167 Raw moved from a tiny room at 289 East Bay Street, now 167 Sushi Bar, to a long narrow 19th century building on King Street with original brick walls and a walnut bar. It takes no reservations. City Paper readers voted it Best Oysters and Best Raw Bar in 2026, and on r/Charleston the tuna burger is the dish people name.
167 Sushi Bar is the sushi and yakitori room from the 167 Raw group, in the East Bay Street storefront where 167 Raw itself began before moving to King Street.
39 Rue de Jean is a French cafe, brasserie and bar on John Street just off Upper King, with exposed brick, a patio and a private room upstairs. Explore Charleston reported in spring 2026 that it was marking its 25th anniversary with themed wine dinners and expanded lunch. It belongs to Holy City Hospitality, a Charleston group, and City Paper readers voted it Best French in 2026.
82 Queen is the Lowcountry restaurant on Queen Street that City Paper readers voted Best She-Crab Soup in 2026. The top answer in a r/Charleston she-crab soup thread agrees. Opinion on the rest is split: it is offered as the most Charleston restaurant in one thread, and in the same thread a commenter says it is not as good as its reputation.
BellyUp! Charleston / Over 50
Good places to eat and drink in Charleston, minus the nightclubs. When a spot gets loud later or draws a lot of kids, the card tells you.
2 spots
Circa 1886 is in the original carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion, built in 1886. Executive Chef Marc Collins has led the kitchen since 2001 and the room offers two six-course tasting menus beside an a la carte list. Executive Pastry Chef Ashley Cardona was named Pastry Chef of the Year at Stars of the Industry 2025. The Garden Room seats 8 to 12 for private dinners. Owned by Charming Inns.
Executive chef Orlando Pagán, who came out of McCrady's, runs a multi-course tasting menu here with optional caviar and wagyu add-ons, a chef's counter facing the kitchen, and wine pairings. The Post and Courier says the restaurant opened about seven years ago and moved to the tasting-menu format after the pandemic. Pagán was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2022, per The Post and Courier. The room shows work by Lowcountry artists through the Charleston Artist Collective, and a mezzanine room called The Overlook seats up to 12. It earned One MICHELIN Star on 3 November 2025.
The same over 50 spots, sorted by the reasons people actually pick them.
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