6 Must-Try Restaurants in Downtown Charleston, SC
If you want to dine at the best restaurants in downtown Charleston, SC, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re visiting for the first time or a local looking for weekend plans, these 6 must-try restaurants in downtown Charleston range from seafood and Southern cuisine, steakhouses and Italian, and more! One thing that is undeniably true about Charleston, South Carolina restaurants is there is never a shortage of incredible food, so I know you’ll love any of these spots!
The restaurants we’re covering in this Charleston SC dining guide are:
The Darling Oyster Bar
Husk
Halls Steakhouse
Southbound
167 Raw Oyster Bar
Melfi’s
I’ve had such great experiences at all of these restaurants and know you will too! Years ago, when I first started visiting my boyfriend in Charleston every month, I was amazed (and a little overwhelmed) by the many restaurant options. You may have experienced this as well while planning your Charleston SC vacation, but I felt like when I searched “Charleston restaurants” or clicked restaurants near me on Apple Maps, only a few of the great places here would show up. I started asking locals (bartenders, girls in bar bathrooms, Uber drivers) for their recommendations and adding it to an ever-growing note on my phone that has led me to most of the places on this list and dozens of amazing dining experiences.
Also, you’ll notice for each restaurant, I mention any souvenirs, like matchboxes, postcards, coasters, the restaurants offer for fun mementos of your time there!
If you’re visiting, be sure to add these 6 restaurants to your Charleston, SC itinerary, or if you live in CHS, book your reservations!
The Darling Oyster Bar – Best Oysters in Charleston
The Darling was one of the first places I ever ate in downtown Charleston and has been one of my favorites ever since Price: $$
Location: upper King Street
Cuisine: Seafood / Raw Bar
My Favorite Dishes at The Darling Oyster Bar
A-la carte oysters to start since the Darling has some of best oysters in downtown Charleston! The daily raw menu is on an adorable, pink slip of paper that always looks great in the background of Instagram stories 😉
If you’re not a fan of raw seafood, I highly recommend the baked oysters. It’s a great way to come home from a trip to the Lowcountry and say you tried an oyster! You can get ones with bacon, cheese, bread crumbs, sauces, etc.
Blue Crab Tagliatelle: creamy pasta dish with crab, peas, and the smallest kick (I don’t like spicy food and could handle this!)
Fried Baskets: You can’t go wrong with a classic fried seafood dinner. Just pick your seafood and side
Shrimp & Grits: A Charleston classic!
Lobster Roll
If you’re looking for a deal: $14 double cheeseburger and choice of side (hushpuppies, collards, grits, fries, etc.). My boyfriend and I literally had a bet that you couldn’t find a meal at an upscale restaurant / cocktail bar for under $15, but he proved me wrong with this one
Atmosphere: Coastal, Bright, Nautical, Minimal
Based on décor and aesthetics alone, the Darling is easily one of my favorite spots in Charleston. One half of the restaurant is a dining room and the other has a standard bar, a raw bar, and tables and booths. I recommend sitting on the bar side if you can (to the right of the entrance).
What Makes it Special
Raw Bar – Directly in front of windows overlooking King Street, there is a 14-seat raw bar surrounded by bins of seafood on ice and a chef in the middle preparing it (think a hibachi setup, but with raw seafood). I have yet to sit here, but it’s high on my list!
Do you need reservations at The Darling Oyster Bar?
Recommended, but not necessary if you’re a party of 2 and don’t mind sitting at the bar. However, since this is one of the best raw bars in Charleston, on weekends, even with 2, you’ll likely have to wait for a seat at the bar. If your party is bigger, I’d definitely plan ahead. You can potentially find availability just a few days in advance for a weeknight, but for a weekend, I’d book a week or two sooner
BONUS: Souvenirs
There are THREE different matchbox designs (all equally adorable)! The check also comes out on a very cute postcard that I even framed in my apartment
Husk – Best Southern Restaurant in Charleston
Husk is a Charleston staple that's very well-known for good reason. It's truly a restaurant worth the hype and should be on the top of your Charleston SC foodie must-visit list Price: $$$
Location: Queen Street (lower end of King Street)
Cuisine: Southern – Their website calls it a “modern approach to Southern Ingredients”
My Favorite Dishes
Hearth-Baked Skillet Cornbread with sweet butter – Cornbread is a Lowcountry staple so where better to order it than the best Southern restaurant in Charleston? You can get this as an appetizer instead of a side, but our server recommended we keep it for the meal so you can dip it in the sauces of your entrée
Pork Ribeye and Baked Beans – dipping the pork in the beans and sauces was incredible (definitely not the kind of baked beans you’re imagining)
Roasted Chicken, Rice, Mushrooms, & Green Beans – the chicken could not have been cooked more perfectly
Yellowfin Tuna Crudo – tuna was delicious with bites of mint and basil
Drinks
There were a lot of good cocktail options and even more great whiskey options, so it didn’t seem like you could go wrong!
