The Johns Island Restaurant Scene

Several exciting, new restaurants have recently opened or are upcoming on Johns Island. 

Upcoming Establishments:

Asian Hibachi Grill

A Japanese restaurant offering traditional Japanese fair and takeout

  • Location: 3575 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: A small dining footprint (about ten tables) offering hibachi, teriyaki, sushi and select Chinese-style dishes 
  • Timeline: A target opening date by late 2026 

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub

This will be the fourth location in the greater Charleston area. It will offer sushi and hibachi dinners, as well as tacos, burgers, and wings. 

  • Location: 1804 Crowne Commons Way, Suite D2 
  • Concept: A sports bar specializing in sushi, tacos, and elevated bar bites. 
  • Timeline: Scheduled to open in October, 2026

Lumpy’s Place

A new culinary venture from the team behind the South Carolina barbecue chain, Swig & Swine

  • Location: 2871 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: A ground-up new building featuring a meat-and-three style menu alongside outdoor seating
  • Timeline: The planned opening is scheduled for 2027.

South Island Market: A new community hub

South Island Market will be a 34-acre mixed-use development. 

  • Location: 3791 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, at the intersection of Betsy Kerrison Parkway and River Road
  • Concept: The project blends commercial, residential, and preserved green space to serve Kiawah, Seabrook, Wadmalaw and lower Johns Island. Restaurants to be determined.
  • Timeline: Late 2026 or early 2027, with a planned grand opening in spring 2027

Stono’s Oyster Bar

Stono’s Oyster Bar will be boater-friendly with roughly 60 complimentary boat slips for guests. The menu will focus on locally sourced Lowcountry seafood and oysters.

  • Location: 2409 Maybank Highway, along the Stono River near St. Johns Yacht Harbor
  • Concept: Two-story, 5,700-square-foot seafood and oyster restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a main-level bar, wraparound deck, and rooftop dining with a full-service rooftop bar and garden
  • Timeline: Construction is moving toward a spring 2027 opening

Some Recently Opened Restaurants Over the Past Few Years :

Barrier Island Oyster Co. (The Brinery)

  • Location: 2871 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: Sells hand-raised single oysters (Sea Clouds), oyster clusters and clams with farmstand pickup and online ordering

Cabana & Co

  • Location: 1801 Crowne Commons Way
  • Concept: Evolved from Cabana Burgers & Shakes into a coastal-inspired menu featuring gourmet burgers, seafood, wings, salads and milkshakes

Catrina’s Mexican Grill

  • Location: 3575 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: Offers serves authentic Mexican and Latin cuisine, offering classic favorites alongside contemporary fusion dishes

El Molino Taqueria 

  • Location: 2901 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: Offers Street-style Mexican food, tacos, and house-made specialties

Linnette’s at the Dunlin

  • Location: Inside the Dunlin Hotel at 6000 Kiawah River Drive
  • Concept: A seafood forward Southern restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner

Lost Isle

  • Location: 3338 Maybank Highway
  • Concept: An open-air, fire-to-table backyard concept focused on live-fire cooking and a casual, communal dining experience.

Parlor Doughnuts

  • Location: 2823 Maybank Highway (in the former Masonic Lodge)
  • Concept: Known for croissant-doughnut hybrids (cronuts), specialty flavor rotations, and options that include vegan and gluten-friendly selections, plus specialty coffee and breakfast items

Snow Monkeys

  • Location: 3297 Maybank Highway, Suite 302
  • Concept: Serves a rotating menu that blends French fine-dining technique with Japanese influences, organized into “raw,” “street” and “signature” sections that include crudos, oysters, tartares and street-style plates.

Somm Wine Bar

  • Location: 700 Halcyon Loop
  • Concept: Features global wines by the glass and bottle, rotating wine flights, artisanal cheese and charcuterie, seasonal small plates, and dog-friendly outdoor seating

The Heyday

  • Location: 605 Kindred Court in Hayes Park
  • Concept: Modern sea-island café and bar offering creative sandwiches and breakfast favorites with a focus on local flavor

(Tidelines does not endorse any establishments.)

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Artificial Intelligence)

Reminder: King Tides in the Charleston Area October 26-29

King Tide is a common term for high tides that are higher than normal. They usually occur during a full or new moon or during specific seasons throughout the year. Charleston’s average high tide range is about 5.5 ft., but during a king tide event, it can reach 7 ft. or higher.

King Tides can cause flooding in low-lying areas, resulting in road closures on Seabrook Island, as well as the Johns Island and Charleston areas. This is particularly true when a king tide coincides with significant rain and/or wind.

