Charleston Restaurants
Make a free reservation
Restaurant experiences trending in South Carolina
Check out diners' favorite restaurants in Charleston
Updated on
Diners’ Choice Awards are based on where your fellow diners book, dine, and review. Only verified diners get to review restaurants on OpenTable, so our data doesn’t lie.
See what locals rave about in Charleston
- OTOpenTable DinerSouth Carolina •2 reviews5.0Dined 5 days agoI had dinner reservations for my family to celebrate my birthday. The servers were awesome, our food was fresh and very hot when it arrived at our table. The dining area was clean, and the hostess were very welcoming.More infoBlue MarlinPrice: Moderate• Low Country• Columbia•4.5
- GBGeneB1 review5.0Dined 7 days agoMotor Supply is one of our favorite places for a nice dinner in Columbia. The food was well prepared and beautifully presented. The cocktails were delicious. We enjoyed it very much.More infoMotor Supply Company BistroPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Columbia•4.7
- ECEricaCSouth Carolina •2 reviews5.0Dined 7 days agoI took my husband here for his birthday dinner. The food was actually good. The only thing, if anything I would say is I would love for my wings to have been cooked a little bit longer because some of them still look a little pink around the bone, but other than that the food was amazing the service was good. We will go back again.More infoIron Hill Brewery - Columbia, SCPrice: Moderate• American• Columbia•3.9
- GDGroovyDateNight1 review5.0Dined on Sep 21, 2023After hearing about how nice Smoked was from so many, my wife and I decided to check it out for a date night. We were very impressed with the availability of so much. The main dining areas are classic and pleasant. The outside patio is beautiful, with great music. The Oasis backside bar is well appointed. There is an oyster bar, micro brewery and great selection of wine and liquor. We finished the evening off in the down stairs speakeasy with fantastic cocktails. We will be back with friends.More infoSmokedPrice: Expensive• American• Columbia•4.4
- MBMisterBVirginia •3 reviews5.0Dined on Jan 1, 2023Absolutely superb! What a wonderful experience! The staff was so polite! We will definitely be back.More infoCalifornia Dreaming-ColumbiaPrice: Moderate• American• Columbia•4.3
Get inspired by our collections of the top restaurants in Charleston
The best places to grab a drink in Charleston
Charleston’s best bars range from high-end cocktail lounges to charming wine bars and tried-and-true neighborhood escapes.
Charleston’s 9 best outdoor dining setups
Charleston’s best restaurants for outdoor dining come with breathtaking views, scenic streetside tables, and charming patios.
Charleston’s 8 Greatest Restaurants
Together, these old and new restaurants offer a snapshot of the best of Charleston dining right now.
8 romantic restaurants in Charleston for every kind of date
Romance fills Charleston’s cobblestone streets, candlelit verandas, and fiery sunsets. That signature Lowcountry charm also distinguishes the city’s best date-night restaurants. At an oyster bar on King Street, window seats and fried fish baskets take the edge off first-date jitters. For a transportive evening complete with lamb kebabs and anise cocktails, couples hit one of the area’s only Lebanese restaurants. A classic steakhouse in a restored bank makes an elegant backdrop for an unforgettable proposal. There’s a table for every kind of date night in one of the South’s most scenic cities. Read on for a guide to 8 Charleston restaurants ready to host your next romantic occasion.
Celebrate your special occasions at these top 14 Charleston restaurants
Celebrating is what Charleston does best, and food is practically a religion in the Holy City. Most festive restaurants in this historically complex, cobblestone town serve cuisine that’s heavily influenced by the locale. The past is infused in every bite: vibrant Gullah Geechee culture, kept alive by descendants of West Africans who were brought to America’s southeastern coast as enslaved people, is well-represented in dishes rich with okra, grits, rice, and collards. Seafood—specifically, shellfish—graces practically every menu. Whether your reason for celebrating is a birthday, anniversary, promotion, or simply just because, the city’s thriving restaurant scene has the ideal spot. These are the 14 best restaurants in Charleston to ring in any special occasion.
6 New Restaurants to Book in Charleston This Spring
What defines Southern hospitality more than a steaming communal table of Lowcountry boil or shrimp and grits? While those standbys, fueled by the bounty of the surrounding creeks and rivers, still form the soul of Charleston dining, the Holy City is expanding its culinary universe. These new restaurants, ranging from the city’s only food hall to an Indian fusion restaurant, pay tribute to Charleston’s history while increasing its global appeal.
Discover South Carolina
Charleston takes southern charm to a whole new level. In fact, the city snagged the #1 spot on Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Cities list in 2016. The combination of elegant historic architecture, cobblestone streets, balmy weather, and southern cuisine makes it a winner. Along the South Carolina coast, the resort towns of Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are full of restaurants serving Atlantic seafood and new American specials. Further inland, Greenville is gaining a reputation for being a burgeoning restaurant hub of the south.
Frequently asked questions
Celebrate special occasion at the best restaurants in Charleston. Our customers recommend Carolina Roadhouse - Priority Seating, Clark's Seafood and Chop House and The Parson's Table
As of September 30, 2023 there are 371 restaurants in Charleston. Filter by “outdoor dining”, “romantic” or “dog friendly”.
On OpenTable we support all cuisines. Find American, Seafood, Italian, Steakhouse, Contemporary American and more. Use our filters to find exactly what you’re looking for and make your reservation today.
Yes! We partner with restaurants in Charleston who deliver with Uber Eats, Postmates, ChowNow, Toast, Olo.
Yes, you can also see restaurants near you offering takeout.
Yes! OpenTable provides free, convenient and trusted options to book the best restaurants in Charleston either on OpenTable or directly with the restaurant.
Yes, we partner with a third party to bring back menu information for restaurants near you.
Explore OpenTable
- Wild Dunes Resort By Destination Hotels
- Shelter Cove Marina
- Econo Lodge Saint Stephen
- Marsh Walk
- Litchfield Beach
- Ripley's Aquarium
- Cherokee Plaza Shopping Center
- Meeting Street Suite
- French Quarter Inn
- Harbour Town Lighthouse
- Village Pointe Shopping Center
- Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
- Barefoot Landing
- Tanger Outlets Charleston
- The Peace Center
- Bay View Resort Myrtle Beach
- Columbia Northeast Shopping Center
- Hampton Inn Columbia-I-26 Harbison Boulevard
- Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes
- Broadway At The Beach
- 5 cutting-edge restaurants to visit now in Charleston
- Celebrate your special occasions at these top 14 Charleston restaurants
- 6 New Restaurants to Book in Charleston This Spring
- 8 restaurants vital to Charleston
- 50 South Carolina Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day
- Charleston’s 9 best outdoor dining setups
- Charleston’s 8 Greatest Restaurants
- The best places to grab a drink in Charleston
- Charleston Wine + Food Festival Restaurants
- 100 South Carolina Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day