Best Restaurants in Pawleys Island, SC

The dining scene here gets underestimated. Most people think beach town, casual food, fried seafood platters. What they find instead is a two-mile stretch with more good restaurants per capita than towns ten times its size, running from a fine-dining chef’s tasting to a dollar-bill-covered tavern where the blues band plays under oak trees until 2 a.m.

The best restaurants in Pawleys Island cover Lowcountry classics, globally inspired seafood, Southern comfort food from scratch, and a handful of spots that don’t fit any category. This guide is organized by what kind of meal you’re actually looking for, with real hours, what to order, and the details that make the difference between a good trip and a forgettable one. If you’re still planning the rest of your days, our weekend in Pawleys Island guide maps out how to fit everything into two days without feeling rushed.

At a Glance: Pawleys Island Restaurants by Vibe

Restaurant	Best For	Price	Hours	Reservations
Bistro 217	Date night, upscale lunch	$$$	Mon-Sat, lunch + dinner	Recommended
Frank’s & Frank’s Outback	Special occasions, outdoor dining	$$$$	Tue-Sat, dinner only	Strongly recommended
Perrone’s	Fine dining, wine lovers	$$$$	Wed-Sat, dinner only	Recommended
Hanser House	Local seafood, families	$$$	Mon-Sat, dinner only	Recommended
Chive Blossom Cafe	Fusion lunch and dinner	$$-$$$	Mon-Sat, lunch + dinner	Walk-in friendly
Rustic Table	Southern brunch and comfort dinner	$$-$$$	Tue-Sun, brunch + dinner	Walk-in friendly
Pawleys Fish Camp	New Lowcountry, live music nights	$$	Tue-Sat, dinner	Walk-in
Pawleys Island Tavern (The PIT)	Burgers, blues, late night	$	Tue-Sat, 11am-2am	Walk-in only
Pawleys Tap House & Grill	Self-pour craft beer, casual bites	$$	Daily, lunch-dinner	Walk-in

Upscale Dining in Pawleys Island

Bistro 217

Address: 10707 Ocean Hwy, Unit D | Phone: (843) 235-8217 Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-3:30pm and 5pm-9pm (9:30pm Fri-Sat) | Closed Sunday

Bistro 217 has been the anchor of upscale dining in Pawleys for over 20 years, and it still earns it. Chef Adam Kirby draws from cooking experience across the country, which shows on a menu that doesn’t stay in any one lane. You’ll find Korean-glazed chicken next to a shaved ribeye Philly, a fresh-catch fish taco alongside a house-made pimento cheese appetizer that comes with the bread basket. The portions are larger than you’d expect at this price point.

The covered courtyard is where you want to be. Request it specifically when you book. Lunch here is one of the better-kept secrets on the island: full menu, shorter waits, and roughly half the dinner bill. Dinner runs $30-$40 per person on average.

Order: The whole fried fish changes with the catch but is consistently exceptional. Bangkok chicken if you want something different. House-made desserts and ice cream finish the meal right. The Blood Orange Cosmo and Lemonade Martini are both worth ordering.

Good to know: Bistro 217 is the same ownership team behind Rustic Table. Both restaurants share a commitment to fresh, local ingredients, so if Bistro is full, Rustic Table is the logical next call.

Frank’s Restaurant & Frank’s Outback

Address: 10434 Ocean Hwy | Phone: (843) 237-3030 Hours: Tue-Sat, 5pm-9pm (9:30pm Fri-Sat) | Closed Sunday and Monday

Frank’s has been operating in Pawleys since 1988 and has been featured in Bon Appetit and Southern Living. It’s actually two restaurants in one building with four separate dining venues and four bars: a more formal inside dining room, and Frank’s Outback, a covered outdoor garden area strung with fairy lights and anchored by fire pits. The Outback seats about 100 and runs year-round with heaters in cooler months. If the weather cooperates, this is where you want to eat.

The menu runs Italian-influenced American with heavy seasonal seafood. Appetizers include fried oysters, Caribbean sauteed conch, and tuna nachos that regulars treat as non-negotiable starters. Pan-seared scallops and veal scallopini lead the seafood side; the bone-in pork chop and the filet are the red meat anchors. The 14-layer caramel cake with ice cream has its own fan base.

