Jodi’s guidebook -- Hilton Head Island, SC
Food scene
Places we have come to know and love
OMG we love it here! The low-key, eclectic vibe, the food (THE FOOD!!!!), the service, and the friendly cat outside. Can't recommend this one enough! (Breakfast here is our absolute favorite, but lunch is also a win!)
45 當地人推薦
The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room
38 Calhoun StOMG we love it here! The low-key, eclectic vibe, the food (THE FOOD!!!!), the service, and the friendly cat outside. Can't recommend this one enough! (Breakfast here is our absolute favorite, but lunch is also a win!)
We enjoy watching the neighboring dock load/unload boats from the water while we sit under huge trees and enjoy our meals here.
The menu is enormous - there's something for everyone. Drinks aplenty - fun beachy drinks or standard stuff and beer if that's your thing.
Live music and cool Edison lights floating above you? Yeah - that's this place. And fans to keep you cool - woot!
We come here just for the seafood bisque. Only one time in a gazillion visits was it not to-die-for.
Highly recommended.
164 當地人推薦
Skull Creek Boathouse
397 Squire Pope RdWe enjoy watching the neighboring dock load/unload boats from the water while we sit under huge trees and enjoy our meals here.
The menu is enormous - there's something for everyone. Drinks aplenty - fun beachy drinks or standard stuff and beer if that's your thing.
Live music and cool Edison lights floating above you? Yeah - that's this place. And fans to keep you cool - woot!
We come here just for the seafood bisque. Only one time in a gazillion visits was it not to-die-for.
Highly recommended.
Just YES. Yes to it all here!!!
Vibe? Check. [modern, gorgeous]
Indoor and outdoor dining? Check.
Food for people that love SUPER good BBQ? Check.
Great salads for people that want to go a bit lighter? Check.
Full bar? Check.
And we've never been let down with the service. Also - not horrifically expensive. And, in our humble opinions, waaaay better than the competing BBQ places on the island. (sorry o.h.m.)
I love the salmon salad w/raspberry vinaigrette (just NOMNOMNOM) and my husband always gets the Southwest Blackened Chicken Pasta (it's amazing!!!!).
We like to go here for lunch, TBH. Everyone is out baking themselves in the sun on the beach and we have this whole place to ourselves.
21 當地人推薦
The Smokehouse
34 Palmetto Bay RdJust YES. Yes to it all here!!!
Vibe? Check. [modern, gorgeous]
Indoor and outdoor dining? Check.
Food for people that love SUPER good BBQ? Check.
Great salads for people that want to go a bit lighter? Check.
Full bar? Check.
And we've never been let down with the service. Also - not horrifically expensive. And, in our humble opinions, waaaay better than the competing BBQ places on the island. (sorry o.h.m.)
I love the salmon salad w/raspberry vinaigrette (just NOMNOMNOM) and my husband always gets the Southwest Blackened Chicken Pasta (it's amazing!!!!).
We like to go here for lunch, TBH. Everyone is out baking themselves in the sun on the beach and we have this whole place to ourselves.
Okay - so how often can you get authentic Jamaican food where you live? If the answer is "never" then you have to add this to your list.
The vibe here is fun and cool, and they just want to please you so much.
We have been to the location on the island and the location in Bluffton multiple times. For whatever reason, the food in Bluffton, though it's the same restaurant, is significantly better: drive over the bridge for real or just don't go.
Jerk chicken? YAAAAS!
And the curry chickpeas: I could eat them every day of my life.
Mac and cheese on the side: win.
Note that the green beans are dripping w/minced garlic. If you're not a fan of garlic...just don't.
Love this place so much (off island, though).
Red Stripes Caribbean Cuisine and Lounge
8 Pin Oak StOkay - so how often can you get authentic Jamaican food where you live? If the answer is "never" then you have to add this to your list.
The vibe here is fun and cool, and they just want to please you so much.
We have been to the location on the island and the location in Bluffton multiple times. For whatever reason, the food in Bluffton, though it's the same restaurant, is significantly better: drive over the bridge for real or just don't go.
Jerk chicken? YAAAAS!
And the curry chickpeas: I could eat them every day of my life.
Mac and cheese on the side: win.
Note that the green beans are dripping w/minced garlic. If you're not a fan of garlic...just don't.
Love this place so much (off island, though).
Everyone loves Hudson's.
Upscale deliciousness. Never fails. Sunday brunch buffet is ah-maze-ing.
