Taste of Folly – Seafood & Lowcountry
Fresh, Local Seafood and Classic Cuisine from the Charleston Lowcountry
You’ll be amazed at how many great restaurants we can fit into a 12-square-mile island. While almost all of our restaurants serve seafood, this itinerary spotlights a handful of local restaurants whose menus focus on a wide variety of seafood, plus some of the staple Lowcountry dishes that are quintessentially Charleston. These are sure to float your boat.
Bowen’s Island Restaurant
Named one of the Top 10 Seafood Joints in the South by Southern Living Magazine, Bowen’s Island Restaurant sits right over the marsh and is steeped in local history. This no-frills icon serves up Lowcountry staples like shrimp & grits and Frogmore Stew, plus fresh-off-the-boat oysters, fried shrimp & fish platters, and homemade sides like hushpuppies and slaw. You might even see the boat that brought in your meal tied up out back. Add in a cold beer and one of the best sunset views around, and you’ve got the most unforgettable and most Lowcountry dining experience in the area.
Folly Beach Crab Shack
If you’re looking for an authentic seafood feast, The Crab Shack delivers the full Lowcountry spread. Also named one of the Top 10 Seafood Joints in the South by Southern Living Magazine (yep, this is not a typo… we have 2 of the top 10 right here on Folly!) their menu features all the coastal essentials: steaming Lowcountry boils piled with crab legs, shrimp, sausage, and corn; buttery crab clusters; fried flounder plates; and hushpuppies so good they deserve their own spotlight. Casual and laidback, this is the kind of place where seafood is the star, and flip-flops are not only welcome, they’re encouraged.
Pier 101
Located directly on the Folly Beach Pier, Pier 101 offers unbeatable ocean views and a menu centered around coastal classics. Whether you’re digging into a fried seafood platter, a shrimp po’ boy, or a chilled crab salad, the flavors are as fresh as the salty breeze. Perfect for lunch or sunset dining, this spot captures everything you love about Folly: waves, wind, and warm, delicious seafood.
Coconut Joe’s
Pull up a table downstairs or on the upper deck of Coconut Joe’s and get ready for a seafood feast! Featuring a vast menu of seafood favorites served fried, grilled, steamed, and any other way you like them, you can’t go wrong. Lowcountry shrimp & grits (a must on any trip to Charleston), crab cakes, shrimp po’boys, grouper bites, salads, tacos, and more. Not to mention some of the best frozen cocktails on the beach. Coconut Joe’s has your craving covered!
Catch 23
Catch 23 is a fresh addition to the island food scene that blends upscale coastal cuisine with laid-back Folly vibes. With an epic rooftop, their menu highlights inventive takes on seafood favorites, like blackened mahi wraps with zesty house-made sauces, crispy fish sandwiches, and shareable seafood starters. And if you’re looking for sushi, you’ve found your spot! Whether you’re grabbing lunch or settling in for a casual dinner, this spot celebrates the bold, fresh flavors of the Lowcountry.
Lolo’s (Locklear’s on Little Oak)
Lolo’s combines Lowcountry comfort food with a fresh, beachy twist. The menu leans into local flavor with shrimp tacos, fried catfish, fish and chips, tangy slaws, house-made sauces, and cold cocktails. It’s colorful, casual, and full of Southern charm, ideal for lunch after a day in the sun or a laid-back dinner with friends.
Fresh, Local Seafood and Classic Cuisine from the Charleston Lowcountry
You’ll be amazed at how many great restaurants we can fit into a 12-square-mile island. While almost all of our restaurants serve seafood, this itinerary spotlights a handful of local restaurants whose menus focus on a wide variety of seafood, plus some of the staple Lowcountry dishes that are quintessentially Charleston. These are sure to float your boat.
Bowen’s Island Restaurant
Named one of the Top 10 Seafood Joints in the South by Southern Living Magazine, Bowen’s Island Restaurant sits right over the marsh and is steeped in local history. This no-frills icon serves up Lowcountry staples like shrimp & grits and Frogmore Stew, plus fresh-off-the-boat oysters, fried shrimp & fish platters, and homemade sides like hushpuppies and slaw. You might even see the boat that brought in your meal tied up out back. Add in a cold beer and one of the best sunset views around, and you’ve got the most unforgettable and most Lowcountry dining experience in the area.
Folly Beach Crab Shack
If you’re looking for an authentic seafood feast, The Crab Shack delivers the full Lowcountry spread. Also named one of the Top 10 Seafood Joints in the South by Southern Living Magazine (yep, this is not a typo… we have 2 of the top 10 right here on Folly!) their menu features all the coastal essentials: steaming Lowcountry boils piled with crab legs, shrimp, sausage, and corn; buttery crab clusters; fried flounder plates; and hushpuppies so good they deserve their own spotlight. Casual and laidback, this is the kind of place where seafood is the star, and flip-flops are not only welcome, they’re encouraged.
Pier 101
Located directly on the Folly Beach Pier, Pier 101 offers unbeatable ocean views and a menu centered around coastal classics. Whether you’re digging into a fried seafood platter, a shrimp po’ boy, or a chilled crab salad, the flavors are as fresh as the salty breeze. Perfect for lunch or sunset dining, this spot captures everything you love about Folly: waves, wind, and warm, delicious seafood.
Coconut Joe’s
Pull up a table downstairs or on the upper deck of Coconut Joe’s and get ready for a seafood feast! Featuring a vast menu of seafood favorites served fried, grilled, steamed, and any other way you like them, you can’t go wrong. Lowcountry shrimp & grits (a must on any trip to Charleston), crab cakes, shrimp po’boys, grouper bites, salads, tacos, and more. Not to mention some of the best frozen cocktails on the beach. Coconut Joe’s has your craving covered!
Catch 23
Catch 23 is a fresh addition to the island food scene that blends upscale coastal cuisine with laid-back Folly vibes. With an epic rooftop, their menu highlights inventive takes on seafood favorites, like blackened mahi wraps with zesty house-made sauces, crispy fish sandwiches, and shareable seafood starters. And if you’re looking for sushi, you’ve found your spot! Whether you’re grabbing lunch or settling in for a casual dinner, this spot celebrates the bold, fresh flavors of the Lowcountry.
Lolo’s (Locklear’s on Little Oak)
Lolo’s combines Lowcountry comfort food with a fresh, beachy twist. The menu leans into local flavor with shrimp tacos, fried catfish, fish and chips, tangy slaws, house-made sauces, and cold cocktails. It’s colorful, casual, and full of Southern charm, ideal for lunch after a day in the sun or a laid-back dinner with friends.
