30 editor picks in Charleston.
30 upscale places in Charleston, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Charleston: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Charleston food.
Chez Nous in Charleston runs a two-protein, two-pasta, two-starter handwritten menu daily out of a cottage on Payne Court since 2014. Located in Upper King.
OrderWhatever pasta is on the day's chalkboard; it's always the strongest plate.
TipBook on Resy weeks ahead. The room is tiny and tables turn slowly.
Dano Heinze and Bethany Heinze's Vern's in Charleston runs a 30-seat tasting room on Bogard Street since 2022, picked up a Michelin Guide nod in 2024.
OrderWhatever the day's pasta is, then the protein from the wood grill.
TipResy bookings open 28 days ahead and go in minutes. Walk-in bar seats sometimes free up at 17:00.
Slightly North of Broad in Charleston has run on East Bay Street since 1993. Brunch and lunch are easier seats than dinner. Bar seats are walk-in only.
OrderThe shrimp and grits with stone-ground grits and house kielbasa, on the menu since the 90s.
TipBrunch and lunch are easier seats than dinner. Bar seats are walk-in only.
Jacques Larson's The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan's Island opened in 2014. Italian-Lowcountry crossover with wood-fired pizzas and seafood pastas.
OrderThe Old Danger pizza with house-pulled mozzarella and the Geechee Girl pasta.
TipBook on Resy. Lunch is the easier seat; dinner books out 30 days ahead.
Jason Stanhope and partners reopened Sullivan's Fish Camp on Middle Street in Sullivan's Island in 2022. Located in Sullivans Island. Priced at $$$.
OrderA half-dozen oysters from the daily list, then the wood-grilled whole fish.
TipBook on Resy. The bar serves the full menu and turns faster than the dining room.
Bin 152 in Charleston runs a French Quarter wine bar with European-focused pours and cheese plates from a corner of King and Queen Streets since 2010. 30.
TipWalk-up only; first-come tables. The corner stools open earliest on Friday and Saturday.
Femi Oyediran and Miles White's Graft Wine Shop on Upper King Street in Charleston runs a natural, small-production wine list since 2018. Booking recommended.
TipWalk-up bar seats turn over fast. Tasting flights are a useful way to map the natural-wine list.
Wild Olive on Johns Island has run handmade pasta and Italian-Lowcountry plates from a converted barn on Maybank Highway since 2009. Priced at $$$.
OrderWhatever house pasta the kitchen is running tonight; rotates with the season.
TipReservations required almost every night. Book at wildolive.com.
Estadio in Charleston runs Spanish tapas, vermouth on tap and a sherry programme out of a Spring Street corner spot since 2023. Located in Upper King.
OrderThe tortilla, jamon plate, and a vermouth on the rocks at 17:00.
TipBook on Resy. Bar seats walk-in. The sherry list is the deepest in the city.
Tres Jackson and Brooks Reitz's Sorghum & Salt in Charleston runs vegetable-forward small plates from a renovated St. Philip Street spot since 2017.
OrderWhatever the daily vegetable plate is; this kitchen makes plants taste like the centre of the plate.
TipBook on Resy. Vegetarians get the deepest menu in the city here.
Maison in Charleston runs French bistro plates from a King Street corner since 2023. Order the steak frites and a half-bottle of cotes du rhone.
OrderSteak frites and a half-bottle of Cotes du Rhone.
TipBook on Resy. Wednesday and Thursday seats are easiest; weekends fill 30 days out.
Wild Olive on Johns Island has run handmade pasta and Italian-Lowcountry plates from a converted barn on Maybank Highway since 2009. Priced at $$$.
OrderWhatever house pasta the kitchen is running tonight.
TipReservations required almost every night.
167 Sushi Bar in Charleston runs a 22-seat sushi counter on East Bay Street since 2022. Located in Downtown. Priced at $$$. Kitchen leans japanese, sushi.
OrderThe chef's nigiri selection, plus the sashimi platter for the table.
TipBook on Resy. Mon-Sat lunch and dinner; the counter seats are the best.
The Cocktail Club in Charleston runs a King Street upstairs cocktail bar above The Macintosh since 2011. Order the brown spirits, classic cocktails.
TipWalk-in upstairs entrance. Tuesday to Sunday 17:00-02:00; reservations available on weekends.
