The Best Seafood Restaurants in Charleston

Founded in 1670, Charleston offers a charming, historically rich Southern city, often touted as the Number One Small City in America. Charleston provides the perfect location for any kind of vacation, whether that means taking a tour of the historic mansions, visiting the pristine beaches of Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, and Folly Beach or checking out the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Charleston also represents one of the best foodie cities in the USA and has a bevy of trendy restaurants. But where are the smartest, savviest diners going to get the best fresh fish in town? Welcome to the Tastemaker Lists. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. Book a table at one of the best seafood in Charleston.

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Updated March 14, 2022

The Establishment

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown Charleston

4.8

1904 reviews

Located in the heart of Downtown Charleston, The Establishment focuses on creating thoughtful seafood dishes with well-sourced ingredients from both sea and field. They work to develop relationships with local farmers and fishermen to guarantee fresh and pure ingredients. It is definitely the place to go to sample some of the best seafood in Charleston. The small plates menu has dishes like the Fried Oyster Salad, Scallops with a corn emulsion and Ravioli with roasted tomato. Entrees include fish dishes like the Swordfish with fresh-shelled beans, salsa verde and brown butter, in addition to other types of meat and veggie dishes.

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Burwell's Stone Fire Grill

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown Charleston

4.7

2962 reviews

Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill, located on North Market Street in Charleston, is unique in that it specializes in both steak and seafood and is equally skilled at both! The restaurant is a leader in sustainable kitchen practics, from using the entire resource to finding local ingredients that won’t harm the community or environment. It is definitely one of the must visits in Charleston for fresh seafood, which includes the Fresh Catch at Market Price, Jumbo Sea Scallops and Mussels and Shrimp. Plus, the dining room is beautiful!

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Amen Street Fish + Raw Bar

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown Charleston

4.6

4253 reviews

Located in the historic district of downtown Charleston, Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar helped restore the space and the old corner it stands on. The new renovation stayed true to the beauty of the original 1800s architecture while embracing a modern and comfortable feel. The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor dining and the menu includes a wide variety of some of the best seafood in Charleston. Dishes include starters like Hushpuppies and Mussels, meant for sharing with the table. And their signature entrees include Seared Scallops, Lump S|Crab Cakes and a Charleston Bouillabaisse.

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The Darling Oyster Bar

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown Charleston

4.7

2858 reviews

The Darling Oyster Bar. located in the heart of Upper King Street, sits in a 115-year old historic building right downtown. The interior has a mix of the original 1900s reclaimed wood, whole exposed brick walls, classic tile, antique molding and a nautical theme that highlights the delicious seafood they serve. It’s a casual place where you can enjoy the lively raw bar scene while overlooking King Street. Their fresh fish entrees are the real star here, including the Seared Diver Scallops, Blue Crab Tagliatelle and Lobster and King Crab Roll.

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Topsail Restaurant & Bar

$$$$

Seafood

Mount Pleasant

4.7

769 reviews

For delicious seafood in an elegant setting, head to Topsail Restaurant and Bar in Mount Pleasant. Centrally located on Coleman Blvd, it is a complete renovation of a historic landmark and the dining room offers an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. Dine inside or on the outside patio on the sectional sofa - you can enjoy the fire pit and views of the Ravenel bridge. The menu features seafood and steak creations and you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Fish specialties include the Surf ‘n’ Surf, Salmon and the Whole Fish plate, a dish of whole roasted fish served with vegetables and potatoes.

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Grill 225

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown Charleston

4.7

1407 reviews

Grill 225, located on East Bay Street in Downtown Charleston, might be the city’s premier steakhouse, but that doesn’t overshadow the fact that they also serve some of the best fish dishes in town. Tucked into the luxurious Market Pavilion Hotel in the heart of historic Charleston, they feature a unique dining experience in a gorgeous, elegant setting. They place a huge emphasis on seafood harvested from both local and international waters and use only premium ingredients. They serve fantastic chilled seafood as well as specialty entrees like Local Pan Seared Flounder.

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Charleston Harbor Fish House - Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina

$$$$

Seafood

Mount Pleasant

4.0

2233 reviews

Situated on arguably the best location for a restaurant in town, Charleston Harbor Fish House is one of the Charleston’s premier restaurant experiences. They focus on fresh, local seafood and regionally inspired dishes of the Low Country. The menu features the best of the area and diners can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Charleston skyline and Harbor. You can also have a drink at the Bridge Bar, the rooftop venue. When you come in for dinner, start with the Chilled Seafood Castle and Tower if you really want to splurge! Then try one of the famous entrees, like the Carolina Grouper.

