Florence, SC & the Pee Dee Region
Your Community Guide
29501 · The Community Hub
Where Florence Eats
From longtime local institutions to hidden gems and new arrivals worth knowing — the most complete, honest restaurant guide in the Pee Dee. No paid placements. No sponsored listings. Just the best places to eat in Florence, SC.
Our team's top recommendations for visitors and locals alike.
Southern · Gastropub
Downtown Florence
Upscale Southern gastropub in a renovated historic building. Known for craft cocktails, elevated comfort food, and a lively atmosphere.
Italian · Family
West Florence
Family-owned Italian restaurant serving homemade pasta, pizza, and classic dishes. A Florence tradition for generations.
Southern · Jazz Club
Downtown Florence
Live jazz, Southern soul food, and a warm atmosphere. The place to go for music, food, and good times in Florence.
Florence takes its BBQ seriously. Here are the spots that have earned the right to be called the best.
BBQ · Seafood · Buffet
1247 S Irby St, Florence, SC 29505 · (843) 629-1290
A Pee Dee buffet institution at 1247 S Irby St. Serving both vinegar-pepper and mustard-based BBQ alongside fried seafood, catfish, chicken bog, and all the classic sides. Ranked in the SC BBQ Association's Top 100. One price includes everything — drinks and dessert included. When the doors open, the line is already forming.
Southern · Live Music · Full Bar
Florence Mall · 1903 W Palmetto St, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 673-0035
Florence's most theatrical dining experience — a two-story indoor streetscape designed to feel like a Charleston outdoor café. Housed inside the Florence Mall since 1993. Live music every Friday and Saturday night. Full bar, patio seating, private dining room for groups up to 75. Fresh SC regional cuisine from local farms, honey, and freshly caught Atlantic seafood. Happy hour daily 4–7pm.
BBQ · Smokehouse
150 S Dargan St · (843) 407-7545
Authentic Carolina BBQ with house-smoked meats, homemade sauces, and all the classic sides. Full bar with local craft beers. Live music on weekends.
BBQ · Old-School Institution · Buffet
2004 Second Loop Rd, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 667-9291
One of Florence's true old-school BBQ institutions — consistently voted Florence's premier BBQ restaurant by local readers year after year. Full buffet featuring two styles of BBQ (mustard-based and vinegar-pepper), fried chicken, catfish stew, liver hash, sweet potato soufflé, banana pudding, and home-cooked vegetables. Just 3 miles from I-95 Exit 160. Ranked in the SC BBQ Association's Top 100.
BBQ · Southern
1502 Pamplico Hwy, Florence, SC 29505 · (843) 662-8991
A Florence institution with over 75 years of history — established in the late 1940s under a tobacco barn shed in Pamplico, SC. Family-owned and famous for traditional Southern BBQ, fried chicken, chicken bog, liver hash, red gravy and rice, and old-fashioned chicken bog — the Pee Dee's signature dish. Homemade pies baked fresh daily. Ranked in the SC BBQ Association's Top 100.
The kind of food that makes you feel like family from the first bite.
Soul Food · Lowcountry
2106-50 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 407-4686
A beloved Florence institution that got its start in the old mule barn at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market. Now located right off I-95 Exit 164 in a larger, easier-to-access space. Locals swear by the shrimp and grits, Lowcountry boil, BBQ egg rolls, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and Blue Plate Specials. Farm Fresh and Family Friendly.
Soul Food · Brunch
Florence
A Black-owned brunch gem serving soul food favorites anchored around their signature everything waffle. Open Sundays only. A community favorite worth seeking out. Hours and availability vary — call ahead or check social media before visiting. Open Sundays — confirm current schedule directly with the restaurant.
Soul Food · Buffet
Florence
Classic Florence soul food with a buffet of Southern favorites. Known for consistent quality and a warm, no-frills atmosphere that keeps regulars coming back weekly.
When the occasion calls for something memorable.
Steakhouse · Farm-to-table · Full Bar
126 W Evans St, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 665-0846
Florence's premier fine dining destination — located inside Hotel Florence at 126 W Evans St in the heart of revitalized downtown. Farm-to-table Continental and Regional American cuisine featuring hand-cut aged Angus steaks, fresh local seafood, house-made sauces, and craft cocktails. Full bar opens daily at 11am. Outdoor courtyard seating available. Free parking behind the hotel. A Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite multiple years running.
