Food Bluffton

Bluffton dining guide

Old Town Bluffton Restaurants: Where to Eat by the May River

Six restaurants that define Old Town — who each one is right for, where it sits, and the practical details to know before you go.

Updated October 2026 · Written by the Food Bluffton team in Bluffton, SC

Old Town Bluffton is the heart of the town's food scene — a walkable grid of historic streets along the May River where Calhoun Street, May River Road, and Wharf Street hold more good eating per block than anywhere else in the Lowcountry. This guide covers the six restaurants we send people to first, and — more importantly — who each one is actually right for.

Every pick below links to a full profile in our Bluffton directory, with address, phone, hours, and price range. We are Bluffton's own dining guide: Bluffton first, always, with Hilton Head coverage as a bonus — not the other way around.

May River seafood & Lowcountry classics

1

Bluffton Oyster Company

The Old Town institution
Old Town Bluffton

The Old Town institution on Wharf Street, steps from the May River. Bluffton Oyster Company serves local oysters and fresh shrimp in a no-frills room with outdoor tables and marsh views — the kind of place locals keep coming back to.

Best for: Oyster lovers, casual afternoons, anyone who wants the May River on a plate

Must order: Local oysters, fresh May River shrimp

Closes at 6pm — this is a lunch and early-dinner spot, not a late dinner.

Address:63 Wharf St, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 757-4010
Hours:Tue–Sat 11am–6pm
Price range:$$
Read the full profile
2

Roastfish & Cornbread

Authentic Gullah-Geechee cooking
Old Town Bluffton

Authentic Gullah-Geechee cuisine on May River Road: roasted fish, red rice, collard greens, and cornbread made the way they should be. Deep cultural roots, generous flavor, and prices that make it an easy regular stop.

Best for: Authentic Lowcountry flavor, culture-rich dining, budget-friendly meals

Must order: Roasted fish, red rice, collard greens, cornbread

Closed Monday and Tuesday; lunch is the easiest seat.

Address:1251 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 757-2001
Hours:Wed–Sun 11am–8pm
Price range:$
Read the full profile

Weekend mornings & long lunches

1

The Cottage Cafe, Bakery & Tea Room

Old Town's brunch table
Old Town Bluffton

A charming cottage cafe on Calhoun Street serving fresh-baked pastries, creative egg dishes, and the shrimp and grits that made it Old Town's most beloved brunch table. Afternoon tea, too.

Best for: Weekend brunch, families, special mornings, afternoon tea

Must order: Shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, fresh-baked pastries

Weekends draw a wait — arrive before 10am or expect to wait.

Address:38 Calhoun St, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 686-6916
Hours:Daily 8am–3pm
Price range:$
Read the full profile
2

Nectar Farm Kitchen

Best farm-to-table
Old Town Bluffton

Farm-to-table cooking with a rotating menu built on Lowcountry produce and sustainable proteins. Nectar's weekend brunch is one of the best meals in Bluffton, and the kitchen takes seasonality seriously year-round.

Best for: Farm-to-table diners, seasonal menus, weekend brunch, date morning

Must order: Seasonal egg dishes, local vegetable sides, house-made pastries

Reservations recommended for weekend brunch.

Address:207 Bluffton Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 706-2337
Hours:Mon–Sat 11am–9pm
Price range:$$
Read the full profile

Date nights & special occasions

1

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar

Italian worth dressing up for
Old Town Bluffton

Chef Nunzio Patruno's flagship Italian — house-made pastas, fresh seafood, and an award-winning wine list in an elegant but welcoming dining room just off Old Town's core.

Best for: Date nights, wine lovers, special occasions

Must order: House-made pastas, fresh catch specials

Dinner only, and closed Mondays — plan around it.

Address:2 Corpus Christi Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 706-4444
Hours:Tue–Sun 5pm–10pm
Price range:$$$
Read the full profile
2

Burnt Church Distillery

Dinner with a show
Old Town Bluffton

A craft distillery and restaurant inside a stunning converted church on Burnt Church Road. House-made spirits, creative cocktails, and a Southern-inspired menu in one of Bluffton's most atmospheric rooms.

Best for: Cocktail lovers, groups, a one-of-a-kind setting

Must order: House-distilled spirits, Southern-inspired plates

Closed Monday and Tuesday; go early evening for the best atmosphere.

Address:1 Burnt Church Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone:(843) 757-5353
Hours:Wed–Sun 12pm–9pm
Price range:$$
Read the full profile

Know before you go

Park once, walk everywhere

Old Town is compact — street parking along Calhoun Street and May River Road plus public lots put every restaurant in this guide within a few minutes' walk of each other.

Mind the closing times

Old Town kitchens close earlier than resort-area Hilton Head — the Oyster Company wraps at 6pm and several kitchens are dark Sunday through Tuesday, so plan the day around the meal.

Weekends mean waits

The Cottage's line is real on Saturdays and Sundays. An early table before 10am is the move — or make it a weekday brunch.

Keep exploring

Breakfast & Brunch in Bluffton

Our dedicated guide to the best morning meals in town.

Best Brunch in Bluffton

The ranked brunch list with must-order dishes.

Old Town Bluffton area guide

History, walkability, and what makes Old Town special.

Waterfront & May River Dining

Where to eat on the water, from the Oyster Company to the island docks.

All Bluffton restaurants

The full searchable directory with filters.

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