The Best Places To Eat & Drink In Charleston

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Are you planning a trip to Charleston, South Carolina & looking for some good restaurant recommendations? If so, I’ve created this handy guide highlighting some of the best places to dine and drink in and around the Holy City.

BEST OF LIST

BREAKFAST
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit > Charleston’s go-to spot for buttery biscuits, coffee, and iced tea

LUNCH
Lewis Barbecue > Outstanding Texas-style barbecue served with classic, southern sides

HAPPY HOUR
The Longboard > A great place to enjoy daily Oyster Hour when visiting Sullivan’s Island
The Darling > A King Street staple serving up discounted beer, cocktails, and fresh seafood every afternoon, seven days a week

DINNER
Nico > Tasty French classics and a premiere raw bar in the heart of Shem Creek
Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop > Finger-licking good southern fare & great local seafood
Slightly North of Broad > Elevated Lowcountry cuisine accompanied by stellar service, stellar cocktails, and a stellar atmosphere

BEER
The Royal American > A beloved, no frills bar & grill serving up endless cans of cold beer and local brews on draft all at an affordable price

COCKTAILS
Dalila’s > An intimate tiki bar offering up creative drinks & the friendliest of atmospheres

WATERFRONT VIEWS
Tavern & Table > A full service restaurant with a sprawling view of Shem Creek

For a variety of in-depth reviews and some mouthwatering photos from the places listed above, keep on scrolling. And if you’d like to read more about my trip to Charleston, just click here.

USEFUL TIPS

FOOD COST – Since Charleston is not only a major US city but also a popular tourist destination, I found the cost of food and cocktails to be on par with Los Angeles prices. However, I will say that both domestic and craft beer were quite affordable. If you’re on a tighter budget, stick to coffee shops or grab & go places like Callie’s for breakfast, avoid fine dining, and take advantage of the plethora of Happy Hours located throughout downtown, Mt. Pleasant, and the surrounding islands.

CRAFT BEER – As a California girl, I’ve been spoiled by all of the fantastic, craft beer brewed up & down the west coast so my taste is obviously a bit biased. However, I must say that all of the local beers that I had in South Carolina were excellent, nuanced in flavor, and quite sessionable. One of my favorite things about Charleston was that all of the bars and restaurants we visited served at least one if not more local beer which means that there’s no need to visit an actual brewery if your time in town is limited. However, if you love beer as much as I do, a visit to a local brewery is always a fun experience. I really wanted to check out a restaurant & brewpup called Edmund’s Oast during my first trip to Charleston but was unable to squeeze in a visit. Fortunately, I was able to try their Blonde Ale during lunch at Lewis Barbecue before catching my flight home! When I get a chance to return to Charleston, I will definitely be visiting Edmund’s Oast and the many other taprooms across the city.

LOCAL OYSTERS – I absolutely love oysters, and my friend and I were very excited to indulge in all of the local mollusks during our 4-night trip to Charleston. We literally ate oysters every day and got to try some of the famous Lowcountry Cups, Single Ladies, Roddy Rocks, and Sea Clouds. In comparison to the sweet oysters here on the West Coast and the brinier bivalves of the Northeast – I would say that neither of us fell head over heels for the southern Atlantic, varieties that we tasted. And please don’t get me wrong, the oysters were good just not something I’d write home about. I do, however, look forward to returning to Charleston and trying a ton more local oysters from the abundance of raw bars in town and even some of the oyster farms located outside of the city! FUN SIDE NOTE: I adore oysters so much – that I wore a sterling silver, oyster necklace every day of our trip. You can purchase this same chain at my Etsy store if you too enjoy food themed jewelry!

BEST OF CHARLESTON – RESTAURANT REVIEWS & PHOTOS

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit – I researched where to find the best biscuits in Charleston prior to my trip, and Callie’s came up several times. To my great fortune, their miniature sausage biscuit sandwiches were available at our hotel’s darling breakfast buffet every morning! The biscuits were buttery, flaky, and moist! And although I got my fill at our B&B each morning that did not stop me from visiting their location at Charleston City Market my last afternoon in town. For an in depth review of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit & to see how their bake-at-home biscuit mix fares, please click here. Also, if you decide to purchase anything from their website, please use the code SPRINGFORCALLIES to receive 15% OFF your purchase from now until May 31, 2023 🙂 You’re welcome!!
City Market Address: 188 Meeting Street • Charleston, SC 29401
King Street Address: 476 1/2 King Street • Charleston, SC 29403
Good For: Breakfast / Coffee / Iced Tea / Afternoon Snack

