Best Restaurants in Hilton Head Island, SC
Every restaurant on the island, sorted by meal, with phone numbers and how to reserve.
Top 10 restaurants in Hilton Head
The ten top-rated restaurants on the island with more than 1,000 guest reviews.
Indian bistro known for butter chicken, biryani and a large vegetarian and vegan menu.
Coast’s wraparound bar with frozen cocktails and walk-up service from the sand; swimsuits welcome.
Modern American; steakhouse-leaning
American café; breakfast/lunch
Best dinner restaurants on Hilton Head Island
Sit-down dinner spots, from waterfront seafood to Italian and steakhouses.
Closed Southern kitchen and bar; Nectar Farm Kitchen is in the space.
Dollar-oyster happy hour, live music most nights, open until 2 a.m.
Family-owned Jersey-style Italian dinners with an early bird special and a wildlife-view sunroom.
Homemade pasta and fresh bread in a mural-lined Italian dining room; reservations by phone.
Southern and Cajun dinner with live music nightly and Saturday dueling pianos.
Southern and Gullah-inspired soul food with live blues, jazz and soul Monday to Saturday.
Smash burgers, a black bean burger and seasoned fries in a casual open-air room; daily happy hour.
Artist-owned dinner spot with vegan, gluten-free and local seafood dishes, gallery walls and live guitar.
Taco cantina with birria tacos and margaritas; listed as temporarily closed
Chicago-style pan pizza and Italian beef, open 3 to 9, closed Sundays.
Prime steakhouse with cowboy ribeye, shrimp cocktail, craft cocktails and a bar open late.
New York-style steakhouse with prime steaks, a raw bar, lobster tails and a deep wine list.
Wine and beer bar inside Park Plaza Cinema, with food from the cinema café.
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar with whiskey, small plates, couch seating and a porch.
Hand-tossed, charred-crust pizzas at The Triangle, with daily happy hour.
Family-recipe Southern soul food: fried chicken, seafood rice and short ribs; live music; reservations online.
Hotel sports bar with burgers, nachos, cocktails and big screens; open 4 p.m. to midnight.
Northern Italian dinner from a chef from Rome: osso buco, veal and pasta.
Two-in-one bar: craft cocktails, smash burgers, live local music and a late kitchen.
Seasonal American dinners from the owners of Jane Bistro; shrimp and scallop pasta, beef bourguignon.
Chef-owned southern Italian dinners; veal francese, lasagna, tableside bananas Foster.
Thai curries, pad Thai and drunken noodles with strong vegan options; reservations and online ordering.
Small, cozy steakhouse known for prime rib, ribeye and scalloped potatoes; reserve ahead.
Late-night live music bar with an outdoor stage, cornhole and happy hour; no kitchen.
Resort sports bar with award-winning wings, pizza, 23 TVs, trivia and music bingo.
Upscale New Orleans-inspired coastal seafood, with Sunday brunch and live music on weekends.
Carolina wine, moonshine and mead tastings, plus wine slushies to go.
Formerly Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse: all-you-can-eat churrascaria with a salad bar and tableside meats.
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar with house-made tonic and small bites; closed Sunday and Monday.
Upstairs at Poseidon: dueling pianos, DJ nights, line dancing and a sunset balcony.
A rooftop lounge and pool deck near Coligny Beach, with fire pits, cocktails and island views.
Closed Latin kitchen and bar.
Closed January 31, 2026, after 32 years on William Hilton Parkway.
Dog-friendly craft beer bar pouring only South Carolina beer and cider; open Thursday to Sunday.
A small locals' bar with karaoke, open until 2 a.m.; closed Monday.
Best lunch spots on Hilton Head Island
Casual daytime places for sandwiches, seafood baskets and quick tables.
Italian café / pizza; lunch & dinner
Modern American; steakhouse-leaning
American; popular lunch/dinner spot
European/French-leaning fine dining
Beer garden with Side Hustle Brewing Co., a kitchen, food trucks and live music.
Beach tiki bar with tropical cocktails, burgers and sandwiches.
Upscale casual seafood and American; lobster roll, surf and turf ravioli, chocolate souffle.
Mexican kitchen and bar: tacos, fajitas, margaritas and happy hour, with online reservations.
Sushi bar and grill with all-you-can-eat sushi, hibachi, ramen and burgers; closed Tuesdays in fall and winter.