If you're looking for good seafood - this is the place to go: YES. YES YES YES. You'll never be disappointed here. There's a reason it's rated 5/5 stars everywhere and that it's not inexpensive. Guaranteed delicious.
183 當地人推薦
Hudson's Seafood House On The Docks
1 Hudson RdEveryone loves Hudson's.
Upscale deliciousness. Never fails. Sunday brunch buffet is ah-maze-ing.
If you're looking for good seafood - this is the place to go: YES. YES YES YES. You'll never be disappointed here. There's a reason it's rated 5/5 stars everywhere and that it's not inexpensive. Guaranteed delicious.
When we had friends in town and could only pick one place to bring them in the area, we struggled to decide: here or Skull Creek.
It was raining, so we chose this place.
We love it here. You can eat outside but under a roof and it's all good.
Always stellar service.
Killer menu.
Everything is good. Literally ***everything.** Every time we've been here we haven't been let down.
It's part of the Serg restaurant franchise. The nice thing about Serg is that you're guaranteed good at any of their locations. Truly. They have a solid product.
Very recommended. Easy parking, too.
135 當地人推薦
Poseidon Coastal Cuisine
38 Shelter Cove LnWhen we had friends in town and could only pick one place to bring them in the area, we struggled to decide: here or Skull Creek.
It was raining, so we chose this place.
We love it here. You can eat outside but under a roof and it's all good.
Always stellar service.
Killer menu.
Everything is good. Literally ***everything.** Every time we've been here we haven't been let down.
It's part of the Serg restaurant franchise. The nice thing about Serg is that you're guaranteed good at any of their locations. Truly. They have a solid product.
Very recommended. Easy parking, too.
Low key - sooooo low key. I love that. But get there early or you'll end up in line forEVER.
The menu is mostly seafood (you'll read it on a board as you stand in line a very long time to order at the counter). You get hushpuppies and fries w/every plate. (It's a ton of food and carb heavy.)
Standard island restaurant prices - you're not going to get away cheap just because you're eating on foam plates here.
We've never been let down - this is solid.
50 當地人推薦
The Sea Shack
6 Executive Park RdLow key - sooooo low key. I love that. But get there early or you'll end up in line forEVER.
The menu is mostly seafood (you'll read it on a board as you stand in line a very long time to order at the counter). You get hushpuppies and fries w/every plate. (It's a ton of food and carb heavy.)
Standard island restaurant prices - you're not going to get away cheap just because you're eating on foam plates here.
We've never been let down - this is solid.
We love Asian food - it's our favorite. So, to that degree, we're fussy. We still haven't found any Chinese we like in Hilton Head - we're working our way through Bluffton (nothing noteworthy yet).
But this place - this is a win. Yup. This.
I love the ginger plate. My husband tries different things.
I will *always* go here when I want Asian food on the island.
21 當地人推薦
Ruan Thai Cuisine
15 William Hilton PkwyWe love Asian food - it's our favorite. So, to that degree, we're fussy. We still haven't found any Chinese we like in Hilton Head - we're working our way through Bluffton (nothing noteworthy yet).
But this place - this is a win. Yup. This.
I love the ginger plate. My husband tries different things.
I will *always* go here when I want Asian food on the island.
So if you want good pizza - this.
This is good pizza.
I know, I know: pizza is a very subjective experience. But if you're not from the south you don't know about Mellow Mushroom.
Fellow Midwesterners - this is good 'za. (And there's a gluten free option that's supposedly good - so says my GF limited friend).
This. In Bluffton.
(Oh - and lots of TVs w/sports because down south, sports is life. Great place to grab a beer and watch the game...)
Mellow Mushroom Bluffton
878 Fording Island RoadSo if you want good pizza - this.
This is good pizza.
I know, I know: pizza is a very subjective experience. But if you're not from the south you don't know about Mellow Mushroom.
Fellow Midwesterners - this is good 'za. (And there's a gluten free option that's supposedly good - so says my GF limited friend).
This. In Bluffton.
(Oh - and lots of TVs w/sports because down south, sports is life. Great place to grab a beer and watch the game...)
Neighborhoods
This is fun!!
They make you pay to get your car in - and so for years we were all "no way - that's dumb."
Until this year, when we were stuck on HHI for 10 days during season...so we became unwilling tourists (lol). Then we started ~really~ discovering the magic of the island (when we're there, we're always working on our condo: we're there to clean/repair/update/replace - not relax. We can be there a week and never see the ocean. Sad story, really, but that's what happens when you own a vacation rental home.)
