Downtown Charleston Restaurants
Make a free reservation
Visa Dining Collection
Get exclusive access to primetime reservations at some of the country's hottest restaurants
Available for late dinner now in South Carolina
Introducing OpenTable Icons
Check out diners' favorite restaurants in Downtown Charleston
Updated on
Diners’ Choice Awards are based on where your fellow diners book, dine, and review. Only verified diners get to review restaurants on OpenTable, so our data doesn’t lie.
Outdoor dining in South Carolina
See what locals rave about in Downtown Charleston
- AAmberWashington, D.C. Area •1 review5.0Dined 1 day agoHad a wonderful brunch at Virginia on King. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding from the manager to our waitress! Thank you all for an enjoyable morning! Merry Christmas🎄More infoVirginia's on KingPrice: Moderate• Southern• Downtown Charleston•4.5
- MMargaretCoastal Georgia •1 review5.0Dined 1 day agoThis was some of the best sushi my family and I have ever had. And we eat a lot of sushi. The service was amazing, Sam was very helpful in providing personal recommendations. Sake flight was delicious. Truly, out of all the restaurants we’ve been to, I don’t have a single complaint from o-ku. Definitely worth the tripMore infoO-KuPrice: Moderate• Japanese• Downtown Charleston•4.8
- DDonSouth Carolina •43 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoWe have lived in Charleston for 24 years and this is our first visit to this restaurant. It was one of the best meals we’ve had in the city. Delicious food, both French and American and a great place to eat. We were right next-door to the music venue we were going to. The service was superb. I recommend those who have just come to Charleston and who might have been here a while, but not gone yet to try this place out. You will not be disappointed.More info39 Rue de Jean - CharlestonPrice: Expensive• French• Downtown Charleston•4.4
- SSteveSouth Carolina •2 reviews5.0Dined 3 days agoWe were greeted by the hostess and seated promptly. Our server was great. She recognized that we were relaxed and adapted to our dining pace. The meals were delicious. One of the best presentations and flavor combinations was the seared tuna. An excellent dining experience.More infoCoast Bar & Grill – CharlestonPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Downtown Charleston•4.4
- DDennisSouth Carolina •9 reviews5.0Dined 5 days agoLate afternoon reservation to be able to attend a downtown concert. Sparce crowd but it was expected for a weekday. Service was fabulous and the food was even better. Our first time dining there but will not be the last. You will not go wrong with the filet, and, by the way, the mashed potatoes were fabulous.More infoVictor's Seafood and SteakPrice: Expensive• American• Downtown Charleston•4.4
Get inspired by our collections of the top restaurants in Downtown Charleston
These 12 Charleston restaurants crush the outdoor dining game
Charleston’s best restaurants for outdoor dining come with breathtaking views, scenic streetside tables, and charming patios.
12 quintessential date-night restaurants in Charleston
Charleston’s cobblestone streets and candlelit verandas scream romance, and that Lowcountry charm also defines its best date-night restaurants. Window seats and fried fish baskets take the edge off first-date nerves at an oyster bar. For dinner and dancing, there’s a multi-level hotspot with killer sunset views. Proposals mean a nautical dining room at a waterfront beauty. This guide pairs Charleston restaurants with romantic occasions from first dates all the way to milestone anniversaries. These are Charleston’s 12 best date-night restaurants.
Charleston’s 8 Greatest Restaurants
Together, these old and new restaurants offer a snapshot of the best of Charleston dining right now.
11 stellar special-occasion restaurants in Charleston
Charleston’s got a celebratory soul, and food is practically a religion here. Which explains why its special-occasion restaurants are forces to be reckoned with. While many of its most festive restaurants are in its historic downtown, surrounded by views of horse-drawn carriages and cobblestone streets, others are on some of the smaller islands, complete with stunning coastal views. Whether you’re ringing in a birthday, anniversary, promotion, or simply just because, the city’s thriving restaurant scene has the ideal spot. Read on for a guide to 11 special-occasion worthy restaurants in Charleston to book now.
The best places to grab a drink in Charleston
Charleston’s best bars range from high-end cocktail lounges to charming wine bars and tried-and-true neighborhood escapes.
6 New Restaurants to Book in Charleston This Spring
What defines Southern hospitality more than a steaming communal table of Lowcountry boil or shrimp and grits? While those standbys, fueled by the bounty of the surrounding creeks and rivers, still form the soul of Charleston dining, the Holy City is expanding its culinary universe. These new restaurants, ranging from the city’s only food hall to an Indian fusion restaurant, pay tribute to Charleston’s history while increasing its global appeal.
Discover Downtown Charleston
The downtown area of Charleston is rich in South Carolina state history and features a wide assortment of restaurants. Seafood is abundant in town as it's caught fresh daily. From tourists to locals, food is on the mind of many while they are walking along the city streets. You'll find that grits are a staple for downtown Charleston along with specially prepared coffees. There are outdoor cafes that allow you to enjoy the scenery, and oyster roasts are held by the dock. Meals are prepared fresh so that you can enjoy the flavors that blend together. Southern charm is found in older restaurants that feature picture windows, giving a brilliant view of people passing by on the city streets.
Frequently asked questions
The best reviewed restaurant in Downtown Charleston is Historic Charleston Supper Club
The best vegan restaurants in Downtown Charleston are Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar, Ma'am Saab and Muse Restaurant
The best vegetarian restaurants in Downtown Charleston are Maya, Ma'am Saab and Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
The restaurants with the best service in Downtown Charleston are Historic Charleston Supper Club, The Darling Oyster Bar and Halls Chophouse
The restaurants with the best ambiance in Downtown Charleston are Historic Charleston Supper Club, Halls Chophouse and The Darling Oyster Bar
Explore OpenTable
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
- Wragg Square
- Harmon Field
- Mount Pleasant Pier
- Market Pavilion Hotel
- French Huguenot Church
- Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park
- Lime Blue
- Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
- Cold War Submarine Memorial
- St. Michael's Episcopal Church
- Gibbes Museum of Art
- Charleston Historic District
- Joseph Manigault House
- Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
- American Military Museum
- Congressional Medal of Honor Museum
- Mall Playground
- Marion Square
- Hampton Park