High Cotton: A Charleston Gem for Cocktails, Seafood, and Live Music

We drove three hours to celebrate my birthday here, and it was absolutely worth it. The staff were incredibly warm and attentive. Our waitress was thoughtful and kind, and even though I was already completely full, they still prepared my birthday cake, placed a candle on the to-go box, and sent it home with me. That small, sweet gesture meant so much and truly made the night unforgettable. The food was phenomenal — easily the best dry-aged steak we’ve ever had. Even the shared plates were beautifully presented with elegant plating and attention to detail. A perfect birthday celebration from start to finish. Highly recommend, and we will definitely be back for our anniversary.

What can I say? If I could only have one dinning experience in Charleston, SC it would be here. Food is more than sustenance, it's an experience. From playful cocktails, to champagne toasts, to appetizers that could easily be a main dish, to main dishes that satisfy any whim of taste, to decadent desserts - this place delivers. The staff only help to exalt the entire night (special recognition to the front desk ladies 1/17/25, Josh, & our server - Izzy). Reservations are definitely needed. Be sure to check that you're making every day count. Dine here for certain.

Came here for brunch on my bachelorette trip and the service was amazing! The staff are so kind and tentative. They congratulated me and gave us our cinnamon roll appetizer and 2 desserts on the house. The food is delicious and I will definitely be back when I visit Charleston again.

Hands down one of my favorites in Charleston. Tip #1 always jump on Resy and snag a reservation. Makes for a smooth transition anywhere in town (or Open Table). We showed up at 10am, got sat right down. Greeted by multiple. Staff, including the house manager and I'm assuming the GM. Molly was our server and I will tell you right now, this girl knows southern hospitality if we have ever seen it. 1. She knew our names before we ever met her because of our reservations. 2. She literally acknowledged my food allergies without me opening my mouth. Again hats off to the staff & Resy. In all my years she is the first. The food was amazing. Perfectly timed from dish to dish. The presentation of every dish made me speechless. And the taste. Chef, 10/10 STARS!

This place is now my top restaurant in Charleston! Apart from the delicious food, the big standout for us was the service. Our server, Carter, was so attentive, warm, and professional at the same time. He definitely helped elevate our experience by being personable and going out of his way to give good service. This helped create a relaxed but professional atmosphere that also felt high-end. For the food, a favorite was the she-crab soup, which had great flavor. We also had the yogurt for something lighter, and though it was good quality, there was just SO much yogurt in contrast to the amount of toppings, which felt a little unbalanced. The seared scallops were delicious, I just wish that their pimento cheese grits had more pimento cheese because it was barely there. The farmer’s omelet was slightly disappointing because it was very plain, but the sweet potato hash made up for it. Finally, their ginger nonalcoholic beverage was so good and had a strong but refreshing flavor. Even with these comments, we still very much enjoyed our meal and will happily return next time we are in town.

I celebrated my birthday last night at High Cotton, and the entire experience was nothing short of exceptional. The moment we arrived, we were welcomed into an atmosphere of true Southern elegance — warm, inviting, and beautifully refined. The service was outstanding. The assistant manager, Mark, personally checked on our table and made us feel genuinely valued. Our waiter, Paula, was phenomenal — attentive, friendly, and incredibly professional. She made sure every detail of our evening was perfect. We started with oysters that were fresh and delicious. For entrées, most of us had the filet, and each one was cooked flawlessly — tender, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. One of our guests ordered the shrimp and grits, which was equally impressive and full of rich, comforting flavor. The drinks from the bar were crafted beautifully and added an extra touch of luxury to the evening. The live band created a wonderful atmosphere, making the night feel even more special. Overall, High Cotton exceeded every expectation — exceptional service, amazing food, great drinks, and an elegant ambiance that sets the tone for a memorable evening. I couldn’t have chosen a better place to celebrate my birthday. Highly recommend!

Can we go with 10 stars? My mom and I enjoyed this restaurant so much. Our server (and his team) were very kind and attentive. I am sorry that I do not remember his name, but he was a leftie. lefties. The food was amazing. The she-crab soup was delicious and the perfect start to our meal. I had the scallops, but they only gave two (2). Next time I will have to ask for an add on because I had a lot of grits compared to the portion of the scallops. My mother's oysters were perfect and she absolutely enjoyed the sweet potato hash.

Very nice upscale establishment. Ordered a 26oz porterhouse to share with 2 sides. Lobster Mac and cheese and brussel sprouts. Steak was amazing. Sides were huge for 2 people. As usual we had reservations but sat at the bar. Bartenders were great. Wife said her drinks were very good.