Hilton Head Island has no shortage of seafood, which is wonderful, but can be slightly overwhelming. Waterfront views, fried platters, raw bars, oysters, shrimp, sunset cocktails, white tablecloths, paper baskets — it is all here. So let’s make it simple.

Here are a few of the island’s better-known seafood stops, depending on what kind of meal you are looking for. Is there more seafood than this list on the island? Of course there is. Decent options, too. But we’ve never been a dining guide. These are our top choices and why….and as always, it is not a ranking. It never is. Enjoy.

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks
Hudson’s is the classic. It is one of Hilton Head’s oldest seafood names, sitting right on the docks with the kind of local seafood credibility visitors are usually hoping to find. The restaurant says more than 90 percent of its seafood comes from local boats, which is exactly the point here: fresh, casual, waterfront and very Hilton Head.  If you took a survey of locals…a good 7 or 8 out of 10 are going to point you here for fresh seafood.

Skull Creek Boathouse
Skull Creek Boathouse is one of those places where the view is every bit as much of the experience as the food. Set along Skull Creek, it offers seafood, market fish, sushi, oysters and plenty of room to settle in for a long lunch or sunset dinner. It is popular and built for vacation mode. At the dinner hour during peak season you are going to wait a while for a table. Period.

Skull Creek Dockside
Dockside sits in the same general seafood conversation, with big water views, a family-friendly feel and a menu that stretches beyond seafood into BBQ, steaks and daily specials. That makes it a good option when not everyone at the table wants oysters and fish, but the group still wants that Hilton Head Island waterfront setting.

Benny’s Coastal Kitchen
Benny’s Coastal Kitchen is one of the newer names in the mix, but it comes with deep island seafood roots. Opened in 2024 on Shrimpers Row at Skull Creek, the restaurant honors Benny Hudson and brings together indoor dining, outdoor seating, a rooftop bar and Skull Creek views. It is a more modern seafood stop with local history baked in.  The rooftop’s menu is different than the main dining room and also popular with folks looking for a glass of Chardonnay and some nibbles. 

Old Oyster Factory
Old Oyster Factory is another longtime island favorite, especially if oysters and water views are the assignment. Built on the site of an original oyster cannery, the restaurant leans into its Broad Creek setting with indoor and outdoor dining, sunset views and a large selection of oysters on the half shell.  My go-to here is the happy hour. It is very popular. Nice small bar menu and same views as a full dinner, which-by the way-you can have in the bar area.

Coast, Oceanfront Dining
Coast is the Sea Pines option when you want seafood with your toes not far from the sand. Located at the Sea Pines Beach Club, it is casual but resort-polished, with fresh seafood, oceanfront views, frozen cocktails and patio seating. This is more beach club seafood than dockside seafood, and that is not a bad thing.  If you want to fancy it up, you can reserve a table in the Ocean Lounge. It offers amazing views, air conditioning, and one of the best bourbon collections on the island. 

Quarterdeck at Sea Pines
Quarterdeck gives you the Harbour Town version of seafood with a view. Sitting near the lighthouse, it offers seafood, Southern classics, a wraparound deck and a rooftop oyster bar with views of Calibogue Sound and the 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links. It is especially useful when you want dinner to feel like an island occasion.  My go-to here is the Grouper Rockefeller (below) topped with Hollandaise, Fried Oysters and Shrimp.

Captain Woody’s
For something more casual and easier on the wallet, Captain Woody’s is a solid seafood bar option. The Hilton Head location offers baskets, Lowcountry boil, crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and plenty of fried, grilled or blackened choices. It is less about dressing up for dinner and more about getting seafood without making a production of it.

The Sea Shack
Sea Shack is the counter-service, no-frills answer for anyone who wants fresh seafood without the waterfront markup. It is made to order, casual, popular with locals and known for letting you choose fried, grilled or blackened. Expect lines during busy season, but that is usually part of the story here.

The rest of the story:  4 ‘not exactly seafood restaurants’ that we think do a nice job with their seafood offerings.

Sunset Grille
Sunset Grille is not a traditional seafood house, but it has long been a strong choice for fish, oysters, shrimp, and its waterfront atmosphere without feeling like a big, busy seafood factory. The setting on Skull Creek does a lot of the heavy lifting, but the kitchen typically backs it up with a more refined, relaxed take on Lowcountry coastal dining.

Red Fish

Red Fish is more of a polished island restaurant than a straight seafood spot, but seafood fits comfortably into what they do. The menu usually balances steaks (one of my favorite NY Strips on the island), pasta, wine, and fresh fish, making it a good call when one person wants seafood and someone else does not. Bonus points for the wine program-rather large-and slightly elevated feel.  The indoor live music is also a draw.  Similar vibe on the island’s North End: Celeste.

Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar
Alexander’s is tucked into Palmetto Dunes and has more of a classic dinner-house feel than a dockside seafood shack. Still, seafood is very much part of the appeal, with fish, shrimp, scallops and Lowcountry touches appearing naturally across the menu. It is a good fit when you want something calm, comfortable and a little more grown-up.

Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte
Charlie’s is one of Hilton Head Island’s most respected long-running restaurants, and while it is not a seafood restaurant in the casual waterfront sense, fresh fish has always been central to its identity. The menu changes regularly (it’s written by hand), the preparation is thoughtful, and the room feels more like a proper night out than a vacation seafood stop.  If you are looking for a little higher energy, Happy Hour at Charlie’s is very popular as well with the full menu available there.

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