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We don’t have to tell you ~ being just over three hours from Charlotte, Charleston is the perfect scoop-girls’ weekend away for couples, for girls trips, for family fun. Many of us have been to visit, many times. We thought this would be a good time to get some new restaurant reco’s for our next trip.
Since there are hundreds of restaurants in Charleston, we reached out to a local Charleston foodie to curate a list for us, highlighting popular new restaurants, rooftops with incredible views, and a handful of spots with an ethnic flare. Meredith Fischl of @eatdrinkplaycharleston has compiled this useful list for you to bookmark, so you can schedule your Holy City visit and make your reservations asap.
Talk of the Town:
Honeysuckle Rose | Debuting in September 2023, Honeysuckle Rose is Free Reign’s newest concept and my top meal of 2024 to date. An intimate 8-course tasting menu experience starting at $250 per person, Honeysuckle Rose is a great option for celebrating or those foodies looking to splurge. The three-hour experience, led by culinary genius Ryan Jones and hospitality maven, Kelleanne Jones, is offered Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00 pm and Friday and Saturday at 7:00 pm. If available, I highly recommend securing seats at the Chef’s Table. Reservations, available via Tock and Resy, are a must.
Southbound | Southbound, also from Free Reign, celebrated its first anniversary earlier this year. A live-fire kitchen concept with eight unique seating options, including a chef’s counter and front porch swing, you’ll find dry-aged meats, balanced cocktails, and an impressive wine selection featuring uncommon wines. While the menu changes daily, you can find a sample menu online. Open seven days a week from 4:00-10:00 pm, Southbound is not a restaurant to miss. Reservations are available via Resy.
Lowland | One of two new concepts from Executive Chef Jason Stanhope, the James Beard award winner who spent fifteen years at Charleston staple FIG, Lowland specializes in luxurious comfort food. In the heart of downtown Charleston, guests can choose to dine in the Tavern Room, Parlour Room, or upstairs in the Dining Room where a hand-painted mural by Dean Barger adorns the walls. Don’t miss Lowland, open Thursday through Monday from 5:00-9:00 pm. Reservations available via Resy.
The Quinte | Chef Jason Stanhope’s second new concept, The Quinte, opened its doors in late 2023. One of the newer oyster bars in town, you’ll find South Carolina’s highest quality oysters alongside other favorites from along the East Coast. Outside of oysters, you can order bites like chilled Tarvin shrimp, pickled Littleneck clams, and Yellowfin tuna crudo. Score a reservation via Resy for Thursday through Monday from 5:00-9:00 pm.
Costa | Also opening in November 2023, Costa is the newest venture from the famed Easton Porter Group which brought us Zero George and Wild Common. The coastal Italian menu by Chef Vinson Pertrillo of The Restaurant at Zero George features homemade pasta, fresh seafood, and classic beef dishes alongside craft cocktails and wines from around the globe. Visit Costa, located in Charleston’s Harleston Village neighborhood, Tuesday-Saturday 5:00-10:00 pm. Reservations available via Resy.
Sorelle | Beginning 2024 with a two-week refresh, Sorelle is back and better than ever. In addition to welcoming new General Manager Dario Vigil, Chefs Adam Aobel and Nick Dugan introduced new offerings, like Wood Fired Fridays where guests can savor a limited number of exclusive pizzas from 9:00-11:00 pm in Sorelle’s bar and lounge area. If you can’t snag a reservation, pop into the Mercato while you’re in town for a coffee, salad, panini, pizza, or pastry. Don’t skip the marketplace where you’ll find authentic, Italian goods! Reservations are available via SevenRooms and are accepted 60 days in advance.
Vern’s | On the corner of Bogard and Ashe, you’ll find a neighborhood restaurant delicious enough to grace the New York Times 50 Best Restaurants in the United States list in 2023. Executive Chef Dano Heinze, a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast 2023, alongside his wife Bethany, offers patrons familiar yet innovative modern American cuisine. I still dream of the gnocchetti sardi, served with walnut arugula pesto, pictured below. Reservations, Thursday-Monday 5:00-10:00 pm, are available 30 days in advance via Resy.
