Let Charleston charm you with its amazing lowcountry cuisine! I’ve visited and enjoyed every restaurant on this list. I’ll continue to add new favorites as I discover them. My restaurant guide is arranged by geographic area, so you won’t have to travel far when you’re hungry. I’ve indicated restaurants that I consider “kid friendly,” which means I would take my two squirmy little boys there. I always recommend calling ahead to verify hours and make a reservation. Enjoy!
Downtown Charleston – Lower Peninsula (south of Calhoun St.)
Miller’s All Day – 120 King St., Charleston. $$ Breakfast, Lunch. I recommend: the cinnamon roll.
Poogan’s Porch – 72 Queen St., Charleston. $$$ Lunch, Dinner, Daily Brunch.
82 Queen – 82 Queen St., Charleston. $$$$ Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Fine dining.
Eli’s Table – 129 Meeting St., Charleston. $$$ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. I recommend: sweet potato pancakes for breakfast.
Toast – 155 Meeting St., Charleston. $$ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Kaminsky’s Dessert Café – 78 North Market St., Charleston. $$ Desserts. Kid friendly. I recommend: their pies.
Carmella’s Cafe & Dessert Bar – 198 East Bay St., Charleston. $$ Lunch, Dinner, Dessert. Open late. Kid friendly. I recommend: the cannoli.
High Cotton – 199 East Bay St., Charleston. $$$$ Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Fine dining.
Fleet Landing – 186 Concord St., Charleston. $$ Lunch, Dinner. Waterfront dining. Kid friendly. I recommend: a drink at the bar before dinner. Free parking on site (fills up quickly).
Cru Cafe – 18 Pinckney St., Charleston. $$$ Lunch, Dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday. I recommend: their risotto.
Star’s Restaurant – 495 King St., Charleston. $$$ Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Rooftop bar. Fine dining.
Basil – 460 King St., Charleston. $$$ Lunch, Dinner. Thai cuisine.
Downtown Charleston – Upper Peninsula (north of Calhoun St.)
Monza Pizza Bar – 451 King St., Charleston. $$ Open daily for dinner. Lunch Friday – Sunday. Kid friendly.
Taco Boy – 217 Huger St., Charleston. $$ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly. I recommend: dining outside.
Tattooed Moose – 1137 Morrison Dr., Charleston. $ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Butcher and Bee – 1085 Morrison Dr., Charleston. $$ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Kid friendly.
Mount Pleasant – South
Cuoco Pazzo – 1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $$ Dinner. Kid friendly.
Five Loaves Café – 1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $$ Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch. Closed for dinner Sunday. Kid friendly. I recommend: chicken & waffles.
Sesame Burgers & Beer – 675 East Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly. Vegetarian friendly.
Grace & Grit – 320 Wingo Way, Mount Pleasant. $$$ Dinner, Weekend Brunch. I recommend: the grit flight.
La Pizzeria – 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Kid friendly.
The Kickin’ Chicken – 349 West Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Water’s Edge – 1407 Shrimp Boat Ln., Mount Pleasant. $$$ Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch Buffet. Waterfront dining. Kid friendly (at least for lunch/brunch).
Tavern and Table – 100 Church St., Mount Pleasant. $$$ Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch. Waterfront dining. I recommend: mac & cheese (with BBQ brisket).
Red’s Ice House – 98 Church St., Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner. Casual waterfront dining. Kid friendly.
Saltwater Cowboys – 130 Mill St., Mount Pleasant. $$ Lunch, Dinner. Casual waterfront dining. Kid friendly.
The Shelter – 202 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Live music events. Kid friendly.
Page’s Okra Grill – 302 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Kid friendly. I recommend: shrimp & grits, stewed tomatoes & okra, dessert.
Red Drum – 803 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $$$ Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Kid friendly (at least for brunch).
The Mustard Seed – 1036 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $$ Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch. Kid friendly (at least for lunch/brunch). I recommend: saving room for dessert.
Mount Pleasant – North
Crave – 1968 Riviera Dr., Mount Pleasant. $$$ Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch. Kid friendly. I recommend: their award-winning mac & cheese.
Basil – 1465 Long Grove Dr., Mount Pleasant. $$$ Lunch, Dinner. Thai cuisine.
Toast – 1150 Hungry Neck Blvd., Mount Pleasant. $$ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Amalfi’s – 664 East Long Point Rd., Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner. Italian cuisine. Kid friendly.
Sol Southwest Kitchen – 1101 Stockade Ln., Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch. Kid friendly.
Migliori’s – 1055 Highway 41 #100, Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Swig & Swine – 2379 Highway 41, Mount Pleasant. $ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Isle of Palms/Sullivan’s Island
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen – 31 J.C. Long Blvd., Isle of Palms. $$$ Breakfast, Daily Brunch, Dinner. Seafood. Kid friendly.
Poe’s Tavern – 2210 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island. $$ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Beardcat’s Sweet Shop – 2063 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island. $ Breakfast, Lunch. Coffee & gelato. Kid friendly.
Daniel Island
Laura Albert’s – 891 Island Park Dr., Charleston. $$$ Lunch Monday-Saturday, Dinner on Wednesday, Brunch on Saturday. Closed Sunday. Dinner available to go Monday-Friday.
West Ashley
California Dreaming – 1 Ashley Point Dr., Charleston. $$ Lunch, Dinner. Waterfront dining. Kid friendly. I recommend: starting with a house salad (which is included with some meals).
The Glass Onion – 1219 Savannah Highway, Charleston. $$ Lunch, Dinner, Saturday Brunch, Closed Sundays. Kid friendly. I recommend: collard greens.
Swig & Swine – 1217 Savannah Highway, Charleston. $ Lunch, Dinner. Kid friendly.
Be sure to check out my Charleston Visitors Guide for more information on this beautiful city!