Eating out is a real pleasure in Myrtle Beach, with a plethora of choices from mouthwatering Lowcountry classics, fresh seafood and steaks, to tempting pastries and desserts. Prices are no measure of quality here; dining costs are unexpectedly moderate at even the better restaurants.

Best of the Beach Chains

Plenty of folks come to Myrtle Beach in search of those classic party chains such as Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffet owns several joints in town), where decent food is just the beginning of a big night out involving plenty of booze and live music. Here are some of the better venues.

Hard Rock Cafe 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/946-0007; www.hardrock.com/cafes/myrtle-beach). The giant 70-foot pyramid makes this outpost of the rock n’ roll franchise hard to miss, though the food is otherwise standard Hard Rock fare (burgers, nachos, and American comfort food). Check out guitars owned by Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, BB King, and Brian Wilson, and black leather boots worn by Johnny Cash. It’s open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to midnight.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville 1114 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/448-5455; www.margaritavillemyrtlebeach.com). Love it or loathe it, this classic slice of Americana is a big hit in Myrtle Beach, so expect a wait to be seated. The food is so-so but pricey, and you really need to be into the booze, the music, and the whole “parrot head” scene to make the most of this. It’s open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 10:30pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm.

Johnny Rockets 1216 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/448-8575; www.johnnyrockets.com). The 1950s–style diner chain serves up decent burgers, fries, and shakes, for reasonable prices in this part of town. It’s open daily 11am to 9pm.

LandShark Bar & Grill 1110 N. Ocean Blvd (tel. 843/788-0001; http://myrtlebeach.landsharkbarandgrill.com). Part of the Jimmy Buffet empire, this hip seafront venue serves up great comfort food (chicken wings, burgers, tater tots, club sandwiches, and so on), and plenty of LandShark beer. It’s open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm.

Planet Hollywood 2915 Hollywood Dr., opposite Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/448-7827; www.planethollywoodintl.com). This franchise seems a little dated these days, but the Myrtle Beach outpost is still a lot of fun, with friendly staff, a decent gift shop, amazing fries, and the bizarre Thursday morning (8:30–11am) “breakfast bingo.” It’s otherwise open daily 11am to 10pm.

 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.