Waterfront Dining on Hilton Head Island

The Ultimate Guide to Waterfront & Oceanfront Dining on Hilton Head Island

When you are visiting Hilton Head Island, you likely want to dine on the water. From breezy, barefoot tiki bars to white-cloth fine dining, there are variety of options to choose from and we are here to break it down for you! Whether you're craving fresh daily catches directly off the docks, wood-fired coastal cuisine, or sunset cocktails over the marsh, Hilton Head's waterfront dining scene offers something for every mood, budget, and occasion. Find your complete guide to the island’s top waterfront and oceanfront dining spots, categorized from casual laid-back joints to elevated, upscale dining.

Casual & Laid-Back Waterfront Eats

1.     The Tiki Hut:  This casual beach bar is one of the most well-known and located on the South End, Oceanfront at Coligny Beach. Located directly on the sand behind the Beachouse (Formerly the Holiday Inn Express), the Tiki Hut is Hilton Head's iconic, shoes-optional beach bar. Grab a cold cocktail or a casual burger, listen to daily live music, and play beach volleyball right on the Atlantic shoreline.  We recently ate there and had the fish tacos.  They were shockingly well-above average.  It’s not just the scene you are coming here for, but the food, too!

2.     Up the Creek Pub & Grill:  This is a very casual Neighborhood Pub located mid-Island on Marshland Road. Tucked along Broad Creek with front-row views of the marina and local boat traffic, this relaxed deck pub serves up delicious burgers, wings, and casual seafood baskets. It’s a local favorite for a cold beer, affordable bites, and uninterrupted marsh vistas.  It is not as popular as many others, we locals consider it a well-kept secret. Until now!

3.     The Salty Dog Café: This casual and iconic family spot is located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines, Hilton head. A world-famous Hilton Head staple, The Salty Dog Café offers outdoor dockside seating overlooking the water. Families love the lively atmosphere, live outdoor music, hushpuppies, and signature seafood pots.  Expect to wait a while, but grab a drink and listen to the music. Kids will love the freedom of being able to roam around the marina and shop, too!

4.     San Miguel’s Mexican Café.  This is also very casual and lively. It’s located mid-island in Shelter Cove Harbour and has been around for decades. Perched right along the water, San Miguel’s serves festive Tex-Mex, freshly shaken margaritas, and sizzler fajitas. Their sprawling outdoor deck features live outdoor acoustic music almost every evening during the season.  This is a great place to watch the Tuesday night fireworks. Expect to wait a long time, but enjoy the atmosphere while doing so!

5.     Harbourside Café:  Harbourside Café is an open-air bar and grill that is extremely casual while being located in Sea Pines.  Situated directly beneath the shadow of the Harbour Town Lighthouse, Harbourside serves up snow crab legs, burgers, and frozen slushy cocktails. It’s the ultimate spot to sit back, listen to live music, and watch boats dock in the marina.

6.     The Dunes House.  The Dunes House is a popular spot among vacationers who are renting a vacation home or villa in Palmetto Dunes.  This casual, oceanfront resort dining is located mid-island and right in Palmetto Dunes.  Located directly on the beach, The Dunes House offers an understated, laid-back deck experience exclusively for Palmetto Dunes resort guests and property owners. Enjoy fresh fish tacos, grilled sandwiches, and icy drinks with unobstructed Atlantic Ocean views.

Upscale-Casual, Classic Island Staples:

If you are looking for something a little more elevated than a casual beach bar, check out these more fine dining options.

1.     Coast, Oceanfront Dining:  This is upscale-casual with direct oceanfront dining located in Sea Pines. Boasting one of the few true direct oceanfront dining rooms on the island, Coast offers fresh-caught fish, raw bar selections, and coastal cocktails accompanied by sweeping Atlantic views. The outdoor oceanfront patio provides an unbeatable setting for lunch or a sunset dinner.  This also comes with a price tag with entrees starting at $30 each.

2.     Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks.  Hudson’s is located on the North End of the Island.  A historic island institution operating since 1967, Hudson's sits directly on the docks where its own local fishing and oystering fleet unloads the daily catch. Diners can feast on ultra-fresh Lowcountry seafood while watching sunset colors reflect off the sound.   This does have a casual vibe, but not barefoot as some of the others in the other category.

3.     Skull Creek Boathouse. This SERG Group restaurant has a bustling outdoor pavilion and is located in the North End at Skull Creek (next to Hudson’s and Dockside). Consistently voted one of the best waterfront spots on the island, Skull Creek Boathouse features a massive glass-walled dining room, an extensive sushi and raw bar, and a sprawling outdoor patio set beneath moss-draped live oaks.

4.     Skull Creek Dockside.   Just in between the Boathouse and Hudson’s lies Dockside, well known for floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sweeping views of Skull Creek alongside a covered outdoor bar. The menu combines fresh coastal seafood with wood-fired barbecue and hand-cut steaks.  We like to sit outside under the covered bar area, with great views and the game on – the outdoor experience is much more casual than indoors. The food is consistently delicious and doesn’t miss.

5.     Fishcamp on Broad Creek.  Set mid-island off of Marshland Road, Fish Camp is a Island staple.  Set in a historic 1955 building surrounded by grand oak trees, Fishcamp offers refined coastal cuisine, local oysters, and craft cocktails. The sprawling backyard patio includes fire pits, lawn games, and incredible sunset views across Broad Creek. They often have live music!

6.     The Old Oyster Factory.  With classic seafood and panoramic marsh views of Broad Creek, The Old Oyster Factory is a long-standing island favorite that specializes in fresh regional oysters, steaks, and seafood towers. The dual-level decks offer some of the most panoramic sunset photos on Hilton Head.

7.     The Crazy Crab (Jarvis Creek & Harbour Town).  With locations on both Jarvis Creek (featuring a playground and marsh-view deck) and Harbour Town Marina, The Crazy Crab serves up classic Lowcountry boils, steamed crab legs, and fried seafood platters paired with beautiful water views.

8.     Scott’s Fish Market.  Serving delicious seafood and grilled steaks for over 30 years, Scott's features a massive waterfront deck right on the docks of Shelter Cove. It's a prime destination for dinner before catching summer fireworks over the harbor.

Fine Dining Experiences

1.     ELA’S On The Water.  Offering elevated two-story harbor views, ELA’S features boutique fine dining focused on fresh local seafood, prime steaks, and an extensive wine selection. The sophisticated atmosphere, accented by local artwork, makes it a top pick for romantic dinners or celebrations.

2.     Quarterdeck. Located right beside the iconic red-and-white Harbour Town Lighthouse, Quarterdeck delivers a modern, high-end dining experience with floor-to-ceiling glass, a ground-floor market, and a wraparound rooftop oyster bar with panoramic views of the Calibogue Sound.

3.     Sunset Grille.  Tucked inside the Hilton Head Harbor RV Resort & Marina, Sunset Grille is a cozy, fine-dining bistro hidden in plain sight. It’s less popular than some of the others but we think the word just isn’t out yet, so get there quick! Known for its award-winning continental cuisine, extensive wine list, and incredible sunset views across the Intracoastal, it offers one of the most romantic waterside meals on the island.

There you have it! When you are vacationing on Hilton Head Island and understandably, are craving a dining experience on the water, we hope this guide is helpful in deciding where to go! There are so many good options!