Charleston, SC, has long been celebrated as a culinary haven, known for its unique blend of Lowcountry Southern cuisine with coastal influences. Recently, the downtown area has experienced a culinary renaissance, with an increasing number of restaurants offering diverse international dining in Charleston. Start your culinary adventure first by exploring the quintessential Charleston restaurants with flavors of the Lowcountry, then complete your tour with this curated list of seven must-try Charleston restaurants embracing international dining at Charleston’s best in 2025.
*all photos sourced from the restaurants website or instagram pages.
Rancho Lewis, Mexican / Tex-Mex
Experience a Mexican restaurant like no other at Rancho Lewis where Lewis BBQ's Pitmaster and owner John Lewis brings the authentic flavors he grew up savoring in El Paso. The menu is a delightful fusion of border-food meets cowboy cuisine, elevating traditional fare to new heights. Ingredients are carefully sourced from the northern Rio Grande Valley, ensuring an unparalleled taste. From the hand-crafted tortillas to the mesquite-grilled meats and roasted chiles, everything is made in-house, offering an unforgettable dining experience.
Open for lunch and dinner. Entrees range from $17 to $35. Located at 1503 King Street.
{Don’t miss a peek inside the custom-built la tortillería (with its glass front—it's hard to miss!) where they grind Lowcountry corn and make fresh tortillas. My favorite? The chicken fajitas, bursting with incredible flavor and tenderness—paired perfectly with all the tasty sides.}
Le Farfalle, Italian
Le Farfalle offers contemporary Italian cuisine with a unique local coastal flair in a light and airy space. Inside, the white tablecloth seating creates an elegant atmosphere, while the gorgeous outdoor patio provides a beautiful setting for a relaxed dining experience. The large bar is perfect for walk-ins and sharing small plates, making it an ideal spot for an impromptu meal.
Expect a variety of small plates, pasta, and steaks. Open for dinner only. Pasta entrees range from $21 to $35 (meats $34 to $115, entree only), with additional sides. Average cost per person is $50+. Located at 15 Beaufain Street.
{Don't miss the warm rosemary focaccia served with tomato sago, whipped ricotta, and olive oil—thank me later!Another favorite is the Fideos pasta with blue crab, a must-try for seafood lovers.}
Melfi’s, Italian
Melfi’s brings upscale Italian dining with a cool yet elegant vibe, from the same group behind Leon's Oyster Bar. The interior features white tablecloth seating and vintage retro accents, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. Enjoy housemade fresh pastas, wood-fired oven pizza, and small plates like tuna crudo, porchetta, prosciutto & burrata, snapper tartare, and fresh salads. Heartier dishes include osso buco, steak Florentine, and grilled branzino.
Lunch is served on Fridays and Saturdays, with dinner available nightly. Entrees range from $24 to $50+, with an average cost per person of $50+. Located at 721 King Street.
{A large bar offers a full menu, and a lovely covered patio provides additional seating. As with most popular Charleston hotspots, reservations fill up quickly, even for the bar area. No high chairs or strollers allowed.}
Sorelle, Italian
This modern spin on classic Italian cuisine utilizes fresh Lowcountry ingredients, making Sorelle the latest hot spot in Charleston since opening in 2023. Housed in three renovated and adjoined historic buildings, the stunning interior is worth the visit in itself. Located on the second floor, this fine dining restaurant requires reservations. Expect exquisite dishes like caviar (caviale), grilled Sardinian octopus, zucchini parmigiana, pappardelle di vitello, tajarin al ragu, line-caught swordfish, monkfish marsala, and bistecca wagyu.
Entrees range from $33 to $98, with an average cost per person of $75+. Located at 88 Broad Street.
The ground floor features a bar with a full menu and walk-ins available after 4 pm. On the main floor, you’ll also find The Mercato, an Italian deli meets coffee shop and bakery open for breakfast and also among the top places where locals eat lunch in Charleston.
Chez Nous, inspired by Southern France, Northern Italy and Spain
Chez Nous offers a unique dining experience in Charleston, inspired by the flavors of Southern France, Northern Italy, and Spain. Tucked away in a charming Charleston house, the atmosphere is cozy and European, with a pub-like feel—without actually being a pub. Expect fresh market ingredients prepared simply but beautifully. The menu may feature dishes like a chickpea & radicchio salad topped with soft-boiled eggs or pork & beef meatballs as an appetizer, followed by fish with carrots and beans and poached pears to finish. Other options include duck, fish, lamb chops, pasta, fish stew, and more.
The daily changing menu is the same for lunch and dinner, with entrees ranging on average from $38 to $50+. Located at 6 Payne Street.
{The daily-changing menu, posted on Instagram, highlights local ingredients with a European meets coastal Charleston feel. Each menu features two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts, offering a limited yet delightful selection. The tables are arranged closely together, offering an authentic European dining experience that enhances the intrigue and charm of the restaurant.}
Maison, French
This small French bistro combines traditional French cuisine with a contemporary vibe. Expect traditional French staples such as rich and comforting onion soup, pate, escargot, chicken cordon bleu, duck confit, as well as bouillabaisse, rabbit, lamb shank, or scallops. And of course, no French meal would be complete without indulging in a decadent chocolate mousse and a refreshing espresso to round off your dining experience. Entrees $39 avg. 708 King Street.
{Dinner only from Tuesday to Saturday. Enjoy French cuisine infused with Lowcountry ingredients for a unique dining experience.}
Vern’s, American Cuisine
Vern's is a cozy, European-style neighborhood restaurant with an ambiance that feels like it has been part of the Charleston scene for ages. The eclectic, modern menu features a unique blend of Lowcountry ingredients. Expect a la carte-style offerings such as raw yellowfin tuna with Calabrian chili and lemon, escargot with Tarragon and Gruyère, or beets with blue cheese, arugula, sumac, and benne. For entrees, try dishes like campanelli with rabbit and Piave Vecchio, roast spring chicken with brown butter jus, flounder with kale and Montpellier butter, or grilled pork loinwith king trumpet mushrooms, boniato, and black truffle. Daily specials are also available.
Entrees range from $28 to $39. Located at 41 Bogard Street at the corner of Bogard & Ashe.
{Dinner only Thursday through Monday, from 5-10 pm. The bar is open with a full menu available for walk-ins.}
7 Top Charleston Restaurants for International Dining in Charleston—The List
Rancho Lewis, Mexican / Tex-Mex
Le Farfalle, Italian
Melfi’s, Italian
Sorelle, Italian
Chez Nous, inspired by Southern France, Northern Italy and Spain
Maison, French
Vern’s, American Eclectic
Discover the Essence of International Dining in Charleston
Embracing Charleston's diverse culinary landscape leads us on an unforgettable journey through the world's finest cuisines, all without leaving the charming cobbled streets of this historic city. Our curated list of restaurants with international dining in Charleston highlights the authenticity of global flavors, a deep respect for culinary diversity, and a tribute to the vibrant local ingredients that blend beautifully with Lowcountry charm.
From the zest of Mexican dishes to the comforting richness of Italian pastas and the delicate touch of French bistro classics, each restaurant offers an experience that’s both genuine and captivating. Come taste the global culture thriving right here, in the heart of Charleston.
