167 Raw

What started as a small seafood company has become one of Charleston’s hottest and best restaurants, serving creative and exceptional dishes.

167 Raw Sushi Bar

When 167 Raw outgrew its original space and moved to a new home, the restaurant reopened its original location as a fantastic sushi bar.
Food at Bakehouse, Charleston, American South

Bakehouse

This sunny spot serves coffee, pastries sandwiches and sweet treats. The sea salt caramel brownies are spectacular.

Bar at Basico, Bastide de Saint Antoine - Courtesy Peter Frank Edwards

Basico

Located at the members-only Mixson Bath & Racquet Club (but open to non-members), the low-key eatery specializes in seasonal taqueria cuisine, like the popular buttermilk fried chicken taco with pickled watermelon rinds. The lovely patio is enhanced by three gardens out front, where the chef grows his own produce.

Bar at Bay Street Biergarten, Charleston, American South

Bay Street Biergarten

With 60 beers on tap, Baystreet Biergarten represents the great culmination of Charleston's craft beer. Situated on East Bay Street with vaulted ceilings and a spacious patio, the space includes a community table serving gourmet bar food as well as beer-tap booths, where diners may pour themselves one of 24 beers on tap right at their table.

Fresh Bread Loaf at Bin 152, Charleston, American South

Bin 152

Set on the corner of King and Queen Streets, this wine bar, art gallery and antiques market is the perfect place to stop before dinner south of Broad Street. The owners, a husband-and-wife duo, provide a selection of 30 wines by the glass, 130 wines by the bottle, a vast cheese and charcuterie list, and a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Food at Butcher & Bee, Charleston, American South - Courtesy Andrew Cebulka

Butcher & Bee

While not as conveniently located as other downtown lunch stops, the artisan sandwiches at this small spot are worth a pedicab ride. Catering to younger generations, Butcher & Bee is open late on weekends (until 3am).

Editors' Picks

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

Long-established biscuit brand Callie’s Charleston Biscuits is behind this tiny storefront on King Street, serving flaky treats to eager patrons in the morning, throughout the day and well into the night. The menu features seven flavors (Buttermilk, Onion and Chive, Shortcakes, Country Ham, Black Pepper Bacon, Blackberry, Cinnamon) and a “biscuit of the day,” as well as a few indulgent extras and a small selection of the brand’s bestselling products.

Editors' Picks

Chasing Sage

This new, trendy spot serves a vegetable-first menu sourcing ingredients from an 18th-century farm.

Food at Chez Nous, Charleston, American South

Chez Nous

Spun from a romantic vision by the French owners of Bin 152, Chez Nous is an off-the-beaten-path restaurant that’s as charming as it is delicious.
restaurant with wooden tables and blue curtains

Chubby Fish

This intimate restaurant is a delightful neighborhood spot serving sustainably-sourced seafood, including oysters and popular small plates such as Wahoo crudo and poached Grouper. Those willing to venture away from King Street will be rewarded with dishes that pack a punch of flavor that will leave you wanting to order more. There are no reservations for tables under 6. Take a seat outside and enjoy a crisp glass of white or rosé while you wait. And don't skip dessert. 

Bar at Cocktail Club, Charleston, American South - Courtesy Andrew Cebulka

Cocktail Club

Located above the restaurant Macintosh, this bar serves artisanal cocktails and light bites in a rarified setting.
Food at Cru Café, Charleston, American South

Cru Café

Sit outside on the porch for lunch at this casual restaurant situated in an old single-family house. Offers include salads, wraps and sandwiches, and a specialty is the delicious shrimp BLT, a local favorite.

Editors' Picks

Edmund’s Oast

This groundbreaking pub has become one of Charleston's hottest spots for foodies and beer enthusiasts alike. The uniquely styled eatery, which features a “meat-case” to house their charcuterie, is the place to go for modernized down-home cooking (think cornbread pudding, pickled shrimp and a killer brunch).

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FIG

Short for “Food Is Good,” this buzzing restaurant is a favorite among locals, and for good reason. The pioneering restaurant features ingredients from the greater Charleston area, served in exciting and thoughtful ways.

