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A bar with red stools and small lights overhead.
The bar at Beautiful South.
Mike Ledford

The Hottest New Restaurants in Charleston, September 2023

The latest Lowcountry spots offer dishes like crab rangoon, molten chocolate cake, and cochinita pibil

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The bar at Beautiful South.
| Mike Ledford

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends, and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What's everyone talking about? While the Eater 18 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. Enter the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the spots crowds are flocking to at the moment or generating a big buzz. Folks are asking, "Have you been yet?" Try one of these newbies today.

New to the list:

September: The Habit, Beautiful South, Colectivo
August: Kultura, the James
July: Bintü Atelier
June: Azur, Ma’am Saab
May: La Bonne Franquette, Legend Deli
April: Palace Hotel
March: Sorelle
February: Southbound, Harriet’s Delicatessen, Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop
January 2023: Ruby’s Bagels
December 2022: The Quinte
November 2022: Island Provisions, Iron Rose
October 2022: Port of Call
September 2022: Gingerline, King BBQ Pop-Up, Bar 167
August 2022: Vern’s, Spice Palette

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Palace Hotel

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Hanover Street dive Palace Hotel has a new home on Meeting Street. The updated address has all the features of the previous space: funky decor, cold beer, innovative hot dogs, and frequent visits from Southern Charm star Shep Rose.

Two hot dogs with a side of onion rings.
Fancy hot dogs at Palace Hotel.
Palace Hotel

Welton's Tiny Bakeshop

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Chefs Zachary and Hannah Welton make some of the best pizza in Charleston with their wood-fired pop-ups, and now they are bringing more dough to Charleston with the opening of King Street storefront Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. The new establishment is open Thursday through Sunday, and puts out a stellar selection of croissants, benne seed loaves, kolaches, cookies, and more.

Bintü Atelier

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Chef Bintou Ndaw couldn’t find the food of her homeland, Senegal, in the Lowcountry, so she created African restaurant Bintü Atelier. The petite spot on Line Street offers appetizers like beef suya; crispy prawns with millet and fonio grains; and supa kanja, an okra stew with red shrimp. Ndaw will keep a few staples on the menu, but she wants to rotate dishes to be able to highlight the different countries across Africa. The space is takeout and outdoor dining only right now, but Ndaw has plans to expand into the building next door to offer indoor seating.

A white plate full of okra stew, red shrimp, and fufu.
Supa kanja at Bintü Atelier.
Mike Ledford

Beautiful South

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The team behind Sichuan restaurant Kwei Fei has a new downtown spot serving Cantonese and Chinese-American takeout classics. Beautiful South is a fun new space to explore the menu items like crab rangoon, pork dumplings, and XO clams.

The dining room at Beautiful South.
Mike Ledford

Kultura Charleston

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Chef Nikko Cagalanan and Baguette Magic co-owner Paula Kramer teamed up to make Filipino flavors a more permanent fixture on Spring Street with the opening of Kultura. For brunch, the space offers coffee and pastries from Baguette Magic but with Filipino flavors, like ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” and egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo. In the evenings, the menu includes arroz caldo with smoked trout roe, pancit with lump crab, and a whole snapper curry.

Southbound

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After four years in the waiting, restaurateurs Ryan and Kelleanne Jones opened their live-fire cooking kitchen on Cannon Street. Southbound’s menu is “American influenced,” and features high-end proteins like dry-aged steaks and black sea bass, with a sprinkling of fine dining ingredients like foie gras and sweetbreads. The gorgeously renovated Charleston residence makes for a fun, yet refined, atmosphere for fine dining.

A green-tiled bar facing a large grill.
The chef’s counter at Southbound.
Mike Ledford

La Bonne Franquette

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The couple behind Christophe Artisan Chocolatier, Carly and Christophe Paume, opened all-day French cafe LaBonne Franquette. The quaint West Ashley restaurant serves traditional French fare, like quiche, croque monsieur, moules frites, beef tartare, escargot, and more. If the weather is nice, sit on the cheery pink and orange patio.

Legend Deli

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Food and beverage vet Chaz Wendel joined forces with former Husk chef Tyler Hunt to open colorful sandwich shop Legend Deli on George Street. Looking to bring the best sandwiches to Charleston, the kitchen puts out the classics, like a club sandwich that they call In Da Club Sub, or new, creative combos like the Sweet Baby Jesus with shredded sweet potato in a Cheerwine barbecue sauce. Legend Deli also offers breakfast with steamed bagels and hash brown burritos.

