Leon's Oyster Shop
698 King St
Fried chicken, chargrilled oysters, and soft serve in a converted body shop.
Leon's Oyster ShopThe Proper Stays Charleston Guide
Where to Eat in Charleston
Lunch counters, oyster shops, and the barbecue that made this city famous. Reserve where you can, walk in where you cannot.
83 local picks11 categoriesInteractive mapUpdated October 2026
Little Jack's Tavern
Berkeley'sOur picks (numbers match the list below)Proper Stays homes nearby
Casual Favorites
9 picksLittle Jack's Tavern
710 King St
An old-school tavern feel with one of the best burgers in the South.
Berkeley's
624 1/2 Rutledge Ave
Neighborhood bar food done thoughtfully, with a lovely brick courtyard.
The Pass / The Italian Boy
207-A St Philip St
An artisan Italian deli by day; at night the same room becomes The Italian Boy, a 12-seat tasting counter.
Bon Banh Mi
162 Spring St
Southeast Asian sandwiches and rice bowls. Fast, cheap, and consistently good.
Heavy's Barburger
1137 Morrison Dr
Smash burgers built on short rib, brisket, and chuck. First come, first served.
The Archer
601 Meeting St Suite 140
A downtown neighborhood bistro with elevated comfort food and an inventive cocktail list.
Ladles Soups
68 Cannon St
Charleston-grown soup and sandwich counter. Homemade soups made fresh daily.
Kultura
267 Rutledge Ave Unit C
Elevated family-style Filipino cooking built on local ingredients.
Barbecue
6 picks
Mexican
7 picks
Matador
235 Meeting St
Tex-Mex plates, a long tequila list, and a busy happy hour a block off Market.
Southern Comfort
5 picksLeon's Oyster Shop
698 King St
Fried chicken, chargrilled oysters, and soft serve in a converted body shop.
Husk
76 Queen St
The restaurant that made Southern sourcing a rule. Dinner nightly, weekend brunch.
Poogan's Porch
72 Queen St
Lowcountry cooking in a converted Victorian house. Biscuits, she-crab soup, and fried chicken.
Magnolias
185 E Bay St
The room that started uptown-down South cooking in Charleston. Shellfish over grits, done right.
Peninsula Grill
112 N Market St
Velvet-walled Southern fine dining and the twelve-layer coconut cake.
Italian & Pizza
11 picks
Vern's
41 Bogard St
A tiny husband-and-wife room serving some of the city's most personal cooking.
Indaco
526 King St
Wood-fired everything and handmade pasta with a lively patio.
Le Farfalle
15 Beaufain St
Modern regional Italian and house-made pasta in an airy corner room.
Sorelle
88 Broad St
Italian glamour on Broad Street, from morning espresso to late amaro.
Allora
114 Spring St
Coastal southern Italian over three floors: dining room, old-world bar, and a rooftop for sips and bites.
Legami
492 King St
Elevated Italian from a Roman chef: veal Milanese, handmade pastas, and caviar service.
Tutti Pizza
700 King St Suite A
New York-style pies and square slices with a sharp Italian wine list. Walk-in only.
D'Allesandro's Pizza
229 St Philip St
A family-owned neighborhood pizzeria pulling hand-tossed pies since 2006.
Riva Mare
2154 Noisette Blvd Suite 500, North Charleston
Coastal Italian on a Navy Yard rooftop: crudos, wood-fired seafood, and sunset views.
Asian
9 picks
XO Brasserie
1090 Morrison Dr
Modern Cantonese and Sichuan cooking meant to be shared, with a serious wine list.
SHIKI
334 East Bay St Suite E
Charleston's longest-running family-owned sushi bar. A quiet classic.
167 Sushi Bar
289 E Bay St
Twenty-four seats from the 167 Raw team in their original East Bay room.
KYN
61 Cannon St
Handroll omakase and cocktails: Japanese hand rolls, crudos, and rice bowls on Cannon.
Beautiful South
128 Columbus St Suite 101
Bold Chinese flavors and dim sum Sundays just off King Street.
Bareo
73 Spring St
Japanese-Filipino fusion: hand-folded dumplings and kakigori shaved ice.
