Stono’s Oyster Bar Is Bringing Waterfront Dining To Johns Island
The upcoming Stono River restaurant is expected to feature oysters, Lowcountry seafood, rooftop dining, marsh views, and boater-friendly access near St. Johns Yacht Harbor.
Johns Island is getting a new waterfront seafood spot, and this one is built for oysters, sunsets, and boat traffic.
Stono’s Oyster Bar is planned for 2409 Maybank Highway along the Stono River near St. Johns Yacht Harbor. The restaurant is expected to bring indoor and outdoor dining, a main-level bar, a wraparound deck, rooftop dining, a rooftop bar, marsh views, oysters, and locally sourced Lowcountry seafood to the Johns Island / James Island corridor.
The project is tied to King Street Hospitality Group, with owner Mike Shuler involved. According to What Now Charleston, the concept is entering the final stretch of construction and is currently on schedule for a Spring 2027 opening.
A Waterfront Oyster Spot Built For The Stono River
Stono’s Oyster Bar is expected to lean into its waterfront setting.
Plans call for a two-story restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a main-level bar, and a wraparound deck. The rooftop level is expected to include dining space, a full-service bar, and a garden element surrounding part of the rooftop.
The restaurant is also expected to be boater-friendly. Reports note that around 60 complimentary boat slips will be available, giving diners the ability to arrive by water, dock, and eat.
That detail makes this more than just another seafood restaurant opening. If the project comes together as planned, Stono’s could become a new waterfront hangout for Johns Island, James Island, boaters, seafood lovers, and anyone looking for a sunset spot along the river.
Why This Matters For Johns Island
Johns Island has been one of the Charleston area’s most active growth zones, especially along the Maybank Highway corridor. New restaurants, grocery stores, neighborhoods, retail projects, and traffic conversations have all kept the area in the spotlight.
A waterfront oyster bar adds a different kind of destination to that growth.
Instead of another inland restaurant or shopping center tenant, Stono’s is being built around the river itself — with marsh views, seafood, rooftop dining, and boat access as part of the draw.
For locals, that means another option for waterfront dining without having to head downtown, to Shem Creek, or deeper into the beaches. For visitors, it gives Johns Island another reason to be part of the Charleston food conversation.
Still A Project To Watch
Stono’s Oyster Bar has been in the works for a while. Plans first surfaced in 2023, and the design was approved by the Charleston Design Board in May 2024, according to recent reporting.
The restaurant is currently listed among upcoming Charleston-area openings with a Spring 2027 target at 2409 Maybank Highway.
As always with restaurant projects, timelines can shift. But for now, Stono’s Oyster Bar is one of the bigger Johns Island food and development projects to keep an eye on.
If it opens as planned, the Stono River could be getting one of the area’s next major seafood-and-sunset destinations.
