Looking for the best Hilton Head restaurants on the water? Here's where to find fresh shrimp right off the boat, oysters on the deck, and drinks looking straight out at the ocean.
Hilton Head Island is surrounded by water, with 12 miles of Atlantic beach on one side, Skull Creek and Calibogue Sound on the other, and Broad Creek winding through the middle. That means plenty of waterfront restaurants to choose from. These are my picks, from a seafood house right on the docks to the deck next to the Harbour Town Lighthouse. I've eaten at every one.
This list has you covered for lunch, dinner, and drinks with a view. For the morning, start with my go-to spots for the best breakfast in Hilton Head before you hit the beach.
The Best Waterfront Restaurants in Hilton Head
These are organized loosely by location, starting in Sea Pines, moving up to Skull Creek on the north end, then along Broad Creek. The first three are inside Sea Pines, which has a $10 gate fee to enter. Local's Tip: ask your server about gate fee reimbursement (there's a $30 minimum purchase, which dinner will cover easily).
Quarterdeck
Quarterdeck sits in Harbour Town right next to the lighthouse, and the views and atmosphere are hard to beat. There are decks upstairs and down, and I've eaten just about everywhere here, on both decks, at the oyster bar, and at the tables inside. There's no bad seat, with views of the pier, the marina, and the famous 18th hole of the PGA golf course.
I love the charcoal-grilled oysters with parmesan, and if the wreckfish is on the fresh catch list, get it. Make a reservation. This one books up.
Coast
Coast is on the first floor of the Sea Pines Beach Club, and it's one of only two restaurants on this list with a true ocean view. Grab a table on the patio, order something off the raw bar, and settle in. There's usually live music in the evenings, and the whole place has that barefoot-casual beach club feeling that's exactly what you want after a day in the sand.
Ocean Lounge
Upstairs from Coast, Ocean Lounge is the more grown-up option, for ages 21 and up, open from 4 pm for drinks and dinner. I've had dinner inside and drinks out on the deck, and the views are gorgeous, just the Atlantic stretching out in front of you. It's the other true beach view on this list, and worth dressing up a little for (resort attire applies here).
Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks
Hudson's is my pick for the best local seafood on Hilton Head. It sits right on the docks along Skull Creek at the edge of Port Royal Sound, and if your timing is good you'll watch the shrimp boats unload the day's catch while you eat. Order anything with shrimp (it's fresh off those boats), the catch of the day, or the oysters, which they farm themselves in Port Royal Sound through their own Shell Ring Oyster Company.
They don't take reservations and there will probably be a wait. Just put your name in, grab a drink at the outdoor bar, and relax by the water. The wait is part of the evening.
Skull Creek Boathouse
Skull Creek Boathouse is a local favorite, and for good reason. Sit on the patio for sunset over Skull Creek, and bring the whole crowd, because the menu is big enough for everyone, including a full sushi bar (the Dive Bar) inside. There's often live music too.
Skull Creek Dockside
Skull Creek Dockside is the Boathouse's sister restaurant right next door, with an outdoor patio and decks on the water, plus big windows inside so you still get the view on a rainy day. I love the baked grouper dockside (it's more like a casserole) and anything from the smoker.
Benny's Coastal Kitchen
Benny's is two restaurants in one on Skull Creek. Downstairs is Benny's proper, with a bar, a large dining room, and a patio outside. Upstairs is 41 Up, a rooftop deck for drinks and small plates, with views out over the creek. I always order the Brazilian fish stew downstairs.
Fishcamp on Broad Creek
Fishcamp has a covered patio overlooking Broad Creek and a menu built around seafood. Get the crab cakes, the she crab soup, or the jalapeno hushpuppies. They also have a second location over in Beaufort (technically Port Royal, right on Battery Creek). If you're headed that way, here's my guide to the best restaurants in Beaufort SC.
Old Oyster Factory
The Old Oyster Factory is all rustic post-and-beam wood inside, with decks overlooking Broad Creek and the marsh. It sits on the site of an old oyster cannery that operated here starting in the 1920s. Order the baked oysters appetizer (there are a few to choose from). It also has a happy hour with half-price oysters, 4 to 6 pm, and live music on summer evenings.
Poseidon
Poseidon is in Shelter Cove overlooking Broad Creek, with marsh views across Shelter Cove Community Park. Head upstairs to the Rooftop Bar for the sunset. And if you're here on a summer Tuesday, this is a great spot to watch the HarbourFest fireworks go off over Broad Creek.
Where To Stay In Hilton Head
I always recommend staying on the beach. If you're going to an island, you want to enjoy the view and be able to walk out on the sand before sunrise. These are two of my favorites:
📍 Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort is located right on the beach in Palmetto Dunes, with three pools and cabanas. We stayed in a room with a balcony, a beach view, and a kitchenette, which made mornings easy. There are lots of activities and restaurants in Palmetto Dunes, and Shelter Cove is right nearby for dining and shopping (Poseidon is there).
📍 The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is set back from the beach on beautiful grounds full of gardens, pools, and lagoons, with a direct path to the sand, just a short walk on the boardwalk over the dunes to the ocean. I got some great sunrise photos when we stayed here.
If you're still planning your visit, my guide to things to do in Hilton Head covers the beaches, bike paths, and everything else worth your time on the island.
My absolute favorite way to eat on Hilton Head is outside with a view of the water. You can't go wrong with any of these restaurants, so grab a table with a view and enjoy the sunset!
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