There is a second King Tide in October because the lunar cycle, which takes about 29.5 days to complete a full and new moon phase, aligns twice this month.

The next dates of the predicted King Tides are October 26-29.

Continue reading “Reminder: King Tides in the Charleston Area October 26-29”

Keep Up with the Lake House October 21

Activities

Lake House Renovations – Construction has begun on several improvements to the fitness and wellness spaces. This means some areas may be closed for a period of time or may not be available. Keep up to date on which areas will be affected by clicking here. This link will be updated on Thursdays.

Dogtober Pool Party – Wednesday, October 21, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Lake House outdoor pool. Click here for pool party waiver and event rules.

Brass on the Grass – The Charleston Symphony Orchestra returns to Seabrook Island with a special Pops-style brass ensemble performance on Sunday, October 25, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm on the Lake House lawn.

Halloween Pet Parade – Wednesday, October 28, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm at the Lake House. An award will be given to the best pet costume!

Canned Food Drive – November 2 – December 10. Join us for a welcoming kickoff reception in Live Oak Hall at the Lake House, Monday, November 2, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Click here for more information.

Jingle Palooza Thanksgiving Events

  • Turkey Trot – Thursday, November 26 at 8:00 am at the Lake House. Click here to register.
  • Fred Demler Youth Fishing Tournament – Friday, November 27 from 9:00 – 11:00 am at the Lake House. Click here for more information and to register.
  • Holiday Parade – Friday, November 27 at 3:30 pm at the Lake House. Click here for more information and to register.
  • A Holiday Market – Friday, November 27 from 12:00 – 6:00 pm at the Lake House.
  • Holiday Tree Lighting – Friday, November 27 from 4:30 – 7:00 pm at the Lake House.
  • Pet Portraits with Santa – Saturday, November 28 at 9:00 am at the beach at Boardwalk 1. For more information, please email hrice@sipoa.org.

Fitness Classes

Sign up for text alerts to receive important updates about class cancellations, facility updates, schedule changes, closures, and other time-sensitive announcements. Click here for more information.

Group Exercise Classes
The Lake House offers an average of 30 Group Exercise Classes a week, ranging from various Yoga classes to HIIT Boxing. Click here for the schedule.

Semi-Private Series
Sign up now for the following semi-private classes. For registration information and detailed descriptions of the individual classes, click here.

Continue reading “Keep Up with the Lake House October 21”

SIAG Connects with the Next Generation of Artists

The Seabrook Island Artist Guild (SIAG) welcomed some very special guests to its October 5 meeting at the Oyster Catcher Community Center—and what began as a Guild meeting became a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community invests in its young people.

Joining the SIAG meeting were Sean Bishton, principal of St. Johns High School; Dana Brown Hunter, art teacher; and two St. Johns students, Jesus Osorio and Ashanti Brown. Their visit came at the invitation of the SIAG board, which wanted to create something more meaningful than simply writing a check to support the school’s art program. The SIAG board wanted Guild members to meet the educators and students who benefit from their support—to hear their stories, see their enthusiasm, and understand firsthand how the arts can expand a student’s world.

Continue reading “SIAG Connects with the Next Generation of Artists”

Safe Disposal of Medications and Biannual Take-Back Day on Saturday!

Keeping medications that are expired, unwanted, or no longer needed can pose a safety risk. Consumers and caregivers should remove them from the home promptly and dispose of them properly. Doing so helps prevent accidental ingestion and intentional misuse.

The Biannual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The event, which is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, sets up a nationwide network of collection sites. The Charleston site is located at the MUSC Public Safety Greenway located at 101 Johnathan Lucas St. Click here for more information.

Commonly accepted medications for drop off and take-back programs include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, ointments and creams, liquids and syrups, pet medications, prescription patches, and vitamins. Items generally not accepted include needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, and illegal drugs.

Several CVS and Walgreens pharmacies offer year-round drop off locations for medications. These include the CVS on Johns Island located at 2803 Maybank Highway and the Walmart Pharmacies at 1231 Folly Rd and 3951 West Ashly Circle. Always call ahead to validate. Click here for more information.

Continue reading “Safe Disposal of Medications and Biannual Take-Back Day on Saturday!”

SIHAF Matching Challenge Campaign

As we approach the “Season of Giving,” we invite you to join The Matching Challenge to raise awareness and critical funds necessary to support Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundations’s (SIHAF) programs and partners for the coming year. SIHAF’s 6th annual $100,000 Hunger Awareness Matching Challenge for 2026, is a year-end campaign that runs October 1 through December 31, 2026.

