Outdoor Dining on Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head is warm enough to eat outside most of the year, on the sand, over a marina or under the live oaks.
On the beach and oceanfront
A beachfront tiki bar right on the sand at Coligny, with frozen drinks, nachos, coconut shrimp and live music.
An oceanfront beach bar in Palmetto Dunes with fish tacos, frozen drinks and live music, open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The oceanfront bar and grille at Marriott's Grande Ocean, with live music and happy hour. Open seasonally.
Decks on the marinas and creeks
Seafood on a marina patio at Palmetto Bay, with live music and the Hurricane cocktail.
Seafood, barbecue and steaks on a covered patio over Skull Creek. Takes reservations.
A casual pub at Broad Creek Marina with shrimp tacos, burgers and a deck over the marsh.
Build-your-own burgers and snow crab at an outdoor bar on the Harbour Town marina, with live music by the Liberty Oak.
Burgers, wings and pizza on pet-friendly patios over the Shelter Cove marina.
Beer gardens and patios with live music
A craft brewery with a full menu, a beer garden, and arcade and table games.
Tallow-smashed burgers and truffle parmesan waffle fries on a dog-friendly patio with live music.
Fried oysters and blackened grouper with a dog-friendly patio and live music.
Frozen daiquiris, pizza and crab legs with live music and a dog-friendly covered patio in Coligny Plaza.
Patios over the golf course
Lowcountry lunch and dinner in the Port Royal clubhouse, with a patio over the golf course. Open to the public.
Pub food and a 4 to 7 p.m. happy hour on a covered patio over the Shipyard golf course.
Rooftops
An open-air rooftop cantina with fireplaces above the Southwestern restaurant.
A rooftop tapas bar over Skull Creek, upstairs from the waterfront seafood restaurant.
Porches and patios for a casual lunch
A bakery and café with a covered porch and garden tables: sourdough sandwiches, thin-crust pizza and cinnamon rolls, with beer and wine.
Shrimp and grits and Lowcountry home cooking on a brick patio under umbrellas and shade sails.
About this list
Most of the year Hilton Head is warm enough to eat outside, and the island's outdoor restaurants put you on the sand, over a marina or under the live oaks. These are the restaurants with outdoor seating on Hilton Head Island, grouped by the kind of view or setting you get.
The best outdoor dining in Hilton Head depends on what you want around the table: ocean breezes at a beach bar, sunset over a creek, a band in a beer garden, or a quiet porch for lunch. Summer afternoons bring heat and the odd thunderstorm, so covered patios and shaded decks earn their keep, and spring and fall are the easiest seasons to sit outside all day.
For water views specifically, see Hilton Head restaurants on the water, and if the dog is coming, dog-friendly restaurants.
More ways to choose where to eat
Hilton Head restaurants on the water: Skull Creek docks, Broad Creek decks, marina patios, oceanfront tiki bars and Harbour Town views, with phone numbers.
Dog friendly restaurants Hilton Head Island: patios, decks and breweries that welcome pets, with what each serves. Call ahead, since policies change.
Rooftop bar Hilton Head guide: sunset rooftops at Shelter Cove, Skull Creek, Harbour Town, Sea Pines and Coligny, with what each serves.
Hilton Head brewery guide: the island’s craft breweries, beer garden and only distillery, with what each pours, food, dogs and live music.
The best restaurants in Hilton Head Island: a top 10 by guest rating, then every restaurant by dinner, lunch and breakfast, with phone and reservation links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hilton Head restaurants have outdoor seating on the beach?
Tiki Hut sits on the sand at Coligny Beach, The Dunes House is on the beach in Palmetto Dunes, and Loggerhead Landing is the oceanfront bar at Marriott's Grande Ocean.
Where can I eat outside with a water view?
Black Marlin Bayside Grill at Palmetto Bay Marina, Skull Creek Dockside, Up the Creek Pub & Grill at Broad Creek Marina, Harbourside in Harbour Town and Top Dawg Tavern at Shelter Cove all have decks or patios on the water.
Which outdoor restaurants have live music?
The Bank's beer garden, Tin & Tallow, Nala's Beach, Captain Woody's, Frosty Frog Cafe, Black Marlin and Harbourside all have live music outside, and so do the beach bars.
Can I bring my dog to an outdoor restaurant on Hilton Head?
Many patios allow dogs, including Tin & Tallow, Nala's Beach, Captain Woody's, Frosty Frog Cafe and Top Dawg Tavern. The dog-friendly restaurants page has the full list.
Local guides like this come standard for Guests of Partner Properties — one small part of what a Partner Property gives every guest.
Book Partner Properties