You can taste and buy world-class spirits at bustling and visually stunning Burnt Church Distillery, including various themed flights and creative cocktails, but the food is also a big draw. The in-house menu, including a unique charcuterie board bento box, pairs well with Burnt Church’s flights and cocktails and a surprisingly strong wine and beer list, as do the creative pizzas from adjacent Pizza Co. Pro tip: Book a behind-the-scenes tours far in advance.

Paying homage to the bounty of the region in a rustic chic farmhouse setting in Old Town, chef Brandon Carter shows the love to local farmers, fishermen, and producers with a menu that combines unique flavor combinations with what’s fresh. Whether a burrata, ham, Georgia peach, and arugula starter, shrimp risotto, or grilled flounder with pattypan squash and leeks, the highly composed plates are refined comfort and very shareable.

With a concise menu of burritos, tacos, bowls, and quesadillas with ingredients like chicken, pork, brisket, roasted cauliflower, and roasted sweet potato, this fast-casual, always-fresh spot in a charming house in the heart of Old Town is quick and tasty. But the real standout is the always-open burrito vending fridge on the front porch — complete with microwave — for whenever the burrito urge strikes.

River House at Montage Palmetto Bluff is essentially a new restaurant, thanks to a complete remodel featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the May River, an expansion of the restaurant into what was once a large, screened porch, and a new and lively bar. Chef de cuisine Daniel Vesey’s new menu also shines as brightly as the new space, with a focus on fine seafood and game. Many non-residents opt to pair a River House reservation with a night at luxurious Montage Palmetto Bluff.

Long-time island favorite Lucky Rooster is a Southern-inspired American bistro with executive chef David Landrigan’s creative takes on standards, plus a lively bar scene where interesting cocktails and lots of locals are in the mix. Dinner dishes like the skillet-roasted chicken breast, venison meatloaf, and steak frites, featuring duck fat fries, remain menu favorites, as do the separate lunch and brunch offerings from Friday to Sunday, like grilled fresh fish banh mi and Buffalo chicken Benedict.

Owned and operated by award-winning French chef, pastry chef, and master baker, Philippe Feret, Hilton Head Social Bakery brings a bit of Paris to the beach, with authentic pastries, croissants, tarts, eclairs, macarons, napoleons, and more. The savory croque-monsieur, quiche, and fougasse make for a perfect brunch or lunch in the newest location or in the original spot at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina.

For the Francophiles, Chez Georges serves up traditional bistro favorites like soupe a l’oignon, escargots de bourgogne, and moules frites, along with French specialties with a Lowcountry accent, like roulade de porc stuffed with rainbow chard and bouillabaisse using Lowcountry boil ingredients. The fleur-de-lis decor and extensive French wine list (with a smattering of other European bottles) add to the Parisian vibe.

An Italian island staple since 2002, Michael Anthony’s is much more than a sophisticated Fazzini family restaurant serving classics; it also invests in innovative mains and made-daily pastas, including the tagliatelle alla bolognese. There’s also the separate trattoria-like Market Cafe for casual lunches and dinners, plus popular happy hours, a gourmet Italian market, and a highly recommended cooking school, where chef Trey Place leads a variety of demos and hands-on classes with lots of repeat students.

Long a favorite destination for food and views in Sea Pines, Quarterdeck underwent a complete remodel in early 2022 and reopened to rave reviews for the new nautical menu and decor, as well as the expanded expansive 270-degree views, a rooftop oyster bar, and the Quarterdeck Market, which features a raw seafood market and grab-and-go items. Fresh local shrimp still shines here, with possibilities including the shrimp Louie and local charcoal-roasted shrimp.