Where to dock and dine for the ultimate coastal culinary experience

Looking for the perfect spot to refuel both your boat and your appetite? The Lowcountry is full of coastal charm, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than by docking at a waterfront restaurant and diving into a plate of fresh local seafood. From Hilton Head Island to Bluffton, Beaufort and beyond, these boat-friendly restaurants offer stunning views, dockside access and flavors that reflect the best of the South Carolina coast. Whether you’re seeking a casual crab shack, a refined riverside bistro or a lively marina hangout, this guide has your next dining destination mapped out.

Hilton Head Island

Palmetto Bay Marina

86 Helmsman Way

With designated dock and dine slips, Palmetto Bay Marina makes it a breeze to cure hunger while cruising the coast. For breakfast Island-style, stop by Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe and take in the view from its wrap-around porch. Happy hours are more spirited at The Black Marlin Bayside Grill and Hurricane Bar with live music from the deck, or enjoy a feast of the sea at Carolina Crab Company. Their signature Wicked Awesome Pot is stuffed full of Maine lobster, clams and shrimp with all the fixings. Tie up and chow down. 

[Related: Restaurant News – Hilton Head & Bluffton]

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina

1 Shelter Cove Lane

Servicing 178 slips, Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina is the largest deep-water port on Hilton Head Island. On its over 15.5 acres of award-winning grounds, find an abundance of on-property restaurants with breathtaking waterfront views. The second-story garden patio at ELA’s On The Water overlooks the harbor in a sophisticated setting, and boaters can dock for free with a dinner reservation. Scott’s Fish Market promises some of the freshest seafood on the Island, accompanied by a unique selection of coastal cocktails like a Key Lime Martini. Guests rave about the she-crab soup, but be sure to order yours early — it can sell out.

Broad Creek Marina

18 Simmons Road

Rustic charm reigns supreme at Hilton Head Island’s newest nautical facility. Surrounded by picturesque Lowcountry marshlands crosshatched with long fishing docks, Broad Creek Marina doubles as a full-service body shop, offering mechanic and maintenance services, and a parking spot for inland boaters. Nearby, two restaurants bring traditional Southern cooking to the seaside. Up the Creek Pub & Grill is known as a local dive with indulgent handhelds like the Philly Cheesesteak sliders, and Fishcamp elevates with a chill bar and seafood towers. Both eateries are also pet-friendly, letting the whole family dig in.

Hilton Head Harbor

43 Jenkins Island Road

A luxury RV resort and marina with an onsite five-star restaurant, Hilton Head Harbor promises to deliver a deluxe experience. Replenish the boat (and the cooler) with goods from the general store. Down the road, Sunset Grille pairs fine dining with stunning views. The dinner menu features an extensive wine list, curated by the husband-wife co-owner duo, Hugh and Linda Lockman, and includes both rich Italian dishes and elevated Southern seafood creations. Brunch’s standouts are the signature deep dish quiche and the Bloody Mary — elected by Garden & Gun Magazine to be one of the best in the South. 

Freeport Marina (Daufuskie Island Public Dock)

211 Cooper River Landing Road

Hailed as the “official unofficial gateway to Daufuskie Island,” the free public docks at Freeport Marina welcome all boaters for an adventurous day trip. Skip the lines for the ferry and set sail across the sound to the wooden docks. From there, explore all the island has to offer, including fresh Lowcountry seafood at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company. Its unassuming exterior, complete with hand-painted signs, set the tone for the homestyle cooking within. Fried baskets of the local catch, a full bar and live music make it the ultimate place to unwind.

[Related: Your Guide to the Lowcountry’s Food Trucks]

Skull Creek Docks

Hudson Road & Squire Pope Road

A trio of Island favorites, the restaurants at Skull Creek draw crowds for a reason. Each dishes out seafood creations with their own unique spin. Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks is the only restaurant on Hilton Head Island to fish its own shellfish. Guests dining on the water can watch as the shrimp boats roll in with the daily catch, including other delicacies such as Lowcountry soft-shell crab and oysters. Alongside Southern classics, Skull Creek Boathouse takes international inspiration with sushi rolls on the menu, and Skull Creek Dockside kicks up the heat with Carolina-style barbeque. The nearby docks are open to the public, sharing the same hours as Skull Creek Boathouse, and parking is free after 5 p.m.

