Guidebook for Charleston
Food Scene
This place had great breakfast food all day long and good vibes all around! The go-to food items are The Breakfast Burrito-sausage egg cheese, hot sauce, Shrimp and Grits-local goodness, Pancakes, and Loyal Companion-basic eggs, toast, side of meat. Indoor seating and bar as well as an outdoor patio. Get here early for breakfast because the line can get long! As the name implies, it's dog-friendly/focused and if you park off street, make sure all 4 wheels are off the pavement, otherwise you'll get a ticket.
170 locals recommend
Lost Dog Cafe
106 W Huron AveThis place had great breakfast food all day long and good vibes all around! The go-to food items are The Breakfast Burrito-sausage egg cheese, hot sauce, Shrimp and Grits-local goodness, Pancakes, and Loyal Companion-basic eggs, toast, side of meat. Indoor seating and bar as well as an outdoor patio. Get here early for breakfast because the line can get long! As the name implies, it's dog-friendly/focused and if you park off street, make sure all 4 wheels are off the pavement, otherwise you'll get a ticket.
This is an eclectic rustic place with great fish tacos, good beer selection, and great bands. If you want to hang out with locals, this is the place.
103 locals recommend
Chico Feo
122 E Ashley AveThis is an eclectic rustic place with great fish tacos, good beer selection, and great bands. If you want to hang out with locals, this is the place.
A quant restaurant with a cozy inside seating, with front and rear patio outdoor seating. If you like spices and curry's this place is for you. Dishes are made from scratch with fresh local produce. The menu is seasonal. My favorite dishes are the noodle bowl, chicken korma curry bowl, and the lamb curry bowl. They have a large selection of beer at the indoor and outdoor bar.
117 locals recommend
Jack of Cups Saloon
34 Center StA quant restaurant with a cozy inside seating, with front and rear patio outdoor seating. If you like spices and curry's this place is for you. Dishes are made from scratch with fresh local produce. The menu is seasonal. My favorite dishes are the noodle bowl, chicken korma curry bowl, and the lamb curry bowl. They have a large selection of beer at the indoor and outdoor bar.
Bowens is the most authentic low country seafood restaurant around. You can get a killer sunset while eating local shrimp, oysters, crab, and fish. They offer hearty platters of local fare and it's not for the faint of heart. They do bread heavily and this is the place for hush puppies, a side of slaw, and fried everything.
171 locals recommend
Bowens Island Restaurant
1870 Bowens Island RdBowens is the most authentic low country seafood restaurant around. You can get a killer sunset while eating local shrimp, oysters, crab, and fish. They offer hearty platters of local fare and it's not for the faint of heart. They do bread heavily and this is the place for hush puppies, a side of slaw, and fried everything.
Crosby's is one of the rare locally run operations that offer high-quality seafood. They are many types of fish and seasonal shell fish to choose from. We often buy a 7 lb bag of oysters in the fall/winter and roast them in the firepit for big gatherings. It's also a great place to stop on the way out of town to get shrimp and fish to make Frogmore stew or low country boil. They sell coolers and ice to keep it frozen on your journey home.
22 locals recommend
Crosbys Fish and Shrimp Co.
2223 Folly RdCrosby's is one of the rare locally run operations that offer high-quality seafood. They are many types of fish and seasonal shell fish to choose from. We often buy a 7 lb bag of oysters in the fall/winter and roast them in the firepit for big gatherings. It's also a great place to stop on the way out of town to get shrimp and fish to make Frogmore stew or low country boil. They sell coolers and ice to keep it frozen on your journey home.
Drinks & Nightlife
You travel through neighborhoods on Folly to get to this simple bar on the Folly River, great sunsets and there is usually not a crowd. Don't expect a vast selection of drinks, but the view is worth it.
26 locals recommend
Sunset Cay Marina
66 9th St WYou travel through neighborhoods on Folly to get to this simple bar on the Folly River, great sunsets and there is usually not a crowd. Don't expect a vast selection of drinks, but the view is worth it.
This is the only large upscale hotel on Folly. It's worth parking out front and grabbing a drink and watching the sunset over the Atlantic. They have great seating and mini fire pits. In the fall and winter, it's pretty mellow. In the spring and summer it can get quite hectic, so sometimes family friendly, sometimes not....
17 locals recommend
Tides Folly Beach
1 Center StThis is the only large upscale hotel on Folly. It's worth parking out front and grabbing a drink and watching the sunset over the Atlantic. They have great seating and mini fire pits. In the fall and winter, it's pretty mellow. In the spring and summer it can get quite hectic, so sometimes family friendly, sometimes not....
This has the largest beer selection in the Folly Beach/James Island area. It's made from reclaimed wood from historic Charleston buildings and has a clever pulley system entrance of a door shaped as a beer barrel. If you are a beer connoisseur, you can get your fix on while taking in a view of the marsh, listening to live bands, and sitting by the fire or fan depending on time of the year. They also have nightly food trucks and it's a dog friendly bar. If you're lucky, you'll see the goats as well.
