Ice Cream
Off Track: The menu options and even design remind me a lot of Van Leeuwen, an ice cream shop up here in New York… not sure who was influenced, but their ice cream was fresh and really good. They have a large space and clean bathrooms - good to know if you’re walking around lower King Street and need to go! The line for ice cream can get pretty long, but it’s worth it.
Jeni’s: You can’t go wrong with Jeni’s. I’ve had it in other southern cities and just hope they open in New York or New Jersey one day.
Freddo: This brought me back to my time living in Argentina! The staff was even Argentine, and I bought an alfajore. They serve gelato here.
Recommendations on my list that we didn’t get to:
Peace Pie - ice cream sandwiches
Map
Where we ate and what we did in Madrid, Spain