10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Charleston

Halls Chophouse is a steakhouse with a commitment to fine dining standards, so you'll be hard-pressed to find a cut of meat prepared better anywhere else in town. While the steaks are certainly the star, Halls Chophouse is also known for its exquisite seafood dishes all prepared fresh.

In addition to the food, this restaurant offers exceptional service and rich decor to truly round out the fine dining experience. The wine list is more extensive than you might think as well. You'll find this restaurant a short walk up King Street from Marion Square.

Revival specialises in taking traditional Southern comfort food and elevating it to modern standards, effectively reviving them for more particular audiences. You'll find a menu full of Southern favourites like shrimp and grits, roast chicken, and seared grouper.

These Southern dishes have been taken to new heights and are all crafted from quality ingredients sourced from local producers. You can taste them for yourself on the east side of town a block or so away from Joe Riley Waterfront Park.

167 Raw is an oyster bar where you can taste immaculately prepared seafood created from some of the best ingredients that can be found along the East Coast. The coast is particularly known for its seafood, and you can taste it all at 167 Raw. This restaurant showcases incredible American seafood traditions specific to the shores of the Atlantic.

That means you'll find items popular from South Carolina along with specialities all the way from New Brunswick. You can find this restaurant within the historic city centre area off of King Street.

Circa 1886 Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant set within Wentworth Mansion that offers traditional low-country cuisine elevated to modern standards. The chef expertly crafts stunning dishes, from main courses like guinea hen to desserts like chocolate souffle, and he does it all using locally sourced ingredients.

Given that this restaurant strives to support local producers and artisans, the menu changes depending on the season. With the talent in the kitchen, however, you can be sure you'll find something tasty no matter what time of year it is. This restaurant is located in Harleston Village a few blocks west of historic city centre.

Charleston Grill is a fine dining restaurant offering the types of low-country classics that locals are used to with a French twist to create unique flavours. Amongst the ingredients, you'll find rabbit, crab, shrimp, duck, and oysters. All are locally sourced to ensure freshness and support local producers.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is unique as well. The local art displayed on its mahogany walls is complemented by herringbone floors to create a memorable experience. You'll find this restaurant on the northwestern edge of the French Quarter.

Swig & Swine is a barbecue restaurant that specialises in getting that iconic smoked flavour out of their high-quality meats by cooking low and slow. When you visit, you'll find a wide variety of meats on offer like pork, turkey, and brisket. The sausage is particularly tasty, and don't forget to try the sauce. This restaurant firmly believes that nothing pairs better with barbecued meats than a craft beer, so you'll find a surprisingly diverse selection available.

Of course, well-known national favourites are available as well. You'll find Swig & Swine in West Ashley off of the highway west of city centre.

82 Queen strives to create the ultimate Southern dining experience with affordable, low-country favourites served in elegant dining rooms with exceptional service. On the menu, you'll find classics like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and crab cakes.

Despite the elegant appearance and fine dining standards, 82 Queen is relatively affordable compared with other high-end restaurants in town, making it much more accessible to travellers looking for that low-country taste without breaking the bank. You can try it for yourself within the historic city centre area about 2 streets away from the Charleston City Market.

Cru Café is a standard low-country restaurant with a casual atmosphere located within an 18th-century-style home crafted in the traditional Charleston fashion. Within the restaurant, you can try the gourmet creations of Chef John Zucker, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with a knack for comfort food.

While Southern favourites are prominent throughout the menu, you'll find some fusion items as well such as the Thai Seafood Risotto, a local speciality. Head to the historical building near the banks of the Cooper River to try it for yourself.

R. Kitchen is amongst the best destinations in town for contemporary American cuisine, taking dishes we all know to the next level. On their menu, you'll find items like a rib-eye steak and shrimp pasta with garlic oil alongside chicken enchiladas and empanadas with verde sauce.

The restaurant is fairly accessible, with street parking and bike parking available along with a moderate noise level even during peak hours. The service is attentive, so it's easy to take advantage of everything they have to offer. You'll find this restaurant about a mile or so northwest of the historic city centre area.

Magnolias is one of the most popular upscale restaurants in the city offering elevated Southern classics that combine traditional techniques with a modern flair. When you visit, you'll find classic favourites presented artfully to modern standards made only with the freshest ingredients.

The restaurant is located within a historic building, the site of the original Customs House of South Carolina that dates to the mid-18th century. You can find it for yourself on the east side of town near Joe Riley Waterfront Park.