Enjoying a well-deserved vacation on Hilton Head Island? You’re surely in awe of its natural beauty and the people’s warmth. Of course, your trip to HHI wouldn’t be complete without checking out the ever-popular Salty Dog Cafe. Wondering what’s unique about this restaurant and what kind of experience awaits you? Keep scrolling!

All About Salty Dog Cafe

If you want an amazing waterfront dining experience on the docks, Salty Dog Cafe is the place to be! A popular spot among locals and tourists, Salty Dog Cafe serves fun every day through its incredible food options, iconic T-shirts, live music, cruises, and more.

You can visit the Salty Dog Cafe in South Beach Marina Village on HHI. They also have other locations on Seabrook Island in Charleston and Bluffton.

How Salty Dog Cafe Started

Salty Dog Cafe has been serving good food to happy locals, seafarers, landlubbers, and vacationers for 36 years. Of course, every iconic place has a story to tell. In this case, Jake, the Salty Dog, saved his master, John Braddock, during a raging storm on Hilton Head Island. Jake was said to have swam for three days back to the shore with John Braddock clinging to his collar.

In 1987, Salty Dog Cafe was born as a tribute to Jake’s heroism. Whether the story is true or not, Jake the Salty Dog has become the brand’s icon. The restaurant only started as a small cafe. However, Salty Dog Cafe has become a world-famous restaurant that everybody loves. It has become a symbol of Hilton Head Island, too.

Delightful Food Options

From quality burgers and sandwiches to fresh seafood, Salty Dog Cafe in Hilton Head has something for every foodie. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. If you want to start your day the best way, try their breakfast hushpuppies. They also have sausage biscuits, wafflicious, avocado toast, Maryland crab cake benedict, and more.

For lunch, popular options include the Salty Dog Po’ Boy, the big boss sandwich, and lobster grilled cheese. The Salty Dog Po’ Boy includes wild-caught East Coast shrimp, which is fried to perfection. It goes with lettuce and tomato on a toasted hoagie roll and their signature remoulade sauce.

The lobster grilled cheese contains Maine lobster, creamy brie, hickory smoked bacon, and their signature remoulade sauce, which is grilled on toasted sourdough. There’s a great amount of lobster meat, and it tastes perfect. If you want a satisfying dinner, you have several options to choose from. These include fisherman’s pasta, a Salty Dog shrimp platter, beef short ribs, fire-grilled filet mignon, and more.

Taking a vacation with your kids? Salty Dog Cafe has kid-approved meals, too. These include the Jake burger, fried fish nuggets, grilled cheese sandwich, and little Jake dog, which is 100% kosher beef by Hebrew National.

Various Drinks

Salty Dog Cafe has a great beverage menu as well. They have signature drinks like Salty Dog sangria and signature draughts including Salty Dog Amber, Salty Dog Pale Ale, and Hearts & Arrows IPA. They also have classics, such as a mojito, Bahama Mama, and rum runner.

Want to drink like a local? Try the Salty Dog toasted coconut rum! They also have a local hand-crafted Bloody Point Mary mix and more local booze.

Iconic T-shirts

Aside from the impressive food and drink options, Salty Dog is also popular for its t-shirts. The Salty Dog T-shirt Factory in Arrow Road and Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head, offers a great selection of Salty Dog T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, beach towels, gifts, and collectibles. They even offer a children’s book “The Legend of Jake, the Salty Dog.” To maximize your shopping experience, watch how these colorful quality shirts are printed from a custom window.

What’s great about the Salty Dog brand is they always have some surprises for you. For example, they run a Lucky 8 contest, wherein customers who have patronized the brand through different digital outlets can get 8 free T-shirts. They also hold a lucky receipt contest, wherein customers may get a full refund of what they purchased at the Salty Dog brand.

Another store you can check out is Jake’s Cargo, which is slightly bigger than the Salty Dog T-shirt Factory. You can get your fur babies a new collar, toy, leash, and other gifts here. Now, there’s also a Salty Dog T-shirt Factory in Tanger 2 Outlets on Fording Island Road. You can get t-shirts from their online store as well.

Perfect Ambiance

Salty Dog Cafe has a great ambiance with stunning views. Whether you prefer indoor or outdoor seating, there’s enough space for you to enjoy the amazing views. Salty Dog Cafe also feels so welcoming. You can enjoy live music on the docks, grab some local booze at the outdoor bar, and just appreciate the southern charm.

Moreover, Salty Dog Cafe and the surrounding shops are clean and well-kept. The natural beauty around these colorful shops makes them a relaxing and exciting place to visit.

Salty Dog Cafe and Its Brand Extensions

Another reason Salty Dog Cafe keeps shining and stealing the hearts of locals and vacationers is it keeps growing. The amazing brand extensions continue to satisfy people’s needs and preferences. For example, they have Salty Dog Pizza and Salty Dog Ice Cream to satisfy your cravings.

You shouldn’t miss Salty Dog Music cruises, either. You’ll enjoy spectacular views while listening to live music and enjoying island-inspired dishes.

Final Thoughts

Salty Dog Cafe is indeed a must-visit during your Hilton Head vacation. From the fresh and delectable food, local drinks, and live music to the spectacular views, cruises, and interesting shops, you’re sure to have an enjoyable and meaningful experience. Check out our page for more places to visit in Hilton Head.