Casual waterfront pub at Broad Creek Marina: shrimp tacos, burgers, seafood and a deck over the marsh.
Crab legs, Carolina crab cakes and seafood boils at Palmetto Bay Marina, with seasonal live music.
Craft brewery with a dog-friendly deck, food truck fare, live music and trivia. No reservations.
Locals’ spot for fried grouper tacos, blackened redfish and cocktails. Closed Sundays.
Thin-crust pizza, pasta and wings in an Ohio State-themed room; closed Mondays.
Flatbread pizzas, bang bang shrimp and burgers on a covered porch; happy hour 4-6 daily.
Waterfront seafood over Skull Creek, with the 41 Up rooftop tapas bar.
The island’s only distillery: rum tours, tastings and cocktails.
Waterfront seafood, BBQ and steaks on a covered patio; takes reservations.
Sports bar with burgers, wings and shrimp tacos, plenty of TVs and an arcade wall.
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hot pot, cooked at the table, with tablet ordering.
Southern comfort food and a golf-course patio at Oyster Reef; open to the public.
Island's first brewery: taproom with flights, a shady patio and a short menu of pretzel bites, brats and tacos.
Waterfront seafood at the marina with a patio, live music and Hurricane cocktails.
Casual seafood bar with fried oysters, blackened grouper, a dog-friendly patio and live music.
Low-country lunch and dinner in the Port Royal clubhouse, with a patio over the golf course. Open to the public.
Counter-service smash burgers, fish and chips, shrimp rolls and tacos, with game and trivia nights.
New York-style slices and pies, heroes and a full bar in Festival Centre and on Pope Avenue by Coligny; since 1996.
Owner-run Thai kitchen with green and yellow curries, spicy herb noodles, pad thai and papaya salad.
Beachfront tiki bar on the sand with frozen drinks, nachos, coconut shrimp and live music.
Counter-service Mexican with big burritos, tacos and chimichangas, plus a salsa bar and free chips.
Tiki-themed dive bar with cheap drinks, wings, blackened fish sandwiches and Mama Joy’s Kitchen comfort food.
Wood-fired pizza, garlic knots and craft beer with a daily happy hour and Resy booking.
Chinese and Japanese dishes with a lunch buffet, sushi, and pickup and delivery.
Fajitas, house-made crispy tacos and margaritas in a colorful cantina room.
Neighborhood bar and grill for burgers, wings and mac and cheese, with Thursday trivia.
French bistro with a Lowcountry accent; Sunday brunch, wine and cocktails.
Thin-crust pizza, homemade chicken tenders and garlic knots; open Monday to Saturday.
Southern comfort food: fried chicken, calabash shrimp, tomato pie
Japanese sushi and hibachi; book hibachi tables on Tock
Chicago sports bar: Italian beef, wings, late-night menu
French bistro on the marina; scallops, duck confit, sunset views
Southwestern and Mexican dinners, painted desert soup and a rooftop cantina with a kiva fireplace.
Family-run Mexican with huge burritos, fish tacos and margaritas; order at the counter.
Soul food: oxtails, fried chicken, seafood mac and cheese
Build-your-own tacos and burritos, cash or Zelle only
Beachside tiki bar with frozen drinks and a grouper sandwich
Hot dogs, wings and burgers with Ohio sports on the screens
Tacos, empanadas and Cuban sandwiches with daily happy hour and Sunday brunch.
Waterfront seafood with live music and lawn games for kids.
Palmetto Hall's restaurant, open to the public, with Sunday brunch and a long bar.
Gyros, souvlaki and baklava with a patio near Coligny; closed Sundays.
Blue Bell ice cream, mini pancakes and boba tea in a comic and collectibles shop
Award-winning burgers and fresh sushi rolls with a patio, daily happy hour and craft cocktails.
Family-run Italian since the 1990s: NY-style hearth pizza, lasagna, manicotti and gluten-free crust.
Craft brewery with a full menu, beer garden and arcade and table games.
Small, quiet Japanese restaurant with hibachi, teriyaki and more than fifty sushi rolls, plus lunch specials.
Retro diner with she-crab soup, seafood, pizza, burgers and house ice cream.
Handcrafted pizza, wings, garlic knots and chopped salads; dine in, take out or island-wide delivery.
Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies on bread baked daily; lunch only, closed Sunday.
Lively beach-town bar and grill: she-crab soup, shrimp tacos, loaded hush puppies, patio.
Family-run Mediterranean grill: chicken kebabs, lamb gyros, shawarma and hummus.
Indian bistro known for butter chicken, biryani and a large vegetarian and vegan menu.
Counter-service Mexican with tacos, burritos and street corn; patio seating.
Stone-baked pizza, calzones and 44 drafts; patio, trivia and daily happy hour.
Craft brewery pouring at The Bank beer garden; cans to go, food from The Bank.
Take-out Lowcountry boils, steamed and ready to eat or packed to cook at home; feeds groups.
Oceanfront beach bar with fish tacos, frozen drinks and live music; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Local sports bar with pizza, wings and grouper bites, a patio and pool tables; open late.
Counter-service barbecue: ribs, pulled pork, jalapeño cornbread, house sauces, Family Pack.
Small waterfront dining room over the Intracoastal; dinner Tuesday to Sunday, Sunday brunch.
Central Thai cooking from scratch: tom yum, curries, pad Thai, mango sticky rice.
Sports bar with 25 TVs, wings, prime rib burgers, trivia and live music.
Family-run Italian with house-made pasta and pizza from an imported wood-fired oven.
Irish-owned sports pub since 1987 with pool tables, fish and chips, wings and a kitchen open to midnight.
Casual seafood on the plaza lagoon: all-you-can-eat crab legs, oysters and free live music daily.
Daiquiri bar and pizza cafe with crab legs, live music, sports on 24 TVs and a dog-friendly patio.
South Pacific-themed room upstairs: burgers, fish tacos, coconut shrimp and live music. Closed Sundays.
New York-style Italian with handmade pasta, short rib gnocchi and chicken parm. Books on Resy.
Pub serving sandwiches since 1973: the Reuben, the Earle and the Duke, and homemade soups. Closed Sundays.
Formerly Main Street Cafe & Pub: crab legs, burgers and Sunday brunch.
Smoked brisket, pulled pork and ribs, burgers and Southern sides beside FISH. Wednesday to Sunday.
Oceanfront bar and grille at Marriott's Grande Ocean with live music and happy hour; seasonal.
Casual coastal food and craft cocktails on a deck at The Westin.
Pub food and a daily 4 to 7 happy hour on a covered patio over the Shipyard golf course; open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
White-tablecloth Thai on the north end: curries, pad Thai, crispy duck and seafood specials; closed Sunday.
Seafood-leaning American; poke, tacos, burgers
Made-to-order burgers, shakes and chili dogs at a counter, with tables outside.
Chinese takeout classics such as sesame chicken, lo mein and fried rice.
Pizza, subs and pasta at Sea Pines Center for 45-plus years, with patio seating and delivery inside Sea Pines.
Build-your-own burgers, snow crab and an outdoor bar on the Harbour Town marina, with live music by the Liberty Oak.
Coast’s wraparound bar with frozen cocktails and walk-up service from the sand; swimsuits welcome.
Seasonal grab-and-go by the sand: sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, frozen daiquiris and beer.
Panini, tacos and baskets to go, plus 16 Häagen-Dazs flavors and milkshakes.
Poolside snack bar with wraps, hot dogs, ice cream and drinks.
Burgers, wings and pizza on pet-friendly patios over the marina, with football on the TVs.
Closed for dining while Jake’s Cargo uses its building during the South Beach redevelopment.
The Salty Dog Cafe’s overflow spot, closed in 2024 for the South Beach renovation.
Sushi rolls and kitchen-cooked hibachi plates at counter prices; closed Mondays
A Honduran trailer in the Marshland Road food truck square.
Homemade Hungarian, Austrian and German food, and host of the Hungarian Fall and Easter festivals; closed Sunday and Monday.
Mediterranean mezze, shawarma, kebabs and gyro platters in Moss Creek Village, with a full bar; closed Sunday.
Burgers, fries and shakes at Island Crossing; the only Five Guys on the island.
Fajitas, burritos and birria tacos with craft margaritas and a full bar in South Island Square.
Connecticut and Maine lobster rolls upstairs at 81 Pope Avenue near Coligny, with a bar by open windows.
