Traveling to Charleston with kids? The right family-friendly restaurant depends on where you are staying and what suits your group. We have grouped Charleston-area restaurants by location and practical family features so you can choose a spot without crossing town after a beach day.
Hours, menus and amenities change. Confirm details with the restaurant before you go.
Downtown Charleston has several restaurants that work well with children, including Home Team BBQ, Fleet Landing, Edmund's Oast Restaurant, Leon's Oyster Shop and Brown Dog Deli. Folly Beach and Isle of Palms are separate coastal destinations with casual restaurant options for families.
Quick picks
| If you want | Go to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Room for kids to move | Home Team BBQ | Downtown |
| Waterfront dining | Fleet Landing | Downtown, near the City Market |
| A kids menu with outdoor seating | Edmund's Oast Restaurant | Morrison Drive |
| Fried chicken and soft serve | Leon's Oyster Shop | 698 King Street |
| A casual lunch | Brown Dog Deli | Downtown |
| Breakfast before or after the beach | Lost Dog Café | Folly Beach |
| Tacos with a kids menu | Taco Boy | Folly Beach |
| New York-style pizza | Woody's Pizza | Folly Beach |
| Wood-fired pizza | Coastal Crust | Isle of Palms |
Family dining in downtown Charleston
We have grouped the guide by location, starting with restaurants on and near the downtown peninsula. Here are five downtown options that work particularly well for families.
Home Team BBQ
Best for: Families with younger children who may benefit from a little extra space
Location: 126 Williman Street, Charleston, SC 29403. There is also a West Ashley location at 1205 Ashley River Road.
Kids: Dedicated kids menu
Atmosphere: Casual barbecue
The downtown location has a fenced-in gravel area with chalkboards, giving kids some room to move while adults eat.
Good to know: The West Ashley location has cornhole instead.
Fleet Landing Restaurant and Raw Bar
Best for: Waterfront dining
Location: 186 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401, at the foot of the City Market
Kids: Check the current menu for kids options
Atmosphere: Casual waterfront
Fleet Landing sits on the water within walking distance of Waterfront Park, with waterfront seating.
Edmund's Oast Restaurant
Best for: Outdoor seating and a kids menu
Location: 1081 Morrison Dr., Charleston, SC 29403
Kids: Dedicated kids menu
Atmosphere: Casual, with an outdoor courtyard and covered patio
Edmund's Oast Restaurant and Brewpub has an outdoor courtyard and covered patio, along with a dedicated kids menu that currently includes cheesy buttered noodles, grilled cheese, a kids cheeseburger, hamburger and chicken sandwich. Its lunch menu also includes the Lunchbox, a fried chicken sandwich served with pasta salad and a cookie. Menu items can change, so check the restaurant's current menu before visiting.
Good to know: Edmund's Oast Brewing Co. at 1505 King St. #115 is a separate venue with a different kids menu.
Leon's Oyster Shop
Best for: Fried chicken and soft serve
Location: 698 King St., Charleston, SC 29403
Kids: No dedicated kids menu
Atmosphere: Casual, in a former auto body shop
Leon's serves fried chicken and soft serve for dessert.
Reservations: Available for parties of 6 to 12, while many smaller parties are accommodated as walk-ins
Parking: Complimentary parking is available in marked spaces at 19 Race Street, according to the restaurant
Brown Dog Deli
Best for: A low-key lunch
Location: Check the official website for the current downtown address
Kids: Dedicated kids menu, currently including dino nuggets, grilled cheese, turkey and cheese, cheeseburger and a plain hot dog
Atmosphere: Casual deli
A casual deli with a menu of sandwiches and comfort food that suits families who want a quick, informal meal.
All five are on or near the downtown peninsula, making them practical options if you are staying in downtown Charleston. Walking time will depend on your rental's location. If you are staying in one of our downtown Charleston vacation rentals, the five restaurants above are all located on or near the peninsula.
Heading to the Beach for the Day
Folly Beach and Isle of Palms are outside downtown, so plan on driving or arranging transportation if you are visiting them for a beach day. Both have casual restaurants that suit families.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach dining is concentrated on and around Center Street.
Lost Dog Café
Location: 106 West Huron Ave., Folly Beach, SC 29439
Atmosphere: Casual, dog friendly, with outdoor patio seating
Lost Dog Café serves breakfast and lunch, with outdoor patio seating that works well for a casual stop before or after the beach. Visit Folly Beach lists it under both Family Friendly and Outdoor Dining.
