The Holy City has a celebratory soul, and these 12 upscale restaurants in Charleston, SC, promise a memorable time, no matter the occasion.
While many of the city’s best special-occasion restaurants dot the cobblestone streets of Charleston’s historic downtown, others are on the surrounding islands—complete with freshly caught seafood and stunning coastal views.
Feast on festive Pakistani fare at a jewel-toned hotspot downtown. Dig into a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant alum’s inventive New American tasting menu in West Ashley. Sip some bubbly in an opulent Champagne lounge at downtown’s Hotel Bennett.
Read on for a guide to 12 upscale restaurants in Charleston to book on OpenTable now.
For fancy French are at one of the upscale restaurants in Charleston: Maison (Downtown Charleston)
An evening at Maison is the next best thing to a celebratory night in Paris. The French neighborhood brasserie serves up fancy classics like foie gras, ratatouille, and escargot. For toasting, there’s an exceptionally well-curated French wine list. It’s known to get loud and lively inside, so if you prefer a calmer night out, book a table on the plant-decked bistro-style patio instead.
For celebratory sushi in a sleek space: O-Ku (Downtown Charleston)
If sipping premium sake and feasting on exquisite raw fish is your idea of a celebration, O-Ku’s your spot. With brick walls and sleek black interiors, the dimly lit restaurant is ideal for birthdays and intimate celebrations. Start with sushi rolls and nigiri before moving on to hot dishes like Japanese wagyu and lobster with truffle-garlic butter. Or go all in on the omakase tasting menu. Either way, toast with inventive cocktails like a sake-based martini and clever zero-proof drinks.
For beachside seafood at one of the nice restaurants in Charleston: Boathouse at Breach Inlet (Isle of Palms)
This rustic-but-refined beachside spot is known for killer Southern-style seafood like butter-poached lobster tails and crab cakes, plus “best ever” collard greens that live up to their name. It’s a relaxed waterfront backdrop for a family-friendly celebration, more sophisticated than some of its Shem Creek counterparts but still laid-back enough for shorts. The crowd-pleasing menu and expansive porch with stellar views make the restaurant ideal for larger get-togethers.
For festive Pakistani fare at one of the upscale restaurants in Charleston, SC: Ma’am Saab (Downtown Charleston)
Raheel Gauba and Maryam Ghaznavi brought hard-to-find Pakistani classics to downtown Charleston in 2023. And Ma’am Saab, one of the best upscale restaurants in Charleston, SC, has quickly become a celebration hotspot, thanks to its trendy jewel-toned interiors and shareable, spice-forward dishes like shrimp biryani and chicken tikka. Bring a crew for happy hour, starring street snacks like masala fries, house wines, and botanical-forward cocktails.
For hyper-local seafood from a Top Chef alum: Tempest (Downtown Charleston)
A spectacular stained-glass mosaic fuels the charm (and the Instagram cred) at this beloved special-occasion spot. Led by Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch, Tempest is known for its exceptional, hyper-local seafood menu filled with triple-tiered towers stacked with fresh local shrimp, middleneck clams, and more. If you’re drinking, consider toasting to your night with one of the restaurant’s many excellent seafood-friendly wines—Tempest has one of Charleston’s most robust selections.
For bubbles and decadent fare at a luxe downtown hotel: Camellias (Downtown Charleston)
One of the most beautiful restaurants in Charleston, Hotel Bennett’s opulent Camellias is the ideal destination for a lavish meal or fancy afternoon tea service. You’ll celebrate in style here, thanks to a large collection of bottle and by-the-glass bubbles, plus a decadent menu starring caviar, oysters, and pastries. With pink marble reclaimed from the former on-site library and a glittering crystal chandelier, the stunning oval-shaped space was inspired by the most famous of eggs—the Fabergé.
