If you’re in Charleston on a Sunday, brunch is not to be missed! From dedicated breakfast restaurants to traditional restaurants serving up weekly brunch specials, there’s a brunch menu for everyone in Charleston.
There’s something about brunch and Charleston that just goes together. Biscuits, fresh seafood, and perfect Bloody Marys are my brunch trifecta and something the Holy City does SO well. No matter what kind of bruncher you are, I’ve rounded up six of the best brunches in Charleston.
1. The Obstinate Daughter
I love brunch, and could add way more than just five recommendations for a delicious morning meal, but if I had to give just one recommendation, it would have to be Obstinate Daughter. Located on Sullivan’s Island, this Charleston staple has been serving up Southern cuisine with French, Italian, and Spanish influences since 2014. Locals regularly make the trek for a brunch that is definitely worth it.
You can take advantage of Obstinate Daughter’s brunch offerings on Saturday or Sunday (two brunch weekend, anyone?), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Italian flair is evident in the brunch menu – their Gnocchi alla Romana is served with brie and a farm egg. For the sweet-tooth in the crowd, the Bananas Foster waffle is a must. The restaurant has a distinctly beachy feel to it, full of sea blue and neutral tones, without exuding any sort of touristy kitsch. And since you’ve already made the drive to Sullivan’s Island, keep the seaside vibes going by taking a stroll along the beach after you eat.
Address: 2063 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Phone: (843) 416-5020
Brunch Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2. Félix Cocktails et Cuisine
Félix was always going to make this list, because Harper loves it so much! Located on upper King and operated by owner Felix Landrum, Félix is a cocktail bar serving small plates with Southern food. Everything from the decor to the menus is inspired by Paris, with French art deco posters on the wall and modern touches like pops of cobalt blue and clean subway tiles.
On Sunday, you can find a range of delicious brunch options, including a Parisian omelette and raclette burger. My personal favorite is the pain perdu, which is French toast with banana, toasted pecans, and caramel sauce. Everything Félix serves is delicious and I still consider this spot a hidden gem. Plus it tends to be a little less noisy & more laidback than other Charleston brunch staples. Enjoy your meal with one of their brunch champagne cocktails or a homemade Bloody Mary.
Address: 550 King St #100, Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 203-6297
Brunch Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
3. Halls Gospel Brunch
The Gospel Brunch at Halls Chophouse is an absolute experience, and should be among the first things you book when you plan your trip to Charleston. Classically outfitted in dark woods and cushioned chairs, you know that Halls is serious about its food and its service. But on Sundays, things get a little bit looser, but with all the execution and excellence you would expect from Halls.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a local Gospel choir will welcome you into the restaurant and sing soulful Southern songs while you eat, accompanied by a piano and tambourine. These performances elevate the experience of Sunday brunch to something truly memorable and worth a visit.
Like their look, Halls’ brunch menu sticks largely to the classics, showing off their steakhouse chops with a bacon-wrapped filet mignon and several burger options. There’s also plenty of traditional breakfast dishes to choose from. For a different take, try the crabcake eggs benedict with roasted pepper-Creole Hollandaise sauce or the Southern sweet potato pancakes, which come topped with sliced bananas, candied pecans, brown sugar, maple butter, scrambled eggs, and applewood-smoked bacon.
Every aspect of the brunch is obviously taken with care, and is an elevated take on a Charleston Sunday brunch.
Address: 434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 727-0090
Brunch Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
4. The Darling Oyster Bar
For the seafood lovers out there, you already know how good The Darling Oyster Bar is. The restaurant serves up the best of Charleston seafood for all meals, but their brunch is a celebration of some of the best things Charleston has to offer. Every part of this place just screams CUTE, and it’s got amazing food to go with it. Seafoam green booths stand out against exposed brick walls and retro floor tiles for a classically charming coastal effect.
On Sundays, The Darling serves up a brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The stunner at the center of most conversations about The Darling’s brunch is The Captain Bloody Mary, which comes topped with a lobster claw, crab leg, shrimp, hushpuppy, celery, olives, and a lime wedge. It’s practically a meal in itself!