Order: Tuna nachos to start, then bone-in pork chop or a fish special. The Duck 2 Ways gets mentioned in reviews constantly. Blue crab ravioli when it’s on the menu. Braised short rib if you want something richer.

Good to know: Walk-ins are welcome in the Courtyard and the new Rock Garden (Frank’s Way Back) weather permitting, but the main rooms require a reservation. Friday and Saturday in summer, book well ahead. The outdoor area is dog-friendly in practice.

Perrone’s Restaurant and Bar

Address: 13302 Ocean Hwy 17, Suite A | Phone: (843) 235-9193 Hours: Wed-Sat, 5pm-9pm | Closed Sunday-Tuesday

Perrone’s is the most serious restaurant in Pawleys Island. The building doesn’t announce itself, which is part of why visitors drive past it. Inside is a cosmopolitan bistro: retro black-and-white tile floors, local art on the walls, low lighting, and a jazz soundtrack. Owner and chef Steve Perrone uses sous-vide for most proteins, which produces a consistency other kitchens can’t match.

The wine list runs over 300 selections with a Reserve-by-the-glass program using Coravin, and a Perlick system for Champagne by the glass. The 100-plus craft beer list is serious. The cocktail menu alone runs several pages.

Food-wise, the menu centers on locally sourced fresh seafood and USDA Prime in-house dry-aged steaks and game meats. Crab soup comes in an aromatic broth with sauteed leeks and a splash of cream. Lobster bisque features sous-vide butter-poached lobster. The dry-aged beef sliders combine short rib, brisket, and steak in a way that’s hard to describe without sounding like a press release.

Order: Dry-aged beef slider trio for the table. Crab soup. Whatever the fresh fish special is. Fig Old Fashioned or the Charred Grapefruit Vodka cocktail to drink.

Good to know: Parking is limited and guests mention it consistently as a challenge. Arrive a few minutes early or you may end up circling. Rated 4.9 on OpenTable from 484+ diners as of early 2026.

Best Seafood Restaurants in Pawleys Island

Hanser House

Address: 14360 Ocean Hwy (Litchfield community) | Phone: (843) 235-3021 Hours: Mon-Sat, 4pm-10pm | Closed Sunday

Hanser House opened in 1999 and has been sourcing locally ever since. Executive Chef Heath Hanser runs the kitchen using family recipes and works with local suppliers directly. The result is a menu where the seafood tastes like it came from nearby water, because it did.

The Southern Oyster Rockefeller is the standout appetizer: select oysters on the half shell topped with collard greens, chopped bacon, cheese, and spices, then baked. The she-crab soup is rich and consistent. For mains, the Pawleys Platter (flounder, shrimp, scallops, and a crab cake) is the reliable order-everything move. Buffalo Shrimp, half a pound of bite-size Buffalo Creek shrimp with jalapeno cream sauce, is the right call if you want heat.

The setting is rustic coastal without being precious about it. Good for families and anyone who wants a properly prepared local seafood dinner without the formality of Bistro 217 or Perrone’s. If you’re debating where to base yourself while you’re here, our Pawleys Island vs. Myrtle Beach vs. Litchfield comparison covers the tradeoffs including proximity to spots like Hanser House.

Order: She-crab soup, Southern Oyster Rockefeller, Pawleys Platter. If there’s a grilled grouper or flounder special, that’s the move.

Good to know: Located in Litchfield, the northern part of the Pawleys area. If you’re staying near the beach or Litchfield Inn, this is the closest upscale seafood option.

Chive Blossom Cafe

Address: 85 N Causeway Rd | Phone: (843) 237-1438 Hours: Mon-Sat, 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-9pm | Closed Sunday

Chive Blossom sits in a low, rustic building on the north causeway, shaded by live oaks. It was opened in 2003 by Chef Trina Renault and her husband Paul Kelly, who spent years cooking at restaurants including Frank’s. The menu doesn’t pick a lane: Southern classics mixed with Mediterranean, French, and Asian influences, all built on fresh local and sustainable ingredients.