Jackrabbit Filly
4628 Spruill Ave #101
Chinese-American plates served family style. A destination in its own right.
Pink Bellies
595 King St
Vietnamese-inspired plates and the garlic noodles everyone talks about.
Seafood
9 picks
Chubby Fish
252 Coming St
Dayboat seafood, chalkboard menu, small room. Arrive when the doors open.
The Ordinary
544 King St
A grand oyster hall in a 1920s bank building. Book four weeks out.
The Darling Oyster Bar
513 King St
A bright King Street fish house with a 14-seat raw bar and easy Sunday brunch.
Delaney Oyster House
115 Calhoun St
Pristine oysters and sustainable seafood in a historic Charleston single house.
CudaCo Seafood House
765 Folly Rd
Counter-serve seafood market and kitchen. The freshest catch on the way to Folly.
Sullivan's Fish Camp
2019 Middle St Unit A, Sullivan's Island
A bright, updated take on the classic island fish house.
NICO Oysters + Seafood
201 Coleman Blvd, Mount Pleasant
Wood-fired French seafood and raw oysters from chef Nico Romo on Shem Creek.
Fleet Landing
186 Concord St
Southern seafood on the water in a 1940s naval building. Ask for a harbor-side table.
French
8 picks
Chez Nous
6 Payne Ct
A tiny hidden house with a two-dish, daily-changing menu from southern France and northern Italy.
Maison
708 King St
A King Street corner bistro: steak frites, plateau de fruits de mer, and a proper bar.
Merci
28 Pitt St
A European bistro in an 1820s townhouse with seasonal small plates and an all-French wine list.
Felix Cocktails et Cuisine
550 King St
Parisian-styled cocktails and bistro plates on upper King. Reservations by phone only.
Bistronomy by Nico
64 Spring St
Chef Nico Romo's convivial French bistro on Spring Street.
Gaulart & Maliclet
98 Broad St
Known to locals as Fast & French: communal counters, escargot, and pate plates since 1984.
Azur
159 Market St
French, Italian, and Spanish small plates in a luminous blue room off Market.
Brasserie La Banque
1 Broad St
Cocktails and French brasserie glamour inside a grand old bank on Broad.
Farm to Table
9 picks
Lost Isle
3338 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island
Live-fire cooking under the oaks on Johns Island. An open-air night to remember.
Sorghum & Salt
186 St Philip St
Farm and sea to table cooking in a small, seasonal room near upper King.
Basic Kitchen
82 Wentworth St
Feel-good bowls, tempura cauliflower wings, and natural wine in a sunny room.
The Grocery
4 Cannon St
Kevin Johnson's ingredient-driven Cannon Street room, complete with the pickle wall.
Southbound
72 Cannon St
Live-fire cooking, dry-aged meats, and uncommon wines on Cannon.
Park & Grove
730 Rutledge Ave
Seasonal New American brunch by Hampton Park. Bright, easy, and worth the short drive up Rutledge.
Wild Common
103 Spring St
A multi-course tasting menu from James Beard semifinalist Orlando Pagan. Books 30 days out.
The Obstinate Daughter
2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island
Inventive coastal cooking upstairs; gelato downstairs at Beardcat's.
Husk
76 Queen St
The restaurant that made Southern sourcing a rule. Dinner nightly, weekend brunch.
Mediterranean
6 picks
Stella's
114 St Philip St
Greek cooking with a Charleston accent: spreads, grilled fish, and a lively counter.
Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine
298 King St
Family-run Lebanese on King: mezze, kebabs, and warm bread all night.
The Crossing
176 Concord St
Coastal Mediterranean inside The Cooper hotel, with harbor views from the terrace.
Taverna Philosophia
976 Houston Northcutt Blvd Ste O, Mount Pleasant
A Greek taverna in Mount Pleasant with saganaki, souvlaki, and a big patio.
Healthy Eats
4 picksBasic Kitchen
82 Wentworth St
Feel-good bowls, tempura cauliflower wings, and natural wine in a sunny room.
Atlyss Food Collective
476 Meeting St
Organic grab-and-go meals, smoothies, and a small grocer downtown.
Huriyali
401 Huger St
Cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and garden seating. The healthy morning reset.
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