Harbour Town Yacht Basin

160 Lighthouse Road

At the foot of Harbour Town’s iconic lighthouse, the yacht basin welcomes over 100 boats to its pristine docks. Restaurants with one-of-a-kind Lowcountry flair accompany the town’s quaint array of boutiques and waterfront views, and The Quarterdeck sits at the prime location. From its panoramic patio, gaze out toward Daufuskie Island while indulging in raw oysters or roasted octopus in a casual, sun-filled atmosphere. Over at The Crazy Crab’s Harbour Town location, find a family-friendly vibe with nautical decorations to amuse the young sailor in everyone. Hushpuppies are a crowd pleaser, and for shellfish lovers, the crab dip is a must-try.

Bluffton

Bluffton Town Dock at Palmetto Bluff

31 Boat House Street

When cruising the May River, disembark at Palmetto Bluff for plates as beautiful as the shoreline. Although Palmetto Bluff is a private community, the Montage resort opens two restaurants to the public, each presenting elegant eats in its own distinct atmosphere. Buffalos’ setting is more relaxed with an open-air patio that is the perfect perch to watch boats passing by. River House follows a more upscale evening vibe with its sumptuous decor, sommelier-curated wine list and strict no flip-flops policy. Park at the Bluffton Town Dock just south of the Wilson Landing Marina. Each vessel is allowed a three-to-four-hour limit — plenty of time to sip and savor.

Bluffton Oyster Factory Park

55 Wharf Street

Named after the oyster cannery that used to occupy its grounds, the Oyster Factory Park continues to make history. On its shores rests the Bluffton Oyster Company, a seafood market bringing boat-to-table freshness since the turn of the 20th century. Pick up the day’s catch and head to the park’s fire and oyster roast pit for the ultimate coastal picnic, or take packaged Lowcountry boils to-go. Each day’s offerings differ based on the morning catch, but the unbeatable quality is guaranteed.

Beaufort

Lady’s Island Marina

73 Sea Island Parkway

The Lady’s Island Marina embodies coastal charm: wooden docks filled with sea-faring vessels, a vivid teal boathouse and a grassy marsh below. Skim through the menu at the marina’s restaurant, Dockside, and find yourself swimming in seafood. Over 10 preparations of shrimp, oysters by the dozen and swordfish are all standout options, but the homemade cornbread is the main catch. For lighter fare like sandwiches, salads and coffee, swing into Mameem & Maudie’s Café & Icery. Just make sure to save room for dessert — the shaved ice packs paradise into every spoonful.

Dataw Island Marina

100 Marina Drive, Saint Helena

Discover hidden culinary treasures on the shores of the secluded Dataw Island. Though the island is its own private community, the marina is open to the public for free. Past visitors compliment its wide array of services, including refueling gas, supplying intel on the best fishing hotspots and providing easy access to the Morgan River Grill. There, dive into Southern staples like boiled seafood platters, or order a pizza to savor on your watercraft. Their signature seafood pie — a homemade flatbread topped with herby cream sauce, capers, shrimp and blue crab — is a one-of-a-kind delicacy best enjoyed by the ocean.

Safe Harbor Port Royal Landing

1 Port Royal Landing Drive, Port Royal

A tiki-inspired bar and restaurant, Marker 244 reimagines Lowcountry signatures into exciting new creations. Iced tea gets revamped with pineapple, lime and vodka, while beer-battered onion rings are drizzled with honey. Staples on the menu include Captain Ron’s Cuban sandwich and fish n’ grits, serving up stick-to-your-ribs goodness earned after a day at sea. Purple fluorescent lights under the bar add to the laidback party vibe, and the waterfront deck makes the ideal setting. Anchor at Safe Harbor’s Port Royal Landing marina for quick access to the restaurant, convenience store and fuel docks.