15 Best Restaurants in Folly Beach, SC
Folly Beach is where you can expect to find good food, great drinks, and several experiences in South Carolina.
Whether you're planning a special occasion or just looking for something new, Folly Beach has something to offer everyone.
Moreover, it's not hard to find restaurants perfect for any occasion.
This article will cover the 15 best restaurants in Folly Beach, SC.
St James Gate
St. James Gate is a beautiful Irish pub in Folly Beach, South Carolina.
It serves classic Irish food and drink and is known for its authentic atmosphere.
The best part is that you can enjoy your meal at St. James Gate without breaking the bank.
St. James Gate serves traditional Irish fare with a Southern twist, including a selection of traditional fish & chips, wings, and salads.
They also have vegetarian options available if you prefer to eat meatless dishes.
One of the most popular dishes at St. James Gate is their shepherd's pie.
This savory dish features ground beef, carrots, onions, and potatoes in a creamy sauce topped with cheddar cheese.
You'll also find other delicious options on their menus, such as burgers, sandwiches, and steaks.
All of these meals are made-to-order using fresh ingredients and served straight from the grill.
St James Gate opened in 2015 on the boardwalk along Folly Island's Atlantic Ocean coastline.
It has an outdoor deck overlooking the water, making it an ideal spot for watching the sunset or enjoying a cocktail after a day at the beach.
Jack of Cups Saloon
Jack of Cups Saloon is a bar and restaurant in Folly Beach.
The restaurant has operated since 2014 and has become one of the most popular dining hotspots on Folly Beach.
It's easily accessible from any part of the town where you can catch a bus or drive your vehicle.
Jack of Cups Saloon serves local seafood dishes, as well as American food.
The menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and soups.
For seafood, you can order steamed shrimp, crab cakes, and crayfish tail meat.
Likewise, the Jack of Cups Saloon bar features various drinks, including margaritas and Bloody Marys, and craft beers on tap.
Other drinks include vodka tonics and mojitos by the glass or pitcher.
Carmella's Cafe and Dessert Bar
Carmella's Cafe is a popular restaurant serving some of the best Italian food in town.
The atmosphere is beachy and casual, with a menu sure to please even the most discerning palates.
Carmella's is a coastal restaurant known for its Southern comfort food and desserts.
You can enjoy breakfast meals all day, plus lunch and dinner.
After dinner, of course, you can try their luscious desserts.
The menu includes homemade biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and chicken wings.
Dinner at Carmella's is popular with locals who come for the breakfast pancakes or take out orders of fresh seafood.
It also attracts tourists who want to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere while enjoying great food.
If you're looking for a new restaurant to try on Folly Beach, this may be your best bet!
Lost Dog Cafe Folly Beach
Since 2002, Lost Dog Cafe has become one of the most popular restaurants in Folly Beach.
It has become a favorite for tourists and locals for its variety of food items, from breakfast to dinner and everything in between.
The menu includes burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads, and more.
You can enjoy their meals while relaxing at the bar or listening to live music on weekends.
Specifically, Lost Dog Cafe serves fresh soups made with local seafood and vegetables.
Likewise, they also prepare hand-crafted salads and sandwiches.
A rotating selection of homemade pastries is also available for dessert.
The Lost Dog Cafe is known for its delicious food and friendly staff members who ensure that everyone has a great experience.
Besides, the atmosphere at Lost Dog Cafe is pleasant and relaxing.
You'll find it a great place to dine with friends or family who have never been to Folly Beach.
Chico Feo
Since 2014, the family-owned Chico Feo restaurant has served delicious Mexican cuisine.
The menu features traditional favorites such as burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and chimichangas .
On the other hand, you can also try more adventurous items such as pork belly chicharrones and shrimp with tomato sauce.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Despite having a small space, its interior is cozy, with wooden tables lining the walls and a bar where customers can enjoy a drink.
Chico Feo's chef makes every meal from scratch, daily, using only the freshest ingredients whenever possible.
The menu changes seasonally.
You can find shrimp scampi made with Gulf shrimp or crab-stuffed mushrooms.