Meals at FIG undoubtedly begin for most with a cocktail from the inventive bar. The make-your-own Manhattans, where guests can chose their bourbon, bitters and vermouth from an extensive menu, are particularly fun.

Culinary specialties include the soft-shell crab and an extraordinary coddled egg dish, which includes English peas, blue lump crab, chives and scallions and uses the egg whites to make a rich soup, all the while keeping the yolk intact. Other options include smoked salmon tartar with fried quail egg, homemade potato chips and watercress. A recent visit delivered a melt-in-your-mouth appetizer of lemony leeks with mustard vinaigrette. It comes as no surprise that chef Mike Lata won a James Beard award.

The wait staff is cool and passionate about the menu, adding to the dining room’s exciting vibe.

Editors' Picks
Dinning Area at Fuel, Charleston, American South

Fuel

This gas station turned funky Caribbean cantina is a laid-back retreat for the local set. The dog-friendly patio is the setting of many bocce games and boasts all the makings of a relaxed hangout for guests of all ages.

Juice at Gin Joint, Charleston, American South

Gin Joint

This modern, small spot is well located near lots of restaurants, making it a great stop for a pre- or post-dinner drink.

Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts

Swing by Glazed for a sugar high unlike any you’ve ever experienced. Foodies know that a visit here is the only way to begin a Charleston stay. New, inspired flavors—curry, cheddar and Champagne are all frequent ingredients—are constantly being added to the menu, and so far, they’ve all been hits.

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goat.sheep.cow north

The second location of the popular Charleston fromagerie, the new shop offers seating so its patrons can enjoy wine with select cheeses and charcuterie.
Food at Grocery, Charleston, American South

Grocery

This farm-to-table restaurant, run by chef Kevin Johnson, features oysters, small bites and family-style dishes such as cassoulet and bouillabaisse.

Dinning Area at Halls Chophouse, Charleston, American South - Courtesy Holger Obenaus Photography

Halls Chophouse

The family-run Halls Chophouse serves guests no-frill plates with impeccably prepared cuts that speak for themselves. The mahogany-clad chophouse is always full of people and energy and turns out reliably unforgettable meals.

Editors' Picks
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Harold's Cabin

This rustic and cozy eatery offers an American menu with innovative spins on classic southern dishes, focusing on homegrown produce and local meats.
Food at High Thyme, Charleston, American South

High Thyme

A staple for Charleston locals, this Sullivan’s Island institution is a lovely choice for a relaxed but refined night out. The menu rotates periodically, but dishes might include crab cakes with Old Bay slaw and grilled rosemary hangar steak with red wine sauce, served in the main dining room and on the porch out front. The restaurant also serves an excellent Sunday brunch.

Exterior View - Husk, Charleston, American South

Husk

Situated in a 19th-century home, this elegant yet rustic restaurant serves exceptional high-end Southern cuisine. All ingredients must come from the American South in order to earn placement on the menu, resulting in the chefs creating new takes on tried-and-true recipes. Specialties include a fried catfish BLT and bacon cornbread. (Calories tend to not be counted here.) Be sure to check out the porch’s joggling board: a seesaw meets rocking chair meets bench, this piece of outdoor furniture is a Charleston novelty. In an era when unwed couples were rarely left unsupervised, this bench, because of its sloping incline in the middle, causes two people sitting on it to inch closer and closer together until touching. The next-door Husk Bar, which serves artisanal and old-school cocktails, is a great spot for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail.

Editors' Picks

Husk Bar

Associated with, but in a separate building from the award-winning restaurant Husk, this watering hole offers a dignified list of bourbons and cocktails.

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Le Farfalle

Charlestonians head to this airy and elegant downtown osteria for reliably delicious and innovative Italian fare, such as fresh, hand-rolled pasta.
fried chicken on a tray with sides of coleslaw

Leon’s Oyster Shop

A former auto body repair shop, Leon’s aims to recreate a New Orleans oyster house with a former NoLa chef at the helm.

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