EXPLORE CHARLESTON

Restaurant Recommendations

The following restaurants are close to the African American Museum where we are holding our Welcome Reception. Reservations are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. General driving time is 5 minutes and general walking time is 16 minutes.

  • Church and Union
    • Address: 32B N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 937-8666
    • Why it’s good: Posh New American dining destination and cocktail bar in a former church with dramatic decor. The menu features modern-American cuisine, including popular dishes like the lamb burger, crab cakes, lobster and grits, and fried chicken. The restaurant offers an eclectic atmosphere with preserved architectural elements like large stained-glass windows and high, vaulted ceilings. Church and Union Charleston is located on historic Market Street in downtown Charleston, SC next to sister restaurant, Tempest.
    • Reservations: tripleseat.com, opentable.co
  • Delaney Oyster House
    • Address: 115 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 594-0099
    • Why it’s good: A seafood-focused restaurant and raw bar located in a historic house in downtown Charleston, SC. It is known for its fresh, sustainable seafood, creative cocktails, and Lowcountry-inspired dishes. The restaurant offers a casual-chic atmosphere with dining available inside, at the bar, or on one of its two piazzas.
    • Reservations: resy.com
  • FIG
    • Address: 232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 805-5900
    • Why it’s good: Locally celebrated fine dining spot focusing on elevated Southern classics with seasonal ingredients and a refined but comfortable atmosphere. The menu changes nightly based on seasonal availability. The name is an acronym for “Food Is Good”. FIG has received multiple James Beard Awards. 
    • Note: It can be difficult to get reservations here.
    • Reservations: eatatfig.com, resy.com
  • Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
    • Address: 186 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 722-8100
    • Why it’s good: The restaurant is located in historic downtown Charleston in a converted 1940s U.S. Navy debarkation point building that juts out over the water offering scenic views of the Charleston Harbor. It offers local and sustainable seafood with a Lowcountry twist, featuring dishes like She Crab Soup, Low Country Seafood Pasta, and Fried Flounder Sandwiches.
    • Reservations: Open Table
  • Hank’s Seafood
    • Address: 10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 723-3474
    • Why it’s good: Bustling eatery & bar serving up seafood, including raw-bar items, in a grand, classic setting. Hank’s Seafood Restaurant is located in a turn-of-the-century warehouse overlooking the Charleston City Market. Hank’s Seafood has been beautifully renovated to an ambiance that reflects Charleston’s port history and family roots.
    • Reservations: hanksseafoodrestaurant.com
  • High Cotton Charleston Restaurant
    • Address: 199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 724-3815
    • Why it’s good: Offers seafood and southern fare in a setting that’s upscale and appropriate for a noteworthy dinner. It offers polished Lowcountry cuisine, including popular dishes like she-crab soup, shrimp and grits, and crab cakes.
    • Reservations: resy.com, tripleseat.com
  • Lenoir
    • Address: 68 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 534-9031
    • Why it’s good: Stylish bistro with outdoor seating serving gourmet mains & sharing plates, plus great cocktails & wine. Best described as chic, modern, and inviting, with a cozy and lively vibe. Located in the Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel, the space was specifically designed to be light-filled, airy, and a bit “feminine,” contrasting with many of the city’s darker, more traditional restaurants.
    • Reservations: dineatlenoir.com
  • Ma’am Saab
    • Address: 251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 259-2660
    • Why it’s good: Nestled in the historic district of downtown Charleston, experience elevated Pakistani cuisine. Be prepared to embark on a journey to Pakistan, featuring a focused menu with a modern take on dishes originating back to the mughal era. Cozy eatery serving authentic Pakistani dishes such as biryani and butter chicken, plus creative cocktails.
    • Reservations: opentable.com
  • Magnolias
    • Address: 185 E Bay St #200, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 577-7771
    • Why it’s good: A staple of upscale Southern cuisine in Charleston for over 30 years credited with igniting a culinary renaissance in Charleston in 1990 by elevating traditional Lowcountry cooking techniques with a modern flair. Upscale Southern and Lowcountry, with classic dishes like the “Down South Egg Roll,” Shellfish Gumbo, and Parmesan Crusted Market Catch.
    • Reservations: Resy.com
  • Muse
    • Address: 82 Society St, Charleston, SC 29401 Phone: (843) 577-1102
    • Why it’s good:  A long-standing, locally loved Mediterranean restaurant nestled in a historic Charleston single house. The atmosphere is described as cozy, romantic, and historic, with a charming, intimate bar and an outdoor terrace for dining. An extensive number of wines by the glass are available to pair with a blend of Italian, Spanish, French, and Greek cuisines, featuring homemade pastas, breads, and desserts.
    • Reservations: resy.com, opentable.com
  • Poogan’s Porch
    • Address: 72 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 829-4332
    • Why it’s good: This is a classic Southern-cuisine spot, housed in a restored Victorian home, giving it warmth and charm.  Popular dishes including the signature shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and buttermilk fried chicken.
    • Reservations: poogansporch.com, resy.com
  • Port of Call – Food & Brew
    • Address: 99 S Market St Suite 5, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 473-4832
    • Why it’s good: Nestled in Charleston’s historic City Market, offers a delightful blend of Lowcountry classics, fresh seafood, and craft beer in a slightly more casual atmosphere than some of the above, but still very well-reviewed and within walking distance.
    • Reservations: opentable.com
  • Rudy Royale
    • Address: 209 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 297-4443
    • Why it’s good:  a popular restaurant and cocktail bar located in the historic French Quarter of downtown Charleston, South. The restaurant is best known for its fried chicken and fried chicken sandwich, with other popular items including the short rib ragu, deviled eggs, and chicken pot pie.
    • Reservations: opentable.com, tripleseat.com
  • Slightly North of Broad (SNOB)
    • Address: 192 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 723-3424
    • Why it’s good: A well-known eclectic Lowcountry bistro.  The name is a playful acronym referring to its location just north of Broad Street, a historic demarcation line in downtown Charleston. Modern Southern & Lowcountry cuisine served in an airy, comfortable, distinguished space.
    • Reservations: resy.com
  • Tempest
    • Address: 32 N Market St Suite C, Charleston, SC 29401
    • Phone: (843) 996-4966
    • Why it’s good: An award-winning, elegant dining restaurant that offers hyper-local, sustainable Coastal Modern-American cuisine with a focus on seafood. Located in the historic Harriott Pinckney Home for Sailors, near its sister restaurant Church and Union Charleston and the Charleston City Market.
    • Reservations: tempestcharleston.com, opentable.com