50 Best Bars in Charleston

“I would give the harlow 6 out if 5 stars if I could! From the service to the menu, the multiple oyster choices, the happy hours, the many specials, quality of the drinks, the happy, personable culture of the staff, the many heat lamps keeping the little outdoor garden oasis toasty and cozy, and the staff has nearly no turnover, and lots of Charleston restaurants have stupendous food, but what makes the harlow stand alone as a best of the best, is an obvious comeraderie amongst them coupled with the tastiest crab Mac n cheese in the universe along with their other delicious fare!“

“This is now one of my favorite coffee shops to visit! Chip and the staff were friendly and professional. The banana bread paired with the macchiato (made with peanut milk) was a delicious combo. I also loved the atmosphere — such a great vibe. Keep up the great work!“

“Leon's is literally in my dreams! My boyfriend and I went there for the first time three years ago. It blew our minds! Affordable, delicious food, and such a fun atmosphere. We returned a couple of times on the same trip. We live in NJ... and set up a trip last year JUST to go to Leons. I am actually scared to post a review because I selfishly want to keep it a secret for my boyfriend and I. Man, if you like chicken and oysters... you cannot go wrong. Damn, now I need to set up another trip. :)“

“I have a long, productive day where I celebrating accepting a new job with CPI Security and hanging out with Dad today who lives adlund the corner on Society. Both my parents came here back in the 60's. It was phenomenal and very enjoyable! They staff killer - very friendly. Also, I'm a former craft cocktail bartender with a fairly refined palette and that Manhattan was fire! 🔥✌🏼“

“One of my favorite bars. The annex is a true 5/5 must see when in Charleston. I hate going to bars and looking at a cocktail menu and having to choose. Here, I literally just say what I’m in the mood for and get an awesome drink I have never heard of! Service was amazing and the atmosphere is top notch.“

“Had a great experience and stay… we enjoyed our time at the pool bar. Bartenders were very engaging and friendly.. great group and they make great drinks. Cozy and quaint.. just wish they played music around pool and not just on the bar side.“

“The best, freshest seafood! Best fish taco i ever put in my mouth. And love the atmosphere!“

“Tried and true for 20 years. Absolutely best restaurant in Charleston. Food always incredible, service always perfect.“

“My absolute favorite spot in Charleston! Sebastian is the best bartender I’ve met downtown! Super attentive and always remembers us! Not to mention the lemon vanilla bean martini is absolutely TO DIE for. Highly recommend for date nights, birthdays, or even just for a fun night downtown!“

“The Rum Punch is amazing, good service and good food“

“S/O to Kiavon for providing excellent service to me and my family!! His energy is out of this world and he knows his stuff! Definitely will be coming back to see him again really soon!! Thank you Kiavon and thank you Zack’s Daqs for having such an amazing staff!“

“We walked around the corner from a movie date to pop in for a drink. Ended up finding some awesome oysters and drinks! Dozen oysters and Hamm's, not much more you can ask for. Looking around it was easy to see this was a place that many patrons were regulars at and the wait staff still treated everyone as if they were regulars with warm greetings and conversation. Lively place and great location!“

“The Belmont is an amazing experience! Amy and her crew are absolutely lovely people! Very personable, warm and professional. The drinks are made perfect every time and the food is excellent! Once you visit the Belmont, you will find that it is simply the best in Charleston!“

“Had the steak & cheese eggrolls, pulled pork nachos and pineapple passionfruit marg. All so good! Would def come back and recommend to others! 😁“

“Katie took great care of us, she was awesome! And this spot is not to be missed if you are visiting Charleston. We didn’t have reservations but were fortunate that they could seat 6 of us. It’s like being cozy in someone’s old fashioned parlor with craft cocktails and a delightful charcuterie board. Highly recommend!“

“The service was impeccable! Suzanne and I had one of the best experiences during our weekend in Charleston. Suzanne loved her Shrimp and Grits, and I opted for a Ribeye Sandwich. I'm glad I did as it was perfect. Suzanne's birthday brunch was enhanced by the live Gospel music lofting through the building. I could go on and on about our brunch it was that much of an experience.“

“In town with a friend on a dive bar tour of downtown Charleston. And this one fit the definition. Apparently they are the number one sellers of PBR cans in the country. A cool claim to fame. We found it to be a very fun place with a great crowd and staff. They do have a fun small patio out front. No frills but a lot of fun.“

“Ultimate dive bar, love it! Quick question- is the angry chick death metal playlist from corporate or just a Wednesday, Thursday , Friday , Saturday thing?“

“An authentic neighborhood pub feel!!!!! Very friendly atmosphere!!!!! Nice beer and whiskey selection Wonderful food“

“Hotel Bennett is like a Ritz Carlton. Superior in every way.“

“Simply perfection! The oyster selection is otherworldly. The chargrilled oysters the best Ive had in my life. (Florida born an culinary chef.) The peel & eat shrimp so plump and served ice cold I have craved them since I had them. The service was above and beyond. The atmosphere encouraged private chatter but also conversation with next table easily. Friendly and cheerful and above all excellent food served with smiles, suggestions, and ease. I will never visit Charleston again without making sure to dine here. (Do not eat the soup. I actually sent it back to the kitchen. Never have I had to do that. ) Highly recommend again and again for everything else.“

“Finally made our way here and wow were we glad we did. Beers were fantastic, sushi the best I have had in a while and owners were super nice. Recommended it to our foodie friends and they went a few hours after us… Just texted “great recommendation “.“

“Great food, great atmosphere, loved everything about this place!“

“We stopped in for a cocktail on our way out to dinner and couldn't have been more delighted with what we found.