Lewis Barbecue – This spot was recommended to me by a local on my last night in Charleston. She said that she worked at Lewis Barbecue as a bartender, that it was some of the best food in town, and that I should try to go before leaving. So the very next day on my way to the airport, I stopped at Lewis Barbecue for lunch. The interior was light, bright, and inviting which only highlighted the order counter teeming with exquisite looking food. Like most traditional barbecue joints, the price for sliced protein is determined by weight. After some back and forth regarding what I should get, I settled on some brisket with a side of collard greens and one last local beer to wash it all down. The beef was juicy and tender, and the collards were packed with flavor. The complimentary pickles, onions, and barbecue sauces that accompanied my meal were also incredibly delicious. I cannot wait to return so I can try their smoked ribs, sausage, poultry, and slew of other side dishes. My mouth is literally watering as I type this review. Do yourself a favor, and check out Lewis Barbecue if and when you ever find yourself in Charleston!
Address > 464 North Nassau Street • Charleston, SC 29403
Good For > Lunch / Happy Hour /Dinner

The Darling Oyster Bar – Like any other type-A, oyster obsessed, deal-loving person – I researched Happy Hours prior to flying to South Carolina. We were arriving on a Saturday afternoon, and I was thrilled to learn that The Darling had Happy Hour the entire weekend – not just Sundays – which made it the perfect place to kick off our trip to Charleston! After settling into our hotel, we enjoyed our 15-minute walk over to all of the action on King Street. This chic looking restaurant was jam packed, but we snagged two-seats at the busy bar while deciding what to drink. After getting our beverages, we ordered a dozen oysters and their baked crab dip which was so good! The bartenders were all super sweet, and the vibe was so energetic that we were soon enjoying a second round of drinks and half a dozen more oysters with their signature hot sauce! Our time spent at The Darling Oyster Bar was honestly the perfect introduction to Charleston in my humble opinion – great food, great crowd, great ambiance! I highly recommend it.
Address > 513 King Street • Charleston, SC 29403
Good For > Happy Hour/ Dinner

The Longboard – During our second day in Charleston, I noticed an Oyster Hour sign while strolling along the main drag of Sullivan’s Island which of course motivated me to stop in for an afternoon snack and drink. The interior was light, bright, and colorful with a modern beachside flair. I couldn’t get enough of the sea glass countertops and other design features sprinkled throughout the restaurant. After grabbing a seat at the bar – we ordered a local beer, glass of rosé, and white fish croquettes. Our small meal was lovely, the service was great, and the ambiance was relaxing. We would have definitely tried some oysters and a few more items, but we didn’t want to eat too much prior to our dinner reservation at Nico later that night. If you ever find yourself exploring Sullivan’s Island, I would absolutely visit The Longboard.
Address > 2213-B Middle Street • Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Good For > Happy Hour / Dinner / Weekend Brunch

Nico Oysters + Seafood – For our second night in town, I made a reservation at Nico – a French seafood restaurant in the Shem Creek neighborhood. For all of you Southern Charm fans out there – I was unaware that it was partially owned by the family of one of the cast members of this popular Bravo reality show. I only selected Nico for the great reviews and tasty sounding menu! My girlfriend on the other hand, definitely knew about Nico and was super excited that I chose it for dinner. Okay, on to more important things. For an appetizer we ordered half a dozen Local Oysters, two Caviar Oysters, and Escargot in addition to some wine of course! The snails were wonderful, but we both agreed that the oysters were just okay despite being expertly shucked. For our entree, we shared the Steak + Frites. The beef was perfectly cooked to our medium rare request and accompanied by a flavorful bordelaise. The fries were crispy and seasoned well. Last but not least we ordered the Crème Brûlée for dessert. The sugary top was caramelized tableside and served with three double chocolate cookies! Both of which were incredibly tasty to say the least. Overall, Nico is a lovely restaurant with excellent service and delicious food. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Address > 201 Coleman Boulevard • Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Good For > Happy Hour / Dinner / Saturday Lunch / Sunday Brunch

Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop – To keep things exciting, I didn’t make a dinner reservation for our last night in town so my friend and I could choose something together. Some local who I cannot recall but I assume was one of our Uber drivers or bartenders that day mentioned that we should check out a place called Leon’s when we asked about the best oysters in town. Immediately after the recommendation, my girlfriend replied with something along the lines of, “Yes! Leon’s. My coworker suggested that we go there.” So with guidance from two separate individuals, we walked into this raved about Poultry & Oyster Shop later that night. For a Monday evening, the restaurant was bustling! Since we didn’t have a reservation, we quickly snagged two seats at the bar, and since it was our last night in Charleston – we ordered up a storm. First up – half a dozen Raw Oysters plus Peel ‘N Eat Shrimp. The local oysters that we chose were excellent and by far the best tasting that we had during our trip. The shrimp were large, sweet, and unabashedly finger-licking good! For our entree we, of course, had to order some fried chicken which was juicy, flavorful, and crispy! Last but not least, we skipped dessert and ordered a Fried Catfish Sandwich with a side of their famous, “Old School” Scalloped Potatoes. The sandwich was killer, and the potatoes were creamy and delicious. The interior of Leon’s is casual and cozy, and the energy of the diners was through the roof. Everyone in that restaurant was happy which I assume is due to the great food and excellent service. Overall, our final dinner in Charleston was a quintessential South Carolina meal and one that I won’t soon forget. Thanks, Leon’s.
Address > 698 King Street • Charleston, SC 29403
Good For > Lunch / Dinner

