22 Best Restaurants in Lower King and the Market, Charleston

Spend an evening at this trendsetter for fresh-off-the-farm ingredients cooked with unfussy, flavorful finesse—the Food Is Good kitchen has produced two James Beard Best Chef: Southeast winners. The menu changes frequently, but the family-style vegetables might be as simple as young beets in sherry vinegar served in a plain white bowl. Main dishes get more complex: there's the must-have chicken liver pâté, slow-baked red porgy with Carolina Gold grits, and perfectly executed pan-roasted golden tilefish. The waitstaff is as inspired and informed as the masterpieces they serve.

This ambitious Italian osteria serves inspired pastas and small plates that may be the city's most flavorful Italian fare. Co-owner and chef Michael Toscano melds far-flung ingredients into cohesive dishes—a bucatini blends chili, basil, and provolone with octopus and sweet peppers, or opt for squid ink spaghetti with shrimp and jalapeño pesto that leaves a lasting flavor memory.

This spot serves locally made vegan and old-school ice cream done right, plus nitro cold brew.

Operating as a one-stop butcher shop and deli counter, Ted's sells beef, game, seafood, and homemade sausages to complement its selection of artisanal cheeses, wine, and other specialty foods. Among the lunchtime favorites are the house-roasted Wagyu beef panini and the ever-changing bacon-of-the-month BLT. On Friday nights there are wine tastings and a bargain prix-fixe dinner.

In a city revered for its local seafood, a Nantucket transplant has managed to turn its Charleston satellite location into the city's most respected oyster bar. Look for the antique scuba diver's helmet over the door, but show up before the lunch opening or during the midafternoon lull if you want to nab a lobster roll or a platter of little neck clams without a wait—it's first-come, first-serve. If you do have to wait, their Bar 167 just around the corner will keep you lubricated. There's also a 167 Sushi Bar on East Bay St. 

This landmark mainstay continues to thrive as an atmospheric, fine-dining establishment. As always, the food has strong Southern leanings, with seafood highlights, including Charleston bouillabaisse; don't miss the creamy grits (perfection) or authentic fried green tomatoes. Indoor and garden dining make this a great place to linger, perhaps under a gazebo or in an elegant, art-rich (and air-conditioned) room inside the historic residence. Also notable is the genuinely caring service and extensive wine list featuring new varietal blends (no house wine here), which has earned it high and consistent praise.

The cuisine at this fine-dining mainstay is rooted in traditional Lowcountry, including shrimp and grits and roasted oysters. Horse-drawn carriages pass outside the wide windows, and the softly lit, gilt-trimmed dining room is ideal for romantic occasions, though some locals prefer the more casual scene downstairs.

The kitchen at this buzzy all-day hot spot balances guilt-free ingredients with tantalizing flavors, from tempura cauliflower wings to local fish with tabbouleh and mint yogurt. The vegan- and vegetarian-friendly bowls, burgers, and tacos are served in the bright and cheery dining room and a tucked-away garden out back.

This perennial favorite inside the Charleston Place hotel provides what many regard as the city's highest gastronomic experience. The dining room's pale wood floors, flowing drapes, and elegant Queen Anne chairs provide a soothing setting for entrées—including a Wagyu tenderloin and fish a la plancha—broken into "From Our Waters" and "From Our Fields" on the seasonal menu. A jazz ensemble adds a hip yet unobtrusive element to the experience.

Located at the Wentworth Mansion, this former residential home is full of hand-carved marble fireplaces and stained-glass windows. The Ashley and Cooper tasting menus lean on Lowcountry roots with gussied up flair, like a grilled pimento cheese sandwich with prosciutto and paddlefish caviar, and foie gras flan with pickled pearl onions. The low lighting and quiet comfort of Circa 1886 make it hard to top for an intimate, romantic meal.

Come for the carefully constructed coffee, but don't leave without a to-die-for egg and country ham biscuit with jam.

The signature oyster presentation at this upscale seafood spot in a historic single house includes caviar, chives, and champagne. This delectable mouthful sets the tone for further treats to come, including spicy tuna tartare and an impeccably fried flounder with malt vinegar fries. It's a few steps out of the way on Calhoun Street, but worth the walk—and a perfect reservation before a show at the Gaillard Center. 

