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18 Essential Restaurants in Charleston

Must Hit Charleston Restaurants for Out of Towners

by Katie Abbondanza
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by Katie Abbondanza

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]

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Black Tap Coffee

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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.

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2. Kudu Coffee

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4 Vanderhorst St.
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 853-7186
(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.

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3. Brown's Court Bakery

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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.

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4. WildFlour Bakery

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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.

5. Butcher & Bee

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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.

6. The Glass Onion

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1219 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 225-1717
(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.

7. Two Boroughs Larder

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186 Coming St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 637-3722
(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.

8. Martha Lou's Soul Food

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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.

9. Hominy Grill

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207 Rutledge Ave
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 937-0930
(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.

10. Home Team BBQ

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2209 Middle St
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
(843) 883-3131
(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.

11. The Rarebit

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474 King Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(434) 466-9366
(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.

12. Stars Rooftop and Grill Room

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495 King St
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 577-0100
(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.

13. The Gin Joint

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182 E Bay St.
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 513-5264
(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.

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14. The Ordinary

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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.

15. The Griffon Pub

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18 Vendue Range
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-1700
(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.

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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
(843) 853-7186

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

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

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
(843) 225-1717
Visit Website

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
(843) 637-3722
Visit Website

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.

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
(843) 937-0930
Visit Website

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
(843) 883-3131
Visit Website

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
(434) 466-9366

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
(843) 577-0100

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
(843) 513-5264

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

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
(843) 723-1700
Visit Website

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