Ma'am Saab

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Fans of Pakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab have waited for co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba to open their downtown spot for a few years now, and the time is finally here. The Meeting Street establishment offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, and nalli nihari in a hip and vibrant dining room. The music is loud and the cocktails are unique (each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of delta-9 THC). It’s an experience like none other in Charleston right now.

The Habit

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The Habit is a three-story entertainment venue with dining on the first floor, live music on the second floor, and a rooftop bar on the third floor. Owner Michelle Van Jura wanted to find a place for her and her friends to get dressed up and go out dancing, so she built one. The restaurant is open all day, and every menu includes caviar, like the hash browns and caviar at breakfast or the chicken bites and ranch caviar dip at dinner. Most of the dishes on the evening menu are meant to be shared, like lamb lollipops, tuna crudo, or poutine. But there’s also a smash burger, a crab cake sandwich, and a 34-ounce ribeye. Saturdays and Sundays are brunch days.

Harleston Village is all a buzz about the latest addition to the neighborhood — sleek new European spot Azur. Executive chef Dominic Chantepie, son/beverage director Mathis Chantepie, and general manager Benjamin Boisson opened the restaurant to bring the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain to downtown Charleston. Expect classics like boeuf en croute, mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce, plenty of cheese plates, caviar, and plenty of fun cocktails.

Sorelle

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Reservations filled up for stunning Italian restaurant Sorelle as soon as they opened, but the bar is walk-ins only, so try stopping by to grab a seat or a table. The bar opens at 4 p.m. and serves the full dinner menu at 5 p.m. The menu focuses on southern Italian cooking, which means arancini stuffed with bolognese, pasta-baked branzino, ricotta tortelloni with prosciutto, and much more. During the day, the Mercato is open and serves Lamill coffee drinks and breakfast items like mascarpone and Nutella toast. For lunch, the shop offers sandwiches ranging from meatballs and ricotta to chicken and broccoli rabe, as well as salads and Sicilian-style pizza by the slice. Gelato, wines, craft beers, and dry goods are also available. Most items are made to grab and go, but there is a communal table and window seating in the bustling space.

The upstairs dining room at Sorelle.
Peter Frank Edwards

The James

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American grill comfort foods are key at the James. The menu offers all the hits, like tuna tartare, chicken tenders, spinach artichoke dip, prime rib, Caesar salad, burgers, and appletinis. The restaurant wants to be a getaway for its James Island neighbors.

Colectivo

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Chef Alex Yellan (formerly Minero and the Tippling House) puts out the flavors of Mexico at Johns Island restaurant Colectivo. Start with the mariscos section and then move on to large platters of carnitas ribs, adobo lamb, and cochinita pibil, which are meant to be shared and heaped onto corn or flour tortillas with accouterments like pickled onions, salsa, and cilantro. 

A brick wall next to an ocean mural.
The dining room at Colectivo.
Mike Ledford

Palace Hotel

Hanover Street dive Palace Hotel has a new home on Meeting Street. The updated address has all the features of the previous space: funky decor, cold beer, innovative hot dogs, and frequent visits from Southern Charm star Shep Rose.

Two hot dogs with a side of onion rings.
Fancy hot dogs at Palace Hotel.
Palace Hotel

Welton's Tiny Bakeshop

Chefs Zachary and Hannah Welton make some of the best pizza in Charleston with their wood-fired pop-ups, and now they are bringing more dough to Charleston with the opening of King Street storefront Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop. The new establishment is open Thursday through Sunday, and puts out a stellar selection of croissants, benne seed loaves, kolaches, cookies, and more.

Bintü Atelier

Chef Bintou Ndaw couldn’t find the food of her homeland, Senegal, in the Lowcountry, so she created African restaurant Bintü Atelier. The petite spot on Line Street offers appetizers like beef suya; crispy prawns with millet and fonio grains; and supa kanja, an okra stew with red shrimp. Ndaw will keep a few staples on the menu, but she wants to rotate dishes to be able to highlight the different countries across Africa. The space is takeout and outdoor dining only right now, but Ndaw has plans to expand into the building next door to offer indoor seating.

A white plate full of okra stew, red shrimp, and fufu.
Supa kanja at Bintü Atelier.
Mike Ledford

Beautiful South

The team behind Sichuan restaurant Kwei Fei has a new downtown spot serving Cantonese and Chinese-American takeout classics. Beautiful South is a fun new space to explore the menu items like crab rangoon, pork dumplings, and XO clams.

