Patios and outdoor dining in Charleston: rooftops and courtyards

Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Refreshed every three months.

Outdoor dining in Charleston is a peninsula affair. On this list, the rooftops and patios cluster around the City Market, on North and South Market streets and Vendue Range, and along King Street from lower King to the upper King bar district, with courtyards tucked off Church, Warren and Vanderhorst streets.

How we made this list. The places come from OpenStreetMap records inside Charleston, the same data behind our local directory, checked against each place’s own website on Oct. 16, 2026. A place is listed only when its own site says it has a patio, rooftop, courtyard, garden or piazza; a map tag or a customer review is not enough. We added El Jefe for its covered patio. We left out Peninsula Grill, whose site says it is temporarily closed for renovation, and dozens of places in the map data whose sites do not mention outdoor seating. The list is alphabetical. It is not a ranking or a recommendation, and nobody paid to be on it. Run one of these places? Write to us to correct your entry.

The list

The places

A.W. Shuck’s Seafood Shack is a fast-casual seafood restaurant with indoor and patio seating. Its site says dogs are allowed on the patio.

Big Bad Breakfast on Meeting Street has a pet-friendly patio, its site says. Seating is walk-in only.

Charleston Beer Works on upper King Street offers a downstairs bar, an upstairs bar and seats on the patio.

Charleston Crab House on South Market Street is a seafood restaurant whose rooftop overlooks the City Market. It has sister restaurants on Shem Creek and James Island.

Coterie on Warren Street in Elliotborough is a cocktail-led restaurant serving a modern American menu in a courtyard and dining room, with a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m.

El Jefe Texican Cantina on King Street has The Ranch, a heated and covered outdoor patio that seats more than 100 and can be booked for events.

Frannie & The Fox is the Italian restaurant at the Emeline hotel. Its courtyard and the greenhouse next to it offer open-air dining.

Harken Cafe & Bakery on Queen Street has a shaded piazza as well as its dining room.

Henry’s on the Market on North Market Street has a rooftop and an outdoor patio. It is 23 and older after 8:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and a cover charge may apply.

Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale on King Street says it is dog friendly and allows smoking on its patio.

King Street Dispensary on upper King Street is a bar that bills its patio as hidden from the street.

Kudu Coffee & Craft Beer near the College of Charleston has a shaded courtyard and garden under the oaks, which can also be rented for events.

Le Farfalle on Beaufain Street is an Italian restaurant serving dinner only. Its patio and bar stools are for walk-in guests; call for indoor reservations.

Legami on upper King Street is an Italian restaurant with an enclosed garden set with umbrellas and palmettos, and a smaller tented veranda outside its lounge.

Matador on Meeting Street is a Mexican restaurant and bar with a rooftop patio and, on weekends, an upstairs Mezcaleria bar.

Oyster House on South Market Street serves Lowcountry seafood on a patio with views of the City Market.

Pour Taproom on upper King Street is a rooftop bar and restaurant that does not require reservations.

Stars Rooftop & Grill Room on King Street pairs a grill room with a rooftop bar.

Taco Boy on Huger Street is a Mexican taqueria with a spacious outdoor dining and lawn area that it suggests for parties large and small.

The Rooftop at The Vendue is the rooftop bar of The Vendue hotel, with a food menu, a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and live music.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is there outdoor seating in Charleston?

This list has 20 places whose own sites describe outdoor seating, including rooftops at Charleston Crab House, Henry’s on the Market, Pour Taproom, Stars and The Rooftop at The Vendue, and courtyards or gardens at Coterie, Frannie & The Fox, Kudu and Legami.

Which Charleston restaurants have rooftop seating?

Charleston Crab House and Henry’s on the Market have rooftops overlooking the City Market area, Matador has a rooftop patio, and Pour Taproom, Stars Rooftop & Grill Room and The Rooftop at The Vendue are rooftop bars and restaurants.

Can I bring my dog to a Charleston patio?

A.W. Shuck’s says dogs are allowed on its patio, Big Bad Breakfast describes its patio as pet friendly, and Juanita Greenberg’s on King Street says it is dog friendly.

Do Charleston patios take reservations?

Some do not. Le Farfalle’s patio is first come, first served, and Big Bad Breakfast is walk-in only. Others, such as Frannie & The Fox and Legami, take reservations for the restaurant.