Top Family-Friendly Dining Spots on Hilton Head Island

Here’s where to eat and have fun as a family.

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Jillian Dara

Pristine beaches, miles of biking paths, plenty of outdoor sporting activities, and a friendly southern atmosphere attract families to vacation on Hilton Head Island year-round. The island features a vibrant dining scene, focusing on fresh sustainable seafood and Lowcountry cuisine. Visitors can find casual beachfront cafes, restaurants with live music, and expansive open-air patio dining that allows the little ones to stretch out. Whether planning a night out with the family or grabbing a quick bite after a day at the beach, there is something to satisfy both the pickiest and most adventurous diners.

Here are some of the best family-friendly restaurants on Hilton Head Island serving everything from delectable French pastries to Lowcountry boils.

Skull Creek Boathouse

Skull Creek Boathouse and Dockside are sister restaurants located right on Skull Creek. Known for its fresh seafood dishes such as shrimp and grits and she-crab soup, the restaurant also serves sushi and Lowcountry boils. Favorites from the Little Shuckers menu include fried shrimp, a crispy ice cream sundae with a cherry on top, and Funky Monkey banana and pineapple drink. Kids can play at the pirate ship playground and enjoy the green lawn. After dinner, families gather around the fire pits and engage in games like life-size Jenga, cornhole, giant Connect Four, and more.

Hilton Head Social Bakery

Located at Shelter Cove Marina, across from Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, this cozy counter-serve outpost by chef Philippe Feret (formerly at Windows on the World in New York City) offers classic American baked goods with a French twist. Grab pain au chocolat or cinnamon pecan buns for breakfast to enjoy at the picnic benches overlooking the water. For an afternoon treat, Hilton Head Social Bakery serves sandwiches, quiches, cookies, and pastries made from scratch daily. You can also bring your four-legged family members along for free biscuits, water, and outdoor leash hooks.

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

Hudson’s is a casual, family-owned-and-operated restaurant located on the water serving lunch and dinner, allowing diners to watch fishing boats bring in the fresh catch. While families enjoy watching the fishermen and the picturesque sunset, they can also savor delicious, sustainably caught seafood and famous hushpuppies. The kids’ menu offers chicken fingers, hamburgers, and corndogs. Don’t forget to ask your server about the Dinner on the Docks children’s book, a charming tale of shrimp season on Hilton Head Island.

The Salty Dog Café

Located at the South Beach Marina Village in Sea Pines, The Salty Dog Café is a beloved spot for both locals and tourists. It hosts kids’ events, live music, happy hour cruises on a picnic boat, juggling, hula-hooping, and tie-dye activities. Visitors can also win Salty Dog bandanas for their pets. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the café serves crab legs, pasta, and omelets, alongside a Little Treasure Hunters kids menu.

A Lowcountry Backyard

Proudly claiming the title of serving the best shrimp and grits in the Palmetto State, A Lowcountry Backyard celebrates soul food and Gullah cooking. The restaurant offers kid-friendly lunch and dinner menus, as well as family-style meal platters, perfect for sharing traditional southern dishes such as fried green tomatoes, smoked sausage, and potato chip meatloaf. The whimsical, backyard-like atmosphere features swings, plants, fire pits, and ample outdoor seating for families to enjoy a delightful meal together.

Fishcamp on Broad Creek

The southern-style cabin-like restaurant on beautiful Broad Creek is an ideal spot to unwind and savor a taste of the Lowcountry. Patrons can grab a seat on the pet-friendly patio and enjoy the sunset on the waterfront. Various games and outdoor activities keep the kids entertained, while live music entertains adults. The kids menu features petite filet mignon, snow crab legs, and butter pasta, while adults can indulge in a shellfish tower or peel-and-eat shrimp boil.

One Hot Mama’s

Part of South Carolina’s BBQ trail, One Hot Mama’s is a family-friendly restaurant serving chocolate BBQ baby back ribs, award-winning wings, and hickory smoked chicken, among other mouth-watering options. Kids can order smaller portions of Mama’s sliders, boneless wings, strawberry shortcake, and banana pudding. Hot Mama and Food Network star chef Orchid Paulmeier asserts that her meals on Hilton Head Island have become cherished family traditions during holidays.