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Best Casual Restaurants in Downtown Charleston

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27 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Coast Bar & Grill – Charleston restaurant
4.5
Awesome(4949)
Price: Moderate
• Seafood • Downtown Charleston
Booked 25 times today
Charleston’s freshest seafood, with laidback Lowcountry style. Coast’s chefs meet daily with local farmers and fishermen to procure the freshest seafood and produce available. Featuring wood-grilled fish, a raw bar, and a refreshing drink list. Open nightly from 5:00. Outdoor seating available.*menus subject to change, please visit www.holycityhospitality.com for current menu
A photo of O-Ku restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(2716)
Price: Moderate
• Japanese • Downtown Charleston
Booked 51 times today
O-Ku, a Japanese restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina, is a triumph of execution and concept. The restaurant's menu is a modern take on traditional Japanese cuisine, and it features fresh, seasonal ingredients that are prepared with care. The dishes are beautifully presented, and the flavors are both complex and delicate. Focused on incorporating authentically Japanese flavors into the fare, O-Ku's menu is comprised of signature contemporary Japanese entrées and traditional sushi of the season reflecting the uniquely designed space. Guests can enjoy chef specialties including kurobuta pulled pork don-buri, braised short rib with shiso pesto, coconut curry, and hakozushi a box-style sushi. A wide variety of nigiri, sashimi and crudos are also available. The beverage program at O-Ku is a sophisticated blend of specialty cocktails, premium sake, bubbles, red and white wines and unique beer selections.
A photo of Virginia's on King restaurant
4.5
Awesome(3010)
Price: Moderate
• Southern • Downtown Charleston
Booked 25 times today
This sophisticated Southern dining spot blends the comforts of a traditional Southern kitchen with familiar regional dishes prepared with the utmost care for quality and flavor. The menu incorporates local fresh ingredients and old family recipes to bring you Southern cooking, Lowcountry style.*menus subject to change, please visit www.holycityhospitality.com for current menus
A photo of The Swamp Fox at the Francis Marion Hotel restaurant
4.4
Awesome(1776)
Price: Moderate
• Southern • Downtown Charleston
Booked 8 times today
The Swamp Fox Restaurant and Bar, named for Revolutionary War hero, General Francis Marion, features classic Southern cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Executive Chef Heyward Davis and Chef De Cuisine Daniel James create regional specialties that emphasize farm to table practices using locally grown fruits and vegetables with respect to the traditional beloved flavors and techniques of the Lowcountry.Known for its award-winning Shrimp and Grits, The Swamp Fox Restaurant and Bar overlooks historic Marion Square Park and is popular with both locals and visitors to Charleston. Guests can enjoy live piano Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm - 9pm.The restaurant also has a private dining room, the Parkview, that seats thirty and overlooks King Street and Marion Square Park. This intimate space is perfect for private events and small parties.Masks are recommended for fully vaccinated customers. Consistent with CDC guidelines, unvaccinated customers should wear masks.
A photo of Church and Union - Charleston restaurant
4.5
Awesome(8504)
Price: Expensive
• American • Downtown Charleston
Booked 110 times today
A 5th Street Group Concept. Modern-American cuisine served in a casual yet refined atmosphere. Menu by Executive Chef Doug Watson & Bravo Top Chef Alum Chef Partner Jamie Lynch.
A photo of Indaco restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(3780)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Downtown Charleston
Booked 50 times today
Located on Charleston's Upper King Street, Indaco (Italian for "indigo") serves rustic Italian cuisine. Wood-fired pizzas, hand-crafted pastas, housemade salami and cured sausages fill the restaurant's menu which can be enjoyed family-style or a la carte. With community tables, an open kitchen, and a comfortable atmosphere, Indaco can accommodate 100 guests for a casual night of food and drinks. The wine list is focused on affordable Italian varietals, the Negroni cocktail is on tap, and the fresh sodas are made in-house. The massive wooden doors on Upper King Street are your first indication that Indaco is different from the typical Charleston restaurant. Rustic details continue inside with butcherblock tables, lime-wash walls, and white brick. An open kitchen with nearby community tables lets interested diners keep an eye on the action inside the kitchen. Outside, a patio puts you streetside to watch Upper King Street's vibrant nightlife scene.
A photo of Peninsula Grill restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(7955)
Price: Very Expensive
• American • Downtown Charleston
Booked 44 times today
This AAA Four-Diamond restaurant located in the very heart of Charleston’s famed Historic District has been recognized by Departures, Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, The New York Times, Southern Living, Travel + Leisure, Wine Spectator, and others for serving the finest and freshest ingredients sourced locally and globally. With velvet-lined walls in shimmering oyster tones, woven seagrass, and indigenous cypress molding, the Peninsula Grill Dining Room ambiance is supper club sumptuousness. The Peninsula Grill Champagne Bar is an intimate jewel box space that offers several outstanding champagnes by the glass and a delicious bar menu.Peninsula Grill is a proud member of Relais & Châteaux, an exclusive collection of restaurants and hotels in romantic destinations around the world. Business casual attire, Collared Shirts are required for Gentleman in the Dining Room.
