These are the 12 best restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area, according to Southern Living
The Myrtle Beach area is home to more than 2,000 restaurants featuring fresh seafood, southern barbecue and so much more.
“If there’s one thing that can be said about Myrtle Beach’s dining scene, it’s that it has something to suit every palate,” lifestyle magazine Southern Living said.
While food preference is a matter of taste, some Myrtle Beach-area eateries are definitely better than others. To highlight the best of the Grand Strand, Southern Living has taken a stab at naming the top 12 restaurants around Myrtle Beach.
Its unranked list features everything from fine dining establishments to relaxed local favorites.
Popular Grande Dunes Marketplace brunch spot Drift earned a shout out for favorites like shrimp and grits, huevos rancheros and brioche French toast, as well as elevated staples like the duck Benedict and lobster omelet.
“No restaurant in Myrtle Beach does breakfast and brunch quite like Drift,” Southern Living says.
The magazine also highlighted Drift’s charming ambience, which features recycled tobacco barn windows and handcrafted tables made from trees more than a century old.
Located just blocks from the beach, 42nd Street Bar and Grill also secured a spot on the list.
“If you’re craving more Asian or European flavors, head to 42nd Street Bar and Grill — just be sure to come hungry,” Southern Living says. “The restaurant is slightly more elevated than your classic casual spot but is far from pretentious.”
42nd Street offers mouthwatering appetizers like arancini and ahi tuna tataki, seafood and meat entrees, and a wine list the magazine hails as impressive.
Known for fresh seafood and a nautical atmosphere, Hook & Barrel boasts a commitment to sustainably-sourced menu items and environmentally-friendly equipment.
“In a city brimming with seafood restaurants, Hook & Barrel stands out by focusing on sustainability and eco-conscious efforts,” Southern Living says.
The restaurant’s menu is known for seafood favorites like she crab soup, but also features land entrees like braised beef short ribs. Southern Living recommends trying dishes like fish bites and bourbon bacon from Hook & Barrel’s list of small plates, and ordering a pecan tart or mini southern caramel bundt cake for dessert.
The complete Southern Living list, ranked by reviewers
Although Southern Living listed its top 12 restaurants in the Grand Strand in no particular order, we used Yelp reviews to sort the eateries by visitors’ feedback. Check out the full list here:
980 Cipriana Drive, Unit A-6, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
4.6 stars with 448 Yelp reviews
4209 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
4.6 stars with 172 Yelp reviews
8014 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
4.5 stars with 1,582 Yelp reviews
1604 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
4.5 stars with 462 Yelp reviews
801 Main St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
4.5 stars with 128 Yelp reviews
3421 Knoles St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
4.3 stars with 188 Yelp reviews
4097 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
3.9 stars with 827 Yelp reviews
8. Bubba’s Fish Camp & Smokehouse
1565 21st Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
3.8 stars with 136 Yelp reviews
504 16th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
4.2 stars with 1,039 Yelp reviews
3002 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
3.7 stars with 1,889 Yelp reviews
4736 Highway 17 S., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
3.6 stars with 118 Yelp reviews
1181 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
3.5 stars with 253 Yelp reviews
This story was originally published March 1, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "These are the 12 best restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area, according to Southern Living."