17 Beachfront Restaurants In South Carolina Locals Like To Keep Secret
South Carolina’s coastline hides some amazing places to eat that only locals seem to know about.
These waterfront gems offer fresh seafood, stunning ocean views, and that relaxed beach vibe you can’t find anywhere else.
Skip the tourist traps and check out these secret spots where locals go when they want great food with their toes practically in the sand.
1. Bowens Island Restaurant
Tucked under ancient oak trees, this legendary oyster joint looks more like a weathered fishing shack than a restaurant. That’s exactly why locals love it.
The place serves up oysters by the shovelful, literally – they’re roasted over an open fire and dumped straight onto your table. No fancy plates needed when the sunset view over the marshland is this gorgeous.
2. The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
Named after a trawler that Hurricane Hugo smashed into this very spot, The Wreck serves no-frills seafood in a ramshackle building that’s easy to miss. You’ll need directions from a local to find it.
Paper plates, plastic forks, and the best fried shrimp platter you’ve ever tasted await inside. The Shem Creek views are spectacular, especially when dolphins decide to make an appearance during your meal.
3. The Sea Shack
Blink and you’ll miss this tiny blue hut on Hilton Head Island. Locals queue up for lunch before the tourists even wake up from their beach naps.
The blackboard menu changes daily based on what local fishermen bring in that morning. Cash only and worth every penny!
Their shrimp po’boys are legendary, and the hush puppies? Crispy little bites of heaven that’ll make you forget fancy restaurants exist.
4. Local on the Water
Forget the flashy harbor spots – this hidden gem in Hilton Head sits quietly at the end of a marina where fishing boats dock with the day’s catch. The name says it all – you’ll be dining with islanders, not tourists.
Their crab cakes contain almost no filler, just sweet lump crab meat held together by what seems like magic. The screened porch lets the sea breeze in while keeping no-see-ums out – a true local luxury!
5. Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge
Behind the pirate-themed name hides Murrells Inlet’s best-kept secret. While tourists flock to the Marsh Walk, locals slip away to this quieter spot with breathtaking views of the salt marsh.
The hushpuppies come with honey butter that’ll make you want to lick the plate.
Watch for the restaurant’s resident goats on the tiny island across from the dining deck – they’re the unofficial entertainment during sunset dinners.
6. Gulfstream Cafe
Perched right where Garden City meets Murrells Inlet, this second-floor hideaway offers something almost impossible to find: sunset views over the inlet AND sunrise views over the Atlantic. Early birds get the best tables!
The she-crab soup is rich enough to be a meal itself. Ask for a table on the screened porch where you can watch fishing boats coming in with what might literally be tomorrow’s special.
7. Sunset Grille
Folly Beach locals guard this spot jealously. Hidden at the marina rather than on the main drag, it’s where islanders escape when the summer crowds overwhelm the more obvious restaurants.
The seafood nachos could feed a family but somehow get devoured by one person.
Their back deck faces directly west, making the restaurant’s name perfectly literal – time your dinner for maximum sunset spectacle over the Folly River.
8. Hudson’s
Working fishermen still use the docks at this Hilton Head landmark, bringing their catch straight to the kitchen door. Nothing gets more local than that!
Families who’ve lived on the island for generations gather here for Sunday dinner. The oyster roasts in winter months bring out every local within driving distance.
Don’t bother dressing up – the concrete floors and paper towel rolls on each table tell you exactly what kind of place this is.
9. Fish Camp on Broad Creek
Housed in a converted fishing camp that’s been around since the 1950s, this Hilton Head spot maintains its old-school charm. Locals love that it doesn’t try too hard to be fancy.
The screened porch puts you right over the water where gators sometimes swim by during dinner. Their smoked fish dip comes with a story about the old smoke shack out back.
10. Coast Oceanfront Dining
Charleston locals don’t often share this secret with visitors. Tucked inside a hotel but with its own beach access, Coast brings the ocean practically to your table.
The fish tacos use whatever was caught that morning, topped with a pineapple salsa that should be illegal it’s so good.
Grab a seat in the open-air section where the ceiling fans spin lazily overhead and the sound of waves provides the perfect dinner soundtrack.
11. Up the Creek Pub
Broad Creek provides the stunning backdrop at this Hilton Head hideaway where locals gather to watch the sunset paint the marsh gold. The name isn’t just cute – you really are “up the creek” in the best possible way.
Their shrimp and grits might be the island’s best kept culinary secret.
Kayakers often paddle right up to the restaurant’s dock, grab a bite, then head back out on the water – a dining experience you can’t find in the guidebooks.
12. Pier 14 Restaurant & Lounge
Myrtle Beach has a secret spot where locals escape the tourist crowds. Built on an actual pier extending into the Atlantic, this place lets you dine literally above the waves.
The blackened mahi sandwich is so good it should come with a warning label. Forget the inland restaurants with their “ocean view” claims – here, you might get splashed during high tide!
13. RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar
Myrtle Beach locals head to the third floor of this oceanfront spot, bypassing the tourist-filled lower levels. The rooftop offers a bird’s-eye view of the Atlantic that few visitors ever discover.
Their crab dip could make a grown man cry tears of joy. Come during off-season when you might have the place nearly to yourself, with just the sound of waves crashing below and seagulls circling overhead.
14. Sea Captain’s House
Don’t let the line of tourists fool you – locals still claim this Myrtle Beach institution as their own special place. The 1930s beach cottage survived numerous hurricane seasons and development offers.
Southern grandmas approve of their she-crab soup, which is saying something! Grab a table on the oceanfront porch where the salt air seasons everything perfectly.
15. Waters Edge Restaurant
Mount Pleasant locals guard this Shem Creek pearl jealously. While tourists crowd the more visible creek restaurants, this slightly hidden spot offers the best views of Charleston Harbor.
The flounder stuffed with crab meat will make you question every other seafood dish you’ve ever loved. Dolphins frequently swim right past the dining deck during evening service.
16. Hook & Barrel
Myrtle Beach has a sustainable seafood secret that locals treasure. Just far enough from the main tourist drag to stay under the radar, this place champions ocean-friendly fishing practices.
Their oyster selection changes daily based on what’s freshest. The restaurant’s commitment to sustainability extends to the building itself – check out the reclaimed wood bar and tables made from salvaged fishing boats.
17. SeeWee Restaurant
This former 1920s grocery store in Awendaw serves seafood that makes Charleston locals drive 30 minutes outside the city without complaint.
The building’s original charm remains intact, right down to the creaky wooden floors. The restaurant sits surrounded by maritime forest, creating a peaceful escape from tourist zones.
