Naturally, one of the first actions a person undertakes after booking a well-deserved coastal getaway to beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is extensively researching the area’s culinary scene. There’s something for everyone along the Grand Strand, including ample fresh-caught seafood, longstanding Italian staples, and a plethora of cheap eats. Just a couple miles out of town, however, lies a gourmet cuisine mecca near North Myrtle Beach’s Barefoot Landing. To many people’s surprise, there are dozens of top-reviewed North Myrtle Beach restaurants along busy Highway 17 that have been wowing foodies for over a decade. And luckily for you, Sands Resorts have four oceanfront hotels just a couple miles down the road from North Myrtle Beach’s culinary hotbed.
Fine Dining Done Right: the Best North Myrtle Beach Restaurants
These three hand-selected North Myrtle Beach restaurants have several traits in common: they’ll all high-end, romantic, and award-winning. While the price for an entree certainly isn’t cheap, the arresting experience at each location is well worth the extra dollar sign or two. Finding fresh seafood in North Myrtle Beach is quite easy, but savoring the best flavor combinations in one bite is hard to achieve. Luckily, these fine establishments have some of the premier executive chefs in the region.
Sea Blue Restaurant & Wine Bar
When we think of sophistication, elegance, and decadent flavors, Sea Blue Restaurant & Wine Bar immediately comes to mind. This posh, sleek, blue-lit wine bar is the epitome of romance. And, thankfully, the mouthwatering, succulent entrees match the dazzling decor. Sea Blue has one of the most extensive wine cellars in South Carolina for those with an adoration for fine vino. The menu at Sea Blue continually rotates with the changing of the seasons, but you’ll typically spot local seafood favorites, such as Maine lobster, seared diver scallops, and crab cakes. The 42-ounce, dry-aged porterhouse for two is one of life’s true culinary treasures.
Flying Fish Public Market & Grill
Flying Fish Public Market & Grill remains one of our favorite Barefoot Landing restaurants. While it’s undoubtedly much more laid back than Sea Blue, the vibrant coastal flavors are unrivaled. And the Intercoastal Waterway location next to the Alabama Theatre is a huge plus for families that are looking for a meal in-between shopping and live entertainment. What we love about Flying Fish is that their scrumptious meals don’t break the bank—the $12 blackened mahi-mahi tacos are dynamite! Seafood classics, such as the surf and turf, snow crab, crab cakes, and Gulf shrimp boil, are crowd-pleasers, especially for large groups aiming to get a small taste of everything. Oh, and their daily happy hour includes $2 PBRs, $4 Long Islands, $5 buffalo shrimp, and $7 oysters.
21 Main Prime Steakhouse
If you plan to devour a juicy steak during your long-awaited Myrtle Beach escape, we highly recommend embarking on a short trek to 21 Main Prime Steakhouse (yet another one of our favorite North Myrtle Beach restaurants). The ultra-talented culinary team at 21 Main have crafted a marvelous menu that includes Chilean sea bass, seared scallops, and lobster tail, but you simply cannot resist the allure of a 12-ounce, certified Angus, center-cut filet mignon. 21 Main serves eight USDA-certified prime cuts in all, including a bone-in ribeye, New York strip, and a whopping 40-ounce porterhouse. One bite into their prime steak and you’ll instantly understand why they rank among the best restaurants in North Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach Resorts with Water Parks
After half a day at Alligator Adventure, Duplin Winery, and LuLu’s Beach Arcade, retreat to Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar for a refreshing cocktail, a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, and a beach walk at dusk. Or head on down to our free Myrtle Beach water park located at Sand Dunes Resort. All four of our oceanfront resorts are just a short drive from the premier North Myrtle Beach restaurants, including Sea Blue, Flying Fish, and 21 Main. Give us a call today at 800-726-3783 to book a dreamlike coastal escape to sunny South Carolina!