Slightly North of Broad – After going back and forth between a few fine dining options prior to arriving in South Carolina, I made a reservation at S.N.O.B. (as it’s locally known) for our first official dinner in town! Long story short, it was the best meal that I had during our 3-night trip to Charleston. And in my humble opinion, the entire experience was just perfect! First and foremost, we were seated right away. Our incredibly friendly server, Kevin, stopped by within moments to introduce himself, share the specials, and offer his opinions when we asked about the cocktails. A short while later we were feasting on local clams, cornbread, sourdough, and two very liquored-up libations. The Lavender Fields cocktail is a must try if you like gin! For an entree, my girlfriend ordered the locally-caught fish plus a glass of white wine. I selected the shrimp & grits with housemade sausage and country ham plus a local Kolsch. We were both so full that we chose to skip dessert, but I’m sure it would have been just as delicious. If you are looking to patron an upscale restaurant serving traditional yet elevated Lowcountry cuisine – I thoroughly recommend Slightly North of Broad! And just to note – S.N.O.B. also does weekend brunch which I imagine is just as phenomenal as their dinner service.
Address > 192 East Bay Street • Charleston, SC 29401
Good For > Lunch / Dinner / Weekend Brunch

The Royal American – An employee at Tavern Wine & Spirits aka “America’s Oldest Liquor Store” told us to check out a place called The Royal American on our third day in Charleston. Moments after his recommendation, we got caught in a rainstorm on Rainbow Row. In desperate need of a drink, something to eat, and a warm place to dry off – we jumped in an Uber and headed for The Royal American! To our surprise, our driver took us much further than we were expecting and dropped us off at a nondescript bar & grill located between a busy thoroughfare and some train tracks. Suffice it to say, the Royal American was not the swanky, southern speakeasy I was picturing in my mind. It is, however, a charming local dive teeming with good energy, plenty of beer, and endless liquor. The Royal American also has a small but mighty food menu, a large front patio, a smaller back patio, and a cool wraparound bar. The only thing they don’t have is PBR according to a sign on a wall. Sorry to all you Pabst lovers out there 😉 If cheap canned beer is your thing though, don’t worry, as they’ve got plenty of other options! Other than the atmosphere, the best thing about The Royal American are the insanely affordable prices. While there, I got a local beer on draft, my girlfriend got a cocktail, and we shared some crispy fries and a killer double, patty melt made with jalapeños [Lance’s Way]. After our meal, we enjoyed a second round of drinks on the back patio by the railroad. We listened to the light rain, watched a train slowly chug on by, and enjoyed the early parts of the afternoon relaxing at this unpretentious bar situated away from the trendier areas of downtown Charleston. FUN FACT: The Royal American is also a popular music venue in the evenings which makes it a triple threat in my opinion – full bar, great food, and live music! Do yourself a favor, and please check it out if you’re looking for a casual yet fun place to drink amongst easy going locals.
Address > 970 Morrison Drive • Charleston, SC 29403

Dalila’s – I randomly found this tiki style cocktail bar on Yelp while getting ready for dinner on our last night in Charleston. The website mentioned Happy Hour from 7pm – 8pm which is an odd time for discounted drinks, but heck – it worked for me since I love a good deal. Plus, it just so happened to be in the same direction as Leon’s – our chosen dinner spot for the evening. So with a plan in place, my girlfriend and I arrived at an incredibly cute bar on a nondescript side street called Spring. The small interior was simple, chic, and welcoming. We arrived shortly after opening on a Monday evening, and there were just two other gals enjoying drinks. Although the island-inspired cocktails sounded phenomenal, I selected their Brut Cava since wine was 50% off during Happy Hour which meant $6.00 pours and no next day hangover for me My girlfriend on the other hand, ordered a gorgeous dirty martini to start followed by a tasty daiquiri. To our surprise, one of the owner’s, Mike, was bartending that night. He was incredibly kind and excited that we stopped by since tourists usually don’t patron his bar. After some great conversation and two rounds of delicious drinks we finally headed to dinner as a variety of locals started to pour in. I highly recommend Dalila’s if you enjoy fun, creative cocktails, an intimate environment, and relaxing vibes!
Address > 441 Meeting Street – Suite F • Charleston, SC 29403
Important Note > The address above is a bit confusing. Their space must be the back unit of a much larger building whose main entrance is on Meeting Street. Please know that the front door of Dalila’s is actually on Spring Street which is located directly between King [to the west] and Meeting [to the east]
Good For > Cocktails / Bar Bites

Tavern & Table – Although this is a popular restaurant, we specifically came here for a pre-dinner drink and to enjoy Shem Creek at sunset. We had the side, back patio pretty much all to ourselves which meant unobstructed views of this famous, Charleston waterway before walking to nearby Nico for dinner. I do look forward to trying the food at Tavern & Table the next time I’m in Charleston, but for now – I’ll say that the outdoor deck is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine, cocktail, or beer while taking in the view!
Address > 100 Church Street • Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Good For > Gorgeous Views of Shem Creek / Lunch / Happy Hour / Dinner / Sunday Brunch