The wood-fired oven is on full display at this Italian-leaning eatery that churns out decadent pizzas—including one dripping with taleggio and burnt honey—and shareable plates like blue crab fritters and a platter of rich pork and beef meatballs sizzling in a cast-iron skillet. Spacious, green-cushioned, round booths are the choice seating inside, but if weather allows, ask for a table in the lovely courtyard, a space shared with the Emeline Hotel.

The cuisine at this atmospheric establishment—combined with a staggering array of excellent wines and white-jacketed service—makes Grill 225 a popular special occasion spot. Take the opportunity to dress up; the elegant wood floors and red-velvet upholstery call for it. If you enjoy red meat, indulge in the wet-aged steaks; the filet with foie gras bathed in a fig demiglace is equally excellent. Expect hefty portions, but save room for the pastry chef's shining creations, which include a contemporized version of baked Alaska with a nutty crust, flambéed table-side.

This upscale fish house serves such Southern adaptations as Lowcountry bouillabaisse and seafood platters that come with sweet-potato fries and coleslaw. With a community table flanked by paper-topped private tables, the lively spot harks back to an earlier time in Charleston's culinary history. The atmosphere retains an authentic vibe, with waiters in long white aprons buzzing about.

Husk's strict devotion to regional sourcing helped set a new standard for restaurants across the South. Supper favorites on the daily-changing menu include seafood such as snapper, catfish, and flounder, frequently paired with heirloom vegetables. Try the fried chicken skins or a skillet of smoky bacon cornbread—both are terrifically popular. The building itself, balcony intact, dates to the late 19th century, and the freestanding bar beside the restaurant is lined with 100-year-old exposed brick and several Kentucky bourbons and whiskeys. If you can't score a reservation, Husk Bar next door is arguably just as good for intimate drinks and a burger.

The fragrance of beef, lamb, and chicken shawarma wafts from the glass front doors of this Lebanese restaurant, bringing the authentic flavors of the Middle East to Charleston. Adventurous eaters can find beef tongue and frogs' legs on the huge menu, or skip straight to sweet treats with meghli rice flour pudding bedecked in cloves, coconut, and cinnamon. Generous portions make up for slightly high prices, and the service is friendly and informative.

This upscale Pakistani restaurant opening in the space where Jestine's once served red rice and chicken livers quietly signaled a transition for Charleston from a place with excellent distinctive cuisine to a cosmopolitan city with both deep culinary roots and a growing international scene. The kababs, chicken tikka, and biryani were immediately among the most buzzed-about dishes in town after Ma'am Saab debuted in 2023. A hip soundtrack and cool neon lighting help set the tone. 

Set in a pale yellow building on Society Street, Muse lays bare Mediterranean stylings in sophisticated, relaxed quarters. The menu offers standout versions of classic fine-dining fare like veal scaloppini and a grilled pork chop, as well as the signature dish: a delicious, scarcely fried sea bass, served with head and tail intact, over a ragù of butter beans and pancetta. The bar functions as a drawing room, permitting easy introductions and closer inspection of the restaurant's impressive, 100-plus-bottle wine list.

This fine-dining stalwart melds Lowcountry produce and seafood into traditional but inspired dishes, at once eyeing the past and the future. The dining room fixtures (walls covered in olive-green velvet and 18th-century-style portraits, with wrought-iron chandeliers on the ceiling) serve as an excellent backdrop for Angus steaks, jumbo sea scallops, and Berkshire pork chops. A permanent tent allows for courtyard dining, rain or shine. Finish your meal with the decadent coconut cake that helped put Peninsula on the map. The servers are pros; the personable sommelier makes wine selections that truly complement your meal, anything from bubbly to clarets and dessert wines.

Don't pass up the sweet and savory crepes, named for Charleston's islands and neighborhoods, at this venerable neighborhood institution that also serves pressed breakfast and lunch sandwiches, smoothies, cold brew, and craft beer. The art-filled space doubles as a wine shop—pick up a bottle on the way to a picnic at nearby Colonial Lake.

Local artist Honey McCrary spent over a year building the 700-square-foot undersea mosaic on the ceiling of this seafood eatery. The beautiful artwork is reason alone to step inside, and it underscores the effort and intention put into the overall design and menu at this fine-dining haven along the City Market. Shareable plates include a signature seafood tower and roasted clams, shrimp, and oysters.