Charleston is widely known for horse-drawn carriages, fantastic shopping, and gorgeous architecture. However, after living in Charleston for several months now, I think one thing gets overlooked: the food. From rooftop bars to steakhouses to homestyle barbecue, Charleston has it all. Read along for the 10 best restaurants in Charleston!
10. ELeve
Located in the heart of downtown Charleston, Eleve Rooftop Bar is my favorite place to meet a group of friends for dinner and drinks. The aesthetic and the view here are unmatched. Plus, they have Happy Hour on food and drinks from 4:30-6:30 Sunday through Thursday! So grab a group and grab a table to watch the sun set over the ocean from this rooftop bar.
9. MEsu
Mesu: short for Mexican and Sushi, sounded extremely skeptical to me at first, too. That mixture sounds like a recipe for disaster. But my friend wanted to meet there for dinner so I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Let me just say, I went back twice in the next week. Not only is the food here top-notch but the mixture of restaurant cultures creates an extremely fun atmosphere. Can't decide whether you want Sushi or Mexican for dinner? Why not have both!
8. Queen street grocery & cafe
Queen Street Grocery is unanimously voted as a local favorite. Nestled in the historic streets of downtown, the cafe is home to some of the city's best breakfast items, sandwiches and smoothies. Their hours are 9 AM to 5 PM everyday, so take a pit-stop from your carriage ride or shopping trip to try Queen Street Grocery & Cafe!
7. Poogan's Smokehouse
Head on over to Poogan's Smokehouse to get some famous South Carolina barbecue. Located right near Broad Street and High Battery Park, its the perfect place to take a break and refuel for the rest of your day. Pro tip: if you have a group, order the Meat Sweats. It's comes with 4 meats, 2 family-style sides, Hawaiian rolls, and skillet cornbread. Make sure to wear stretchy pants because you'll want to gorge!
6. Taco boy
By far the best Mexican restaurant in Charleston is Taco Boy. And I am from Central Texas - so believe me, I'm qualified to make that statement. Taco Boy has both indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate anything that you're looking for. Known for their incredible margaritas, Taco Boy is the perfect place to relax, grab a drink, and enjoy some great food!
5. vendue rooftop bar
Charleston's number 1 rooftop bar! Located on the roof of one of the premier hotels in Charleston, The Vendue has an incredible view of both the ocean and downtown! There is such a fun atmosphere and the service is top-notch. Though they are mostly known for their drinks, I find myself at Vendue for lunch and dinner all the time because of how incredible the food is!
4. Acme lowcountry Kitchen
Perfectly located a few steps from the water, Acme Lowcountry Kitchen is my absolute go-to lunch for every single beach trip. The restaurant has a fun, southern vibe with food that is unparalleled. My recommendation is anything that has the pecan chicken in it! Acme is the perfect spot to get a taste of southern cuisine at an unbeatable location.
3. church and union
You absolutely cannot miss out on brunch at Church and Union on a Charleston trip! Historic church turned modern restaurant? Sign me up! The service is always excellent and the food is my favorite brunch selection in all of Charleston. Located on Market Street, its the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before shopping in the Market or on King Street.
Fun Fact: the entire book of Art of War is written on the ceiling of this restaurant!
2. lewis barbecue
Being from Central Texas, I am pretty picky about my barbecue. But I can say, without a doubt, that Lewis is by far the best barbecue I have had in my life. I recently found out that Lewis actually sets the market price for meat for the entire country because of how much they buy! Seriously, if you like barbecue even a little bit, you have to hit Lewis's when you are in Charleston.
Tip: make sure to load up on brisket, its their best item!
1. Hall's Chophouse
Topping off the list is Hall's Chophouse, and for good reason too. Ranked as the number 3 restaurant in America, Hall's is a must-see stop on your trip to Charleston. They set a new meaning to the phrase "above and beyond" in terms of both service and food. Both times that I have gone, Billy Hall (the owner) has personally come up to my table to check in on us.
Don't want the price tag that comes with a steakhouse dinner? Not a problem. Head to Hall's for a weekend brunch! The prices are extremely reasonable and the food and service remain superior.
Charleston is full of top-notch restaurants that hit every different food pallet! Even greater news is that pretty much everything is within walking distance. So make sure to hit all of these 10 best restaurants in Charleston on your next trip!