The okra pancake has a following among people who’ve eaten here multiple times. The kitchen also does straight-ahead things well: local seafood, pasta, and grilled proteins. The courtyard is open most of the year given the Lowcountry climate and is the best seat in the house.

This is one of the few spots in Pawleys that works equally well for lunch and dinner. Lunch in particular is a strong value and typically less crowded than dinner.

Order: The okra pancake as a starter if it’s on the menu. Fresh catch of the day. Anything from the pasta section. The cocktail menu changes twice yearly and is worth paying attention to.

Good to know: The owners share the same culinary background that shaped some of the other top kitchens in the area. Frequent visitors treat this as a non-negotiable stop on every Pawleys trip.

Pawleys Fish Camp

Address: 10744 Ocean Hwy | Hours: Tue-Thu 4-9pm, Fri-Sat 4-10pm | Closed Sun-Mon

One of the newer spots in Pawleys, opened by Georgetown native Brandon Wallace after years cooking along the East Coast. The menu is Lowcountry classics with enough originality to keep it interesting: shrimp and grits, fried catfish, crab leg boil alongside fried deviled eggs and catfish with collards. Prices run $13-$36.

The outdoor patio hosts live music on select evenings, which makes this the right choice when you want a full night rather than just a meal. The space is casual and the vibe is neighborhood restaurant.

Order: Shrimp and grits and fried deviled eggs. The crab leg boil when you’re hungry. Check ahead for live music nights if that matters to your evening.

Best Casual Restaurants in Pawleys Island

Rustic Table

Address: 10683 Ocean Hwy | Phone: (843) 314-0164 Hours: Tue-Sun, 10am-3pm (brunch) and 5pm-9pm (dinner, 9:30pm Fri-Sat) | Closed Monday

Rustic Table comes from the same team as Bistro 217 (Adam Kirby and Anne Hardee), and you can taste the same ingredient-first approach in a much more relaxed setting. Concrete floors, wooden tables, a covered patio, and servers who don’t make you feel like you’re in the wrong clothes.

The Saturday and Sunday brunch is one of the better meals in the area. Kirby Goes Bananas (French toast with caramelized bananas and bacon) is worth the drive alone. Blueberry pancakes, eggs Benedict, and the Pawleys Omelet with bell peppers, white cheddar, ham, and breakfast potatoes round it out. Dinner leans Southern comfort: brisket nachos, brisket wontons with collard greens and Dixie Lee peas with Southern mustard sauce, steak tips over pappardelle with gorgonzola cream.

Kids can feed ducks at the nearby lake while you wait for a table, which makes this the most family-friendly sit-down option in the area. For more on how families tend to spend their time here, the things to do in Pawleys Island guide has the full breakdown.

Order: Brisket nachos for the table, then whatever the daily fish special is. At brunch, Kirby Goes Bananas. The bread pudding at dinner is mentioned in almost every review.

Good to know: Can get loud at weekend brunch with large parties. The back room holds 25-32 guests for private events, not available peak season (mid-May through Labor Day).

Pawleys Island Tavern (The PIT)

Address: 10635 Ocean Hwy (behind Lowcountry Jewelers, down the gravel driveway) | Phone: (843) 237-8465 Hours: Tue-Sat, 11am-2am | Closed Sunday and Monday

The PIT is what it is: dollar bills covering every surface, picnic tables under old-growth oak trees, live music on weekends (blues, rock, jazz, bluegrass, whatever the week brings), and a kitchen running until 2am that does pub food better than it has to. The burger is hand-pressed from fresh-ground Black Angus chuck, 8 ounces, and is the thing to order. Buffalo chicken sandwich, NY Strip, shrimp and yellow grits, and a fried seafood platter round out the menu. Pizza if you’re here late.

Regulars sign a dollar bill and add it to the collection. You should too.

This is where locals eat when they’re not trying to impress anyone. If you’ve been to Pawleys before, you already know the PIT. If it’s your first trip, go at least once.

Order: Hand-pressed Black Angus burger or the Buffalo chicken sandwich. Shrimp and yellow grits if you want something more substantial. Come Friday or Saturday for the live music under the oaks.

