Where to Eat in Charleston, SC

The city of Charleston, South Carolina is known for many things—its history, its culture, its beaches, and its food. Charleston is a culinary destination, and travelers from across the United States and around the world come to the Holy City specifically to dine at its world-famous restaurants.

But, while many people come to dine at well-known restaurants on the peninsula like Husk, Magnolias, High Cotton, and Sorelle, there are many other great options as well. These include restaurants within walking distance to the beach, restaurants on the beach, and waterfront restaurants with sunset views.

So, where should you eat when visiting Charleston, SC? Here are some recommendations:

If You’re Hoping to Eat at One of Charleston’s Famous Restaurants, Make a Reservation

If you’re hoping to eat at one of Charleston’s famous restaurants—like the ones listed above—you’ll want to make a reservation. In fact, depending on the time of year, you may need to make a reservation weeks or months in advance. The last thing you want to do is pour over the menu online and then walk up to the door only to be turned away. While Charleston is growing, and while the peninsula can get busy with tourists during the on season, you can still get a table just about anywhere with a little bit of advance planning.

Don’t Miss Out on the Opportunity for Waterfront Dining

While there are a few waterfront dining options on the peninsula—including the Marina Variety Store Restaurant, which is popular with locals—if you are looking for restaurants on the water in Charleston you will most likely be heading slightly out of town. But, you don’t have to go far. For example, just across the Ravenel Bridge from downtown Charleston is Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. Shem Creek is home to several extremely popular waterfront restaurants, including Tavern & Table, Saltwater Cowboys, and The Wreck of Richard and Charlene, just to name a few. If you’re a fan of the hit Netflix show Outer Banks, you’ll recognize Shem Creek from the show, and The Wreck of Richard and Charlene serves as “The Wreck,” which is the restaurant owned by Kiara’s parents.

If you head west across the Ashley River, you’ll find yourself on James Island. While there are a couple of waterfront dining options here, including the well-known Ellis Creek Fish Camp, you may want to keep driving to Folly Beach. Folly Beach has two of the few oceanfront restaurants in the Charleston area, and it has several other very good restaurants just a block from the beach as well.

What if You Are Looking for Vegetarian Options in Charleston?

While Charleston is known for its seafood and lowcountry specialties, it isn’t particularly well-known as a vegetarian-friendly city. But, this is only because most people don’t know where to look. There are dozens of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Charleston and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for the best place to eat in Charleston, the answer depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to be able to say that you ate at a world-famous restaurant on King Street in historic downtown Charleston, you certainly can—just be sure to make a reservation. If you’re looking for waterfront dining or vegetarian-friendly options, you have more than enough restaurants to choose from in these categories as well.