We are in that sweet spot of Charleston spring — a season that is as fleeting as soft shell crabs — when it’s gorgeous outside and neither the oppressive heat nor the mass of summer visitors have yet descended.
If you aren’t eating al fresco right now, what are you doing? Here are 10 outdoor patios to visit right now. Today. Get, go!
Editor’s Note: As always, this list is far from exhaustive. From rooftop bars to marsh-side breweries, Charleston is rich in outdoor dining experiences. Use this list merely as a jumping off point.
Little Palm at The Ryder Hotel
The Ryder Hotel’s poolside bar, Little Palm, is as Instagram-worthy as it sounds. Belly up to the bar for a drink or reserve a set of sun loungers or a poolside table to take advantage of the pool. Poolside reservations start daily and can be made on Resy. Downtown. Open daily with varying hours.
A downtown classic, popular cocktail bar, The Gin Joint features a small patio that’s the perfect spot for sipping drinks while people-watching on East Bay Street. Double down on outdoor dining by starting your evening at The Gin Joint and bopping around East Bay, where neighboring restaurants like Amen Street and Ruru’s Tacos & Tequila also have outdoor tables. Downtown. Open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
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. Downtown. Open for lunch and dinner daily and happy hour (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) *Be sure to check EO’s website for info about closings for private events.
An extension of the uber popular Husk Restaurant, the Bar & Patio at Husk renovated its outdoor seating area and updated its menu within the past couple of years, offering folks a first-come, first-serve dining option on Queen Street. Toeing the line between elevated and approachable, Husk’s bar menu hones in on salty goods from land and sea, featuring a small, curated selection of oysters and ham. Pair your bites with classic cocktails and relax under the louvered pergola. Downtown. Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
If you’ve ever been to the outdoor Charleston space shared by Rancho Lewis (located in the former food hall, Workshop) and Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. on a nice day, you’ve seen just how popular this patio space can be. You can either dine at Rancho’s dedicated outdoor seating area or order food from the Tex-Mex restaurant from QR codes at courtyard tables. Downtown. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Head to Herd Provisions’ patio 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. Downtown. Open for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday and dinner Monday through Thursday.
Remount Road’s casual fusion restaurant, Dashi, features both indoor and outdoor seating and when it’s really nice out, we love to relax under the trees on the spot’s patio. You can nosh on tacos and sip on cocktails or partake in Dashi’s milkshake subscriptions. That’s right — for $50/ month you can enjoy one non-alcoholic milkshake daily. North Charleston. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Nico Romo’s Summerville Italian restaurant, Laura, features a covered outdoor patio with fans — ideal for even the steamiest of spring days. Cool down during weekday happy hours, from 4 to 6 p.m., with deals like half off specialty cocktails and $5 draft Peronis. Summerville. Open for dinner Monday through Thursday, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday and brunch and dinner on Sunday.
The Perch at Get Carried Away Southern Market
If you’re looking for a chill, outdoor lunch spot, look no further than The Perch, which serves an all-day menu of Southern-inspired dishes Tuesday through Saturday. Sip on cocktails on The Perch’s chic patio and on your way out grab an easy to-go meal from the adjoining market to make dinner a breeze. Mount Pleasant. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday (note that The Perch closes at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 7 p.m. the rest of the week)
Last year’s Best of Charleston voters didn’t deem Saltwater Cowboys’ the area’s best outdoor patio for nothing. Overlooking Shem Creek, Saltwater Cowboys’ expansive deck is the ideal location for grabbing drinks and a bite, well, any time of day. Mount Pleasant. Open for lunch, dinner daily.
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