Top Best Italian Restaurants in Folly Beach

"This buzzing home-style dining room with a reliably dynamic atmosphere serves divine Italian fare, including an assortment of antipasti, house-made pastas and creamy rice dishes, alongside an amazing wine menu bursting with popular imported Italian labels."

"Chef Ken Vedrinski's downtown wonder, Trattoria Lucca, is a welcoming invitation to the world of Italian food in Charleston. Come in for the...Read More"

"The newest restaurant in Charleston’s Italian scene has already made quite the impression on the city’s diners, with photos of the giant wheel of cheese and gorgeous bar flooding the #CHSeats Instagram feed. It features one of the heartiest happy hour menus, featuring fried cheese curd, Sicilian-style fried seafood, or a porchetta melt all for just $5 each. The attention to detail at Le Farfalle is impeccable, but we’d expect nothing less from New York-trained chef Michael Toscano."

"Michael Toscano’s Italian osteria offers up memorable brunch, lunch, and dinner meals with standout dishes from start (pork meatballs or the layered beef tartare) to finish (the chocolate gelato). House-milled, hand-rolled pasta makes for an outstanding secondi, so save room. Even the extra virgin olive oil accompanying warm rosemary focaccia is perfectly executed."

"Wild Olive’s Jacques Larson is a transplanted Frenchmen with the heart and stomach of a southerner — and an Italian. Located out on Johns Island west of Charleston, Wild Olive is like a trip to the Tuscan countryside, but just minutes from downtown Charleston. Starters to share include venison carpaccio with a "cacio e pepe" aioli, local arugula, Parmesan, Bull's Bay smoked sea salt and crostini, but Larson’s pastas keep regulars returning — including his light-as-a-pillow ricotta-goat cheese gnocchi."

"Opening its doors in 2009 and certified as South Carolina’s first Green Restaurant in 2013, Wild Olive is an Italian culinary gem. Serving homemade variations of all of Italy’s classic national dishes, Wild Olive follows the local trend of sustainability and active collaboration with local producers. The restaurant attempts to bring authentic Italian culture to a city where the occasional respite from Low Country dining is certainly welcomed by adventurous locals."

"After passing the River Road intersection of Maybank Highway, the traffic onto Johns Island seems to open up just a bit, but if you hit the accelerator too much, you'll zip right by this restaurant."

"This cozy corner pizza joint is a locals' favorite, located in the heart of the residential Elliotborough neighborhood. D'Als, as it is called by its regulars, is an excellent place to kick back and enjoy a beer and a couple of slices of thin, cheesy pizza. But, if you must take it to go, you can expect a pizza experience that's just as delicious as dine-in."

"D'Allesandro's looks like the quintessential college town pizza parlor, but serves up some sophisticated pies like the Get Gnarly with balsamic chicken, blue cheese, and spinach. There's usually a special running, and you can typically find a coupon to make the pie even cheaper."

"I am a little annoyed with myself that I forgot to include D’Allesandro’s Pizza the first time I wrote this article. Their Philly-style pizza is definitely the best pizza in Charleston, SC, in my opinion. And they’ve always got great happy hour and lunch specials, to boot."

"Don’t be deterred by Mondo’s location in the “Shoppes of Folly Road” strip mall. This hidden gem is actually serving up some magic in the kitchen in the form of penne and homemade meatballs. Mondo’s may be a small (some might even say “quaint”) restaurant, but it's serving up big portions with even bigger flavor."

"Like the best of James Island’s restaurants, ­Mondo’s gives up the goods without any of the fuss of similar cafés found downtown. That said, join the many regulars at this sweet spot for primo pastas and fresh local bounty cooked up simply but with gourmet flair."

"Offering extensive inventory, commissioned portraits and art advisory services to build collections of 19th – 21st century art for clients. US and European artists on view."

"Dog & Horse Fine Art & Portraiture represents leading talent by US and European artists. Along with extensive inventory, the gallery is a matchmaker for portraits as well."

"Lowcountry Consignments adds special charm to home interiors through unique consignment pieces, quality furniture pieces & home decor. We have an unrivaled array of: Dining Tables & Chairs, Artwork, Beds, Sofas, Accent Chairs, Area Rugs, Home Decor, Bar Stools, Ottomans, Decorative Pillows, Bookcases, Side Tables, Mirrors, Wine Racks, Lamps & Outdoor Furniture within a broad range of budgets. Summer Hours Open Tuesday -Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm."

"The West Ashley Shopping Centre is a gated mall with a great variety of shops, restaurants and cinema halls all in one place. It is situated right alongside the highway and therefore easily accessible by car. Do not worry about parking because there is ample parking space."

"The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a massive red brick church in downtown Charleston. It is, of course a Catholic cathedral. Dating to 1907, it is one of the newer big churches in Charleston."

"There are a few cemeteries near Charleston that all offer some beautiful photographic opportunities. We chose to feature Bethany Cemetery, but all are good options. I especially like the small chapel at Bethany Cemetery that you can see in the shot below from Vicki of @2bagsfull in Instagram."

"One of Charleston's most exquisite antebellum structures, the Joseph Manigault House, built in 1803, reflects the urban lifestyle of a wealthy, rice-planting family and the enslaved African Americans who lived there. Combination tickets with The Charleston Museum and the Heyward-Washington House available. $18 for 2 sites, $28 for 3 sites."

"The Charleston Museum's Joseph Manigault House, a National Historic Landmark, located in downtown Charleston close to the Museum and the City Visitor Center. PLEASE SHARE YOUR CHECK-IN ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK"

"As well as a 3,600-square-foot ceramics gallery open to the public throughout the week, Cone 10 Studios offers classes and workshops in the various art forms which are on show and produced on-site. The porcelain and stoneware comes in traditional, functional forms which can be bought for your home or kitchen, and also in more conceptual, abstract forms which are both thought-provoking and aesthetically pleasing. Weekly classes are held in wheel-throwing, hand-building and teapot-making, in addition to a dedicated children’s program."

"Located in the Council Chamber of Charleston City Hall (1801), the gallery contains portraits of many important leaders, including one of George Washington by John Trumbull."

"See the opulent luxury of the late 19th century in all its vintage glory at the Calhoun Mansion on Meeting Street. The twenty-four thousand square foot mansion is the biggest single-family residence in Charleston and still used as a family home even though it’s open daily for public viewing. Take a tour through its three magnificent floors with thirty-five rooms full of period furniture."

"Located in the iconic French Quarter, the Principal Gallery of Charleston marks the coming together of American and international artists. A member of the Charleston Gallery Association, this art gallery is known for its impeccable contemporary art that lays emphasis on oil and bronze sculptures and visual representations. Suitable for both amateurs and experts, this art gallery in Charleston encourages an individual vision of every artist through its solo exhibitions, group shows and art fairs."

"Principle Gallery showcases works classified as both classical and contemporary realism. Since 1994, they’ve delighted Charleston art enthusiasts and display pieces in an airy and light-filled space."

"125 Meeting St Corner of Meeting and Queen, next to Eli's Table and Gibbes Museum, Charleston, SC 29401-2277+1 843-727-4500[email protected]http://www.principlegallery.com/charleston/"