Why you should go: You can’t appreciate Myrtle Beach until you’ve sampled its one-of-a-kind culinary scene. Take Sea Captain’s House. The 1930-built structure was originally a vacation home, then a nine-bedroom guesthouse, and finally a full-service restaurant serving the Lowcountry’s trademark dishes: she-crab soup, fried oysters, Carolina catch of the day. But while the menu is certainly a draw, perhaps an even bigger sell is the ocean view. Diners can watch the tide over crab cakes Benedict for breakfast, a shrimp po’boy for lunch, or pecan-crusted grouper at dinner.
Find another sensory dining experience at Hook & Barrel, where the seafood tower is nothing short of an oceanic treasure trove. Featuring vibrant ceviche, fresh mussels, raw oysters, and South Carolina shrimp adorned with delicate, edible flowers, it’s a centerpiece as stunning as it is sumptuous. Chef Heidi Vukov opened the sustainable seafood spot in 2017, and the menu dazzles all around, from perfectly pan-seared whole fish to the dramatically displayed bourbon bacon.
