Travel

Here's Where Locals Actually Eat And Drink In Charleston, South Carolina

Avoid those sneaky tourist traps and eat where the locals do.

Posted on April 25, 2019, 16:33 GMT

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share their local tips for Charleston, South Carolina. Here are some of the delicious restaurants and bars they recommended around town.

1. For excellent all-day breakfast: Early Bird Diner

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Early Bird Diner does amazing breakfast and dessert, not to mention their chicken! —marinaf4
Where: 1644 Savannah Highway, Charleston

2. For all of the meats: Swig & Swine

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We lived in Charleston for four years and this is the best barbecue. You need to go with a group of people and get the family platter. This lets you try all of the meats and several sides. It’s so good!! —awesometwin101
Where: various locations

3. For a fabulous happy hour: The Darling Oyster Bar

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Go for oyster happy hour! They’re the freshest, juiciest oysters I’ve ever had and they’re only $1! —elizabethf4f08092c8
Where: 513 King Street, Charleston

4. For a legendary dive bar: The Griffon

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This place was featured on the Charleston episode of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown. —fldhckyno1990
Where: 18 Vendue Range, Charleston

5. For an indulgent Southern brunch: Hominy Grill

6. For Asian dishes that are almost too good to share: Xiao Bao Biscuit

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This is hands down the best local restaurant. Order the whole menu and share with friends, or sample everything for yourself! —madisonh48d14deff
Location: 224 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston

7. For coffee in a cute setting: The Harbinger

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The most aesthetically pleasing and delicious coffee shop. —brittanyc4da6c7120
Where: 1107 King Street, Charleston

8. For freshly brewed beers with a view: Revelry Brewing Co.

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There's a great view of the bridge and surrounding area from the rooftop. Good beer and great company! —zachw444075223
Where: 10 Conroy Street, Charleston

9. For a meal worth splurging on: FIG

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FIG is an amazing restaurant with a menu that changes nightly. If you can’t get a reservation, arrive there before opening to try to secure a spot at the family table or bar. Amazing food and cocktails that you will not regret splurging on.
—abbym4453e1a41
Where: 232 Meeting Street, Charleston

10. For some of the best barbecue in town: Lewis Barbecue

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Eat literally anything from Lewis Barbecue. —brittanyc4da6c7120
Where: 464 N Nassau Street, Charleston

11. For when you can't decide what you feel like eating: Workshop

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Workshop is a fancy food court that serves drinks and food from a variety of local businesses. It's a great place to hang out during the day, and the vendors change up so there's always something different to try. —ajderaddo
Where: 1503 King Street, Charleston

12. For a top selection of baked goods: King Street Cookies

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The best cookies going around. They have all types of milk too. Definitely a must! —elaineb4296ae71b
Where: 370 King Street, Charleston

13. For alfresco dining by the water: Fleet Landing

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Fleet Landing is an amazing restaurant, and the view of the water is beautiful! —hellajae
Where: 186 Concord Street, Charleston

14. For cheap beer in a friendly atmosphere: Recovery Room Tavern

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This dive bar sells the most cans of PBR in the WORLD. —fldhckyno1990
Where: 685 King Street, Charleston

15. For a sensational steak: Halls Chophouse

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If you’re up for spending a bunch of bucks on dinner, Halls Chophouse in Downtown is the place to go. They have some of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten and, surprisingly, the creamed corn is AMAZING. But be sure to make a reservation in advance because the place fills up fast. —kinoli
Where: 434 King Street, Charleston

16. For a fancy drink (in the name of science): Grill 225

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Grab a Nitrotini — a martini cooled with liquid nitrogen and served smoking — from Grill 225 and bring it up to the Pavilion Bar rooftop for the best view in the city. —laurenk47780015e
Where: 225 E Bay Street, Charleston

17. For Indian-inspired bites in a hip setting: Tu

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Tu just started doing an Indian-influenced menu with local ingredients. (Kanye ate here when he came to town. Think what you want about Kanye, but the food is damn good.) —fldhckyno1990
Where: 430 Meeting Street, Charleston

18. For soul-filling food: Jestine's Kitchen

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Jestine's Kitchen in Downtown is fantastic!! The pecan-crusted fried chicken is gold. —martieh2
Where: 251 Meeting Street, Charleston

19. For decadent sweet treats: Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe

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They have THE best Toll House pie and brownie sundae! —rebeccab4b4f79580
Where: various locations

20. For all the grits you'll ever need: Grace & Grit

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Go to Grace & Grit over in Mount Pleasant for an amazing dinner paired with out-of-this-world grit varieties and cocktails. —nathanw435bf39f1
Where: 320 Wingo Way, Mount Pleasant

21. For unbeatable seafood: 167 Raw

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If you love seafood you HAVE to check out 167 Raw! Best oysters and lobster roll I’ve ever had, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! The wait is totally worth it. —katherinel4cf65c833
Where: 289 E Bay Street, Charleston

22. For surprisingly good fish and chips: The CODFather

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Deceiving from the outside and AMAZING price point for what you get! Definitely won’t disappoint. —elainamariel
Where: 4254 Spruill Avenue, North Charleston

23. For good vibes and solid veggie options: Jack of Cups Saloon

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This place on Folly Beach is so cool. Awesome vegan food and a super laid-back vibe. —ahcomeonnow
Where: 34 Center Street, Folly Beach

24. For an ~intimate~ dining experience: R Kitchen

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R Kitchen offers five course meals for $45. It’s such a fun experience because the chefs interact with you during the whole dinner. There's a location in Downtown and one in West Ashley. —jelmquis0804
Where: various locations

25. For a memorable meal: Butcher & Bee

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Butcher & Bee served me some amazing shakshuka a few years ago, and I still think about it. —amandahurleyb
Where: 1085 Morrison Drive, Charleston

26. For a dog-friendly spot: The Barrel

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The Barrel, right before you hit Folly Beach, is an awesome place to drink local brews, grab food from one of the delicious food trucks, and hang out with some dogs. —ajderaddo
Where: 1859 Folly Rd, Charleston

27. For famous frozen cocktails: Home Team BBQ

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Home Team BBQ for wings and game changer cocktails! —a4d087271a
Where: various locations

28. For an affordable hidden gem: Edison James Island

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It's one of the best restaurants in Charleston but it’s often overlooked because it’s tucked away in a neighborhood. The food is better than a lot of the stuff in Downtown and nothing on the menu is over $23. —laurenk47780015e
Where: 1014 Fort Johnson Road, James Island

29. For dive bar vibes and mystery beers: Cutty's

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Cutty’s is an extension of your weird uncle’s basement. They offer $1 mystery beers during happy hour and have a great cocktail selection as well. —jeraymon33
Where: 227 Saint Philip Street, Charleston

30. For a cozy neighborhood bar: Avondale Wine & Cheese

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It has the best cheese and isn't too expensive. —kimasman
Where: 813 Savannah Highway B, Charleston

31. For a drink with the locals: Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale

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It's a great place for cheap, stiff margs and good food. You will catch the finest of Charleston’s food and beverage community here after a shift. It's always a blast and a great way to be a “local”. —jeraymon33
Where: various locations

32. For drool-worthy duck fat fries: Tattooed Moose

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While you're in Johns Island go to Tattooed Moose for some beers and duck fat fries. —mticeps
Where: various locations

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.

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