Charleston Dining Guide

dining guide
historic district
daniel island
edisto beach

folly beach

goose creek

isle of palms

james island

johns island

kiawah-seabrook
moncks corner

mt. pleasant

north charleston

sullivans island

summerville

west ashley

Dining in Downtown Charleston can be an experience you will never forget. The Holy City offers so many fabulous restaurants to choose from. Lowcountry Cuisine tops the list of what visitors are looking for. Our directory offers a look at several recommendations and reviews to help you find exactly the right entree during your stay in Charleston.

Charleston SC Historic District
Most Upscale Restaurants

american/eclectic
asian
barbeque
cafe/deli

coffee, teas & desserts

french

greek/mediterranean

irish

italian

lowcountry

mexican

pizza

seafood

tapas

upscale/southern

Charleston SC Historic District
Most Upscale Restaurants

82 Queen 82 Queen St. 723-7591. Lowcountry cuisine, she-crab soup, crab cakes, barbecue shrimp & grits. Garden courtyard. Daily, 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

39 Rue de Jean 39 John St. 722-8881. French brasserie. Burgers, steaks, sushi, and salads. Indoor-outdoor patio seating. Lunch daily from 11:30 a.m.; Full dinner served 5:30-11 p.m. Limited menu served through 1 a.m.

Anson 12 Anson St. 577-0551. Seafood, chops, light entrees, barbecue or cashew-crusted grouper, shecrab soup, shrimp & grits. Bar opens 5 p.m., seating starts 5:30 p.m.

Blossom 171 E. Bay St. 722-9200. Local fish and produce. Fried shrimp, salad, seared tuna, crab ravioli, wood oven pizza, lasagna. Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-midnight. Sun. Brunch 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dinner 4 -10 p.m.

Carolina's 10 Exchange St. 724-3800. Southern bistro focusing on fresh local seafood and produce from our organic gardens. Chef's tasting menu and early bar menu. Sun.-Thur. 5-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 5-11 p.m.

Charleston Grill at Charleston Place Hotel 224 King St. 577-4522. New lighter menu includes dishes such as sashimi with pomegranate molasses and venison with a foie gras mousseline. Jazz nightly. Sun.-Thu. 6-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 6-11 p.m. Reservations suggested.

Circa1886 at Wentworth Mansion 149 Wentworth St. 853-7828., Nouvelle Colonial Charleston cuisine. Crabcake souffle, lamb loin with mint, seared foie gras with almond French toast. Mon.-Sat. 5:30 - 9:30p.m.

Coast 39-D John St. (behind 39 Rue de Jean on Hutson Alley). 722-8838. Fresh fish daily. Red Snapper AImondine, Crab Stuffed Flounder, full raw bar and nightly specials. Mon.-Sun. 5:30-until.

Cypress 167 E. Bay St. 727-0111. American/Asian flair. Wood grill steaks and seafood, shellfish bar, tableside service and casual bar menu. 4,500 bottle wine wall. Daily from 5:30 p.m.

Fig 232 Meeting St. 805-5900. Neighborhood bistro. Menu changes daily using fresh lowcountry resources. Dinner Mon-Thurs 6-11p.m. Fri.-Sat. 6 p.m. -midnight.

Fish 442 King St. 722-FISH. Seafood. Seasonal menu. Patio seating avail. Mon.-Fri. 11:30-2 p.m. Mon.-Sat. from 5:30 p.m.

Grill 225 at Market Pavilion Hotel 225 East Bay St. 266-4222. USDA Prime Beef, International and local seafood. Fillets, steaks, lamb, veal. Lunch Mon.-Sun. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner Sun.-Thu., 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 5:30 p.m. - midnight

Halls Chop House 434 King St Charleston, SC 843.727.0090. Prime beef, seafood, and signature desserts. Call for hours. Reservations suggested.

High Cotton 199 East Bay St. 724-3815. Beef, game, seafood, wine. Dinner daily from 5:30 p.m., Lunch Sat. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sun. brunch, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Library Restaurant at Vendue Inn 19 Vendue Range. 577-7970. Full service bar. French accents on traditional southern cooking. Shrimp and grits, sweet vidalis onion soup, fried green tomoatoes, chocolate molten cake, Tues.-Sat. Dinner 6-10 p.m., Closed Sun & Mon.

Magnolias 185 E. Bay St. 577-7771. Shrimp sausage&grits, down-South egg roll, veal meatloaf, seafood. Sun.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun. brunch served until 3:45 p.m.

McCrady's 2 Unity Alley. 577-0025. Sophisticated, modern American cuisine, roasted black grouper with mushrooms, tomato confit and black truffle emulsion. Chef's tasting menu, award-winning wine list. Sun.-Thurs., 5:30-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 5:30-11p.m.

Oak Steakhouse 17 Broad St. 722-4220. Steakhouse. Lobster bisque, clams oreganato and casino, mussels, oysters on the half-shell, Swiss fondue, pizza, steak & chops. Daily, 5-11 p.m. Valet parking.

Peninsula Grill at Planters Inn 112 N. Market St. 723-0700. American fare with Southern influences, award-winning wine list. Courtyard dining avail. Sun.Thu. 5:30-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. till 11 p.m.

Robert's of Charleston 182 E. Bay St. 577-7565. Scallop mousse, duckling, chateaubriand. 5 course dinner, entertainment, wine. Reservations required. Wed.-Sat. 7:30 p.m.

Saffire at Marriott Hotel 170 Lockwood Blvd. 723-3000. Seafood, steak, southern favorites. Full service bar and lounge area; small private seating off main bar. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily. 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Slightly North of Broad 192 East Bay St. 723-3424. Regional cuisine. Grits, grilled barbecue tuna, homemade desserts. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Dinner Daily from 5:30 p.m.

Tristan at French Quarter Inn 55 Market St. 534-2155. Halibut w/ marinated heirloom tomatoes, poblano puree, buttered baby bok choy, lamb ribs with a spicy chocolate barbecue sauce. Lunch, Mon.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Dinner, Sun.-Thu., 5:30-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 5:30-11 p.m. Sun. Brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Virginia's on King 412 King St. 735-5800. Local, fresh ingredients and old family recipes. Southern cooking. Lowcountry style. Mon.-Sat., 11:00 a.m.- 10 p.m. Sun. Brunch, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.