The dining room at Beautiful South.
Mike Ledford

Kultura Charleston

Chef Nikko Cagalanan and Baguette Magic co-owner Paula Kramer teamed up to make Filipino flavors a more permanent fixture on Spring Street with the opening of Kultura. For brunch, the space offers coffee and pastries from Baguette Magic but with Filipino flavors, like ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” and egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo. In the evenings, the menu includes arroz caldo with smoked trout roe, pancit with lump crab, and a whole snapper curry.

Southbound

After four years in the waiting, restaurateurs Ryan and Kelleanne Jones opened their live-fire cooking kitchen on Cannon Street. Southbound’s menu is “American influenced,” and features high-end proteins like dry-aged steaks and black sea bass, with a sprinkling of fine dining ingredients like foie gras and sweetbreads. The gorgeously renovated Charleston residence makes for a fun, yet refined, atmosphere for fine dining.

A green-tiled bar facing a large grill.
The chef’s counter at Southbound.
Mike Ledford

La Bonne Franquette

The couple behind Christophe Artisan Chocolatier, Carly and Christophe Paume, opened all-day French cafe LaBonne Franquette. The quaint West Ashley restaurant serves traditional French fare, like quiche, croque monsieur, moules frites, beef tartare, escargot, and more. If the weather is nice, sit on the cheery pink and orange patio.

Legend Deli

Food and beverage vet Chaz Wendel joined forces with former Husk chef Tyler Hunt to open colorful sandwich shop Legend Deli on George Street. Looking to bring the best sandwiches to Charleston, the kitchen puts out the classics, like a club sandwich that they call In Da Club Sub, or new, creative combos like the Sweet Baby Jesus with shredded sweet potato in a Cheerwine barbecue sauce. Legend Deli also offers breakfast with steamed bagels and hash brown burritos.

Ma'am Saab

Fans of Pakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab have waited for co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba to open their downtown spot for a few years now, and the time is finally here. The Meeting Street establishment offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, and nalli nihari in a hip and vibrant dining room. The music is loud and the cocktails are unique (each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of delta-9 THC). It’s an experience like none other in Charleston right now.

The Habit

The Habit is a three-story entertainment venue with dining on the first floor, live music on the second floor, and a rooftop bar on the third floor. Owner Michelle Van Jura wanted to find a place for her and her friends to get dressed up and go out dancing, so she built one. The restaurant is open all day, and every menu includes caviar, like the hash browns and caviar at breakfast or the chicken bites and ranch caviar dip at dinner. Most of the dishes on the evening menu are meant to be shared, like lamb lollipops, tuna crudo, or poutine. But there’s also a smash burger, a crab cake sandwich, and a 34-ounce ribeye. Saturdays and Sundays are brunch days.

Azur

Harleston Village is all a buzz about the latest addition to the neighborhood — sleek new European spot Azur. Executive chef Dominic Chantepie, son/beverage director Mathis Chantepie, and general manager Benjamin Boisson opened the restaurant to bring the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain to downtown Charleston. Expect classics like boeuf en croute, mussels, meatballs in tomato sauce, plenty of cheese plates, caviar, and plenty of fun cocktails.

Sorelle

Reservations filled up for stunning Italian restaurant Sorelle as soon as they opened, but the bar is walk-ins only, so try stopping by to grab a seat or a table. The bar opens at 4 p.m. and serves the full dinner menu at 5 p.m. The menu focuses on southern Italian cooking, which means arancini stuffed with bolognese, pasta-baked branzino, ricotta tortelloni with prosciutto, and much more. During the day, the Mercato is open and serves Lamill coffee drinks and breakfast items like mascarpone and Nutella toast. For lunch, the shop offers sandwiches ranging from meatballs and ricotta to chicken and broccoli rabe, as well as salads and Sicilian-style pizza by the slice. Gelato, wines, craft beers, and dry goods are also available. Most items are made to grab and go, but there is a communal table and window seating in the bustling space.

The upstairs dining room at Sorelle.
Peter Frank Edwards

The James

American grill comfort foods are key at the James. The menu offers all the hits, like tuna tartare, chicken tenders, spinach artichoke dip, prime rib, Caesar salad, burgers, and appletinis. The restaurant wants to be a getaway for its James Island neighbors.

Colectivo

Chef Alex Yellan (formerly Minero and the Tippling House) puts out the flavors of Mexico at Johns Island restaurant Colectivo. Start with the mariscos section and then move on to large platters of carnitas ribs, adobo lamb, and cochinita pibil, which are meant to be shared and heaped onto corn or flour tortillas with accouterments like pickled onions, salsa, and cilantro. 

A brick wall next to an ocean mural.
The dining room at Colectivo.
Mike Ledford

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