Out like a lamb, March is winding down in the Lowcountry, and the temperatures are almost perfect for al fresco dining. While there are a number of outdoor dining options in the Lowcountry (and we encourage you to try every one!), these bars, restaurants and coffee shops are some of our favorite places for very specific situations. Read on for which spot suits you this spring.
For the happy hour-er
Herd Provisions
Open for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday and for happy hour (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and dinner Monday through Thursday
Head to Herd Provisions for a relaxing happy hour under string lights and greenery that surrounds a handful of tables, couches and a large fire pit. Herd Provisions features a special happy hour menu every day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with items like local oysters, chicken wings and a variety of specialty burgers.
For the destination diner
Lost Isle
Open for dinner daily
If you’re gonna dine out, you might as well make a night of it. Lost Isle, an exclusively outdoor restaurant, knows how to carefully curate an outdoor space, with hanging twinkling lights, chandeliers and towering oaks. Order drinks and dinner at the bar — we’re inclined to sip on a “from the freezer” selection like the classic martini — and settle down at a table with friends and family.
For the caffeine fiend
Idle Hands
Open 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
The daytime iteration of Warren Street restaurant, Coterie, Idle Hands serves up espresso drinks, chai lattes and cocktails on a flora-focused outdoor patio. Whether you’re meeting a pal for a drink, swinging by for an afternoon pick-me-up or settling in for a little remote work, Idle Hands is a chic spot for any activity.
For the leisurely lunch-er
82 Queen Courtyard
Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and brunch and dinner on weekends
If you’re craving a relaxed lunch in a quaint courtyard, look no further than 82 Queen. You’d be remiss not to order the restaurant’s award-winning she-crab soup — or stick with something lighter like a salad topped with fried oysters.
Bonus: The restaurant recently launched a mid-day menu, so if you need an afternoon snack, head to the bar from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a condensed menu.
For the one-track mind
The Bower at Edmund’s Oast
Open for lunch and dinner daily and happy hour (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
You can’t beat happy hour at the Bower at Edmund’s Oast. With covered and open-air outdoor seating, the spot is great in all kinds of weather. The limited drink menu hits all the right notes. Head there with a co-worker and re-hash the day’s office drama.
For the people watcher
39 Rue de Jean
Open for brunch and lunch Friday through Sunday and dinner Monday through Sunday
It’s pretty dang rare to find sidewalk and patio dining in downtown Charleston (who else would love to see King Street blocked off to street traffic permanently?) and 39 Rue de Jean is a favorite spot for sipping wine and watching passersby. Pair your beverages with one of the restaurant’s six preparations of mussels and settle in for the afternoon.
For the big, bustling brunch group
Iron Rose at The Mills House
Brunch available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends
Iron Rose recently added a new family-style brunch menu that’s prime for enjoying in the restaurant’s chic courtyard. Check out dishes like pork belly hash browns and wild mushroom frittata paired with carafes of mimosas and bellinis.
For the date night-er
Cru Cafe
Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday
Make a reservation for an intimate dinner on the porch or patio. You can’t go wrong with any of Cru’s dinner entrees, like the grilled New York strip and Thai seafood risotto. Pair with a bottle of wine and enjoy the sounds of the nearby city market and East Bay nightlife.
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