A.C.'s Bar & Grill

Upper King · $ · bar food, burgers

The Post and Courier's alphabet guide gives it the letter A and calls it one of the oldest of the city's dives, 37 years old when the guide ran. After a fire burned its original location it moved to 467 King Street in 2000, ahead of the redevelopment that became the Upper King nightlife district. The paper notes pool tables, affordable drinks, and that it is one of few downtown places serving food after midnight ... a dozen burgers, cheesesteaks, loaded fries and nachos.

Acme Lowcountry Kitchen

Isle of Palms · lowcountry, seafood, southern, breakfast

Acme describes itself as a no-frills beach grill with a full bar and deck serving Southern coastal cooking. City Paper readers voted it Best IOP Restaurant and Best IOP Brunch in 2026. A regular on r/Charleston says they always plug it for dinner and brunch that is not high-end.

Agaves Cantina

Daniel Island · mexican

A Mexican cantina on Island Park Drive on Daniel Island with a house cocktail list. The site's own structured data files it under Charleston, 29492.

Avondale Wine & Cheese

Avondale · cheese, charcuterie

Avondale Wine & Cheese has been pouring in the Avondale strip of West Ashley since 2006 and describes itself as female-owned. City Paper readers named it Best Wine Selection for 2026 and runner-up for Best Wine Bar.

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9 spots

A.C.'s Bar & Grill

Upper King · $ · bar food, burgers

The Post and Courier's alphabet guide gives it the letter A and calls it one of the oldest of the city's dives, 37 years old when the guide ran. After a fire burned its original location it moved to 467 King Street in 2000, ahead of the redevelopment that became the Upper King nightlife district. The paper notes pool tables, affordable drinks, and that it is one of few downtown places serving food after midnight ... a dozen burgers, cheesesteaks, loaded fries and nachos.

Chico Feo

Folly Beach · global, tacos, vietnamese, mexican, caribbean

Chico Feo was founded in 2013 and calls itself a permanent fixture of Folly Beach that is always evolving. The site carries a surf report next to the menu and a calendar of music. City Paper readers voted it Best Folly Beach Restaurant, Best Folly Beach Bar and Best Folly Beach Happy Hour in 2026, and it is the first taco answer from the beach on r/Charleston.

Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

French Quarter · seafood, lowcountry, raw bar

Fleet Landing sits on the harbor beside Waterfront Park and bills itself as Charleston's best waterfront dining and raw bar. The venue says it has been open for two decades. It reports three Post and Courier Charleston's Choice wins ... Best Downtown Restaurant, Best Waterfront Restaurant and a tie for Best Seafood Restaurant. The largest party it can seat is 10.

Gene's Haufbrau

Avondale · $ · pub food, burgers, bar food, southern

A West Ashley neighborhood bar that City Paper says has been operating in Avondale since 1952. In June 2026 the paper listed its blue plate specials at $9.95 ... country fried steak or pot roast with two sides and a soft drink or iced tea, weekdays 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Husk

French Quarter · southern, lowcountry, new southern

Husk has been cooking Southern food from local purveyors since 2011, and the Charleston room on Queen Street is the original; Nashville and Savannah came later. Sean Brock was the founding chef and is no longer involved, as The Post and Courier notes. Charleston City Paper lists Ray England as chef in its Summer 2026 Top 50. The Bar and Patio sits next door in a nineteenth-century kitchen house and pours a deep list of bourbon and Southern spirits, first come, first served. The Post and Courier ties the kitchen to biscuits, country ham and Carolina Gold rice. It is Recommended in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide American South.

Jack of Cups Saloon

Folly Beach · $ · global comfort food, curry, indian, asian, global, international, comfort food

A small Folly Beach room with a courtyard out back that the street does not show. The saloon quotes Charleston Magazine on its own site: 'a haven for vegetarians, vegans and omnivores alike, with sidewalk booths and a sunny back courtyard'. City Paper's Top 50 for summer 2026 says co-owner and chef Lesley Carroll rotates the menu with the seasons, with dishes such as red curry mac and cheese and Tom Kha Gai gnocchi. The Post and Courier's food editor calls it his Folly Beach favorite.

Planet Follywood

Folly Beach · american, burgers, breakfast

Planet Follywood says: 'Since 2004 we're a family owned island staple for good times, great food and southern hospitality.' Breakfast is served Friday to Sunday mornings, burgers and daily specials after that, with late night snacks and live music until 2am.

The Boathouse at Breach Inlet

Isle of Palms · seafood, southern

A seafood house at the foot of the Breach Inlet bridge, family-owned since 1997. The restaurant says it pioneered a focus on fresh local seafood when it opened, and the daily fish comes grilled, broiled, blackened or roasted. Upstairs is a rooftop bar; the screened Waterfront Deck looks over the inlet, the marsh and the sunset. Sundays are seafood boils.

The Windjammer

Isle of Palms · bar food

The Windjammer has stood on Front Beach at Isle of Palms since 1972, with an indoor stage, an outdoor beach stage and sand volleyball courts. Shows at 9pm and later are 21 and up. City Paper readers named it Best IOP Bar and Best Waterfront Bar for 2026.

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