47 locals recommend
The Barrel
1859 Folly RdThis has the largest beer selection in the Folly Beach/James Island area. It's made from reclaimed wood from historic Charleston buildings and has a clever pulley system entrance of a door shaped as a beer barrel. If you are a beer connoisseur, you can get your fix on while taking in a view of the marsh, listening to live bands, and sitting by the fire or fan depending on time of the year. They also have nightly food trucks and it's a dog friendly bar. If you're lucky, you'll see the goats as well.
If you want to listen to live music, drink beer, and watch surf flics, this is a rad place to go. In the daytime, it's very kid friendly and has foosball tables, however at night it's mostly for adults. It also has a great fire pit in the winter to cozy up to.
67 locals recommend
Surf Bar Folly Beach
103 W Cooper AveIf you want to listen to live music, drink beer, and watch surf flics, this is a rad place to go. In the daytime, it's very kid friendly and has foosball tables, however at night it's mostly for adults. It also has a great fire pit in the winter to cozy up to.
Parks & Nature
This is a great little trail to the end of the island. You'll take a left at the only stoplight on folly, go down East Ashley Ave, and park at the end. At the end of the trail is the lighthouse and entrance to Charleston Harbor with stunning views. The lighthouse has taken a beating from Atlantic storms and erosion over the years. It sits on the site of a historic civil war battle depicted in the final scene from the movie "Glory". It's also free.
119 locals recommend
Morris Island Lighthouse
1750 East Ashley AvenueThis is a great little trail to the end of the island. You'll take a left at the only stoplight on folly, go down East Ashley Ave, and park at the end. At the end of the trail is the lighthouse and entrance to Charleston Harbor with stunning views. The lighthouse has taken a beating from Atlantic storms and erosion over the years. It sits on the site of a historic civil war battle depicted in the final scene from the movie "Glory". It's also free.
This county park has clean restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic areas, lots of parking, and seasonal lifeguards. Skimmer Flats, a major Eastern Brown Pelican rookery, is visible at the west end of the park. Take a right at Folly's only stoplight, go to the end of West Ashley Avenue. The fee is $10 during peak season, $5 off season.
82 locals recommend
Folly Beach County Park
1100 W Ashley AveThis county park has clean restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic areas, lots of parking, and seasonal lifeguards. Skimmer Flats, a major Eastern Brown Pelican rookery, is visible at the west end of the park. Take a right at Folly's only stoplight, go to the end of West Ashley Avenue. The fee is $10 during peak season, $5 off season.
If you are looking to fish, people watch and be a tourist, this is the place. During peak season, 2 blocks north and south of the pier is jammed packed with people, beach volleyball, and just a lot of chaos in general. If that is your thing, this is your place. In the offseason, it's very relaxed and it's really cool to walk to the end of the pier to see the Atlantic. There's a lot of fishermen, so you can see their catch, and if you are lucky you can spot dolphins and sea turtles. There are seasonal lifeguards, beach rentals, and a restaurant. Parking is $5 offseason, $10 during peak season. Parking is free if you can find a spot in front of a house, all 4 tires must be off road.
93 locals recommend
Folly Beach Pier
101 E Arctic AveIf you are looking to fish, people watch and be a tourist, this is the place. During peak season, 2 blocks north and south of the pier is jammed packed with people, beach volleyball, and just a lot of chaos in general. If that is your thing, this is your place. In the offseason, it's very relaxed and it's really cool to walk to the end of the pier to see the Atlantic. There's a lot of fishermen, so you can see their catch, and if you are lucky you can spot dolphins and sea turtles. There are seasonal lifeguards, beach rentals, and a restaurant. Parking is $5 offseason, $10 during peak season. Parking is free if you can find a spot in front of a house, all 4 tires must be off road.
Essentials
This is an iconic Folly business, the've been here forever and are open 24 hours. The original owner Bert has long passed but you can feel his presence in the character of the place and people that work there. You can get your staples here, especially if you like organic goods. They also have a deli, homemade ice cream, fresh produce, and a large selection of beer. If you are looking to do tons of grocery shopping, your best bet is the Harris Tetter Grocery right before entering Folly.
84 locals recommend
Bert's Market
202 E Ashley AveThis is an iconic Folly business, the've been here forever and are open 24 hours. The original owner Bert has long passed but you can feel his presence in the character of the place and people that work there. You can get your staples here, especially if you like organic goods. They also have a deli, homemade ice cream, fresh produce, and a large selection of beer. If you are looking to do tons of grocery shopping, your best bet is the Harris Tetter Grocery right before entering Folly.
Shopping
This is an iconic surf shop on the east coast, established in 1965 by Mr. Mac and the tradition is carried on by his son Tim. It's the most authentic surf shop around and carries popular surf apparel, beach attire, soft top surfboards, and real surfboards. If he need guidance on where to surf for beginners or advanced surfers, they can guide you. They also teach surf lessons.
23 locals recommend
Mc Kevlin's Surf Shop
8 Center StThis is an iconic surf shop on the east coast, established in 1965 by Mr. Mac and the tradition is carried on by his son Tim. It's the most authentic surf shop around and carries popular surf apparel, beach attire, soft top surfboards, and real surfboards. If he need guidance on where to surf for beginners or advanced surfers, they can guide you. They also teach surf lessons.