Most Instagrammable Restaurants in Charleston, SC
Who doesn’t love a serving of Southern beauty when dining out in Charleston? Polish the lens before a night out in Chuck Town because this city has some seriously instagrammable restaurants. Exciting ambiance, perfectly polished plates, never-ending views, and waterfront vibes all define Charleston’s culinary scene. Ready to rack up the likes with every bite? Take a look at the eight most instagrammable restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina.
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits
75 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 518-5115
Situated atop the Restoration Hotel, The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits is a place where the only thing that outdoes the Southern-inspired flavors coming out of the kitchen is the view coming from all sides. This beautiful rooftop restaurant and cocktail lounge is a great place to be for sunset drinks and appetizers. While the vibe is upscale, there’s no shame in digging into a burger with truffle fries in this sky-high eatery that is the stuff of Instagram dreams!
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Church and Union
32b North Market Street, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 937-8666
Offering up fare from Top Chef’s Jamie Lynch, Church and Union creates a downright heavenly experience that you’ll want to show off on the gram. This former church has been converted into an unforgettable restaurant full of novelty touches just waiting to populate your Instagram feed. When diners look up, they’ll see the entire text of “The Art of War” scribbled across the ceiling. While filet, New York strip, pan-seared scallops, and burrata define the dinner menu, guests will also find full-course treasures for both lunch and dinner. An eclectic cocktail menu pairs beautifully with a classic wine list.
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Taco Boy
217 Huger Street, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 789-3333
Let the spicy margaritas flow while you dine at one of the most photogenic patios in Charleston! Taco Boy is famous for its nachos, shrimp quesadillas, and grilled fish tacos. While a patio full of canopies and palm trees is inviting, the interior of Taco Boy also impresses with its fun artifacts and artwork. Don’t leave without tasting Taco Boy’s traditional tres leches that’s made with sponge cake soaked with milk and brandy before being served with whipped cream, cinnamon, and strawberries.
photo credit: highcottoncharleston.com
Peninsula Grill
112 North Market Street, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-0700
Everyone wants to show off the ambiance of Charleston’s Peninsula Grill once they get behind the restaurant’s famed iron gates. A staple of the Charleston culinary experience, Peninsula Grill provides upscale ambiance that translates beautifully to photos. The outdoor dining area is a secret garden of pure class and luxury. The standout item from the Peninsula Grill’s Champagne Bar Menu is the Lobster “3 Way” that features lobster ravioli, lobster tempura, and sautéed lobster. The cakes on the dessert menu are legendary!
photo credit: wentworthmansion.com
Circa 1886
149 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 853-7828
Circa 1886 is a place like no other in Charleston. Tucked inside an original carriage house belonging to the Wentworth Mansion, this restaurant is full of intricate details that take your senses back in time for classic Southern cuisine infused with some modern Lowcountry splashes of zest. While Circa 1886 often swaps out dishes based on what’s in season, guests can fall back on chicken-fried duck breast, pork belly, rainbow trout, beef tenderloin, and broken-arrow venison. Circa 1886’s truly Southern dessert menu delights with strawberry shortcake soufflé, sweet corn and huckleberry, coconut sombi, and chocolate mousse.
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
The Ordinary
544 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 414-7060
How often do you get to post photos from inside an iconic food hall and oyster bar located inside an old bank in the heart of downtown Charleston? Get ready to snap pictures of your table covered in a seafood medley consisting of plates of oysters, lobster, crab, caviar, and clams. The seafood tower on the menu here is worthy of its own post!
photo credit: purewow.com
Eleve Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge
55 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-4144
There isn’t a fancier spot for lighting up your Instagram feed in Charleston than Eleve Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge! The interior of Eleve Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge is dotted with crystal chandeliers hanging from the heavens. The outside features a grass-carpeted terrace overlooking the city. While the drink menu is impressive enough to draw people for nothing more than a rooftop cocktail hour, the brunch and dinner menus are sure to satisfy as well.
photo credit: tempestcharleston.com
Tempest
32 North Market Street (Suite C), Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 996-4966
Everyone in Charleston knows Tempest as the hip eatery with the ceiling made of stained glass. These colorful, era-defying mosaics will turn plenty of heads on social media after you “check in” for a night of drinks and dining. However, it’s the menu here that really raises the ceiling. Diners are treated to tuna bombs, ceviche, roasted clams, flounder, snapper, oyster, lobster, New York strip, and many other delights from both land and sea. A dessert menu consisting of goat cheese cheesecake, honey pot de creme, a coffee torte, Bailey’s chocolate ganache, and house-made ice cream will definitely inspire some extra posts to show off what’s on your plate!
Want to explore more about living in and dining in Charleston? Check out this Charleston hidden gems post from our friends at RedFin!