SERG Restaurant Group’s to-go kitchen: scratch-made, fresh-frozen entrees, casseroles and desserts to heat at home; delivery and catering.
The winery on Hilton Head Island: tastings of fruit wines, reds and whites, a barrel room and an outdoor patio. Open noon to 5 p.m., 4 p.m. Sunday.
Casual Mexican taqueria with al pastor, fajitas, grilled meat plates and large seafood soups.
Drive-thru burgers, cajun fries and a long list of milkshakes.
Fast-food sandwiches on William Hilton Parkway.
Whoppers and the Impossible Whopper, with a drive-thru.
Cold and hot subs, with gluten-free bread.
Best breakfast places on Hilton Head Island
Early openers for biscuits, omelets and coffee.
American café; breakfast/lunch
Southern-style breakfast and lunch staples; longtime local favorite.
Same menu focus: classic breakfasts, biscuits, omelets, and lunch sandwiches.
Lowcountry/Southern breakfast & lunch with a “biscuit-forward” menu.
Big breakfast menu (stuffed French toast, benedicts, etc.) plus lunch/dinner options.
Neighborhood cafe: breakfast served all day; coffee bar plus healthier options.
Classic diner: breakfast all day, quick service, comfort-food portions.
Old-school diner energy; breakfast window + lunch; locals’ regular.
Classic diner breakfast/lunch
Bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and deli-style grab-and-go.
European bakery + sit-down breakfast/lunch menu; pastries and brunch plates.
French-influenced pastries and breads; coffee + harbor stroll pairing.
Second location; same pastry/bread focus with convenient roadside access.
Coffeehouse + breakfast/lunch menu (omelets, bagels, pastries, paninis).
Cafe with pastries/coffee and light breakfast options in a relaxed setting.
Market + cafe serving made-to-order breakfast (eggs, biscuits, pancakes, etc.).
Breakfast bakery/cafe: baked goods, breakfast plates, and easy take-away items.
Early-opening bakery/deli with breads/pastries and sandwich-friendly mornings.
“Breakfast all day” wraps/flatbreads plus smoothies and bowls.
Specialty coffee shop with a brunch menu, seasonal lattes and pastries; open 7am to 1pm daily.
Golf-themed pub with fish and chips, Beef Wellington, English ales and weekend brunch.
Hawaiian poke bowls, acai bowls and spam musubi at a surf-shack counter.
Diner and ice cream shop serving breakfast all day, omelets, quiche and paninis.
Tallow-smashed burgers, truffle parmesan waffle fries and breakfast sandwiches on a dog-friendly patio with live music.
Family-run brunch spot with beignets and pancakes, plus seafood dinners
American Caribbean plates, tacos and pizza with live music and a dog-friendly patio
Southern comfort food and ocean views at the Beach House hotel, open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Counter-service diner known for breakfast burritos, chicken and waffles and burgers.
Drive-thru coffee, smoothies and energy drinks at the base of the island bridge; app ordering.
Resort restaurant on the lagoons: breakfast buffet and Lowcountry dinner, open to non-guests.
Bakery café: pastries, cakes and Lavazza coffee; open from 7 a.m. daily.
Warm cake donuts made to order with your choice of toppings; order ahead online.
Fast food with drive-thru, open from 6 a.m.; order ahead in the app.
Dunkin’ coffee, donuts and breakfast sandwiches at 4 Southwood Park Drive.
Barbecue, burgers and pizza in the Palmetto Dunes golf clubhouse; open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with catering pickup.
The Westin's three-meal restaurant: Lowcountry seafood, crab cakes and a breakfast buffet; reservations by OpenTable.
Coffee, fresh donuts, New Jersey-style bagels and pastries from 7 a.m.
Acai and hot bowls, wraps and smoothies, with a gluten-free menu and vegan options.
DoubleTree restaurant with a breakfast buffet and dinner steaks, salmon and burgers.
Resort general store with weekday breakfast and lunch, fried chicken, cinnamon rolls and groceries; open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Golf clubhouse grill with breakfast from 7 a.m., burgers and sandwiches; open until 5 p.m.
Golf clubhouse grill with wraps, burgers and cocktails; open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Coffee from a 1970s Airstream across from Burke’s Beach: lattes, cold brew and seasonal drinks, outdoor seating; mornings only.
Family-owned brunch cafe in the former Corner Perk space: Corner Perk coffee, house-made syrups, breakfast burritos; closed Monday.