Taco Boy
Location: 106 E. Ashley Ave., Folly Beach
Kids: Dedicated kids menu
Atmosphere: Casual, with a patio and family seating
Taco Boy has a dedicated kids menu with tacos and cheese or chicken quesadillas, plus a patio with ample seating.
Rita's Seaside Grille
Location: Center Street, Folly Beach
Atmosphere: Open-air and casual
Rita's serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner at its Center Street location. Its open-air setting makes it an option for a casual beach-day meal.
Woody's Pizza
Location: Folly Beach
Atmosphere: Very casual
Woody's serves New York-style pizza, which works for feeding a group after a day on the sand.
Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms is across the Ravenel Bridge from downtown.
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
Location: 31 J.C. Long Blvd., Isle of Palms
Atmosphere: Casual beach atmosphere
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen serves breakfast, brunch and dinner in a casual setting near the beach, which makes it a practical option for a family meal.
Coconut Joe's Beach Grill
Location: 1120 Ocean Blvd., Isle of Palms
Atmosphere: Beachfront
Coconut Joe's is an oceanfront restaurant on Ocean Boulevard, which makes it a straightforward option during a beach day.
Coastal Crust
Location: Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms
Atmosphere: Casual
Coastal Crust serves wood-fired pizza at its Wild Dunes location on Isle of Palms, with dine-in and takeout.
What to Look for in a Family Restaurant
A current kids menu, outdoor seating if that suits your group, and a location that fits your day. Some Charleston restaurants operate in historic buildings with compact dining spaces, so check seating and access before arriving.
- Check the current kids menu rather than assuming one exists
- Outdoor seating is often useful with young children
- If your children do better with shorter waits, check reservation and wait-time options before arriving
- If you are bringing a stroller, check accessibility with the restaurant before visiting, particularly in older buildings
- Parking arrangements vary by restaurant, so check before driving
Where to Stay With Kids
Staying downtown puts you close to the five downtown restaurants in this guide. A rental with a kitchen also gives you the option of eating breakfast in.
Our downtown Charleston vacation rentals are on the peninsula. Charleston rentals that sleep four suit smaller families, and larger Charleston vacation rentals work for groups needing separate bedrooms.
Driving between areas? Our downtown parking guide and our guide on whether you need a car in Charleston cover the practical side.
Our King Street food and shopping guide covers what else is walkable downtown, and our Charleston breakfast restaurants guide covers the mornings.
Not sure what fits your dates? Contact CHC Vacation Rentals.
How We Chose These Restaurants
We focused on restaurants in downtown Charleston, Folly Beach and Isle of Palms that offer practical options for families, such as casual dining, children's menus, outdoor seating or approachable menus.
DO NOT PUBLISH THE NEXT SENTENCE UNTIL THE MANUAL VERIFICATION PASS IS COMPLETE. Restaurant details were checked against official restaurant websites and menus, with official local tourism information used where relevant. Menus, hours and amenities can change, so confirm details directly before visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some family-friendly options covered in this guide include Home Team BBQ, Fleet Landing, Edmund's Oast Restaurant, Leon's Oyster Shop and Brown Dog Deli downtown, plus casual options on Folly Beach and Isle of Palms.
Many family-friendly Charleston restaurants offer dedicated children's menus, but menus change frequently. Check the restaurant's current menu before visiting. In this guide, Taco Boy, Edmund's Oast Restaurant, Home Team BBQ and Brown Dog Deli currently provide dedicated children's options.
Home Team BBQ on Williman Street, Fleet Landing near the City Market, Edmund's Oast Restaurant on Morrison Drive, Leon's Oyster Shop on King Street and Brown Dog Deli. All five are casual rather than fine dining.
Lost Dog Café for breakfast and lunch, Taco Boy for tacos with a kids menu, Rita's Seaside Grille for breakfast through dinner and Woody's Pizza for a casual meal. All are on or near Center Street.
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen on J.C. Long Boulevard, Coconut Joe's Beach Grill on Ocean Boulevard and Coastal Crust in Wild Dunes are all casual options on the island.
The downtown Home Team BBQ has a fenced-in gravel area with chalkboards. The West Ashley location has cornhole instead.
Look for a current kids menu, outdoor seating if useful for your group, manageable wait times and a location that fits your day's itinerary. Because menus and amenities change, check directly with the restaurant before visiting.
You may not need a car if you are staying downtown and plan to eat primarily on the peninsula. Folly Beach and Isle of Palms are outside downtown, so a car or other transportation is more practical for those restaurant stops.