4 Best Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina

The old metal cages remain at this converted post office, but instead of mail you'll find Southern-inspired fare like a savory shrimp and grits that ups the ante with scallops. The seafood averse can opt for a filet mignon burger or a Carolina rib eye. When there's a piano man in the upstairs bar, so much the better.

This relaxed waterfront spot offers up fare from land and sea alike. Start off with hush puppies served with sweet honey butter and a bowl of she-crab soup, then move on to the Edisto Creek shrimp basket or the fresh catch of the day. Sit on the deck when weather permits, and there's live music on the weekends. Add a specialty cocktail to start and a slice of key lime pie to finish and you have vacation dining done right.

This 1940s-era filling station—the pumps are still outside—has been converted into a fun and eclectic bar and restaurant where you're sure to find some local color. The menu ranges from bar food like buffalo wings and burgers to local shrimp, crab cakes, and pan-seared mahi-mahi. While the interior is a bit rough around the edges, with concrete floors and bathrooms outside, the beer inventory consists of microbrews, and the Monday night karaoke is a lively mix of locals and visitors. For fine dining, look to the Firefly Flounder topped with mango chutney and a sweet-tea glaze. Blues and rock bands regularly play on the weekends.