There is also an entire section devoted to desserts such as flan, tres leches cake, and churros.
However, there are always plenty of options available if you want something other than what's on the menu board.
Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar
Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar opened in the 1930s.
The venue is famous for its live music and the delicious food it serves.
The venue has a unique atmosphere that makes it one of the best restaurants in Folly Beach.
The owners have put some thought into the design of the place, making it look like a fishing pier inside and out.
The interior of Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar is decorated with paintings, murals, and sculptures that depict fishing scenes and marine life.
This gives it an old-school vibe, making it an excellent place for any event or gathering.
Pier 101 Restaurant & Bar offers seafood, lobster rolls, crab cakes, steak and pasta dishes, and seafood appetizers and desserts.
They also serve alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, and mixed drinks along with non-alcoholic drinks like sodas and water bottles.
Blu Beach Bar & Grill
Blu Beach Bar & Grill is a great place to go for a fun night out on the town.
The restaurant has operated for more than 20 years.
From Blu Beach Bar & Grill, you can enjoy the beachfront views from this place.
The atmosphere is excellent, and it has a lot of seating options.
If you want to eat outside, several tables on the beach have chairs.
There are also some tables in front of the restaurant with umbrellas and parasols, shading you as you eat.
Blu Beach Bar & Grill is also known as Blu Water Bar & Grill because they use locally sourced ingredients, including fresh seafood and produce.
They even offer the fresh catch of the day, making it one of the best places for seafood lovers!
The food at Blu Beach Bar & Grill is excellent.
For example, try their mahi-mahi or salmon steaks that come with potatoes or vegetables on the side.
Blu Beach Bar & Grill offers drinks such as margaritas or martinis made with imported tequila or gin, sangria, mojitos, and beer.
Lolo Restaurant
Lolo Restaurant is a family-owned restaurant in Folly Beach, South Carolina.
The owners have been in the restaurant business for years and are known for their excellent food and service.
Lolo Restaurant is a short drive from Charleston or Myrtle Beach.
Established in 1974, the restaurant has become one of the most popular restaurants in Folly Beach.
The menu features seafood dishes like oysters, shrimp, crab cakes, lobster, and fish fillets.
You can also order sandwiches with fresh ingredients cooked daily.
Likewise, you can try salads, burgers, and other entrees like pasta and pasta dishes.
The restaurant's atmosphere is casual but elegant.
It has an outdoor dining area with tables under umbrellas overlooking East 1st Street.
You can also eat inside a large indoor dining room with high ceilings and exposed brick walls decorated with paintings by local artists.
These artists sell their work at Lolo's gift shop next door.
Lolo's main attraction is its beachside location, which makes it perfect for families on vacation or people who want to relax after work.
Rita's Seaside Grille
Rita's Seaside Grille is located on the bluff of Folly Beach.
It's a unique place that captures the spirit of Folly and the beach.
Rita's Seaside Grille is known for its delicious food, friendly staff, and great view.
The menu features fresh seafood prepared in an authentic style.
Rita's Seaside Grille offers both indoor and outdoor seating options so you can enjoy your meal with a spectacular view of the ocean or beach.
Since 1992, Rita's Seaside Grille has served some of the best seafood to the Folly Beach community.
The menu at Rita's Seaside Grille has something for everyone, from fish tacos to grouper sandwiches.
Try their popular items, such as the fish & shrimp tacos, the pulled pork sandwich, and grouper sandwich.
Bowens Island Restaurant
Bowens Island Restaurant is a beautiful place to visit.
Established in 1946, Bowens Island Restaurant has become one of the best restaurants in Folly Beach.
Bowens Island Restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood, including oysters, shrimp, scallops, and more.
You can find all kinds of seafood here, from crab to red snapper.
At Bowens Island Restaurant, you can also find some of the best steaks in town.
The menu features burgers, chicken fingers, and other snacks for those looking for something lighter on their stomachs.
The atmosphere at Bowens Island Restaurant is very relaxing and friendly.
It's quiet inside so you can enjoy your time without distractions.
Plenty of activities are available for children, so they don't have to be bored while waiting for their food.