Steakhouse; USDA Prime steaks and seafood
Drive-thru Starbucks in its own building on Shelter Cove Lane; opens at 5 a.m.
Hot breakfast and lunch to go, plus wine, groceries, a walk-in beer cooler and gas.
A local roastery and café offering small-batch roasts on the north end.
Hawaiian-grown coffee and espresso drinks in Coligny Plaza.
A dedicated gluten-free bakery: cakes, cinnamon rolls, cannoli and bagels, many of them dairy free too. Closed Sunday.
Closed Hilton Head cafe; Luci’s Cafe is in the space and still pours Corner Perk coffee.
Honduran baleadas, tacos and pollo con tajadas from a trailer on Arrow Road; open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
New York-style bagels, breakfast sandwiches and lox from a takeout shop with a pickup window.
Bagels, pastrami and corned beef on rye, soups and breakfast in The Fresh Market Shoppes; here since 1986.
Bakery and café in the former Signe’s building: sourdough, cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, thin-crust pizza, beer and wine, porch seating.
Burgers, Frosty shakes and breakfast biscuit sandwiches with a drive-thru.
Best dessert and ice cream spots on Hilton Head Island
Ice cream, frozen custard, fudge and milkshakes for after the beach or after dinner.
Homemade ice cream and sorbet, made in house since 1982.
Handmade chocolates, toffee bark and gift boxes sold by the pound; open weekdays.
Hand-dipped chocolates, signature barks and truffles by the pound from an island shop.
Family-owned gelato and coffee bar with dairy-free and gluten-free choices.
Frios gourmet popsicles, glass-bottle sodas and retro candy in a family-run shop.
Scooping since 1971: 78 flavors, sundaes, shakes, Dole Whip and no-sugar-added choices.
Homemade fudge, saltwater taffy and pralines, family-owned since 1981.
92 flavors of super-premium ice cream, plus frozen yogurt, sherbet and no-sugar-added choices.
The chain’s Italian ice, made fresh daily, and frozen custard from a kiosk by the lagoon.
Fudge, chocolates and ice cream at Shelter Cove Towne Centre; open until 10 p.m.
Oversized cookies from a menu that changes every Monday; pickup or delivery, closed Sunday.
Walk-up bakery with scratch-made donuts, mini cheesecakes and coffee; Wednesday to Saturday.
46 flavors of ice cream, eight of them vegan, at South Beach Marina.
Scooped ice cream, Italian ice, Hershey’s soft serve and sundaes by the marina.
About this list of the best places to eat in Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island’s best restaurants pair Lowcountry ingredients, fresh seafood and prime cuts with settings that range from waterfront docks to shaded dining rooms. This is the full list of the best and top-rated restaurants in Hilton Head, sorted by meal, with each restaurant’s area, phone number and how to reserve a table.
Looking for a particular kind of food or part of the island instead? Start from the Hilton Head restaurants guide, which sorts places to eat by meal, cuisine and area.
The Top 10 at the head of the list ranks restaurants by guest rating, counting only places with more than 1,000 reviews, so a new spot with a handful of five-star reviews doesn’t outrank a local favorite. It is worked out from current ratings, so it changes as they do. The most popular restaurants for a special night, and the romantic restaurants for two, are in the upscale casual and fine dining guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 10 restaurants in Hilton Head?
By guest rating, among restaurants with more than 1,000 reviews: The Jazz Corner, Masala Mantra Indian Bistro, Java Burrito Company, Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte, Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, Sea Shack, Beach Bar at the Sea Pines Beach Club, Wiseguys Modern American Restaurant, Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe, Nunzio Restaurant + Bar. The Top 10 list above has each one’s area, phone number and how to reserve.
Do Hilton Head restaurants take reservations?
Many list a reservation link, either the restaurant’s own booking page or OpenTable. A few are walk-in only and some ask you to call, and each card above says which.
Which restaurants are the best for seafood on Hilton Head Island?
Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, Skull Creek Boathouse and The Old Oyster Factory head the seafood restaurants in the dinner list above, with more seafood places further down.
Where can I find breakfast and lunch spots as well as dinner restaurants?
The list is sorted by meal: dinner restaurants first, then lunch spots, then breakfast places. A restaurant that serves more than one of them appears once and notes its other meals.
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