Highest-rated cafes in the Charleston, South Carolina area by diners
Highest-rated cafes in the Charleston, South Carolina area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Charleston area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Charleston were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#30. Odd Duck Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1082 East Montague Ave. North Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Grocery, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Holey City Bagels
- Rating: 4.5/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 43 Cannon St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Second State Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (479 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 70 1/2 Beaufain St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Ruby's New York Style Bagels - North Charleston
- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5060 Dorchester Road North Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Lost Dog Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 106 West Huron St. Folly Beach, South Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Ruby's New York Style Bagels - West Ashley
- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1836 Ashley River Road Ste O Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Harken Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (313 reviews)
- Address: 62 Queen St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Scooter's Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 5641 North Rhett Ave. North Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Beardcat's Sweet Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2063 Middle St. Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
- Categories: Gelato, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Buzzed Bull Creamery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 595 King St. Suite 130 Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Duck Donuts
- Rating: 4.6/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1812 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Ste 16b Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Off Track Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.6/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6 Beaufain St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Vicious Biscuit
- Rating: 4.6/5 (986 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 409 West Coleman Blvd. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Blūm
- Rating: 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 511 Meeting St. Ste 201 Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Wildflour Pastry
- Rating: 4.6/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1750 Savannah Hwy Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Pounce Cat Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 283 Meeting St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Pet Adoption, Wine Bars, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Cooper River Coffee Roasters
- Rating: 4.7/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1303 Ben Sawyer Blvd. Ste 5 Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Lodi Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 1518 Hwy 17 North Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. The Harbinger Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1107 King St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Maccaro - Charleston
- Rating: 4.7/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 427 King St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Kooben Cafe Mexican
- Rating: 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 1268 Yeamans Hall Road Hanahan, South Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Bitty & Beau's Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (345 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 159 Church St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Second State Coffee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 1630 Ashley Hall Road Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Waffles, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Sightsee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 698 Rutledge Ave. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Gift Shops
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Cafecito
- Rating: 4.7/5 (87 reviews)
- Address: 471 King St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Cuban, Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Brown Fox Coffee
- Rating: 4.8/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 307 Simmons St. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Bad Bunnies Coffee
- Rating: 4.8/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 116 Spring St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Idle Hands Coffee House
- Rating: 4.8/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 17 Warren St. Coterie Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Prophet Coffee
- Rating: 4.9/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 4411 Spruill Ave. North Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Gold Star Coffee
- Rating: 4.9/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 3293 Maybank Hwy Ste 205 Johns Island, South Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.