Southern · Live Jazz
Located in Downtown Florence — confirm address at time of visit
An intimate live jazz venue and restaurant for a quieter, soulful evening out. One of Florence's most unique dining experiences. Live jazz, full bar, intimate atmosphere. Confirmed active as of 2026. Dinner service — call ahead to confirm current hours.
The best spots to start your day in Florence.
Coffee · Live Music
Downtown: 160 S Dargan St, Florence, SC 29506 · (843) 407-1033
Pamplico Hwy: 600 Pamplico Hwy D, Florence, SC 29505 · (843) 229-9784
Florence's favorite local coffee house with two convenient locations — downtown on S Dargan St and on Pamplico Hwy with a drive-through. Known for great coffee, a relaxed atmosphere, live music and open mics at the downtown location. A true community gathering spot.
Great spots for families dining out in Florence.
Hawaiian · Kid & pet friendly
2513 W Lucas St, Florence
One of the most beloved restaurants in Florence right now. Hawaiian BBQ-style dishes — chicken katsu, rice bowls, macaroni salad — with generous portions and a large outdoor patio.
Pizza · Craft Beer
120 Dunbarton Dr · (843) 407-1442
Stone-baked pizzas, 48 beers on tap, fresh salads, and over 40 toppings to build your own pie. Family-friendly atmosphere and a menu that works for every age.
Mexican · Tacos & Bowls
Florence
Creative tacos and bowls with bold flavors. Locals love the chorizo mac and cheese. The chicken and rice bowl is the go-to for families with little ones.
Florence's best-kept secrets worth seeking out.
Fried Chicken · Seafood
2047 W Evans St, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 407-6618
Locals call this the best hidden gem in the Pee Dee. Fried chicken, shrimp, scallops, and gizzards seasoned to perfection. Open seven days a week. A small business punching well above its weight at 2047 W Evans St.
Burgers · Craft Beer
166 S Dargan St, Florence, SC 29506 · (843) 799-1757
A downtown gem with a playful energy and crowd-favorite burgers including the Space Jam burger. Pet-friendly outdoor seating and a lively street-side atmosphere. Dog friendly — pets welcome on the outdoor patio.
Cocktails · Rooftop · Farm-to-table
101 W Evans St Rooftop, Florence, SC 29501
Florence's only rooftop dining experience — perched above downtown at 101 W Evans St. Inventive farm-to-table Southern cuisine with creative craft cocktails and a lively rooftop atmosphere. Part of Town Hall Florence. Arrive early during peak hours — the rooftop fills fast on weekends.
Seafood · Lowcountry
1500 2nd Loop Rd · (843) 799-5579
Farm-to-table Southern seafood with Lowcountry roots. Known for shrimp and grits, crab cakes, oysters, Po Boys, and the famous lime butter shrimp. Call ahead to confirm current hours: (843) 799-5579 · 1500 2nd Loop Rd, Florence, SC 29501.
Vegan · Café
1832-B W Lucas St, Florence
A vegan and kid-friendly café with a menu of burgers, pies, salads, sandwiches, and fries. A unique dining option in Florence.
Local breweries and distilleries worth visiting.
Craft Brewery · Family friendly
551 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 665-9200
Florence's first distribution brewery — founded in 2014 by university professors at 551 W Lucas St. Craft beers brewed on-site, spacious beer garden, live music, axe throwing, and food. Now home to Kanza restaurant inside the brewery — operated by Alan Cooke of Rebel Pie fame, bringing worldly flavors with local flair. Family and pet friendly.
Craft Brewery
911 S Sunset Acres Ln, Florence, SC 29501 · (843) 667-1900
Florence's beloved craft beer destination with its own loyal following and a casual, welcoming atmosphere that feels like Florence at its most itself. Six house-brewed beers, 16 guest taps, an extensive food menu including hand-crafted pizzas, burgers, wings, and salads. Nothing on the menu is fried — even the wings are double-baked. Live bands, happy hour, trivia, and private events. Spacious indoor dining room, outdoor patio, and beer garden.
Craft Brewery
Florence
The third of Florence's three craft breweries. Together with Seminar and Southern Hops, they've put Florence on South Carolina's craft beer map.
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