So off we went to Harbour Town this summer - let's see what this is all about (and check out this lighthouse we keep seeing on "Beachfront Bargain Hunt" on HGTV when we're back home in the Midwest).
How dumb have we been?! This place is GREAT! Seriously!!
Just go here. There are 3 different shopping and dining areas - check them all out. But let me tell you - go early for dinner. We went at 4:30 and found a parking spot (one of the last ones...at 4:30 for dinner - like whaaaat?) and had a GREAT time.
It would have been a tad frustrating had we gone later for dinner - parking would have been a complete beast at the Salty Dog location.
Lighthouse - worth the $10/pp or whatever they charge to climb it.
Gals - there are great designer stores there for super fun shopping (Lilly Pulitzer, etc.).
Go. Just go. Grab ice cream. Shop around. Look at all the fancy boats (some breathtaking boats!) and enjoy a drink. Have a GREAT dinner - fancy or casual.
We'll go back for sure.
(We've been so dumb. Don't be dumb like us.)
133 當地人推薦
Harbour Town
This is fun!!
They make you pay to get your car in - and so for years we were all "no way - that's dumb."
Until this year, when we were stuck on HHI for 10 days during season...so we became unwilling tourists (lol). Then we started ~really~ discovering the magic of the island (when we're there, we're always working on our condo: we're there to clean/repair/update/replace - not relax. We can be there a week and never see the ocean. Sad story, really, but that's what happens when you own a vacation rental home.)
So off we went to Harbour Town this summer - let's see what this is all about (and check out this lighthouse we keep seeing on "Beachfront Bargain Hunt" on HGTV when we're back home in the Midwest).
How dumb have we been?! This place is GREAT! Seriously!!
Just go here. There are 3 different shopping and dining areas - check them all out. But let me tell you - go early for dinner. We went at 4:30 and found a parking spot (one of the last ones...at 4:30 for dinner - like whaaaat?) and had a GREAT time.
It would have been a tad frustrating had we gone later for dinner - parking would have been a complete beast at the Salty Dog location.
Lighthouse - worth the $10/pp or whatever they charge to climb it.
Gals - there are great designer stores there for super fun shopping (Lilly Pulitzer, etc.).
Go. Just go. Grab ice cream. Shop around. Look at all the fancy boats (some breathtaking boats!) and enjoy a drink. Have a GREAT dinner - fancy or casual.
We'll go back for sure.
(We've been so dumb. Don't be dumb like us.)
Also known as the "historic district" or "cultural district," it's worth spending a 1/2 day (or more!) in Old Town Bluffton (lots - but not all- of it is centered around Calhoun St).
There are little museums, a vibrant local art community, lots of fun shops and restaurants, and old south architecture. It's quaint and cute and just awesome.
Don't sweat parking - there's plenty of street parking. Just Google everything first so you get an idea where you're going and what you want to see.
Look and see if there are any festivals while you're in town - they have a LOT going on here year-round. It's truly a great place!
Calhoun Street
Calhoun StreetAlso known as the "historic district" or "cultural district," it's worth spending a 1/2 day (or more!) in Old Town Bluffton (lots - but not all- of it is centered around Calhoun St).
There are little museums, a vibrant local art community, lots of fun shops and restaurants, and old south architecture. It's quaint and cute and just awesome.
Don't sweat parking - there's plenty of street parking. Just Google everything first so you get an idea where you're going and what you want to see.
Look and see if there are any festivals while you're in town - they have a LOT going on here year-round. It's truly a great place!
城市觀光建議
周邊交通資訊
Take the Trolley
Parking on HHI during season can be a nightmare, depending on where you want to go (traffic just IS a nightmare: that's a fact).
If you're going to Shelter Cove shopping area or to Coligny beach / Coligny area, take the trolley. (ESPECIALLY Coligny. For real.)
It's free and stops outside our resort.
Look here for more info:
https://www.hiltonheadisland.org/our-island/hilton-head-island-trolley
親子出遊
Babies Away / HH Baby Rental
If you're traveling with super littles, check out "babies away" and "Hilton Head Baby Rental. "They rent everything you need - and they get there before you do and set it all up for you and take it away after you go.
https://babysaway.com/locations/hilton-head
https://hiltonheadbabyrental.com/view-products