Best Lunch on Hilton Head Island, SC

Sit-down lunch with a view

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

Open for lunch daily at the dock on Skull Creek.

· $$
Skull Creek Boathouse

A long menu on a covered deck over Skull Creek.

· $$
The Crazy Crab, Jarvis Creek

Lunch on a marsh-view deck, with a playground for kids.

· $$
Benny’s Coastal Kitchen

Waterfront seating on Shrimpers Row.

· $$$
Harbourside

Burgers, snow crab and frozen drinks on the Harbour Town marina.

· $$
LagerHead Tavern

A golf-course patio at Oyster Reef, open to the public from 11 a.m.

· $$
Robber’s Row Grill

Lunch in the Port Royal clubhouse; open to the public.

· $$
Terrapin

Palmetto Hall’s restaurant, open to the public, with a smash burger as the lunch pick.

Quick lunch counters and sandwich shops

· $
Philly’s Cafe & Deli

Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies on bread baked daily.

· $$
Java Burrito Company

Order at the counter for burritos, with a coffee bar.

· $
Fiesta Fresh Mexican Grill

Counter-service burritos, tacos and chimichangas, with a salsa bar.

· $$
Al’s Aloha Kitchen

Hawaiian poke bowls, acai bowls and spam musubi from a small counter.

· $$
Island House

Counter-service smash burgers, fish and chips and shrimp rolls.

· $$
The Sea Shack

Counter-service seafood, open for lunch before it closes for a break.

· $$
Casablanca Mediterranean Grill

Chicken kebabs and lamb gyros from a family-run kitchen.

· $$
GT International Cafe

A family-run breakfast and lunch cafe.

· $
Stu’s Surf Side

Subs and sandwiches on soft, freshly baked rolls, in Coligny Plaza.

· $$
Earle of Sandwich Pub

Sandwiches and brews, including a crab cake sandwich, in Coligny Plaza.

Five Guys

Burgers made to order with free toppings, plus fries and shakes, at Island Crossing near Sea Pines Circle.

Gruby’s New York Deli

Pastrami and corned beef on rye, bagel sandwiches and homemade soups, on Hilton Head since 1986.

Beach lunch

Coco’s on the Beach

Burgers and sandwiches at a tiki bar on the sand.

Tiki Hut

Lunch on the sand at Coligny Beach, with live music.

· $$
Pool Bar Jim’s

A grouper sandwich at a thatched-roof beach bar.

· $$
The Sandbar Beach Eats

She-crab soup and shrimp tacos, a short walk from Coligny Beach.

About this list

Lunch on Hilton Head is easy to plan around your day. Many of the waterfront seafood restaurants open at 11 a.m. and serve straight through, the beach bars are a walk from the sand, and a good number of counters serve sandwiches, tacos and burgers for a fast stop between the bike path and the pool.

These are the best lunch places on Hilton Head Island, sorted by the kind of lunch you want. Most are casual, and many do not take reservations, so go a little before or after noon in summer.

More ways to choose where to eat

31 places
Breakfast

Breakfast Hilton Head guide: diners, cafés and Sunday brunch, with menu prices, opening hours and our pick for each kind of morning.

Waterfront restaurants

Hilton Head restaurants on the water: Skull Creek docks, Broad Creek decks, marina patios, oceanfront tiki bars and Harbour Town views, with phone numbers.

Kid-friendly restaurants

Kid friendly restaurants Hilton Head Island: playgrounds, lawn games, kids menus, game rooms and early-bird dinners for a family vacation.

All Hilton Head restaurants

The best Hilton Head restaurants: a top 10 by guest rating, then every restaurant by dinner, lunch and breakfast, with phone and reservation links.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated

What are the best lunch spots on Hilton Head Island?

Hudson’s, Skull Creek Boathouse and The Crazy Crab are the classic sit-down lunches with a view, and Philly’s Cafe & Deli, Java Burrito Company and Al’s Aloha Kitchen are the quick favorites.

Where can I have lunch on the beach?

Coco’s on the Beach, Tiki Hut and Pool Bar Jim’s are beach bars that serve lunch on or beside the sand.

Can I have lunch at a golf club without playing?

Yes. LagerHead Tavern at Oyster Reef, Robber’s Row Grill at Port Royal and Terrapin at Palmetto Hall are open to the public.

Do lunch places take reservations?

Most casual lunch spots are walk-in. The Crazy Crab at Jarvis Creek, Benny’s Coastal Kitchen and LagerHead Tavern take online reservations.

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