More Maps

13 Essential Coffee Shops in Charleston

7 Standout Barbecue Spots in Charleston

11 Stops for Excellent Tacos in Raleigh

Must Hit Charleston Restaurants for Out of Towners

by Katie Abbondanza Feb 28, 2013, 5:42am EST

View as Map

by Katie Abbondanza Feb 28, 2013, 5:42am EST

Visiting Charleston can present something of a culinary conundrum: so many restaurants, so little time. And while you might already have tickets or reservations for some bigger dinners you're planning, there are still lunches, coffee and cocktails to consider. This map should fill in the gap on your eating and drinking agenda. Sadly, some Eater favorites aren't listed, because reservations were either limited or already filled, but do call or stop by the bars at FIG, Husk and McCrady's to get in on the action.

Not satisfied with the list? Here's what's hot in town, and the Eater 18, for even more options.

[Photo: Landon Phillips]

Read More

Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Black Tap Coffee

70.5 Beaufain St
Charleston, SC 29401

Local favorite coffee shop Black Tap is the spot to get creative lattes (try the brown sugar or lavender) and kick-ass pour-over coffee. They also serve pastries from WildFlour.

Also Featured in:

2. Kudu Coffee

4 Vanderhorst St.
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 853-7186

Close to all the action, Kudu makes everyone happy by serving beer and highly-caffeinated coffee. Also noteworthy are those giant almond croissants, and the patio.

Also Featured in:

13 Essential Coffee Shops in Charleston

3. Brown's Court Bakery

199 Saint Philip St
Charleston, SC 29403

Newcomer Brown's Court Bakery is quickly becoming known for its sriracha croissants and pretzel sticks. A tucked away from the action, they also make classic coffee drinks and host a bread happy hour from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Also Featured in:

4. WildFlour Bakery

73 Spring Street
Charleston, SC 29403

The baked goods coming out of this place cannot be topped, especially on Sundays when they serve their famous sticky buns. They also pour coffee and have other a.m. treats, like sweet and savory scones and doughnut muffins.

Open in Google Maps

5. Butcher & Bee

654 King Street
Charleston, SC

There's been no shortage of buzz over Butcher & Bee, but their fancy sandwiches and sides are reliable for lunch, brunch or late night. Plus, it's BYOB.

Open in Google Maps

6. The Glass Onion

1219 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 225-1717

Visit Website

It's NOLA meets Lowcountry here at the West Ashley outpost of The Glass Onion. The deviled eggs, fried chicken or quail and the fries with bernaise are what made this place famous.

Open in Google Maps

7. Two Boroughs Larder

186 Coming St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 637-3722

Visit Website

The menu is always changing here and lately, it's been dotted with sweet breads, rabbit chorizo and lamb belly. If that's not enough, Chef Joshua Keeler was recently named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award, and they always dish out noodle bowls and egg sandwiches.

Open in Google Maps

8. Martha Lou's Soul Food

Welcome to the South. Martha Lou's Kitchen is where you can get some of the best fried chicken and fish, collard greens and macaroni and cheese in town.

Open in Google Maps

9. Hominy Grill

207 Rutledge Ave
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 937-0930

Visit Website

Here you'll find locals and tourists brunching it up, or putting back their Lowcountry classics, like shrimp and grits. Chef Robert Stehling won the James Beard award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2008.

Open in Google Maps

10. Home Team BBQ

2209 Middle St
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

(843) 883-3131

Visit Website

This is your destination for damn good barbecue. You can't go wrong with the pulled pork sandwich doused in their mustard sauce or the ribs.

Open in Google Maps

11. The Rarebit

474 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403

(434) 466-9366

The cocktails are the thing here, really, so keep that in mind, but they are well-balanced and less pricey than elsewhere on the strip.

Open in Google Maps

12. Stars Rooftop and Grill Room

495 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 577-0100

If the weather is nice, head over to the rooftop at Stars to take in one of the best views of the city while imbibing one of their tasty cocktails or wines on tap. Warning: This newish place gets packed on weekends.

Open in Google Maps

13. The Gin Joint

182 E Bay St.
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 513-5264

A favorite of Husk/McCrady's chef Sean Brock...and just about anyone who has ever been in there. The cocktail menu is seasonal, and they just released their spring menu in time for the festival.

Also Featured in:

14. The Ordinary

544 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403

Mike Lata's new fancy seafood joint was an instant hotspot, and the national praise is already rolling in. Head there in the late afternoon for a drink and some Capers Blades oysters or a crudo, or go big with a seafood tower. If the uni is on the menu, it's a must.

