05 November 2025
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Charleston is one of the South's finest cities. Classy yet charming, historic yet trendy, the Holy City is consistently ranked as one of the top destinations in the United States.
While this hot spot may be well known for its good looks and even better manners, Charleston is also beloved for its thriving restaurant scene. Whether you want to get dressed up for a night out or prefer more casual eats, there's something for everyone here.
The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors found plenty to love in Charleston. Three hot spots came out on top, earning MICHELIN Stars in the first-ever Guide to the American South, but that's not all. The MICHELIN Bib Gourmand was awarded to three restaurants beloved by locals and visitors alike.
See the Stars, Bib Gourmands and the full list of recommended restaurants in Charleston below.
One Stars
Malagón Mercado y Taperia
Cuisine: Spanish
Don't be fooled by this unassuming spot off King Street; Malagón is a find. It's a small space with an appealing old-world ambience, where shelves are stocked with wines and imported produce and an open kitchen offers a peek at the goings-on. Chef Juan Cassalett's tapas-focused, Spanish menu has a clear spark. Nothing is overcomplicated, and there is beauty in the precision in dishes like fried rabbit leg with a savory crème fraîche dipping sauce and la bomba de la Barceloneta, with diced pork stuffed inside mashed potato and then fried. It's all deceptively simple and deliciously surprising, as in the arros con cangrejo, a paella-style dish tossed with crab that delights with each bite. Spanish wines steal the spotlight on an interesting list.
Vern's
Cuisine: American Contemporary
The husband-and-wife team of Daniel and Bethany Heinze have created one of Charleston's most popular spots. Reservations at Vern's are highly coveted, though some may try their luck at the handful of bar seats saved for walk-ins. Charleston may be a dressed-up town, but inside this hotspot, it's more homey than fussy, with rich wood floors and tables set with flickering candles. Lowcountry ingredients are championed on a menu that reflects Chef Heinze's travels. It all shifts with the seasons but items like charred sourdough with allium butter or raw yellowfin tuna with Calabrian chili are dynamic starters. Pasta is made in house—campanelli with rabbit and vacche rosse cheese in a cacio e pepe sauce is silky-smooth. It's perfectly paired with a selection from Bethany's expertly curated wine list.
Wild Common
Cuisine: American Contemporary
Chef Orlando Pagán's tasting menu is far from common, and while upgrades like caviar eggs Benedict and wagyu are indeed available, there's nothing standard here. From the price (less than $100) and the focus on local ingredients to the wildly creative dishes with a global bent, this is fine dining injected with a bit of fun. Pho with carrot kimchi or hamachi crudo with coconut and kumquat may kick off the meal before roasted carrot and walnut tortelli with carrot fondue and browned butter whey foam, and entrees like dry-aged New York strip with a polenta cake and king trumpet mushrooms. In yet another twist, an aged cheddar sundae offers a savory take on the final course. The dining room is stunning, though the best seats are arguably at the counter for a view of the kitchen.
Bib Gourmands
Leon's Oyster Shop
Cuisine: Seafood
When the garage doors are up, doors and windows wide open, and the breeze blowing right through, this oyster bar has few equals. Naturally, the seafood is well-sourced at what once was a filling station. But what draws us in again and again are the small culinary twists that go a long way. A hearty smoked mahi mahi dip comes with, of all things, fried saltine crackers. A stunning shrimp roll is tossed with slivers of seedless jalapenos, garnished with crushed potato chips, and stuffed into toasted brioche. Marinated in hot sauce, brined in buttermilk, and seasoned with Old Bay, the fried chicken is the juiciest bird we’ve had yet. A curated list of top-tier grower Champagnes is an unexpected addition to an already wonderful destination.
Lewis Barbecue
Cuisine: Barbecue
A mural of a steer watches over the parking lot with the words “All Hail the King” in bold lettering, and firewood stacked to the roof overlooks a gravel patio set with picnic tables. A thick haze of smoke wafts in the air. Welcome to Texas by way of the Lowcountry. John Lewis, who earned a name for himself when he opened LA Barbecue in Austin, has brought with him all things smoke and beef. Beautiful, near-melting slivers of brisket and the weekend-only beef rib are essential orders, sold by the pound and sliced in front of you at the counter. Sides like green chili corn pudding and potato salad are also excellent additions. By this point, few will have room for dessert, but perhaps consider ordering a banana pudding. It’s worth the extra bite.
Rodney Scott's BBQ
Cuisine: Barbecue
Like the very line of people waiting to get in, a thick haze of sweet smoke wraps around this handsome brick building. Rodney Scott’s whole-hog barbecue is a rite of passage for anyone who lives in or visits South Carolina, though true fans will drive 1.5 hours north to the original in Hemingway. Scott has hog in his blood: His parents raised them and opened a variety store and restaurant in 1972. The menu today is expansive, but the real gem is the pulled pork, which arrives soft as cotton candy, ready to be sopped in an electric sauce of vinegar, lemon juice, and spices. Tender collard greens, gooey mac and cheese, and a fantastic apple hand pie round out this filling meal. The drive-through window is a useful addition for people in a hurry.
Related Reads:
All the Stars in The MICHELIN Guide American South 2025
The Best Value Restaurants in the American South
Hero image: Lizzy Rollins / Vern's