I got a yummy strawberry, lemon, basil, cucumber, vodka cocktail
The large whiskey collection has better-than-average prices for a pour in Charleston
Large wine selection and specialty ‘Angel Oak’ wines from Argentina
Atmosphere: Radiates Southern hospitality, homey but elegant, bright
What Makes it Special
Husk is in a beautiful, restored Charleston home on charming Queen Street next to some of the city’s beautiful streets and churches. I always recommend Husk as one of the best restaurants in downtown Charleston SC for first-time visitors because it embodies the city of Charleston.
There is also a separate Bar & Patio in the kitchen house next to the main house. Husk also has two other locations in Nashville and Savannah!
Do you need reservations at Husk?
ABSOLUTELY. The earliest I could get a table for 2 was over 6 weeks in advance, so I would only add Husk to your itinerary if you’re planning well in advance and definitely make a reservation. The Bar & Patio, however, does accept walk-in’s and only has a few spots able to be reserved, so you can make a stop here if you aren’t able to get into the main restaurant!
BONUS: Souvenirs
Sadly didn’t find any matchbooks, but be sure to take a picture on the patio in front of the picturesque building, landscaping, and fountain!
Halls Chophouse – Best Steakhouse in Charleston
Halls Chophouse is one of the most well-known restaurants in Charleston. It's the epitome of a fine dining steakhouse and perfect for a (very) special occasionPrice: $$$$ - to put it into perspective, on my visit here with my boyfriend, we decided to go all out and got that week’s special appetizer (seafood trio, including lobster), two drinks each, two cuts of steak, two sides, and a dessert, which came out to about $450 with tip
Location: King Street (upper/central near Marion Square)
Cuisine: Classic steakhouse with seafood
My Favorite Dishes
The seafood trio that was a special when I was there was incredible with shrimp, scallops, and lobster
Being one of the best places for steak in Charleston, you of course can’t go wrong with any of the steaks. Before you order, your server will show a tray of all the available cuts, explaining the differences, showing you the marbling, and answering any questions. We got the ribeye and filet mignon, which of course were cooked perfectly
All of the sides are served family-style, but the server will dish them out to each guest when served which is a nice touch
The brussel sprouts were perfect, definitely recommend
The chocolate cake was the perfect ending
Drinks
I got “The 434,” which has pineapple-infused orange vodka and called a “King Street Favorite” - personally, it was a bit too sweet for me, but I know many people love it! We also enjoyed champagne and wine
Atmosphere: Fancy, high-end, pristine
What Makes it Special
Halls Chophouse is consistently ranked as one of the best steakhouses in Charleston and the country. The quality of the food is evident, and the service is some of the best in hospitality, so I promise you’ll have an unforgettable meal at this top-rated restaurant in Charleston, SC
Do you need reservations at Halls Chophouse?
Definitely. As one of the best steakhouses in Charleston, Halls is always booked up. We made reservations only about 3 weeks in advance, which was surprisingly close, but it was for 4pm on a Sunday, so if you want prime dinner time on a weekend, I’d aim to get a reservation at least 2 months out
BONUS: Souvenirs
Unfortunately, there were no souvenirs at Hall’s except for the very high-quality leftover bag (that I of course kept)
Southbound – #1 Hidden Gem Restaurant in Charleston
Southbound is perfect. I don’t think we could come up with a complaint even if we tried. Their constantly changing menu is cooked over a live fire and was one-of-a. Price: $$$$ – Southbound is definitely pricey but not as expensive as Halls
Location: Cannon Street, about a 6-minute walk from upper King Street
Cuisine: New American
My Favorite Dishes at Southbound
Steak Tartare – They served theirs differently than usual with chips so it was more like a dip, which I really liked
Entrées: Duck Breast & Pork Chop – Both were equally amazing
Fingerling Potatoes & Carrots for sides
Cheesecake (pictured) & Tiramisu
Every single bite was delicious and perfect, making Southbound one of the best food spots in downtown Charleston by far
Drinks
There is an extensive cocktail menu organized by liquor, which I really appreciate. The two drinks we got were really good and then we got a bottle of Fossil Point Cabernet Sauvignon to share in front of the fire
Atmosphere: Cozy, Warm, Unique
A beautiful Southern home renovated into a large but cozy restaurant. The menu, in a classy little book, has an excerpt from the owner about why dining in restaurants is so special, which I loved and really set the mood to make our time there even more special
What Makes it Special
The Chef’s Counter is a small bar directly in front of the live fire with chefs preparing all the dishes, so you’re getting dinner and a show, which definitely creates one of the most unique dining experiences in Charleston, SC. There are also many other unique seating areas in the building, including a covered porch, outdoor terrace, porch swing, dining room, and balcony. It’s a place where you could go 5 times and have a completely different experience each time
Do you need reservations at Southbound?