Good to know: No reservations, ever. Walk in, find a spot, settle in. Open until 2am Tue-Sat, which makes it the default late-night option when everywhere else has closed.

Pawleys Tap House & Grill

Address: 13089 Ocean Hwy | Phone: (843) 979-1010 Hours: Mon 4pm-9pm, Tue-Sun 11:30am-9pm

The only self-pour taproom on the Grand Strand. Forty craft beers on tap, pour-your-own format where you pay by the ounce. Good for groups who want to drink at their own pace without flagging down a server. Food is solid bar fare and they carry the NFL and Big Ten packages. On-site catering room holds up to 80 guests.

Where to Eat in Pawleys Island: By Occasion

Anniversary or birthday dinner: Frank’s Outback (outdoor, most atmospheric) or Perrone’s (most refined). Book Frank’s first; Perrone’s if Frank’s is full.

First night, don’t want to overthink it: Rustic Table for no-fuss Southern comfort, or Chive Blossom if you want something a little more interesting.

Lunch after the beach: Chive Blossom Cafe or Bistro 217 for something sit-down. The PIT if you want quick and casual.

Late night: The PIT is the only real option in the area. Open until 2am Tuesday through Saturday.

Families with kids: Rustic Table (duck feeding, casual atmosphere, kids do well here). Hanser House for a slightly more structured seafood dinner.

Not into seafood: Bistro 217 (ribeye, pork chop, Korean chicken, pasta) and Rustic Table (red meat and Southern comfort throughout) are both strong non-seafood options.

Deciding where to stay before you book dinner? Our Pawleys Island vs. Myrtle Beach vs. Litchfield guide breaks down which area puts you closest to what you care about. And if you’re still looking at rental options, the best beach rentals in Pawleys Island covers the full range from oceanfront houses to creek-side cottages.

Practical Tips for Eating in Pawleys Island

Reservations matter more in summer. Frank’s and Perrone’s fill up weeks in advance during peak season (July-August). Bistro 217 and Hanser House need at least a day or two of lead time on weekends. Rustic Table and Chive Blossom are more forgiving but not reliably so on Friday and Saturday nights.

Lunch is the local move. Bistro 217 and Chive Blossom both serve full menus at lunch for significantly less than dinner pricing. Same kitchen, shorter wait, and your evening stays open for the beach.

The Outback has a walk-in option. Even when Frank’s main rooms are fully booked, walk-ins are welcome in the outdoor Courtyard and Rock Garden (Frank’s Way Back) weather permitting.

Perrone’s parking is a real issue. The lot is small and fills up fast. Arrive a few minutes early or you may find yourself circling.

The PIT is behind a jewelry store. It’s on the gravel driveway behind Lowcountry Jewelers off Ocean Highway. First-timers miss it. Follow the sounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best restaurant in Pawleys Island overall? Depends on what you’re after. Bistro 217 is the most consistently excellent across lunch and dinner for a broad range of tastes. Perrone’s is the most accomplished fine-dining option in the area. Frank’s Outback wins for atmosphere. For local seafood specifically, Hanser House.

Are there good breakfast options in Pawleys Island? Rustic Table serves brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10am-3pm and is the strongest dedicated brunch in the area. The PIT opens at 11am Tuesday through Saturday and does a Blue Plate lunch.

Do I need reservations at Pawleys Island restaurants? For Bistro 217, Frank’s, Perrone’s, and Hanser House in summer: yes, book ahead. For Rustic Table and Chive Blossom: call ahead on weekends, walk-ins work weekdays. For The PIT and Pawleys Fish Camp: walk-in only.

What’s the best restaurant for seafood in Pawleys Island? Hanser House for fresh local seafood in a casual-upscale setting. Chive Blossom Cafe for creative seafood with Southern and Mediterranean influences. Bistro 217 for a broader menu where the fresh catch is reliably one of the best options on the board.

What is the Pawleys Island Tavern known for? The PIT is known for hand-pressed Black Angus burgers, shrimp and blues (their own tagline), live music under oak trees on weekends, dollar bills signed by every visitor on every surface, and being the only place in Pawleys open until 2am.

Want the full picture before you go? Our things to do in Pawleys Island guide covers beaches, nature, history, and local activities across the whole island.