15 Best Places To Eat In Hilton Head

Most people come to Hilton Head for pristine beaches, championship golf courses, and family time, but this beach town also has a thriving culinary scene. Naturally there’s fresh seafood aplenty, but you’ll also find Southern-inspired bites, farm-to-table dining, and homemade Italian cuisine. Best of all, many places offer oceanfront dining, so you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the Atlantic while you eat (and maybe even drink a frozen cocktail or two). 

Hilton Head Social Bakery

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Get your French pastry fix at Hilton Head Social, which is owned and operated by award-winning French chef Philippe Feret. There are two locations (the original is at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, and the newest one is near the Sea Pines Circle), both of which serve beautiful, photo-perfect pastries, decadent desserts, and buttery croissants galore. You’ll feel as if you’ve been magically transported to the streets of Paris.

hiltonheadsocialbakery.com; Harbourside Ln Building 1, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 and 1018 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-715-3349 and 843) 715-2598

Lulu Kitchen

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The menu at Lulu is wide-ranging and delicious, offering American favorites with a Southern twist. Think butter-poached lobster, short rib grilled cheese, and house fried chicken. Come for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch and bask in the cheery, laid-back setting.

lulukitchen-hhi.com; 890 William Hilton Pkwy, Suite 1, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-648-5858

The Sea Shack

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This no-frills, counter-serve restaurant is a gem. Check out the daily “blackboard” special, or take your pick from grilled, fried, or blackened seafood that’s fresh from the sea. Expect to wait in line during peak summer months—The Sea Shack is popular with locals and tourists alike. 

seashackseafood.com; 6 Executive Park Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-785-2464

Chez Georges

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Enjoy tasty French bistro staples like escargots de bourgogne (snails served with garlic herb butter sauce and crispy leeks), perfectly cooked cassoulet, and two kinds of moules-frites at Chez Georges. The wine list is impeccable, as well. Catch the aperitif hour from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday, when adult beverages are two dollars off and there’s a small plates menu offered. The restaurant also uses this time to host ticketed wine tastings complete with paired cheese plates.

chezgeorgeshhi.com; 37 New Orleans Rd, Ste J, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-785-3200

Nectar Farm Kitchen

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For a fresh-off-the-farm feast, head to Nectar Farm Kitchen, where every dish is lovingly prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The breakfast and lunch menu features Southern classics like sausage biscuits and gravy, country fried steak, and creative Benedicts. Hearty “supper plates and bowls” include Lowcountry cioppino, root beer-braised short ribs, and filet mignon, alongside lighter fare like salads and soups.

nectarfarmkitchen.com; 35 Office Park Road, Hilton Head, SC 29928; 843-682-2337

Coast

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With incredible waterfront views and a spacious, twinkly-lit outdoor patio, Coast is a picture-perfect date night spot. Located at the Sea Pines Resort, this restaurant serves all manner of seafood, sandwiches, tacos, and more; they also have a great raw bar. Wash it all down with a frozen specialty cocktail. During the summertime, there’s often live entertainment.

seapines.com; 87 N Sea Pines Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-842-1888

Skull Creek Boathouse

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You’ll likely want to linger for some time after you finish eating at Skull Creek Boathouse. The restaurant is known for its scenic location (on the banks of Skull Creek) and fun, relaxed ambiance. Apart from multiple dining areas, there’s an indoor sushi bar with raw oysters, ceviche, and sashimi, and an outdoor bar with Adirondack chairs and fantastic sunset views. Don’t leave without trying the famed salt and vinegar crab cakes.

skullcreekboathouse.com; 397 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head, SC 29926; 843-681-3663

The Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar

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Billed as an “American bistro with Southern soul,” Lucky Rooster has an exceptional menu that changes often based on seasonality and what chefs can find fresh. Expect refined comfort food like deviled eggs topped with smoked salmon, bacon, tomato, and parsley or scallops and shrimp finished in a cognac cream sauce and served with Charleston red risotto.

luckyroosterhhi.com; 841 William Hilton Pkwy Unit A, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-681-3663

Black Marlin Bayside Grill

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Whatever you do, you must try a cup of the Bayside Chowder at Black Marlin Bayside Grill; it’s what they’re known for. The fish tacos are a great choice, too, although you may have a hard time picking just a couple items off their broad menu that also includes seafood entrees, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and various pastas. There’s ample indoor and outdoor seating.

blackmarlinhhi.com; 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-785-4950

Burnt Church Distillery

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Pair a charcuterie board or brick-oven pizza with creative cocktails made from authentic Lowcountry spirits. In addition to great food and drinks, Burnt Church also offers a 7,000 square-foot tasting room, gift shop, humidor, history room, and on-site manufacturing facility—it’s a whole experience unto itself. P.S. Burnt Church is technically located in Bluffton, but the 10-minute drive down the road is a must for any visitors of the island.

burntchurchdistillery.com; 120 Bluffton Road, Bluffton, SC 29910; 843-872-0158

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar

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Get your fill of homemade Italian fare at Nunzio. Traditional dishes run the gamut from Pugliese-style meatballs to homemade ravioli to tagliatelle alla bolognese. Round out your meal with a mouthwatering dessert like lemon sorbet or hot chocolate soufflé cake served with vanilla gelato.

nunziohhi.com; 18 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-715-2172

Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks

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Boasting beautiful views of Port Royal Sound, this iconic seafood joint has been around for more than 50 years. Seafood doesn’t come fresher than this—Hudson’s sources its fish and shrimp directly from one of only two remaining local fishing fleets on Hilton Head. Always order the specials, which can change multiple times a day depending on what’s being unloaded from the boats.

hudsonsonthedocks.com; 1 Hudson Road Hilton Head Island, SC 29926; 843-681-2772

One Hot Mama's

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Food Network Star and barbecue pitmistress Orchid Paulmeier blesses the community with her award-winning baby-back ribs and chicken wings at One Hot Mama's. Part of the official South Carolina Barbecue Trail, you won't want to miss an opportunity to try some of South Carolina's best pit-smoked meats and specials straight from Paulmeier's creative mind. Dishes like the Stack A Mac (fried mac and cheese bites topped with queso, chopped brisket, Perfect 10 barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and scallions) are sure to stick in your mind for years to come.

onehotmamas.com; 7A-1 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-682-6262

Fishcamp on Broad Creek

Courtesy of Fishcamp on Broad Creek

This waterfront restaurant pays homage to the fish camp that was erected on its grounds in 1955. Housed in the camp's original building, you'll find fried shrimp and blue crab cakes served with a side of history and nostalgia at Fishcamp. Lunch and dinner are served daily, but brunch comes only on Sundays. Come by on a Friday evening for live music and relax with a view of the Broad Creek River and some of the best seafood dishes you'll find anywhere.

fishcamphhi.com; 11 Simmons Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926; 843-842-2267

Marleys Shrimp and Burger Shack

Courtesy of Marleys Shrimp and Burger Shack

This casual, walk-up or dine-in eatery is a popular spot for Hilton Head Island lunches. Handhelds are the focus at Marleys, with lunch specials like shrimp tacos and double cheeseburgers served with hand-cut fries and a soda offered for around $15. Other popular options include fried seafood po'boys, shrimp burgers, and flounder sandwiches. For best results, finish your meal with a milkshake or frozen drink.

hiltonheadshack.com; 35 Office Park Road Suite B, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 843-686-5800