Open in Google Maps

15. The Griffon Pub

18 Vendue Range
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 723-1700

Visit Website

There are dollar bills all over the walls, chefs drinking after shifts and plenty of beers on tap at this English pub. It's not fancy, but in the case of The Griffon, that's a good thing.

Also Featured in:

Loading comments...

© 2022 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

1. Black Tap Coffee

70.5 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401

Local favorite coffee shop Black Tap is the spot to get creative lattes (try the brown sugar or lavender) and kick-ass pour-over coffee. They also serve pastries from WildFlour.

70.5 Beaufain St
Charleston, SC 29401

2. Kudu Coffee

4 Vanderhorst St., Charleston, SC 29403

Close to all the action, Kudu makes everyone happy by serving beer and highly-caffeinated coffee. Also noteworthy are those giant almond croissants, and the patio.

4 Vanderhorst St.
Charleston, SC 29403

3. Brown's Court Bakery

199 Saint Philip St, Charleston, SC 29403

Newcomer Brown's Court Bakery is quickly becoming known for its sriracha croissants and pretzel sticks. A tucked away from the action, they also make classic coffee drinks and host a bread happy hour from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

199 Saint Philip St
Charleston, SC 29403

4. WildFlour Bakery

73 Spring Street, Charleston, SC 29403

The baked goods coming out of this place cannot be topped, especially on Sundays when they serve their famous sticky buns. They also pour coffee and have other a.m. treats, like sweet and savory scones and doughnut muffins.

73 Spring Street
Charleston, SC 29403

Open in Google Maps

5. Butcher & Bee

654 King Street, Charleston, SC

There's been no shortage of buzz over Butcher & Bee, but their fancy sandwiches and sides are reliable for lunch, brunch or late night. Plus, it's BYOB.

654 King Street
Charleston, SC

Open in Google Maps

6. The Glass Onion

1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407

It's NOLA meets Lowcountry here at the West Ashley outpost of The Glass Onion. The deviled eggs, fried chicken or quail and the fries with bernaise are what made this place famous.

1219 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC 29407

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

7. Two Boroughs Larder

186 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403

The menu is always changing here and lately, it's been dotted with sweet breads, rabbit chorizo and lamb belly. If that's not enough, Chef Joshua Keeler was recently named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award, and they always dish out noodle bowls and egg sandwiches.

186 Coming St
Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

8. Martha Lou's Soul Food

Charleston, SC 29403

Welcome to the South. Martha Lou's Kitchen is where you can get some of the best fried chicken and fish, collard greens and macaroni and cheese in town.

Open in Google Maps

9. Hominy Grill

207 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

Here you'll find locals and tourists brunching it up, or putting back their Lowcountry classics, like shrimp and grits. Chef Robert Stehling won the James Beard award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2008.

207 Rutledge Ave
Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

10. Home Team BBQ

2209 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

This is your destination for damn good barbecue. You can't go wrong with the pulled pork sandwich doused in their mustard sauce or the ribs.

2209 Middle St
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

11. The Rarebit

474 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

The cocktails are the thing here, really, so keep that in mind, but they are well-balanced and less pricey than elsewhere on the strip.

474 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403

Open in Google Maps

12. Stars Rooftop and Grill Room

495 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

If the weather is nice, head over to the rooftop at Stars to take in one of the best views of the city while imbibing one of their tasty cocktails or wines on tap. Warning: This newish place gets packed on weekends.

495 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

Open in Google Maps

13. The Gin Joint

182 E Bay St., Charleston, SC 29401

A favorite of Husk/McCrady's chef Sean Brock...and just about anyone who has ever been in there. The cocktail menu is seasonal, and they just released their spring menu in time for the festival.

182 E Bay St.
Charleston, SC 29401

14. The Ordinary

544 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Mike Lata's new fancy seafood joint was an instant hotspot, and the national praise is already rolling in. Head there in the late afternoon for a drink and some Capers Blades oysters or a crudo, or go big with a seafood tower. If the uni is on the menu, it's a must.

544 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403

Open in Google Maps

15. The Griffon Pub

18 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401

There are dollar bills all over the walls, chefs drinking after shifts and plenty of beers on tap at this English pub. It's not fancy, but in the case of The Griffon, that's a good thing.

18 Vendue Range
Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Related Maps