Charleston Michelin Guide: 2025 Stars, Bib Gourmands and Winners

Charleston is now part of the MICHELIN Guide American South. In November 2025, the inaugural American South selection named its first restaurants in North and South Carolina, and three Charleston restaurants each earned One MICHELIN Star. It was the first time Michelin recognized any restaurant in South Carolina. Here's the complete guide to Charleston's 2025 Michelin restaurants: the three starred spots, the Bib Gourmand winners, the full Recommended list, and what has changed since the debut.

2026 update: Charleston's inaugural 2025 selection included 15 restaurants. Since then, Rodney Scott's BBQ closed its Charleston location on May 3, 2026, and it will not reopen at its former King Street address. As of August 2026, Michelin's Charleston listing showed 14 restaurants: three One MICHELIN Star restaurants, two Bib Gourmand restaurants, and nine Recommended restaurants. The next MICHELIN Guide American South ceremony is scheduled for October 21, 2026, in Nashville.

The short version

• Guide: MICHELIN Guide American South, first South Carolina selections in 2025
• One MICHELIN Star (3): Wild Common, Vern's, Malagon Mercado y Taperia
• Bib Gourmand (2025, 3): Leon's Oyster Shop, Lewis Barbecue, Rodney Scott's BBQ (Charleston location closed May 3, 2026)
• Recommended (9): Chubby Fish, FIG, Husk, Sorelle, Lowland, The Establishment, The Restaurant at Zero George, The Obstinate Daughter, Xiao Bao Biscuit. These are the restaurants Michelin included in its broader Recommended category.

Does Charleston Have a Michelin Guide?

Yes. Charleston is included in the MICHELIN Guide American South, which made its first South Carolina selections in 2025. The inaugural awards ceremony took place on November 3, 2025, at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The inaugural American South selection marked Michelin's first restaurant recognition in North and South Carolina. The debut gave Charleston its first Michelin-recognized restaurants and three One MICHELIN Stars.

Charleston Michelin Star Restaurants

Charleston has three Michelin-starred restaurants from the inaugural 2025 selection, and all three received One MICHELIN Star.

Wild Common

Wild Common is a tasting-menu restaurant led by Chef Orlando Pagán. Michelin recognized its creative approach, local ingredients, and global influences.

Vern's

Vern's is a contemporary American restaurant run by husband-and-wife team Daniel and Bethany Heinze. Michelin notes that reservations here are highly sought after, so plan ahead.

Malagón Mercado y Taperia

Malagón, from chef Juan Cassalett, is a Spanish restaurant focused on tapas with a market-style feel. Michelin recognized Malagón for its Spanish cooking and tapas-focused menu. It rounds out a nicely varied trio: one tasting menu, one contemporary American room, and one Spanish tapas bar.

Charleston's Michelin Guide debut brought three One MICHELIN Stars to the city in 2025.

Charleston Bib Gourmand Restaurants

The Bib Gourmand distinction recognizes restaurants offering good-quality cooking at good value. In the 2025 inaugural selection, Charleston's Bib Gourmand recipients were:

Leon's Oyster Shop

A popular spot for oysters and fried chicken in a converted garage, and an easy, fun meal.

Lewis Barbecue

Central Texas-style barbecue, known for its brisket, from pitmaster John Lewis.

Rodney Scott's BBQ

Whole-hog barbecue from James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott, and one of Charleston's three inaugural 2025 Bib Gourmand recipients. Its Charleston location at 1011 King Street closed on May 3, 2026, and will not reopen at that address. As of August 2026, Michelin's Charleston listing showed two Bib Gourmand restaurants.

Michelin-Recommended Restaurants in Charleston

Beyond the Stars and Bib Gourmands, Michelin also included these nine Charleston-area restaurants in its Recommended category: Chubby Fish, FIG, Husk, Sorelle, Lowland, The Establishment, The Restaurant at Zero George, The Obstinate Daughter (on Sullivan's Island), and Xiao Bao Biscuit.

Complete Charleston Michelin Guide 2025 List

This is the complete 2025 inaugural Charleston-area selection of 15 restaurants. For Michelin's current live listings, see the official MICHELIN Guide Charleston restaurant list.

What Changed Since the 2025 Michelin Guide?

Guides move as restaurants do. The biggest change since the 2025 debut is that Rodney Scott's BBQ closed its Charleston location at 1011 King Street on May 3, 2026, and it will not reopen at that address. That drops Charleston from 15 recognized restaurants in the inaugural selection to 14 on Michelin's current listing, with two Bib Gourmand restaurants instead of three. As of this update, Michelin's Charleston listing still includes the three starred restaurants and nine other restaurants. The next MICHELIN Guide American South ceremony is scheduled for October 21, 2026, in Nashville, so this page should be checked again when the 2026 selection is announced. For the latest, see the current Charleston MICHELIN Guide listings.

How to Plan a Michelin Meal in Charleston

A few tips make it easier. Book ahead for the starred restaurants, and check each restaurant's current reservation policy before choosing your date, since windows vary. Decide what kind of night you want: a tasting menu at Wild Common, a contemporary American dinner at Vern's, tapas at Malagón, or a good-value Bib Gourmand meal. For ideas beyond the Michelin list, our guide to the best restaurants in Charleston covers the wider scene, and Chubby Fish restaurant in Charleston is another standout worth knowing.

Where to Stay for a Charleston Food Trip

If eating well is the whole point of your trip, staying central keeps the best tables within reach. The Iris Charleston is a boutique apartment hotel at 84 Line Street, one block off King Street, so much of downtown's dining is a short walk away. The apartment-style suites at The Iris have full kitchens, handy for a slow morning coffee before a big dinner out.

Planning a Charleston food trip? Stay near Charleston's top restaurants at The Iris, one block off King Street.

Charleston Michelin Guide FAQs