Looking to eat dinner in Myrtle Beach? Where should you choose, downtown or Market Common?
If you’re stumped on where to grab some grub after a long day at the beach or the aquarium, Myrtle Beach has a couple of trendy, walkable areas where you can find great food and spend an evening.
While there’s only one official downtown Myrtle Beach, The Market Common offers a second, de facto downtown area in the south of the city.
Navigating Myrtle Beach can be confusing, with the two different neighborhoods just miles away from each other. Both areas feature entertainment, waterfront views and a variety of dining options.
When you’ve finished a long day of working or playing, both downtown and The Market Common offer top-rated restaurants to try.
If you’re struggling to pick between the two, here’s what you should know.
How many restaurants are in downtown Myrtle Beach compared to Market Common?
According to The Market Common website, there are 14 dining options within the official Market Common area.
They range from an ice cream shop and bars with finger food to white tablecloth establishments with $20 entrees.
Comparatively, downtown Myrtle Beach has dozens of restaurants within the boundaries marked by the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance’s map. Side by side, the area marked by the downtown alliance has a much higher number of restaurants and dining options compared to The Market Common.
They include beachfront bars, breakfast spots and restaurants serving seafood fresh from the ocean with craft cocktails.
What do the ratings say about the dining options in each neighborhood?
In the age of the internet, online reviews offer an extensive look at other diners’ favorite spots. We looked at Google reviews of restaurants in The Market Common and downtown Myrtle Beach to see which eateries customers love most.
Here are some of the most popular restaurants in The Market Common that Google reviewers gave 4.5 out of 5 stars or more, starting with the highest-rated results:
Zardin Healthy Eatery: 4.9 stars with 833 Google reviews
CK’s Bistro: 4.6 stars with 150 Google reviews
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar: 4.5 stars with 2,737 Google reviews
Gio’s Italian Kitchen: 4.5 stars with 123 Google reviews
Just past the airport, on the other side of Kings Highway, sits downtown Myrtle Beach, according to borders confirmed by the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance.
Based on Google reviews for restaurants we found within these borders, here reviewers’ favorite spots to eat with at least 4.5 out of 5 stars, starting with the highest-rated results:
Caravan: 5 stars with 24 Google reviews
Sun City Cafe: 4.8 stars with 186 Google reviews
National Pancake House: 4.7 stars with 25,894 Google reviews
Villa Romana Italian Restaurant: 4.7 stars with 2,771 Google reviews
Dagwood’s Deli: 4.7 stars with 745 Google reviews
Tu Taco: 4.7 stars with 745 Google reviews
Baywatch Bar and Grill: 4.7 stars with 32 Google reviews
Noizy Oysters Bar and Grill: 4.6 stars with 5,648 Google reviews
Homestyle Restaurant: 4.6 stars with 877 Google reviews
Ginger Garlic the Indian Restaurant: 4.6 stars with 154 Google reviews
El Primo: 4.6 stars with 54 Google reviews
DinoLand Cafe: 4.5 stars with 15,261 Google reviews
LandShark Bar and Grill: 4.5 stars with 6,874 Google reviews
Bummz Beach Cafe: 4.5 stars with 3,324 Google reviews
Art Burger Sushi Bar: 4.5 stars with 2,466 Google reviews
Abraham’s Gyros: 4.5 stars with 987 Google reviews
Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar: 4.5 stars with 677 Google reviews
7th Ave Cafe: 4.5 stars with 671 Google reviews
Mr. Sub: 4.5 stars with 624 Google reviews
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 12:00 AM.