Together our community can alleviate hunger and build stronger futures. Click here to learn about the impact of what your donation supports.

To learn more, donate, or volunteer visit SIHAF.org. Gifts can also be sent to: SIHAF, PO Box 268, Johns Island, SC 29457-0268. Thank you.

-Submitted by Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation

Charleston Beer Fest October 24

Tickets are still available for the 2026 Charleston Beer Fest! The Holy City’s premier celebration of all things beer takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2:00 – 7:00 pm at North Charleston’s Riverfront Park (1061 Everglades Ave, North Charleston).

Attendees can look forward to an exciting event with even more breweries than last year, food trucks, craft vendors, games, and more. Come out for a day of fun.

General admission tickets are on sale starting at $85.00; VIP tickets are priced at $145.00. Designated driver tickets are available for $35.00. To purchase tickets, go to: chsbeerfest.org/tickets.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Chsbeerfest.org)

TOSI Happenings for the Week of October 19


NEWS YOU CAN USE

Beach Off-Peak Season– Temporary beach rules are now in effect. Temporary beach rules began on October 15 and will continue through December 31, 2026. Pets must remain on leash at all times. Beach fires are not permitted while the temporary beach rules are in place. The beach will be closed to the public from sunset to sunrise. To learn about the temporary beach rules, click here.

2026 Holiday Drop-In and Toy Drive – It’s never too early to begin thinking about the holidays. The Town’s Holiday Extravaganza is planned for Tuesday, December 8, 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

TOSI’s New Emergency Alert System – The Town of Seabrook Island is switching to Everbridge, a mass notification system that delivers only critical, local emergency alerts. This system will be used exclusively for emergency notifications, including all National Weather Service alerts. To learn more and sign up, click here.

TOSI Monthly E-newsletter – Sign up for the town’s e-newsletter by clicking here.

MEETINGS

To stay up to date on meeting dates and times, visit TOSI’s calendar located on its homepage.

Public Safety Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 20 – 10:00 am
The agenda can be viewed by clicking here. Watch live on YouTube.

View the calendar of meetings beyond this week by visiting the TownofSeabrookIsland.org homepage.

Agendas will be posted at least 24 hours before each meeting. All videos can be found on the town’s YouTube channel. Individuals wishing to participate in the meeting via Zoom can call (843) 768-9121 or email pwiggins@townofseabrookisland.org for login information before the meeting.

-Submitted by the Town of Seabrook Island

SIAG November Demo and Workshop with Stephen Cefalo


Always wanted to do a portrait of your grandkids? Or have, but met a few snags in the process? Or maybe you’ve just avoided people in your paintings altogether? Help is here, as Stephen Cefalo shares the principles, tips and techniques he’s mastered in his decades of teaching and painting people. For two days you’ll explore the magic of rendering heads and figures, learning technical skills, to observe well, and how to achieve a likeness. Steve will show you it’s easier than you think!

Free Artist Demonstration:
November 2 at 1:30 pm
Oyster Catcher Community Center
All levels, including beginners;
use the medium of your choice

Two-day Workshop:
November 3 and 4
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Oyster Catcher Community Center 
Cost: $200
Model fee of $30-$40 collected at workshop

Continue reading “SIAG November Demo and Workshop with Stephen Cefalo”

Johns Island State of Our City Meeting

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, residents of Johns Island heard from Charleston Mayor William Cogswell and Councilman Jim McBride about specific projects underway in our area: infrastructure, public safety, and quality-of-life improvements, as well as what’s ahead.

In the presentation, one of the issues Mayor Cogswell addressed was traffic on Maybank Highway going into Charleston. He said a fourth lane on Maybank Highway is funded and moving forward. Charleston County will be widening the road from River Road to the Stono Bridge, and construction should start early next year.

Mayor Coswell also discussed the background of some of the issues, as well as new amenities and services that will be coming to Johns Island.

Click here to see the Johns Island Presentation. It is a very interesting video that addresses many of the questions and concerns of the people of Johns Island.

To view other State of Our City presentations, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

Charleston Tea Garden “Autumn on the Island”

The Charleston Tea Garden is hosting its first annual “Autumn on the Island.”

Activities include a community market, hands-on indigo dyeing, 4H chicken and rabbit show, and food vendors.

Event Details:

Admission is free.
November 21, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
6617 Maybank Hwy, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487

Click here for more information and to register.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Charleston Tea Garden)