Daniel Island is more than just a pretty face. It boasts a business district that has earned some of the most loyal patronage in the area. It’s our little downtown, where “little” only means walkable, bikable, and ever-friendly. Nearly every lifestyle need is covered, from an easy dinner out to your pooch’s veterinary visit to getting your ‘do done. The list is almost impossible to keep comprehensive, since cool new faces in lovely new spaces pop up all the time, but here’s a strong kick-start to an island town stroll.
There are precious few places to get an honest boiled-n-baked bagel around here, and we are lucky to have one right on DI. You can’t go wrong with any variety from salt to asiago, and adding house made flavored cream cheese or piling on fresh sandwich toppings just shows your smarts. Open breakfast and lunch only. Oh, and grab a coffee – it’s legit, too.
Every night brings something special at the island’s favorite watering hole. The joint’s regular menu is hard-to-beat (and the kids, with their own menu, concur), and there’s nothing like Happy Hour on the patio to cool the burn of a bad day or put the cherry on a good one.
Not just the best Mexican on Daniel Island – this place can sombrero with any Mexican restaurant in greater Charleston. Both the food and bar menus are extensive and creative, but still offer all the traditional favorites.
The white weathered-wood walls, spacious booths, and open kitchen of this restaurant’s interior make for a lovely yet laid-back dining experience. Huge outdoor bar with some of Charleston’s friendliest mixologists, full coastal menu crushing fish tacos and ceviche, and live steel drums on the weekends? I’m in.
It’s the breakfast hot-spot, and lunch isn’t too shabby either. The Honeycomb also features local artists on its walls, and brews a mean cup of coffee.
The impressive menu is ever-changing; check the sandwich board outside the entrance for the day’s specials. The venue is also open for private events, and homemade to-go dinners are available every weeknight.
The chief pie-crafters here commit to “keeping it straightforward,” because you just shouldn’t mess with a good thing, especially when that good thing is a huge slice of foldable, gooey goodness. Orlando’s also offers different featured items every couple of weeks, and of course you can dine in, carry-out, or get your pizza delivered anywhere on the island.
Ali Baba is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week, so you can get your gyros at noon and kebobs after work. It doesn’t get much more authentically Mediterranean than this, and full catering is available to impress party-goers tired of mini quiche.
The chef’s variety of handmade dim sum and the fresh local flounder (fried or steamed) remain customer favorites, but the lettuce wraps are giving the stand-bys a run for their money. Sure, you can do carry-out, but the dining room is just so tranquil…
Come to the newest “All Natural” juice smoothy spot on the island. Tasty concoctions to help you before or after your workout or as a pick me up or substitute for a meal during the day. Add in any of their multiple toppings to create your own Zen-like taste experience.
As the moniker implies, this joint specializes in pulverized fruit. Huge, cold, frothy cups of produce smashed to smithereens. But it also serves up tasty sandwiches, salads, and breakfast wraps.
Looking for something familiar and fast? Daniel Island also has a Quiznos and a Subway.
