Charleston’s outdoor dining scene is a year-round staple, thanks to its 300-plus days of sunshine. The best outdoor restaurants in Charleston with views worth the reservation offer sweeping harbor scenes, rooftop lounges and shaded garden courtyards built for lingering. Some sit along historic wharfs with salty breezes and boats bobbing just beyond your table, while others perch above the city skyline, where the cocktails are cold and the sunsets are picturesque.
No matter your style, these restaurants make the reservation worth it, from casual seafood joints with waterfront patios to refined rooftop bars with panoramic views. Here’s where to book when you want a table with a view and a menu to match.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle, located at Hotel Bennett, overlooks Marion Square and brings French-inflected Southern cooking to downtown Charleston. Its menu features dishes like she crab soup, Tarvin seafood shrimp and grits and seasonal vegetables sourced from local farms. With each plate, the kitchen highlights Charleston’s culinary ties to both the Lowcountry and the Mediterranean.
A sweeping terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the dining space, creating a backdrop that shifts beautifully from afternoon into evening. Guests can dine alfresco with a view of the park or linger inside where lantern light adds warmth to white tablecloth service. It’s a polished but comfortable spot where elegance and ease come naturally.
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar occupies a 6,000-square-foot concrete structure that the U.S. Navy originally built in 1942 as a debarkation point for sailors. After World War II, the South Carolina Port Authority repurposed the building for storage until Charleston native Tradd Newton revitalized it in 2004. Today, Fleet Landing blends Southern seafood classics with a clean-lined, maritime-inspired setting that celebrates Charleston’s coastal identity.
Reservations are strongly encouraged, particularly on nights and weekends. The menu highlights familiar staples such as shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes, alongside rotating seasonal cocktails crafted with fresh herbs and fruit. With oversized windows and a spacious patio perched above the water, nearly every seat offers an unobstructed view of Charleston Harbor’s boat traffic and skyline.
The Kingstide
Set along the meandering Wando River, The Kingstide is Daniel Island’s first and only waterfront restaurant, designed to maximize natural light and scenic views. Its rooftop terrace invites guests to linger, with panoramic sightlines that shift beautifully from midday to golden hour. For lunch or dinner, the atmosphere pairs seamlessly with the food, and reservations are recommended for those seeking a front-row seat to the view…