Food & Wine // 8 min Read

Restaurants of the Bluff: A Taste of Lowcountry Summer

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Palmetto bluff restaurants

Palmetto Bluff Restaurants: A Guide to Summer Dining 

Dining at Palmetto Bluff offers a range of options from small cafes to fine dining. From a coffee run at Canteen in Moreland Village to a sunset dinner at Canoe Club overlooking the May River, each restaurant brings its own distinct flavor and setting. This guide walks through the community’s restaurants tier by tier and highlights a few favorites just beyond the gates. Discover why summer is the best season to try them all. 

Village Dining: Everyday Flavor in the Community 

The village restaurants in Wilson Village and Moreland Village are part of the rhythm of daily life at Palmetto Bluff. Open to the public, residents, and Montage hotel guests, each establishment offers something different.

Buffalos anchors Wilson Village with sweeping views of the May River and the iconic May River Chapel. The menu leans into American classics, and the open-air patio is the spot to watch boats come and go while the day winds down. 

Palmetto bluff restaurants

Canteen in Moreland Village handles the small moments: a coffee and breakfast sandwich in the morning, a panini or a salad in the afternoon. Take it to go and enjoy a wrap on the nearest fishing dock or linger with a glass of wine on the porch. 

RT’s Market is Moreland Village’s general store and gourmet market in one. Fresh seafood, curated wine, gifts, and the ingredients for a last-minute dinner party all under one roof, open daily. 

Melt, tucked along the May River in Wilson Village, serves 12 signature Southern ice cream flavors, along with shakes, sundaes, and homemade cookies. It’s the perfect place to end a summer evening, cone in hand. 

Flame serves up Neapolitan pizza out of a vintage 1950s fire truck. The wood-fired flames quickly cook pizza to perfection, making it an easy stop for those eagerly waiting to dine or between other plans. When craving a taste of Italian comfort, Flame is your go-to at Palmetto Bluff.

Buzz begins the day with freshly brewed coffee, handcrafted drinks, and house-made pastries. Come back later for your inevitable afternoon coffee re-up or a quick grab-and-go snack.

Club Dining: Members-Only Fare

Palmetto Bluff Club Members enjoy an exclusive tier of dining options reserved for residents only.

Palmetto bluff restaurants

Canoe Club serves award-winning fare with views of both the May River and the inland waterway. The coastal kitchen menu draws on local shrimp, oysters, and seafood, with vegetables, beef, and poultry sourced from area farms, creating dishes that honor the bounty of the Lowcountry.

Palmetto bluff restaurants

Cole’s is a family-friendly meeting place featuring menus with ingredients sourced from local farms paired with craft beer, curated wines, and friendly service. Located in Moreland Village, overlooking the marsh, Cole’s is a Member favorite.

Palmetto bluff restaurants

May River Grill sits at the entrance to the May River Golf Course clubhouse among the fairways and live oaks. It’s an easy stop for lunch or a post-round drink while watching golfers sink their last putts on the 18th green. May River Grill serves lunch to Members and Inn guests with scheduled tee times and provides drinks until the last player finishes. 

Pool Dining rotates seasonal menus at the Canoe Club and Moreland pools, offering casual plates built for a hot afternoon. Expect innovative edibles like Honey Glazed Wings, Tofu Banh Mi, and the Pooldeck Smash Burger. Kids’ favorites like PB & J and Grilled Cheese are always on the menu. 

Crossroads, Palmetto Bluff’s reversible nine-hole golf course, pairs a laid-back golf experience with barbecue served from its food truck. The menu features smoky classics with globally inspired flavors, complemented by a beverage trailer pouring craft beer, cocktails, and other refreshing drinks.

Montage Dining: Resort-style Options for Guests

Guests staying at Montage Palmetto Bluff have their own set of restaurants, each with a distinctive mood and menu.

Palmetto bluff restaurants
River House’s romantic riverfront fine-dining room serves bespoke cocktails and masterfully chef-prepared meat and seafood dishes. With a wine cellar holding over 2,500 labels and a sommelier team guiding pairings for every course, each meal feels like a celebration. 

Fore & Art sits at the Montage pool along the Inland Waterway. Serving casual and light fare from morning until evening, diners enjoy views of the avian sanctuary’s scenes of graceful egrets and herons gilding to and fro.

Octagon keeps things lively with tapas-style bites, classic cocktails, and the property’s signature barrel-aged Artillery Punch, named for one of the few octagonal houses built in the United States. Located in the Montage hotel, the casual yet upscale atmosphere is relaxing and refined.

Hush, downstairs from the River House, is a modern take on the classic speakeasy: quiet, intimate, and focusing on spirits and cocktails. It’s the ideal place for a nightcap to top off a perfect evening at the Bluff.

Beyond the Bluff: Old Town Bluffton and Savannah 

Palmetto Bluff sits minutes from a vibrant dining scene worth exploring. Old Town Bluffton is a short drive away and easy to wander on foot. Its live oaks shade a growing list of restaurants and shops. Calhoun Street Tavern serves Southern comfort with a modern edge. FARM Bluffton builds its menu around local farms and rotating seasonal ingredients. Captain Woody’s Seafood Bar keeps things casual with a rooftop deck and classic Lowcountry seafood. 

Nearby Savannah further extends options for foodies. The Olde Pink House serves refined Southern cuisine inside an 18th-century mansion in the heart of the historic district, while Vic’s on the River pairs riverfront views with a sophisticated take on Lowcountry classics inside a converted cotton warehouse. Between the historic squares and the exciting new dining scene, Savannah makes for an easy day trip for a dose of city culture.

Palmetto bluff restaurants

Why Summer Is the Season to Savor Palmetto Bluff

Summer is when the outdoor tables are full, and restaurants are bustling. Porches at Canteen and Cole’s, the patio at Buffalo’s, the deck at Fore & Aft: this is the season for dining al fresco in the Lowcountry. Pool dining’s seasonal menu leans into the heat, and a stop at Melt after a long afternoon on the May River is a tradition. Between the villages, the Club, Montage Palmetto Bluff, and the cities just beyond the gates, there is a meal for every mood within a short drive or a walk. 

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