Estadio in Charleston pours Spanish wines, sherry and vermouth from a Spring Street tapas bar since 2023. Located in Upper King. Open tue-sun 16:00-23:00.
TipWalk-up bar seats are easier than booked tables. Try the vermouth on the rocks at 17:00.
Brannon Florie's The Royal Tern on Johns Island opened in 2019 as a fancy neighbourhood eatery on Maybank Highway. Kitchen leans seafood, lowcountry.
OrderWhatever whole fish is on the wood grill, plus oysters from the daily list.
TipBook on the website. Dinner only, closed Sundays.
Melfi's in Charleston runs upper-King-Street red-sauce Italian and Roman-thin-crust pizza out of a clubby tin-ceiling room since 2018. Priced at $$$.
OrderThe Cacio e Pepe pizza and a glass of Chianti Classico.
TipBook on Resy. Walk-up bar seats serve the full menu.
Melfi's in Charleston runs upper-King-Street red-sauce Italian and Roman-thin-crust pizza out of a clubby tin-ceiling room since 2018. Priced at $$$.
OrderThe Cacio e Pepe pizza and a glass of Chianti Classico.
TipBook on Resy. Walk-up bar seats serve the full menu.
Proof in Charleston is The Commonwealth Company's long-running King Street craft cocktail bar, twelve-plus years on Upper King with a tight tiki and mezcal.
TipWalk-up bar; arrive at 17:00 for stools. The mezcal cocktails are the kitchen's strongest run.
Little Jack's Tavern in Charleston has run a King Street tavern since 2015 with a deep cocktail list and the Tavern Burger. Tin-ceiling room, leather booths.
TipWalk-in bar seats serve the full menu till midnight. The Tavern Burger sells out by 22:00 weekends.
Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer in Charleston pours both coffee and local craft beer from a Vanderhorst Street courtyard cafe since 2003. Open until 22:00 daily.
TipWalk-in. The courtyard fountain seats are the best for an evening pint. Kid- and dog-friendly.
The Belmont in Charleston runs cocktails and bar bites from a King Street upstairs lounge since 2011. The pop-tart dessert program is the kitchen's signature.
TipWalk-in. Bar seats first-come; tucked above a King Street shop with no exterior sign.
goat.sheep.cow. North in Charleston runs a cheese counter, charcuterie bar and wine pours from a Meeting Street storefront. Located in Upper Peninsula.
TipCounter-priced glasses are unusually fair. Cheese boards arrive in 15 minutes; order ahead by phone.
The Belmont in Charleston runs cocktails and bar bites from a King Street upstairs lounge since 2011. The pop-tart dessert program is the kitchen's signature.
TipWalk-in. Bar seats are first-come; arrive at opening for a stool. Tucked above a King Street shop.
82 Queen in Charleston has poured she-crab soup for 40 years from three historic buildings on Queen Street with a courtyard garden under a magnolia tree.
OrderThe 18-time-award-winning she-crab soup, table-side sherry pour optional.
TipBook on OpenTable. Courtyard seats are the best in the house.
Poogan's Porch in Charleston has run since 1976 from a restored Victorian on Queen Street. Order the shrimp and grits at brunch, biscuits to start.
OrderShrimp and grits at brunch, biscuits to start.
TipBook on OpenTable. Brunch on weekends draws a queue from 10:00.
Poogan's Porch in Charleston has run since 1976 from a Victorian on Queen Street. Book on OpenTable. Brunch on weekends draws a queue from 10:00.
OrderShrimp and grits at brunch, biscuits to start.
TipBook on OpenTable. Brunch on weekends draws a queue from 10:00.
82 Queen in Charleston has poured she-crab soup for 40 years from three historic buildings on Queen Street with a courtyard garden under a magnolia.
OrderThe 18-time-award-winning she-crab soup.
TipBook on OpenTable. Courtyard seats are the best in the house.
Charleston Beer Works on upper King Street runs 48-plus taps of local and regional craft beer with scratch pub food. At 480 King St. Booking recommended.
TipWalk-in. Open daily 11:30-02:00; live music Thursday through Saturday. Bar seats first-come on weekend nights.
Hyman's Seafood in Charleston serves the city from a Meeting Street row of historic buildings the Karesh-Hyman family has held since 1890; the seafood.
OrderShe-crab soup and a fried-fish plate with hushpuppies.
TipNo reservations; arrive before 17:30 or expect a 45-minute wait. Hush puppies are free.
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