For Southern classics at one of the fancy restaurants in Charleston, SC: Anson (Downtown Charleston)
Delivering a quintessentially Lowcountry celebration, complete with touches like crisp white tablecloths and views of horse-drawn carriages, sets this Charleston mainstay apart. Anson perfects Southern classics like fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, and all sorts of fried, steamed, and filleted seafood—a nod to the city’s rich maritime roots. The restaurant’s gilt-trimmed dining room is where you go to dial up the romance, but the first-come-first-served bar is better for a more casual occasion.
For Southern fine dining at one of the upscale restaurants in Charleston: Peninsula Grill (Downtown Charleston)
Acclaimed chefs like Robert Carter, Sean Brock, and Graham Dailey all have history at this Southern fine-dining legend. Elevate any special occasion with elegant dishes like roasted rack of lamb and pan-seared scallops, and don’t skip the restaurant’s famous 12-layer coconut cake if you’re here for a birthday. The dimly lit dining room and Champagne bar scream romance, and the courtyard, surrounded by greenery and twinkling lights, is one of the city’s most charming outdoor dining spots.
For spins on Southern classics at a celebrity chef’s destination: Lenoir – CHS (Downtown Charleston)
Hold court at the lively bar in the center of Lenoir‘s stylish space or take a seat in one of the dark green banquettes that ring the bright dining room. No matter your vantage point, celebrity chef Vivian Howard’s first Charleston restaurant is special-occasion-worthy. Her elegant Southern bistro-style menu stars classics with a twist, like a sage-brined pork chop with red curry watermelon.
For crowd-pleasing Italian fare in a stylish setting: Indaco (Downtown Charleston)
A spacious wooden table designed for communal dining makes it easy to gather and celebrate with a large group at Indaco. The menu is set up for sharing, too, with enough antipasti plates and wood-fired pizzas to please a crowd. Order some meatballs, mussels, and marinated olives, throw in some pasta and a couple bottles of wine, and you’ll be having a party worthy of your Nonna.
For sophisticated Mediterranean at one of the fancy restaurants in Charleston: Muse Restaurant & Wine Bar (Downtown Charleston)
Everything about Muse is romantic, from its quiet side-street location to its jewel-toned dining rooms. Whether you’re celebrating a 50th anniversary or a first date, Muse is a sophisticated downtown escape for any occasion. The expansive, European-leaning wine list pairs nicely with the multi-course, Mediterranean-forward menu. Standout dishes include veal scaloppini, sumac-rubbed duck breast, and ricotta cheesecake.
For contemporary fine dining in a relaxed, greenery-strewn space: Bearcat (West Ashley)
An alum of MICHELIN-Starred restaurants like Chicago’s Ever, chef George Kovach brings that fine dining expertise to this innovative New American spot in West Ashley. The restaurant’s à la carte and tasting menus change seasonally, but expect artfully plated dishes that could include strawberry-topped duck liver mousse toast and cavatelli with corn. With dim lighting, lush greenery, and cozy dining spaces, the low-key restaurant is great for date nights—and peak relaxed fine dining.
No matter the celebration, there are plenty of nice restaurants in Charleston, SC, to choose from. From West Ashley to Isle of Palms to historic downtown, the Holy City is filled with celebration-worthy dining destinations serving everything from hyper-local seafood from a Top Chef alum to shareable Pakistani feasts and a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant vet’s innovative tasting destination.
Whether toasting a special occasion with Champagne and caviar in a luxe hotel lounge or celebrating an anniversary at a cozy French neighborhood favorite, these hotspots are sure to fill up quickly.
Ready to get the party started? Book one of the 12 upscale restaurants in Charleston, SC, on OpenTable now.
Want to learn more about Charleston’s amazing restaurant scene? These city guides can help:
- 12 quintessential date-night restaurants in Charleston
- Charleston’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants
- These 12 Charleston restaurants crush the outdoor dining game
Stephanie Barna is a food writer based in Charleston, SC. As the former editor of Charleston City Paper, she has chronicled the Charleston food scene for two decades.
