Why locals love it
A proper dive — and that's the appeal. Right across J.C. Long from the Windjammer, the Dinghy is where Isle of Palms locals slip in for cold beer, sports on the TVs, and live music on the patio most nights of the week.
What locals are saying
The Dinghy is a genuine IOP institution — born from a partnership between Windjammer owner Malcolm Burgis and longtime employee Bret Jones — and locals treat it primarily as a drinking destination: cold draft beer (12 taps with local brews), live weekend music, and a quirky, game-filled atmosphere that earns real loyalty. The food, however, is a persistent fault line: multiple self-identified locals specifically call it out as poor quality with slow service, with one TripAdvisor reviewer flatly stating 'locals know better' than to eat there, even as visitors rave about the Dirty Elvis Fries and Old Bay shrimp. The honest local read is: show up for drinks, the vibe, and maybe the shrimp or fries as a snack — don't make it a sit-down dinner destination.