For sure. I made our reservation about 3 weeks in advance for a Wednesday night. If you’re looking for a weekend, I’d suggest booking 6+ weeks before
BONUS: Souvenirs
Matchbook (with their adorable, and very fitting, fire logo) that they actually deliver to you with the check, which I loved because it’s so disappointing when you forget to grab them!
167 Raw Oyster Bar – Best Seafood in Charleston
167 Raw is a go-to for great seafood in a trendy atmosphere in the heart of downtownPrice: $$$
Location: Lower King Street
Cuisine: Seafood / Raw Bar
My Favorite Dishes at 167 Raw
Raw oysters on the half shell to start
Lobster Roll! – it was truly one of the best lobster rolls I’ve ever had
Pastrami’d Swordfish Sandwich – This is a very popular 167 sandwich with the perfect combination of the pastrami’s saltiness and the blackened swordfish
With such great dishes, 167 Raw Oyster Bar is definitely at the top of the list of best restaurants in Charleston, SC for seafood lovers
Drinks
Their Espresso Martini is basically perfect, and I can’t recommend it enough
Atmosphere: Coastal, Bustling, Moody, Stylish
What Makes it Special
167 Raw has two sister locations as well: Bar167, which is one of my favorite places and has the best Espresso Martini in all of Charleston (read our post about Bar167 and the best cocktail bars in Charleston) and 167 Sushi Bar, which are also great spots! All three locations serve some of the best seafood in Charleston.
Do you need reservations at 167 Raw Oyster Bar?
This is the only spot on the list that actually doesn’t take reservations, which can be a pro if you didn’t plan in advance or a con if you don’t want to wait. Bar167 is right around the corner and a good spot while you wait, but it also tends to have a waitlist on weekends. I’d recommend assuming you’ll have a wait and getting your name on the list before you’re really hungry!
BONUS: Souvenirs
The coasters with a scuba diving helmet are super cute! I think they have matchboxes but I missed them!
Melfi’s – Locals' Favorite Restaurant in Charleston
Melfi’s is the cutest, classy but casual, Italian restaurant with food that is everything you want it to be and more. Dining here had me smiling from the moment I walked in, through all the courses, and still weeks later when telling others how great it is. Price: $$$
Location: Technically downtown, but very north on King Street, so I’d recommend taking a very short Uber ride there. While you can walk (about 12 minutes from the northernmost downtown spots like Uptown Social and Bourbon N Bubbles), it isn’t the most comfortable part of town to walk through and I’d only recommend if it’s still light out
Cuisine: Italian (one of the best Italian restaurants in Charleston, SC)
My Favorite Dishes at Melfi’s
Paccheri: Anything with duck ragu is always a good choice, but paired with the large tube pasta, I was obsessed. I literally dreamed about the Paccheri duck ragu for months after and had to go back just for that dish
Mr. Wally Pizza Pie: Vodka sauce + salami + mozzarella + mushrooms + peppers + onion = perfection
Chocolate pudding dessert: unfortunately I forget what it was called, but it’s a must
As someone who lives here, I can confidently say Melfi’s is one of the locals' favorite restaurants in Charleston
Drinks at Melfi’s
Melfi’s makes a great Spritz! I was in the mood for a glass of Prosecco, which was also great
Red Hook for the whiskey lovers
Espresso Martini (or just a shot of espresso – it was the kind of place that makes you want to take your time and sip coffee after dinner)
Atmosphere: Classy, Fine Dining but Comfortable, Fun pops of red
We sat at the bar which we personally prefer, but all the tables were adorable, cozy, but not stuffy. There is also an outdoor patio.
What Makes it Special
Their pizzas are cooked over wood-burning ovens, and you can even watch the magic happen by sitting at the pizza counter
Do you need reservations at Melfi’s?
Definitely (I’m sure you’re noticing a trend there). The restaurant is on the smaller side and is very popular, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to walk in (even the bar seats are reservable). I was able to get lunch reservations only a week in advance, but for dinner, I’d book it 3 weeks before or earlier
BONUS: Souvenirs
I snagged an adorable red coaster with the logo!
I know it can be hard to choose what to do and where to eat on your vacation, but I promise you can’t go wrong with any of these 6 must-try restaurants in downtown Charleston (or truthfully most restaurants in the city). Even if you only make it to one of the spots on this list, you’ll be raving about the Charleston food scene to everyone back home. But don’t just take my word for it – make your reservations at some of the best restaurants in downtown Charleston, SC now!
If you want some more inspiration designing the perfect Charleston, SC itinerary, check out our other blog posts for a full Charleston SC travel guide:
To see the restaurants’ menus or hopefully make reservations, here the websites for each of the 6 best Charleston, SC restaurants:
