Must-see restaurants in South Carolina

  • 167 Raw

    Charleston

    There are no reservations at this tiny hole-in-the-wall that unassumingly serves up the city's best seafood. People wait in lines down the block for the…

  • Edmund's Oast

    Charleston

    Occupying a gutted former hardware store in gentrifying NoMo, Charleston's highest-brow brewpub got a fancy new executive chef, Bob Cook, in 2017. The new…

  • Java Burrito

    Lowcountry

    Like a sustainably tricked-out Chipotle, this family-owned, farm-to-table burrito Eden is impossible not to love, which is why in-the-know islanders are…

  • Ribaut Social Club

    Lowcountry

    A refined yet homey Lowcountry restaurant, set in the refurbished mansion – Anchorage 1770 – that once belonged to Admiral Beardslee (and named after his…

  • Obstinate Daughter

    Lowcountry

    Sullivan's Island wasn't on the region's culinary map till this place showed up and made serious waves. The chef-owner, who also received high praise for…

  • TW Graham & Co

    Lowcountry

    In sleepy McClellanville, this here's where you get the best fried veggies and seafood in the whole damn state. It's a straightforward kinda place:…

  • Wicked Tuna

    South Carolina

    Murrells Inlet is full of kitschy seafooders and, at first glance, the Wicked Tuna looks no different. Guess again! You are in for a real treat at this…

  • Nose Dive

    Greenville

    This downtown gastropub does decadent and daring urban comfort food, and has daily changing specials such as burgers with pork belly, caramelized onions,…

  • FIG

    Charleston

    FIG is a longtime foodie favorite, and it's easy to see why: welcoming staff, efficient but unrushed service and top-notch, sustainably sourced nouvelle…

  • Hudson's

    Lowcountry

    Hilton Head's go-to seafood shack is a doozy, with a wonderful dockside deck on the water that brims with revelry (old-time islanders stick to the cozy…

  • Bourbon

    South Carolina

    To rub elbows with state lawmakers, attorneys and other people wearing suits, pull up a chair at Bourbon's whiskey bar. The selection of more than 350…

  • Anchorage

    Greenville

    In the up-and-coming village of West Greenville, local food and booze reigns supreme, and that's particularly true at the Anchorage (impossible to miss…

  • Tu

    Charleston

    From the food geniuses who brought us Xiao Bao Biscuit comes this fusion place where there are no phones, no spoons and seemingly no rules. The playful,…

  • Xiao Bao Biscuit

    Charleston

    Housed in a former gas station, with exposed brick walls and concrete floor, this casual but stylish eatery hits the hipster high marks. But the food? Now…

  • Basic Kitchen

    Charleston

    With dishes like avo toast, fresh sesame kale and rainbow bowls (which come with sweet-potato noodles, veggies, herbs and Thai peanut sauce), this healthy…

  • Leon's Oyster Shop

    Charleston

    In a converted old body shop reimagined as an industrial-chic eatery, Leon's is a Charleston favorite for three distinct and delicious items: oysters,…

  • Bowens Island Restaurant

    Lowcountry

    Down a long dirt road through Lowcountry marshland near Folly Beach, this unpainted wooden shack is one of the South's most venerable seafood dives – grab…

  • Gaulart & Maliclet

    Charleston

    Ooh la la. Locals crowd around the shared tables at this tiny spot, known as 'Fast & French,' to nibble on Gallic cheeses and sausages, fondues or nightly…

  • Motor Supply Co

    South Carolina

    Not only did Motor Supply Co flip a former auto-part shop into a restaurant long before most hipsters were born, it was doing farm-to-table fare before…

  • Skull Creek Dockside Restaurant

    Lowcountry

    Set in a renovated old river house, the latest addition to Hilton Head's dining scene raises the (already high) bar for seafood with its mouthwatering…

  • Zero Café + Bar

    Charleston

    The kitchen at the Zero George Street hotel might be diminutive, but the dining experience provided by Food Network celebrity chef Vinson Petrillo is…

  • Stax Omega Diner & Bakery

    Greenville

    Nobody quite does breakfast excess like the USA, and this bustling family-owned diner 4 miles east of downtown Greenville is everything fantastic about…

  • Old Bull Tavern

    Lowcountry

    The Old Bull Tavern offers some of the tastiest food and cocktails in Beaufort, with a wood-fired pizza oven and low-lit, worldly aesthetic to boot. The…

  • Circa 1886

    Charleston

    In a renovated, elegant carriage house, this is Lowcountry fine dining at its most rewarding, with healthful, seasonal offerings that reflect the region's…

  • Jasmine Porch

    Lowcountry

    Kiawah Island is a private island, mostly for fancy golfers and other well-off folks. But tell 'em at the gate you're headed to Jasmine Porch and, boom,…

  • Swamp Rabbit Grocery

    Greenville

    You don't have to bicycle along the Swamp Rabbit Trail to make a stop at the eponymous, adjacent grocery, but it's definitely the most fun way to visit…

  • Harold's Cabin

    Charleston

    It goes without saying that if Bill Murray is a co-owner, the place is probably dope. That's the case for this former corner store, which remains a rustic…

  • Fleet Landing

    Charleston

    Come here for the perfect Charleston lunch: a river view, a cup of she-crab soup with a splash of sherry, and a big bowl of shrimp and grits. Housed in a…

  • Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

    Charleston

    A welcome respite from all the Lowcountry and fried food, this elegant Lebanese restaurant is a favorite with locals. You can't really go wrong, so you…

  • Wild Olive

    Lowcountry

    This cozy Italian kitchen on Johns Island is whipping up some of the best homemade pastas and ambitious mains outside of Tuscany. The carne crudo is light…

  • Workshop

    Charleston

    Kind of like a food court, except awesome. Workshop has kitchen space for six within the Pacific Box & Crate development, and these mini-restaurants…

  • Darling Oyster Bar

    Charleston

    Not all oysters are created equal in Charleston, but the Darling serves up the raw goodness. Its light, flavorful selections originate in places like…

  • Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

    Charleston

    Nachos are front and center at this tasty, affordable Mexican joint on King St, and locals go wild for it with good reason. The nacho royales arrive…

  • Le Farfalle

    Charleston

    Seafood charcuterie doesn't get better than the octopus carpaccio at Le Farfalle, a breath of fresh Tuscan air with a spacious, bright dining room and…

  • Soby's

    Greenville

    Book yourself one of the intimate, brick-walled banquettes at this downtown Greenville bastion of New Southern cuisine that also caters to wine lovers …

  • Shrimp Shack

    Lowcountry

    If you've ever wished your hamburger was made of shrimp, your prayers are answered at this here roadside shack on stilts. The fresh shrimp is delivered…

  • Jianna

    Greenville

    Chef Michael Kramer serves up rustic Italian cuisine and oysters galore in this cheerful 2nd-floor restaurant. The large balcony looks out onto bustling…

  • Lewis Barbecue

    Charleston

    Lewis Barbecue is a bit north of downtown, but Charlestonians regularly venture out and line up for this oh-so-delicious meat. Favorites include the Texas…

  • Poogan's Porch

    Charleston

    It's very Charlestonian to take brunch on the terrace of this cozy but elegant two-story Victorian, where the homemade buttermilk biscuits are out of…

  • Sidewall Pizza Company

    Greenville

    Pizza. Salad. Ice cream. That's all the food on offer at this laid-back hangout in a former service station, but what the menu lacks in variety it makes…