Charleston, SC Date Ideas

Tucked away at the back of East Bay Street, The Gin Joint is a cozy and intimate bar and eatery that serves small plates of light bites and casual fare alongside an impressive list of signature and unusual cocktails, artisan craft beers, and easy-drinking wines. Boasting a 1920s-inspired setting with art deco décor and eclectic furnishings, lively bistro-meets-speakeasy space has a focus on a ‘from-scratch’ mixology approach using locally sourced ingredients like house-made syrup infusions and local herbs. The Gin Joint is open in the evenings, seven days a week.

The Gin Joint, 2169, 182 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, Phone: 843-577-6111

Zero Restaurant and Bar is a hidden gem on the Charleston culinary scene that serves seasonal New American cuisine and handcrafted cocktails in an elegant and refined space. Located within the Zero George Hotel in downtown Charleston, Zero Restaurant + Bar is helmed by Chef Vinson Petrillo who produces a menu of innovative cuisine with a Southern twist. The restaurant boasts a beautiful dining room with elegant décor in the quaint 1804 Carriage House, and a shady courtyard tucked between an old brick wall and breezy piazza for romantic al fresco dining or pre-dinner cocktails. Blending contemporary luxury with the city’s rich heritage and mouthwatering Southern fare, Zero Restaurant + Bar offers a quintessential Charleston experience. Zero Restaurant + Bar is open for dinner only Tuesday through Sunday.

Zero Restaurant and Bar, 0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401, Phone: 843-817-7900

Located behind the historic Wentworth Mansion, Circa 1886 Restaurant offers a fine dining experience inspired by celebrated Southern dishes and global culinary traditions. Exuding classic Charleston charm, Circa 1886 puts a healthy spin on traditional Low Country cuisine with an array of bright, boldly flavored dishes created by Chef Marc Collin and imaginative desserts brought to life by Pastry Chef Scott Lovorn. Signature dishes include appetizers like Carolina crab cake soufflé, entrées such as catfish with lobster and white cheddar grits, or pork belly served with yuzu apple butter and a mouthwatering dessert like and sweet potato butterscotch soufflé. The restaurant offers a monthly three-course prix-fixe menu, and the exceptional cuisine is complemented by an extensive wine list. Circa 1886 is open for dinner, Monday through Saturday.

Circa 1886 Restaurant, 149 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401, Phone: 843-853-7828

For huge juicy portion of smoked briskets, prime ribs, and pulled pork, Lewis Barbecue is the place to go. The family-friendly restaurant serves Texas-style house-smoked meats served in an industrial-hip space with outdoor tables and a full-service bar with a menu packed full of meat, meat, and more meat. Think prime beef brisket, pulled pork and pork spare ribs, turkey breast, and Texas “Hot Guts” sandwiches, and a variety of sides, such as cowboy pinto beans, green chili corn, collards, coleslaw, and golden fries. The full-service bar offers an array of artisan craft beers, handcrafted cocktails, boozy agua frescas, and a selection of easy-drinking wines. Lewis Barbeque is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

Lewis Barbecue, 464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403, Phone: 843-805-9500

O-Ku Sushi has been named as one of the United States' best sushi restaurants by Travel + Leisure, showcasing delicious authentic Asian cuisine with unique Southern-style twists. The restaurant, which is helmed by executive chef Dung JR Vo, sources the freshest fish available from the world's top markets, including locations in Hawaii, Norway, Scotland, and New Zealand. An extensive menu of chef's specialty sushi rolls strives to make the high-end delicacy accessible for all diners, available by the roll or as part of larger platters. Makimono, nigiri, and sashimi options are also served up, along with toban yaki and hakozushi options. Adventurous diners can try the restaurant's omakase chef's tasting menu, which features artistically-presented courses specially selected daily. A sophisticated beverage program highlights premium sake, specialty cocktails, and fine red and white wines.

O-Ku Sushi , 463 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, Phone: 843-737-0112

The Charleston Grill is an opulent dining destination set in The Shops at Belmond Charleston Place that serves upscale Southern-French fare that is paired with fine wines from around the world. World-class jazz music meets mouth-watering cuisine in this fine dining locale where Chef Michelle Weaver takes local delicacies to innovative new heights. The menu is divided into four sections, namely Field & Pasture, Roots & Stems, Waces & Marsh, and Social & Shared, and feature creative dishes prepared with locally sourced, regional and seasonal ingredients. Creations include a grilled peach salad with country ham and candied pecans or seared flounder with buttery grits and shrimp and sherry-country ham gravy. Staff trained in the French tradition offer exceptional service as well as wine pairing suggestions from the restaurant’s extensive wine cellar. The Charleston Grill is open for dinner only, seven days a week.

Charleston Grill, 224 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, Phone: 843-577-4522

Anson Restaurant is a stylish Southern coastal fixture that is renowned for its innovative cuisine which highlights a thoughtful approach to local ingredients, using the best of what historical Charleston's seasons to create exceptional Southern fare. Boasting a low-key, relaxed ambiance, the 24-year-old restaurant has recently reopened after a fire a few years ago with a brand-new kitchen and a touched-up dining room with gleaming wooden flooring, elegant décor, and soft lighting. The menu strums Southern chords, with dishes like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, crispy boudin fritters, blackened catfish, and crispy flounder, with sweet desserts such as caramel-drizzled pecan tart. Anson Restaurant is open for dinner only, Monday through Saturday.

Anson Restaurant, 12 Anson St, Charleston, SC 29401, Phone: 843-577-0551