As long as you’re not full from the Bloody Mary, you can choose from any of the incredible dishes to round out your brunch. There are seafood favorites like oyster shooters and crab cake benedict and Southern staples like fried chicken biscuits slathered with housemade honey hot sauce and shrimp and grits made with local Geechie Boy cornmeal, crispy Brussels sprouts, and country ham.
Address: 513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 641-0821
Brunch Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
5. One Broad
One Broad Street is a restaurant located in a historic Antebellum building on the corner of Broad and East Bay Streets. The building is modeled in an Italian Renaissance style and the inside of the restaurant reflects the best parts of it with ornate molding and open arched spaces, complemented by modern wood and metal finishes. One Broad is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but their brunch is absolutely to die for, incorporating freshly baked breads from Normandy Farms Bakery.
Two of my favorite dishes from One Broad are both served on delicious sourdough toast. The soft scramble has soft scrambled eggs with fresh herbed topped with burrata, all on a slab of sourdough. It was SO freaking delicious. Insider tip – the bartender told us it’s great with avocado on it! One Broad’s avocado toast is also super good, served on a rustic sourdough called miche and topped with fresh greens, herbs and pickled onions.
Along with your brunch dish of choice, you absolutely have to try One Broad’s Bloody Mary. They use Charleston Bloody Mary Mix, which is delicious, local, and a little bit spicy.
Address: 1 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843)-805-7785
Brunch Hours: Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
6. Mex 1 Coastal Cantina
Mex 1 Coastal Cantina has always been one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Charleston, and they’ve just recently launched a brunch menu! Talk about the best of both worlds… Every Sunday starting April 18th, get the best Mexi-Cali brunch in Charleston from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a menu packed full of signature plates and special brunch cocktails. With three locations across Charleston, Mex 1 is inspired by (and named after) trips down the Mexico 1, the Mexican Federal Highway that runs from Tijuana to Cabo san Lucas.
Among the new brunch offerings are a variety of breakfast tacos, signature huevos like the huevos rancheros with a crisp tortilla over black beans and ranchero sauce topped with 2 fried eggs, sliced avocado, pico de gallo, and green onions, plus other brunch favorites like avocado toast and churro donuts. Of course, we can’t forget to highlight the brunch cocktails. In addition to Mex 1’s Original Coconut Hydrator, with Titos Vodka, coconut water, and passion fruit served in an actual coconut, there are tons of options, including the Hot Blonde, a Bloody Mary twist with veggie infused tequila, Natural Blonde Bloody Mary mix garnished with a spicy pickled veggie skewer. I love the lighter taste of the Natural Blonde Bloody Mary mix. It’s so refreshing.
When we visited to try out Mex 1’s new brunch menu, I had the Huevos Diablos, with grilled shrimp on top of a crisp tortilla with creamy queso, topped with 2 fried eggs, corn and black bean salsa, diablo sauce, cotija cheese, and green onion. I got it without black beans because I don’t love beans and it was incredible! Mex 1 has fun for the kids too! Harper had the Shark Attack drink, which combines Sprite with non-alcoholic Blue Curaçao syrup served with grenadine inside a small toy shark. Empty the shark into the bright blue for an explosion of red. So fun!
Address: 2205 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Phone: (843) 882-8172
Brunch Hours: Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Five Iconic Brunch Dishes in Charleston You Have to Try
From pillowy buttermilk biscuits and gravy to sweet and savory chicken and waffles, Charleston is home to some of the most mouth-watering breakfast dishes in America. Foodies, be sure to add all of Charleston’s 5 iconic brunch dishes to your culinary bucket list and get ready to savor the flavors of the Lowcountry!
- The Captain Bloody Mary at The Darling Oyster Bar
- Biscuits & Gravy from Millers All Day (two eggs, cheddar, tomato jam, pickled okra)
- Shrimp & Grits from Slightly North of Broad (house sausage, country ham, tomatoes, green onions, garlic, Geechie Boy grits)
- Chicken and Waffles from Page’s Okra Grill (Belgian waffle filled with sausage, roasted sweet corn, sharp cheddar, and diced jalapeños)
- Pimento Cheese Grits from The Grocery. Need I say more?
Photos by: Rachel Red Photography and Josie Derrick Photography
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