Where Are the Best Dessert Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina?

When the time comes to grab some sweet treats, only dedicated dessert restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina, will do. These eateries create imaginative concoctions filled with decadent flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. To help you choose, track down our picks for the dessert restaurants.

Peace Pie

Address: Peace Pie, 223 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401

Peace Pie takes ice cream sandwiches to the next level. Their iconic masterpiece uses shortbread cookies, ice cream, and legendary pie filling. Over a 31 unique varieties rotate through the menu, including:

• Key lime
• Blueberry
• Boston cream
• Lemon meringue
• Salted caramel apple
• Cherry
• Coconut cream

Of course, the pecan ice cream sandwich stays on the Charleston menu to pay homage to the not-quite pie that started it all. Peace Pie sells single orders and sandwiches by the dozen. They even deliver to local customers or will ship to you. Peace Pie has a second Charleston location on Johns Street, plus a few in New Jersey and St. Augustine, FL.

Carmella’s Café & Dessert Bar

Address: Carmella’s Café & Dessert Bar, 198 East Bay Street #100, Charleston, South Carolina 29401

At Carmella’s Café & Dessert Bar, patrons enjoy gourmet Charleston desserts in style. Everything on their menu uses high-quality ingredients and recipes passed down through generations. Carmella’s regularly switches out their menu items to keep the store fresh, so it is well worth visiting through every season.

While browsing the menu, visitors may find:

• Cannoli cake
• Smores cheesecake
• Strawberry shortcake cupcakes
• Chocolate mousse
• Tiramisu
• Raspberry almond tart

They also regularly serve gelato with popular limoncello, mascarpone, and salted caramel flavors. The Dessert Bar is paired with a breakfast and sandwich menu and a fully stocked bar that delivers delicious wine pairings or specialty cocktails. You’ll find a second Carmella’s in Greenville.

Kaminsky’s Dessert Café

Address: Kaminsky’s Dessert Café, 78 North Market Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401

Kaminsky’s Dessert Café serves traditional desserts by the boatload each day. The Market Street location is always packed with patrons eager to taste their favorite treats. A rotating selection of layer cakes, pies, and cheesecakes is on the menu. Pair with cooling milkshakes and floats.

Kaminsky’s changes their dessert menus on the regular, though they always seem to have their fan favorites available, such as:

• Key lime pie
• Red velvet cake
• Coconut cream cake

Patrons can pair their desserts with coffee, tea, and cider. Or, try a pairing of hot spirits and signature dessert martinis for those who want to end cap the perfect day.

Gala Desserts

Address: Gala Desserts, 829 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Carolina 29407

Although they specialize in sweet treats, Gala Desserts is an excellent place for every meal. They serve classic brunch options, including cinnamon rolls, avocado toast, and quiche from their beautiful converted old home. As a European cafe, it even provides an authentic tea service! But as always, the real magic lies in their desserts.

Select from miniature treats such as tarts, cheesecake bites, and tiny cupcakes—as long as they meet Gala’s two-dozen minimum. Otherwise, browse their in-house and whole-dessert menus. The in-house menu changes seasonally and typically has tarts, tortes, and crumb cakes. Find a selection of mini cookies and cupcakes, too.

On their whole-dessert menu, visitors can order:

• Strawberry champagne cake
• White chocolate lemon ginger cheesecake
• Bourbon pecan tart
• Amaretto pear torte

They even do cakes for special events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings, but they must be ordered in advance.

Best Dessert Restaurants in Charleston

Finding a favorite with so many delicious dessert restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina is challenging. Bring friends, family, and coworkers to enjoy top-notch treats in an inviting setting, and see which is your top choice. Make an evening out of it by pairing with the best dinner restaurants or Italian spots in Charleston.

Updated February 2024