Charleston Travel Guide

USA #1 in Best Places to Visit in the Carolinas

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What to Eat in Charleston

Charleston is a top foodie destination in its own right. Even if you're not in town for one of the city's culinary events (like the Charleston Wine + Food Festival or Charleston Restaurant Week), you'll still get a chance to sample some low country cuisine at any one of the city's top restaurants.

Travelers and locals alike heap praise on Husk and Magnolia's for their contemporary Southern menus and attentive service. Favorite dishes at Magnolia's include the down south egg roll, the buttermilk fried chicken breast and the parmesan crusted flounder. FIG and The Ordinary are equally popular for their seafood-centric menus and trendy interiors. Poogan's Porch (a great place for brunch) offers a similar low country menu in a charming, restored Victorian house. High Cotton, another purveyor of low country fare, hosts a popular Sunday brunch that features live jazz from local musicians. If you're in the mood for more casual breakfast or coffee spots, consider The Daily or Black Tap Coffee. And if you're not too full from a hearty brunch, head to 167 Raw for lunch, an oyster bar that's popular for its oyster selection and lobster rolls. During peak tourist season, waiting for a table at one of these eateries can turn into a long night. If you already know where you'd like to dine while in Charleston, make reservations before you get into town.

You can't make reservations at Hyman's Seafood, so be prepared to battle the line snaking out of the door for a seat at this perennial tourist favorite. With a more casual atmosphere and budget-friendly menu than some of Charleston's other downtown area restaurants, it's easy to see why travelers (especially those with kids in tow) prefer to stake a claim in the line than pay some of the city's other restaurant tabs. You won't encounter too many locals, but you will find a big menu with just about any seafood you could imagine.

Along with its impressive food menus, Charleston also boasts a bevy of trendy drinking establishments worth checking out. The Gin Joint, The Belmont and The Rooftop Bar at Vendue are all praised watering holes to consider.

Find the Best Restaurants in Charleston

#1
Halls Chophouse
#1 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (5600)
$$ | American, Steakhouse
434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403-6230
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#2
Charleston Grill
#2 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (1811)
$$ | American, Contemporary
224 King St, Charleston, SC 29401-3102
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#3
Grill 225
#3 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (2074)
$$ | Seafood, American, Steakhouse
225 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-2608
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#4
167 Raw
#4 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (1512)
$ - $$ | American, Seafood
289 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-1620
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#5
Swig & Swine
#5 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (1715)
$ - $$ | American, Bar, Barbecue
1217 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407-7826
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#6
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
#6 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (468)
$ | American
501 King St, Charleston, SC 29403-7205
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#7
Circa 1886 Restaurant
#7 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (1994)
$$ | American, Contemporary
149 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401-1733
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#8
Peninsula Grill
#8 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (2545)
$$ | American, Seafood, Grill
112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401-3157
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#9
Lewis Barbecue
#9 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (540)
$ - $$ | American, Barbecue
464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403-3828
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#10
Revival
#10 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (165)
$$ | American, Seafood
162 E. Bay Street (Next To The Vendue), Charleston, SC 29401
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#11
Cru Cafe
#11 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (2771)
$ - $$ | American
18 Pinckney St, Charleston, SC 29401-2006
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#12
82 Queen
#12 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (3325)
$$ | American, Soups
82 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401-2220
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#13
R Kitchen
#13 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (572)
$ - $$ | American, Cajun & Creole, International
212 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403-5303
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#14
Magnolias
#14 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (6770)
$$ | American, Seafood, Soups, International, Contemporary
185 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-2126
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#15
Sugar Bakeshop
#15 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (259)
$ - $$ | American
591/2 Cannon Street, Charleston, SC 29403
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#16
Slightly North of Broad
#16 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (3883)
$$ | American, Soups
192 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-2123
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#17
Brown Dog Deli
#17 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (1417)
$ | American, Deli
40 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401-3004
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#18
Christophe Patissier-Chocolatier
#18 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (219)
$ - $$ | Cafe, French
90 Society St, Charleston, SC 29401-1431
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#19
Stella's
#19 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (192)
$ - $$ | Mediterranean, Greek
114 ST Philip Street Corner of Warren and ST Philip Streets, Charleston, SC 29403-6141
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#20
Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine
#20 of 1,032 Places to Eat in Charleston
TripAdvisor (965)
$ - $$ | Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
298 King St Intersection King and Liberty, Charleston, SC 29401-1441
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