Where to get your fill at the Edge of America this summer
Tastes Like Summer: (Left) Fresh local peel-and-eat shrimp, hush puppies, and Old Bay-seasoned corn on the cob at Bowens Island Restaurant (right); although it’s located just off Folly, the old-school fish fry shack epitomizes the island’s enduring come-as-you-are vibe.
Folly Beach has diehard fans from all walk of life. And in the summertime, we arrive in droves, drawn to the island’s “come-as-you-are” allure—its friendly, unpretentious, and refreshingly offbeat vibes. Surfer silhouettes bob on morning waves at The Washout. Sharks teeth hunters patiently scour six miles of uninterrupted beach for treasures. Beach bums string hammocks beneath the pier. Sunbathers watch a constant stream of pelicans glide on beachfront thermals. Each of us pursues our own brand of Folly (capitalized or not) with the mainland squarely out of sight and out of mind.
Of course, all of this sand and sun makes us famished. And Folly obliges. Its diverse food and beverage venues are concentrated along the central commercial grid from which all streets taper off towards the island’s wilder ends. In the five years since we last rounded up our favorite Folly eateries, the culinary landscape has changed. The ever-popular Tokyo Crepes food truck went on indefinite hiatus, and we mourned the loss of the incomparable ’Wich Doctor. Newer restaurants have joined the league of tried-and-true haunts, and old-school favorites have evolved. It’s high time we took another look at what’s cooking and what’s on tap at the self-anointed “Edge of America.”
Crosby's
Bert's Market
Chico Feo
Jack of Cups Saloon
Sand Dollar Social Club
Surf Bar
Lost Dog Cafe
Black Magic Cafe
The Juice Joint
The Drop In
Wiki Wiki Sandbar
LowLife Bar
Blu Beach Bar
The Barrel
Bowens Island
