Charleston, SC
For Italian in Charleston, the local food press points to Sorelle, Renzo, and Wild Olive Restaurant - Johns Island, SC. Picks from Post and Courier and Charleston City Paper, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Post and Courier, Charleston City Paper, and Garden & Gun. Updated July 2026.
Sorelle · Downtown
MICHELIN Recommended 2025 and Resy's '10 that defined Charleston 2025.' Michael Mina/Beemok's two-story 1700s-building Italian; Chef Nick Dugan's 'Pillows of Gold' ricotta tortelloni is a house signature.
Renzo · North Central
Erik and Nayda Hutson's naturally-leavened wood-fired kitchen. Must-eat agnolotti with Orangeburg-County eggs and roasted muscadines, plus a natural-wine program.
Wild Olive Restaurant - Johns Island, SC · Johns Island
Charleston City Paper Top 50 fall 2025. Chef Jacques Larson's 2009-opened Johns Island Italian. Farm-driven pasta and wood-fired entrees. And Best of Charleston 2025 Best Italian.
The Obstinate Daughter · Sullivan's Island
MICHELIN Recommended 2025. Jacques Larson's second-story Sullivan's Island kitchen. Italian-leaning pasta and wood-fired pizza with a Lowcountry raw bar.
Le Farfalle · Cannonborough-Elliotborough
Chef Michael Toscano's modern Italian on Beaufain Street. a rotating pasta program and the patio every Charleston diner has a photo of. One of the downtown 'go-to' Italians of the last decade.
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