Lost Isle | For those up for an adventure, Lost Isle is worth the 11-mile drive from downtown Charleston to Johns Island. A fire-to-table restaurant completely outdoors, Chef Josh Taylor, Thomas Wilson, and the team behind Folly Beach’s favorite Lowlife Bar blew it out of the water with this concept, earning my top meal of 2023. Yes, I said completely outdoors. By day you’ll dine in the shade of a gorgeous pecan tree and under the stars at night sneaking bites of small plates like the whipped ricotta or wood-fired oysters before moving on to the main event. Patrons can expect shareable sides and main including charcoal-grilled chicken in a tamarind chili glaze, harissa cauliflower steak, or grilled ribeye with a red chimichurri. Open seven days a week, weather permitting, from 4:00-11:00 pm, Lost Isle does not accept reservations.
City Views, Up on the Rooftop:
Citrus Club | Home to one of my favorite espresso martinis in town, you’ll find Citrus Club perched atop The Dewberry Hotel. With 360 views of iconic Charleston, this is a great choice for a rooftop adventure while you’re visiting. If you’re hungry, Citrus Club offers bites from edamame hummus to loaded fries and larger plates including a smashburger and lobster roll. Citrus Club does not accept reservations and is first come, first serve seating Sunday-Wednesday from 12:00-8:00 pm and Thursday-Saturday from 12:00-10:00 pm.
The Rooftop at The Vendue | Consistently named the best rooftop in Charleston, The Rooftop at The Vendue offers one of the most picturesque views of the city. Have a cocktail on the roof after galavanting through the Charleston City Market in the afternoon or ahead of dinner at Revival, The Vendue’s upscale, modern southern restaurant. Reservations are not accepted however guests can visit The Rooftop at The Vendue Sunday-Thursday from 11:30 am – 10:00 pm and Friday-Saturday from 11:30 am – midnight.
The Watch | Located on the 7th floor of The Restoration Hotel, The Watch wins highest rooftop elevation in Charleston. Creative cocktails, like the Pebbles & Bamm Bamm, join the classics pairing perfectly with light bites including burrata toast and crispy buffalo brussels. Larger plates for lunch and dinner are available as well. While The Watch does accept reservations in the main dining and dining room, the outdoor terraces remain first come, first serve.
For A Departure from Southern Cuisine:
Kultura | His nomination this year in James Beard’s Emerging Chef category may be the first time you’re hearing Chef Nikko’s name, but it certainly won’t be the last. Raised in the Philippines and immigrating to the US back in 2011, Cagalanan passionately delivers elevated Filipino food as recognized by Food and Wine magazine’s Best Filipino Restaurant in South Carolina in 2022. Did I mention Chef Nikko took home the champion title on Food Network’s Chopped: Bizarre Foods, too? Reservations are available via Resy for dinner Thursday through Monday 5:00-10:00 pm along with Karaoke Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Ma’am Saab | Bringing modern Pakistani to the corner of Meeting and Wentworth, Chef Maryam Ghaznavi delivers an experience to be remembered at Ma’am Saab. Melding Charleston’s famous southern charm with a heaping cup of international flair, the moody interior and ethnic flavors will transport you from Charleston to the streets of Pakistan. Make reservations, available via Open Table, for lunch or dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
Pink Bellies | Named the “Ultimate Fun Restaurant” by Resy, Pink Bellies is a cult favorite in Charleston. After rising through the ranks in the food truck community, Chef Thai Phi moved into 595 King Street initially offering to-go during COVID before opening dine-in service in October 2021. Chef’s motto, “Ngon quá!”, meaning delicious, describes the menu perfectly. From the OG Garlic Noodles, a staple with every order, to General Gerry’s Chicken or the Animal Style Burger served on a milk bun – you truly can’t go wrong. Open Thursday through Sunday for both lunch and dinner, be sure to book a table via Resy.
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