Roasted Marketplace
Roasted Marketplace is a coffee shop that has operated in Folly Beach for some time.
The place has gained a lot of popularity over the years as one of the best restaurants in Folly Beach.
Established in 1999, the Roasted Marketplace has served delicious coffees and pastries.
The ambiance is quite lovely and provides a great place to hang out with friends or family members over their favorite drinks.
There are many different types of coffees available at this restaurant.
You can try regular brews and unique blends made by Roasted Marketplace's team of professionals.
These trained coffee experts ensure that each cup tastes just right.
Roasted Marketplace also offers many other things on its menus, such as sandwiches, salads, wraps, pastries, and more.
They have everything that you could need when it comes to breakfast or lunch.
The Washout
The Washout is a must-visit restaurant in Folly Beach.
Its beachfront view, excellent food and drinks, and live music separate it from other restaurants in the area.
The Washout's specialty is seafood, especially its signature oyster sandwich.
The sandwich consists of an oyster on a bed of lettuce and tomato slices, with two fried eggs.
The Washout's chef makes the sandwich himself, baking them in his home oven.
The Washout also serves great burgers, like their fish burger or shrimp burger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Likewise, the menu includes grilled sandwiches, turkey breast sandwiches with cranberries, chicken salad, and crab salad.
You can also order sides like fries or coleslaw, and desserts like cheesecake and banana pudding.
The Washout is a great place to go with family and friends for a fun afternoon or evening.
Enjoy your meal at the large patio, great place to eat outside on hot summer days!
The Washout has operated for over 20 years and has served great food since then.
They have some of the best burgers in town and great local seafood dishes that should please any palette.
Pineapple Hut
Pineapple Hut has been around since 2019.
It's one of the most popular restaurants on the island.
The food is excellent, and many options for those who want to eat healthily.
Pineapple Hut is a casual restaurant that serves excellent food at reasonable prices.
It's located on the beach in Folly Beach and has a great ocean view.
The place is famous for its nachos, fish tacos, and margaritas.
Likewise, you can choose from vegetarian options, such as veggie burritos and salads.
The restaurant has a small menu with only four items: nachos (with or without cheese), fish tacos, burritos, and salads.
They also have an extensive list of margaritas (both frozen and on tap) made with fresh lime juice from local farms.
Inside, you'll notice the Hawaiian theme, which features bright colors, comfortable seating, and a lively atmosphere.
There are also TVs throughout the space, so you can watch your favorite team while eating.
Taco Boy
Taco Boy is a place where you can enjoy the best Mexican food in downtown Charleston.
It is a family-owned restaurant that has served people since 2009.
They offer various dishes, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and more.
Taco Boy is also famous for its margaritas, made with fresh-squeezed fruit juices.
The restaurant offers several different flavors of margaritas, such as strawberry, mango, and pineapple.
Taco Boy's menu includes vegetarian options such as portobello mushroom tacos or black bean burgers.
You can also choose from a list of side dishes that include beans, rice, and chips for an additional charge.
The restaurant offers outdoor dining on the beachfront deck, where you can enjoy your meal while looking at the ocean view.
The menu features American and Mexican food, so there is something for everyone at Taco Boy!
The Crab Shack
The Crab Shack is a small restaurant famous for its seafood and aquarium.
Likewise, it looks like a shack, with picnic tables outside and plenty of windows to let in light.
You can sit at one of the tables inside or outside, and the food is excellent and fresh.
The Crab Shack specializes in crabs, shrimp, and other seafood dishes.
They also serve beer, wine, and stiff drinks.
Likewise, their menu is extensive, so feel free to order anything from crab cakes to lobster tail dinners to fish tacos.
The Crab Shack has operated since 1999, so they have plenty of experience serving great food at reasonable prices.
Many people come here just for their crabs.
However, some of them come here because they love seafood and enjoy eating out at terrific seafood restaurants.
Final Thoughts
Folly Beach is filled with fancy restaurants and coastal cuisine.
The town is home to some famous chefs in the area, so it's no surprise that there are plenty of well-known restaurants here.
With so many possible options, this list of the 15 best restaurants in Folly Beach should help you find the perfect choice.