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Vincent Chicco's

$$$$

Italian

Downtown Charleston

4.2

1325 reviews

Vincent Chicco’s, located in a chic, comfortable space on John Street in Downtown Charleston, is a seafood place with an Italian spin. The unique menu features good old-fashioned Italian-American cuisine with authentic ingredients, handmade pastas, rich sauces and a full-service bar of classic cocktails. They have a varied and extensive menu of delectable offerings. Small plates like Warm Roasted Beet and Roasted artichoke will warm up your appetite for main dishes like the Faroe Island Salmon and the Fish of the day, specially prepared to order by the chef.

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Rappahannock Oyster Bar - Charleston

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown Charleston

4.7

2167 reviews

For fresh and inventive seafood in a chic, trendy setting, head to Rappahannock Oyster Bar in downtown Charleston. The setting is a stunning 19th-century cigar factory on East Bay Street right on the Cooper River. Former Rap Barr DC chef Kevin Kelly heads up the kitchen here and, though the location is breathtaking, it’s the seafood that is the real star. It’s all light, flavorful and bold and regulars love classics like the lambs ‘n clams, crab cakes, oyster po’ boy, ceviches and shrimp and grits. The restaurant also has its own seafood market.

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Eleve Restaurant & Rooftop

$$$$

European

Downtown Charleston

4.4

1131 reviews

It’s hard to beat Eleve Restaurant and Rooftop Bar, located on the rooftop of the Grand Bohemian Hotel on Wentworth Street. The setting is urban with a heavy dash of wonderful artistic whimsy. The main dining room is a work of art in itself and dining on the rooftop is phenomenal. It boasts colorful easy chairs, day loungers, oversized plant pots and bright green turf. Peruse the menu and order from some of the best seafood in Charleston. Try the Golden Tilefish or the Spice Rubbed Salmon.

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Coast Bar & Grill – Charleston

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown Charleston

4.4

4035 reviews

Come to Coast Bar and Grill on John Street in Downtown Charleston for the city’s freshest seafood! This restaurant has a laidback Lowcountry style that is at once casual and elegant. The chef’s here meet daily with local farmers and fishermen to ensure they get the freshest seafood and produce available. The menu features wood-grilled fish, a full raw bar and a lengthy cocktail list. You can sit inside the warm and welcoming dining room or dine al fresco on the lovely patio. Try a small plate from the raw bar before ordering one of their fish specialties, like Crab Encrusted Tilapia or the Carolina Crab Cakes.

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Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown Charleston

4.6

6632 reviews

Fleet Landing is another place to get both gorgeous waterfront dining and some of the best seafood in Charleston. They focus on local and sustainable produce and seafood with a southern twist. Housed in a 1940s retired naval building on the east side of the Charleston peninsula, it features seating inside the chic dining room as well as on the wrap-around deck on the water. The menu offers a fusion of classic and contemporary Southern Seafood like Charleston Shrimp and Grits and the Lowcountry Boil. They also offer a number of Fresh Catch items that are a must-try.

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Crave Kitchen & Cocktails

$$$$

American

Mount Pleasant

4.5

2763 reviews

Located just over the bridge from Isle of Palms, Crave is a casual elegant restaurant serving American and Low Country cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood. Their superb dining keeps guests coming back for more and they are a proud member of Certified SC Grown’s ‘Fresh on the Menu” program supporting local growers and producers. They make sure to use seasonal, sustainable ingredients from a variety of farms in the area. Every dish on the menu is worth trying, but some of their signature plates are the Wild Atlantic Sea Scallops and the She Crab Soup.

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Boathouse at Breach Inlet

$$$$

Seafood

Isle of Palms

4.5

4514 reviews

Boathouse at Breach Inlet sits on the waterfront locals historically known as the launching site of the first U.S. submarine! It’s the perfect setting for a restaurant and offers spectacular sunset views and warm ocean breezes from the Isle of Palms. You can stop at the Rooftop Bar before dinner to take in the views before heading to the charming dining room. It pegs itself as a casual neighborhood, but the seafood here is world-class. Chef’s Specialties include Spicy Shrimp and Grits, Pan Roasted Scallops and Seafood Pasta.

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The Best Seafood Restaurants