16 Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Charleston (2024)

When in Charleston, home to Lowcountry and Southern cooking, a proper delicious breakfast is a must-try. And for those times when you want something a little quicker or perhaps lighter, we’ve got you covered there as well.

Expect fresh ingredients from local farmers in the most popular dishes. If it is not already, you may just leave Charleston with breakfast as your favorite meal. Here are the 5 best places for a Southern and Lowcountry breakfast in Charleston plus 6 more offering a lighter breakfast experience and the top 5 places for Sunday brunch in Charleston.

5 Best Places for a Southern and Lowcountry Breakfast in Charleston

Poogan’s Porch, located on Queen Street in an 1891 Victorian Home, a longstanding Downtown Charleston favorite established in 1976 and steeped in Southern Hospitality. Go for the Chicken Fried Pork Chop (served with 2 eggs, delicious adluh stoneground grits, and gravy). You’ll also find fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, she-crab soup, mussels, a traditional breakfast, omelet, French toast and chicken & waffles. Southern breakfast / brunch menu starting at 9am every day (also serves lunch & dinner). Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $14 - $20

Miller’s All Day, located on King Street just north of Broad, a great place for those instagram pics with an interior accented in a pastel teal and designed to mimic an old-fashioned pharmacy with soda fountain vibe. While not quite all day, breakfast starts at 8am every day and is served until 3pm during the week and 4pm Saturdays and Sundays. Expect a modern twist on Southern classics utilizing mainly locally sourced goods. Favorites include the Millers Plate and the Frittata. Oh, and don’t forget to get a snap in the photo booth. Avg $14 - $17

Virginia’s on King, aptly located on King Street and featuring the whole gamete of a Southern Low Country Breakfast / Brunch. If it is Southern or Lowcountry, it is on the breakfast menu. Think, all the classics plus grit bowls, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, pickled okra, she crab soup, biscuit sandwiches and more. Breakfast / Brunch is served daily 8am - 3pm. Avg $14 - $22

Vicious Biscuit is located OTP (off the peninsula) in Mount Pleasant, a perfect spot on your way to Sullivan’s Island Beach and worth the drive on its own. As the name implies they are known for their incredibly large and loaded Southern buttermilk biscuits topped with everything from fried chicken, pimento cheese & fried green tomatoes to eggs, gravy, bacon, ham and pork. And, don’t overlook my favorite, The Old School Breakfast (two eggs, delicious thick strips of bacon, stone-ground grits and one of those lovely biscuits), although it hard to pass up one their myriad takes on the chicken biscuit. Open 7am daily and 8am Saturdays & Sundays. Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $8 - $14

Page’s Okra Grill, also located OTP and a perfect stop on the way to or from the beach. Another Southern meets coastal spot with Lowcountry favorites like pimento cheese, bbq pork, fried green tomatoes, shrimp n grits, crab cakes, fried chicken, flounder, and fried oysters and of course, eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, omelets, French toast, waffles and more. Opens 7am daily and 8am Saturdays & Sundays (no need to wait for Sunday Brunch). Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $10 - $18

The List of the 5 Best Places for a Southern or Lowcountry Breakfast in Charleston

Poogan’s Porch
Millers
Virginia’s on King
Vicious Biscuit
Page’s Okra Grill

6 Favorite Breakfast Spots for a Quick or Light Breakfast in Charleston SC from a Local

Several of the restaurants on the 10 places where locals eat lunch and also my 5 favorite coffee shops in Charleston are a perfect place for a quick or lighter breakfast option along with great service and great food. A few of those include:

Harkin Cafe & Coffee Shop, located on Queen Street, a cozy cafe setting, offers quiche, a parfait, pastries, avocado toast, and their popular Butter Me Up breakfast sandwich with egg soufflé, herby cheese, pickled shallot on a Ricotta housemade biscuit (add bacon, avocado or side salad). Opens 7am daily and 8am Saturdays & Sundays. Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $5 - $10

The Mercato at Sorelle is located on the 1st floor and offers a frittata, egg panino and Nutella toast along with their coffee bar. Opens 8am daily. Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $12 - $15

Queen’s Street Grocery, located on Queen Street, offers breakfast crepes with ham, egg, and numerous veggie options plus omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, parfait, French toast and smoothies. Opens at 9am daily. Avg $6 - $15

Island Provisions,located on St Philip Street, serves up breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast and a salmon toast as well as bagels, quiche, muffins, scones, and danishes along side their coffee bar. Opens 7am daily and 8am Saturdays & Sundays. Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $9 - $12

