With its abundance of fresh seafood and diverse dining options, Isle of Palms truly is a seafood lover’s paradise. This article shares details on all of the awesome restaurants on the island that serve fresh catch, low country boil, shrimp + grits and more.
From casual beach shacks to elegant fine dining, Isle of Palms offers a seafood feast for every palate and budget. Dive into our guide to IOP seafood restaurants discover the perfect spot to satisfy your cravings.
What You’ll Find In This Article
Where To Have Seafood On Isle Of Palms
Below is a map view of Isle of Palms seafood restaurants. And because this is Isle of Palms, all are really close to one another! The only one that isn’t in the downtown area is The Boathouse. And because of it’s south IOP location, it comes with absolutely amazing sunset views. We actually listed it first on the list because of this!
Seafood Restaurants In Isle Of Palms, SC
101 Palm Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Breathtaking waterfront view and delicious seafood
The Boathouse At Breach Inlet is a southern seafood restaurant on Isle of Palms. It’s a well-known spot, both for the delicious fare and the absolutely amazing sunset views. They even have a rooftop area that makes for the perfect drink and dinner spot.
The Boathouse’s menu includes several great seafood starters, like pickled shrimp, fried calamari, PEI mussels and oyster rockefeller. It’s a great menu to have an appetizers-only dinner, actually! They have spicy shrimp & grits on the menu that includes andouille sausage, as well as seafood linguine with shrimp and fish.
The Boathouse is an excellent option if you want one ‘nicer’ dinner out during a week at the beach.
1120 Ocean Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Seafood restaurant with lunch, dinner and a Sunday brunch
Long Island Cafe is a seafood restaurant on Isle of Palms with a daily lunch and dinner service. It’s also a great spot for Sunday brunch on IOP.
Their she crab soup is always a fun place to start, as well as their shrimp & grits appetizer. For lunch they have a variety of sandwiches in addition to their standard seafood offering.
Their dinner menu has a focus on seafood, from local flounder to sea scallops, crab cakes and even parmesan crusted salmon.
You’ll find the atmosphere at Long Island Cafe charming– it’s coastal and cozy. Long Island Cafe is located just next door to their sister restaurant IOP Raw, which specializes in raw oysters and local seafood.
31 J C Long Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Go-to destination for shrimp & grits on Isle of Palms
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen is a great southern and seafood restaurant in Isle of Palms serving breakfast, lunch/brunch and dinner. It’s a casual spot that’s close to the beach and open all day.
They have six versions of shrimp & grits (!)— we especially love the Southern Hospitality with fried shrimp, pimento cheese grits and collards. And the Whistle Stop with fried green tomatoes and sauteed shrimp over pimento grits.
Reservations at Acme are recommended, though they keep the majority of the tables open for walk-ins.
As I’m sure you can imagine, Acme can get really crowded during peak vacation season. In fact, they only take to-go orders by the phone and will often stop accepting them during the dinner rush. Call it in early if you want takeout from Acme!
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1130 Ocean Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Italian restaurant with an ocean view and exquisite seafood entrees
Coda del Pesce is an Italian restaurant on Isle of Palms by renowned Chef Ken Vedrinski. It offers an exquisite fine dining experience on the island.
Expect fresh seafood dishes with a Mediterranean twist, an impressive Italian-only wine list and stunning ocean views. It can’t be topped!
The menu at Coda del Pesce changes daily, but you can always expect house-made pasta and local seafood entrees influenced by the Adriatic region of Italy. Each dish is creative, full of flavor and downright beautiful.
Coda del Pesce is an absolutely gorgeous restaurant, with floor to ceiling windows, reclaimed wood, and excellent ocean views. There’s a really nice deck on the side that opens to the ocean.
If you want to dine at Coda del Pesce, plan ahead! Reservations at Coda del Pesce open 30 days in advance at noon.
1517 Palm Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Sunday lobster night in Isle of Palms
The Refuge is an all-day restaurant with excellent seafood options. You’ll find low country etouffee, Maryland-style crab cakes and shrimp & grits with andouille gravy. They have non-seafood options as well, like steak and short ribs.
The real star of the seafood show at The Refuge is their Sunday night lobster night! They fly fresh-off-the-boat lobsters from coastal Maine each Saturday and serve them with lemon, butter and two sides. Be sure to make reservations in advance if you plan to go. If beef is more your thing, they host steak night every Tuesday.
The Refuge is located in a strip mall alongside the island’s only grocery store. IOP Raw and Long Island Cafe are also here. Don’t let the location sway you, though, it’s a charming spot loved by locals!
1515 Palm Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
IOP Raw Bar is an oyster bar in Isle of Palms, SC. It’s a sister concept to Long Island Cafe, which is located right next door. The menu includes tons of seafood options, ranging from peel and eat shrimp to lobster rolls.
There are two ‘larger’ items to order: a shellfish platter and a shellfish tower. They both include oysters, peel and eat shrimp, tuna tartare and a lobster roll. It’s a fun place to enjoy a glass of wine and delicious seafood fare.
Like Long Island Cafe and The Refuge, IOP Raw Bar is located in the Harris Teeter shopping area. There are a few outdoor tables that provide great people-watching opportunities. Especially on Saturday evenings in the summer when vacationers are just arriving and head to the grocery store to stock up.
1122 Ocean Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Fried shrimp baskets by the beach
If you dream of a California-style walk-up eatery in Isle of Palms, Smuggler’s Island Eats & Rum Shack is for you.
It’s a really beachy spot and a great place to relax with a drink. They have a selection of frozen drinks that are perfect for a hot SC day.
Smuggler’s Island’s menu includes a fried shrimp basket, fried fish, an awesome smash burger and even peel & eat shrimp. They also have several sandwiches, like a BLT and blackened mahi.
1120 Ocean Boulevard | Isle Of Palms
Oceanfront dining and crowd-favorite coconut shrimp
Coconut Joe’s is an oceanfront restaurant on Isle of Palms serving seafood dinners, as well as weekend brunch. It’s close to the IOP pier, which is the main destination for beachgoers visiting IOP for the day.
Their most well-known dish is the coconut shrimp. It’s coated in a coconut cream batter and served with spicy orange marmalade. You can get the coconut shrimp as an appetizer or as an entree with two sides.
For entrees, try the seafood platter that comes with cod, shrimp and a crab cake if you want a taste of it all. Or the shrimp trio with their coconut shrimp alongside fried shrimp and blackened shrimp. Their menu also includes a cheeseburger, grilled mahi BLT, fried shrimp and fried grouper.
Coconut Joe’s is a very beachy, casual spot. It has been around forever and is beloved by all.