During our recent visit to Charleston, South Carolina, we drove to Kiawah Island for the day. Kiawah Island is about thirty minutes from downtown Charleston and is well worth the drive. Kiawah has some of the most beautiful landscapes and beaches in SC and is home to the best restaurants to enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail with gorgeous ocean views. Have a little more time and in need of a charming southern getaway? Kiawah Island offers overnight accommodations at their resort villas and our personal favorite, The Sanctuary Hotel.
Although we were only on the island for the day, we managed to check out all of our favorite spots starting first with lunch at The Ryder Cup Bar at The Ocean Course. The Ryder Cup Bar overlooks the golf course with expansive seaside views. We love sitting outside on the veranda – not only is it a great spot to enjoy the ocean breeze but it’s fun to watch the golfers play their final hole on the iconic course.
The menu includes various casual, southern-inspired dishes like Fried Green Tomatoes, She Crab Soup, and an Oyster Po’ Boy sandwich. We started with oysters on the half shell, which are always fresh and delicious at The Ryder Cup Bar. I ordered the Crab Wedge Salad and Matt had the Crab Cake Sliders – we didn’t mean to both order crab dishes but we were both very happy with our choices! We didn’t order any cocktails this time but I’ve had the Gator Bite Margarita and the On The Green cocktail and would highly recommend both.
We always end our time at The Ocean Course with a walk along the beach. {tip: be sure to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off if you visit!} We were able to take a few photos before it started pouring – you should’ve seen us trying to outrun the rain…we somehow managed to make it to our car just in time!
True to Lowcountry weather, the downpour only lasted about five minutes which allowed us just enough time to drive to The Sanctuary Hotel for more exploring. The Sanctuary Hotel is Kiawah’s oceanfront luxury resort that resembles an old mansion drenched in southern charm. We spent hours walking around the grounds admiring the perfectly manicured landscapes and grand architecture.
The lobby is perfectly decorated with traditional southern decor combined with elaborate antiques. It has an elevated yet comfortable, inviting feel even with the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Stars ratings. There’s nothing stuffy or uptight about this hotel – you feel welcomed the moment you step within its doors.
After walking around for a few hours we worked up an appetite again so we walked upstairs to The Ocean Room to check out their sushi lounge. We didn’t have reservations but since we were dining in the lounge we were seated right away. The atmosphere is very opulent, making it a good spot for a romantic dinner for two.
I ordered the miso soup for my appetizer and Matt and I shared the California and Salmon sushi rolls. If you love sushi add this to your must-do list! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and delicious. However if you do visit, they enforce a dress code so be sure to check their website for info to pack accordingly.
We had such an amazing day on Kiawah Island and cannot wait to go again…hopefully next time we can extend our stay for a few nights, too!