Clerks Coffee Company, located at Hotel Emeline, lends an extensive menu with numerous breakfast sandwiches, frittatas, breakfast casserole, plus parfait, overnight oats and chia pudding along with their coffee bar. Open 7am daily. Avg $6 -$10

La Patisserie, located on King Street, offers tartines, croissants, puffs, quiche, Croque Monsiour, and parfait along side their coffee bar. Open 7am daily. Indoor and outdoor seating. Avg $7 - $12

The List of 6 Best Places to Grab a Quick or Light Breakfast in Charleston

Harkin Cafe & Coffee Shop
The Mercato at Sorelle
Queen's Street Grocery
Island Provisions
Clerks Coffee Company
La Patisserie

5 Top Sunday Brunch Spots in Charleston SC

For the perfect Brunch Spot Filled with Southern Dishes, a great atmosphere, and delicious food look no further than a Charleston Restaurant. And to be more specific, these top five favorite Charleston spots for Sunday Brunch (and some even do a Saturday Brunch).

Hall’s Chophouse, 434 King St, one of the hottest reservation tickets in town for Sunday Brunch, 10am to 2pm. Known for their fine cuts of steak—and their Gospel Sunday Brunch with the professional a cappella group, Plantation Singers. Yes, diners are serenaded with fabulous live gospel during Brunch. On the menu, their full range of prime-cut steaks plus omelets, traditional eggs benedict, rib eye- & crab cake benedict, French toast, Southern sweet potato pancakes, waffles, biscuits & gravy, shrimp & grits, and more. The food is fantastic and the experience even better. Entrees $16 - 22 avg. (not including steaks)

{Southern classic old-world club vibe with exposed brick and dark woods, leather and velvet booths and accents, white table cloth service}

The Darling Oyster Bar, 513 King Street, for a Lowcountry seafood experience. Start with an oyster shooter or scallop ceviche, followed by your choice of creole shrimp, seafood frittata, shrimp & grits, French toast, crab cake benedict or a crab quiche. Don’t forget to add a sunny side up egg, or two, to any dish (and maybe a little bacon and definitely a side of Marsh Hen Mill Grits). Oh, and if that is not enough, you will find a Fried Chicken Biscuit, Lobster Roll, and even a Burger. Their raw bar menu is also available with oysters, mussels, a seafood plateau and more. Entrees $13 - $20 avg.

{classic interior and menu set inside a 115 year old building on King Street. Exposed brick walls and a black and white tiled floor are accented with turquoise booths and bar stools and full raw bar with seating facing the King Street window}

82 Queen, 82 Queen Street, Everything you would expect from a Low Country Brunch. Gorgeous Charleston interior, excellent service and a menu to match. Jambalaya, Fish & Grits, Southern Fried Chicken & Biscuits, Lowcountry Breakfast Bowl (shrimp, andouille sausage, grits, eggs, bacon), BBQ Shrimp & Grits, French Toast plus salads and starters (fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, crab cakes). Entrees $20 - $25 avg.

{classic Charleston establishment serving up Lowcountry cuisine set inside three combined buildings with a gorgeous courtyard in Charleston’s Historic French Quarter}

Husk, 76 Queen Street, 10am - 2pm, Saturday and Sunday, With a frequently changing menu, sometimes daily, here is a sample of what you may find offered on a Sunday Brunch menu at Husk: Fried Chicken & Biscuits, Pork Belly, Shrimp & Grits Etouffe, Confit Rabbit Hash, Country Fried Pork Chop with eggs, Shrimp Roll, Carbonara, Trout & Grits. Entrees $20 - $29 avg.

{modern in menu setting and interior decor, Husk was made famous by founding chef and James Beard award winner, Sean Brock. Although Brock is no longer with the establishment, Husk lives on. Husk is located in a two structure combo with a classic Victorian style exterior complete with the large front porch and white columns while the interior has a modern theme.}

High Cotton, 199 East Bay St, 10am - 2pm, Saturday and Sunday, Enjoy brunch with live bluegrass music playing the background. Start with their delectable cinnamon rolls, she-crab soup or chocolate buttered croissant. Then a few raw or broiled oysters before a choice of Eggs or Crab Cakes Benedict, Steak & eggs, an omelet, chicken & waffles, brioche French toast, shrimp & grits, a brunch burger (served with delicious parmesan-truffle fries), scallops and grits, or a broiled salmon salad. Entrees $16 - $28 avg

{classic Southern feel from start to finish. White tablecloth service}