A photo of Prohibition restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(2496)
Price: Moderate
• American • Downtown Charleston
Booked 5 times today
It's true that Prohibition is a nod to the classic 1920's Speakeasy, but our elevated cuisine and progressive cocktail program are anything but old-fashioned. At Prohibition you can expect the culinary delights of Executive Chef Greg Garrison to leave you completely Jazzed, from savory local seafood to the finest cuts of meat, each dish is prepared with perfection. Kick back in our relaxing surroundings and sample the Mixology Expertise of our award winning Bar Team, led by Jim Mc Court. Our professional and passionate team are constantly striving to push the boundaries of excellence with cocktails like the 547 Manhattan and our signature Bacon Maple Old Fashioned to name but a few. Our extensive and imaginative beer, wine and liquor selection insures we can cater to all tastes.
A photo of Amen Street Fish + Raw Bar restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(5039)
Price: Moderate
• Seafood • Downtown Charleston
Booked 34 times today
Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar opened in 2009, reviving the former Amen name of Cumberland Street and restoring this historic corner. The new renovation stays true to the beauty of the original 1800's architecture while creating a comfortable atmosphere for contemporary life.Located at 205 East Bay Street in the heart of the historic district this Charleston seafood restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining all within walking distance of the local Market and the Charleston Harbor.The menu includes a variety of seafood dishes such as oysters, clams and shrimp in addition to an ever growing raw bar menu. Amen Street supports Charleston's local fishing industry with market fresh fish.We are open for lunch and dinner. Walk-ins are welcome and reservations are accepted as well.
A photo of The Establishment restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(2628)
Price: Very Expensive
• Seafood • Downtown Charleston
Booked 14 times today
Everything at The Establishment begins with well-sourced ingredients from sea and field. Through developing relationships with local farmers and fishermen, our ingredients will be consistently seasonal, fresh, and pure. Chef Elliott Howells' menu will always reflect a clean, focused, and balanced approach, delivering a selection of thoughtful and refined cuisine.Located in Charleston’s historic French Quarter a few blocks away from Rainbow Row, Charleston City Market, and Waterfront Park, The Establishment features an award-winning wine cellar, over 150 bourbon and whiskey offerings, and a lively bar scene complete with daily happy hour. We feature Live Music every Friday and Saturday starting at 8:00 PM, featuring multiple local artists performing an array of musical genres. Our private dining rooms are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or business meetings. We look forward to hosting you for a casual night out or an elevated dining experience.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Bill
    Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities •16 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Very nice spot… Old Church vibe, with a bit of civil war nostalgia. We enjoyed the fried chicken and southern salad. Chicken was crispy n moist, but… $30.00 for 1/2 chicken? Some pickles and cornbread, but no sides? Salad was fresh and flavorful. Our server was very distracted, and likely wished we had gone somewhere else? Don’t think we would return. Too many other spots for great food and service in this lovely city!! YMMV
    More info
    Church and Union - CharlestonPrice: Expensive• American• Downtown Charleston
    4.5
  • Lisa
    Dallas - Fort Worth •8 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    Googled a breakfast place and Virginia’s on King came up first. It did not disappoint. The food was fabulous, the service attentive, and the ambiance traditional Charleston. We will be back and bring friends. Highly recommend anything that comes with grits or get them on the side. Crab cakes were delicious, full of fresh flavor. I can’t say enough about the wait staff. Attentive without being stalkerish and just down home hospitality. Thanks VoK for a wonderful experience!
    More info
    Virginia's on KingPrice: Moderate• Southern• Downtown Charleston
    4.5
  • Pattie
    Cleveland / Akron / Canton •3 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Nov 19, 2024
    We enjoyed our first dinner on the 17th so much, decided to return for our ‘last night’ -right next to our hotel, a great location! Our server, Alex, was terrific! Calamari, fish tacos, mussels all delish…Pinot Gri and Cali Chardonnay tasty parings - we shall return! (But, perhaps NOT on an early eve before ‘showtime’ next door at the theatre😉)
    More info
    Coast Bar & Grill – CharlestonPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Downtown Charleston
    4.5
  • Tony
    South Carolina •1 review
    5.0
    Dined on Nov 18, 2024
    Oku=slay Food is amazing, second time visiting from Asheville and both times they make me wonder why we don’t have a Japanese restaurant like this back at home. Our server was perfect, she didn’t feel the need to smother us by coming up every 5 minutes and asking us how everything was which was a plus. She was able to give us some really good recommendations on vegetarian options (which more than most have to offer) it was a really welcoming experience. The food was really well done. plating was beautiful, food times were fast, and the deserts we tried were amazing. Little improvement is that if they played as much edm, they could have been playing more charli xcx. Iykyk
    More info
    O-KuPrice: Moderate• Japanese• Downtown Charleston
    4.8
  • William
    Los Angeles •5 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Nov 16, 2024
    Started with the she crab soup which was remarkable. Then a swamp fox burger, which is a very generous half pound cooked to perfection. Spectacular quality meat. Finished the meal with their delicious butter cake. Very attentive wait staff. Great piano player in the background. A wonderful dining experience.
    More info
    The Swamp Fox at the Francis Marion HotelPrice: Moderate• Southern• Downtown Charleston
    4.4
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