Location: Kiawah Island
Top Restaurants in Kiawah Island
Top 10 restaurants in Kiawah Island, United States
Nature lovers unite on this barrier island on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean 21 miles south of Charleston. Brimming with lush foliage at every glance, Kiawah Island has ten miles of wide sandy beaches, 123 acres of parks, 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, and world-class golf courses. To get a true sense of the beauty of Kiawah Island venture to Marsh Island Park where you’ll be rewarded with stunning scenic views atop the Marsh Island Lookout Tower of the Kiawah River, saltwater marshes, and island hammocks. For animal lovers, don’t miss the Heron Park Nature Center where you can participate in nature tours and programs, birding walks, butterfly walks, and alligator walks. Bird admirers love the Great Egret Rookery, a spot where you can typically see several dozen of the magnificent white birds in trees over a lagoon. For an exceptional picnic area head to Beachwalker Park, which has a wide boardwalk that winds through palmettos, oaks, and pines. Golf on Kiawah Island is not just any recreation amenity, it’s a way of life. There are five championship courses on the island highlighted by the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course site of the 1991 Ryder Cup matches and 2007 Senior PGA Championship. In 2012, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the 94th PGA Championship. Other courses to play include the Jack Nicklaus designed Turtle Point and Gary Player designed Cougar Point courses.
Things to do in Kiawah Island
1. Ocean Room at The Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 312 reviews
The Ocean Room, Kiawah Island Golf Resort's premier Forbes 4 Star and AAA 4 Diamond restaurant, offers an unparalleled steakhouse experience, featuring a variety of signature dishes. The Ocean Room culinary team is committed to supporting local farmers by utilizing locally sourced beef, seafood, poultry and produce when writing their seasonally changing menu. Complementing Chef Jason Rheinwald's cuisine is Wine Spectator's "Best Of" Award Winning Wine Program, enticing to the most discriminating oenophile. With over 1000 selections The Ocean Room strives to showcase the characteristics of the world's finest varietals, regions, growers, and producers. A Forbes 4 Star and AAA 4 Diamond restaurant. "Best of Award of Excellence" 2010/2011 by the Wine Spectator.
Reviewed By DFWtraveler2014 - Dallas, Texas
Dined for the first time at the Ocean Room last night. The service at this restaurant is certainly top notch- they are very attentive about all the little details such as matching your napkin to your clothing and providing small stools for your purse if needed.
Was expecting to be blown away by the food but found it just ok. With that said, no one in our party ordered steak, which I️ know is what this restaurant is known for. But the dishes we did order were extremely small portions that just didn’t taste like they were from a restaurant of this caliber. The bread in the bread basket didn’t come close to the bread we had the night before at the Atlantic Room restaurant at the Ocean Course (amazing). Also, the hostess on the phone had confirmed with me several times about the birthday we were celebrating and our waiter made a quick comment wishing a happy birthday to “someone” but didn’t acknowledge it any further. We visit Kiawah all the time but I️ don’t think we’d return to this restaurant.
2. Beaches & Cream
Overall Ratings
4 based on 82 reviews
Beaches & CreamOne Sanctuary Beach DriveKiawah Island, SC 29455(843) 768-6000 (Ice Cream Shop @ The Sanctuary)Beaches & CreamOne Sanctuary Beach DriveKiawah Island, SC 29455(843) 768-6000
Reviewed By Grace H
Beaches and cream had some of the best ice cream I have ever had! The ice cream is locally made. And the people who work at it are delightful! Great place!!!
3. Vincent's Pharmacy and Soda Shop
Overall Ratings
4 based on 99 reviews
Monday - Friday the Grill is open from 11 am to 3 pm and we serve Ice Cream till 4 pm. Saturday we are open from 11 am to 4 pm and we serve Ice Cream Only. Sunday we are open from Noon to 4 pm and we serve Ice Cream Only. We hope that you will come down and enjoy your favorite Sunday or Malt!!!
Reviewed By silverthorn53 - Freshwater, United Kingdom
We both love ice cream so we had to visit this shop and although the young staff are not very cheerful looking and the tables could do with a wipe the Ice Cream Sundaes were very good and very large.
I think it needs someone in charge to put a bit of a spark in the place.
4. Java Java Coffee House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By Michael H - Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Good coffee ... much better than the competition next door. Very nice pastries and very nice lunch options for a quick bite in-between. Been here many times. Never had a bad or average experience. We keep coming ...
5. The Ice Cream Boat Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Irongate69 - Beirut, Lebanon
12 choices of Edys ice cream. No place to sit down except outside. Just that, unremarkable. At the marina which could be Ok to sit out if the weather is not muggy. Still, we enjoyed our ice cream cones.
6. The Ryder Cup Bar at Ocean Course Clubhouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 406 reviews
www.kiawahresort.com
Reviewed By Seabrookgal - Beverly, NJ
Friends of ours took us to the Ryder Cup Bar on Kiawah Island's Ocean Course Golf Club recently and we were simply blown away! Although the place is casual, the food is first-rate. It's also a great venue to watch golfers and see the ocean views and especially, stunning sunsets.
We arrived a little after sunset, so we missed the great show. But there was still plenty to see. We waited for our names to be called by sitting out on their porch. Once seated, we had wonderful service from our waitress (sorry that I don't remember her name). We started off with cocktails, which I will admit were on the pricey-side. We shared two appetizers--fried shrimp with sweet chili sauce and a hot crab dip with home-made chips. Both were excellent and either would have been enough for four people. As it was, we weren't able to finish it all. Then we each had a different sandwich, from the roast beef sliders, to the fish tacos, to the burger, to the chicken sandwich. Three of us ordered onion rings, which were outstanding. The 4th ordered the potatoes, which were also good. We were also given the option to order from the menu from the Atlantic Room, which is much more pricey. But we were good with more casual fare. Our only complaint about the entire evening is that the place got very loud. It was difficult to carry on a conversation.
After dinner, we walked through the club house, browsed through the golf shop, and just enjoyed the lovely building--which looks like a golf club house should. It is definitely a place that we will return to in the future.
7. Luciano's Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4 based on 89 reviews
Luciano's Pizzeria is a small local pizza place serving the freshest New York style pizza available. All of our pizzas are hand tossed. We make our own dough and sauce daily. Best value in the Kiawah area.
Reviewed By Irongate69 - Beirut, Lebanon
2 pizzas...$50.00!! Are you Serious? Crust, minimal tomato paste, get out the magnifier to find the cheese, 4 sm pepperonis on a large pizza. No remarkable taste. I think this place could doWAY much better but they know you are stuck on the island and hungry. We don't like being cheated!!
8. Jasmine Porch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 507 reviews
Reviewed By 67lakeshore - Chincoteague Island, Virginia
We have eaten here over a dozen times in the past year and the breakfast buffets are excellent, especially if you're going to play golf afterwards. The omelettes and other hot items are delicious along with the fresh fruit, lox, fresh bakery items, and oatmeal. Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys breakfast buffets.
9. Starbucks
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Denise C - Atlanta, Georgia
Service was good, coffee exactly as ordered, I must have been the first to order oatmeal in months. It seemed to throw them, having to go look for it and the accompaniments. I asked for the internet code and was told not required but could not get connected.
10. The Atlantic Room at The Ocean Course
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By KBarko - New York City, New York
From the moment we arrived to watch the sunset (a must!) to have a drink on the beautiful porch, to the service, to the unbelievable food, this evening has been a dream. Crispy shrimp, oysters, burrata, seafood boil, rib eye, and truffle Mac and cheese. Come, you won't be disappointed. You can thank me later....after your perfect martinis in the adjacent Ryder Bar.