We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by Allen and Anna. Drinks aren't the only thing being served at this beautiful speakeasy-style bar. The rapport with our bartenders was top notch. They were friendly, welcoming, helpful, and knowledgeable - truly enjoyable to converse with.

With that said, as much as the service shines, the drinks here are definitely the star. Thoughtfully crafted and oh so delicious, we only wished we had more time to stay for more. So much so that we went back the next evening as well. If we ever find ourselves back in the area, we will definitely be stopping by again.“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

“Been coming here since I could legally drink! Lots of regulars and locals come to this place. It’s a fun dive bar atmosphere that has amazing food. Their lunch blue plate specials are fantastic. Wings and burgers are great as well. They have a large beer selection but have a full bar as well.“

“Best comfort food in West Ashley! Daily specials are all homemade and portions are huge! Best deal in Charleston!“

“Good vibes! Great beers! Great to have this spot in the neighborhood !“

“Bar Mash - The Perfect Spot for Charleston Euchre Club! Bar Mash in downtown Charleston is an exceptional venue where our Charleston Euchre Club meets every Tuesday. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, with a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere that's perfect for our weekly euchre games. The staff is always friendly and attentive, making sure we have everything we need to enjoy our time there. The bar offers a fantastic selection of craft beers, cocktails, and delicious food, all at reasonable prices, which makes it easy to stay for hours and enjoy the evening. Whether you're a regular or a newcomer, Bar Mash provides the perfect setting for great games, good drinks, and even better company. We highly recommend it for any group gathering or casual night out!“

“Saturday night, 10:30PM. The bar is busy and so is the dance floor. The dj is mixing vinyls which is hard to find these days. It is a mix of groovy disco, early 2000s and ABBA. Vibes are high, people are dancing and mingling. Shout out to the female bartender Sam for her excellent service. This bar is a place to dance and listen to music not often played other places. 10/10“

“Fabulous champagne bar. Great selection of champagne by the glass. You can try things here you can’t normally find by the glass. Fantastic service also.“

“Me and my daughter had been traveling all night (and looked like we had been). We stopped here because we were starving and needed to kill time until we could check into our hotel. The staff was so friendly to us. I felt like we were under dressed (it was Easter) but no one seemed to judge us for it. As for the food - amazing!!!!! I got the fried artichoke sandwich and it was sooooo good. The fries were also very good. This place has such a good vibe. I wish we were in town longer so we could enjoy it again.“

“This place is awesome in so many ways. Friendly staff, clean, roomy, comfy furniture and I have rarely seen so many beverage choices. They have craft beers of all kinds and its a very posh and hip hang-out! They also have various food vendors on different nights so there isn't boring bar food. Check 'em out!!“

“Best bartenders on James island“

“Stay fresh ya cheese bags…“

“I went here with my cousin while visiting Charleston for the first time. We could not have picked a better place to eat. HIGHLY recommend the dumpwings and the pretzel appetizer as well as the Bubba burger. Incredible amazing food coupled with amazing service. Made us feel right at home. If I visit charleston again, I will be coming back.“

“A great place to spend the late afternoon. Always good food trucks and dog friendly.“

“Had a great atmosphere with people of all ages, pool tables, other games and a great bar. The drinks and food were great too!!“

“Great service and food. Live music was awesome. Will be back!“

“What an amazing addition to our weekend in Charleston. We were warmly greeted and taken care of. We returned the next night and enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly because of the slightly upscale atmosphere and incredible hospitality.“

“PC setups are epic, Mario Kart on a whole wall 😳, full bar and kitchen... what else do you need“

“We went to the Terrace Theatre's special showing of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me for my birthday and wanted to grab a bite first, but I wanted to stay REAL CLOSE to the Theatre on Maybank Hwy. I asked my foodie group for recommendations and read reviews here and chose this place because they have a Sushi Ninja popup on Wed-Thur-Fri. We LOVE SUSHI! And hubs loves whiskey!

Traffic was SO BAD it took an hour and a half to get to the Terrace from Goose Creek. Left at 4:45, parked at 6:15. Show at 7:30. This is why I stick close to home. But we hit Paddock & Whiskey and had the best time, great drinks, and excellent Sushi Ninja sushi! Best in Charleston? That's a high bar. But wow. This was excellent sushi. I ate a piece before the pic, it looked so good.

We got the Nigiri Mori at the recommendation of the amazing bartender, and I also got her favorite gin and tonic. Local, very fruity and naturally sweet. Lovely! The drink was good too LOL Seriously, though, the Tropical Gin from Beyond Distilling Company is sweet and fruity-good.

The Aburi scallop is not to be missed! I swear I got an almost Bleu cheese taste from it, in the most pleasant and pungent way. The A5 Wagyu was also a hit. The Bluefin Tuna, Hamachi, and regular scallop with smoked sea salt were all so fresh and delicious. It was all so good. The sushi chef came out since he was told it was our first time and was so kind and genuine in his appreciation for the fish. I am impressed.

The sushi was gone in a minute so we ordered another round and hubby was offered a discount dram (or 2) of a special bourbon and of course he couldn't say no. It was worth it.

The space is tight but that makes it cozy and sincere. I would totally hang out all the time if I were local. The outdoor seating is great, too.

This is an incredible locals bar tucked away in an art theater strip mall with an amazing sushi meal three nights a week. Where do I sign up? If you're in the area, check 'em out! If you're on the way, be patient and turn up the music. It's all waiting for you.

Would brave the horrific traffic again for it.“

“It's a great place to hang out! The bartenders are on point and you can sing karaoke every Friday. I'll see you there.“

“Best cocktails in Charleston!“

“100% recommend for out of towners. We felt so at home here. The owner is an incredible guy.“

“Our bartender Natalie was amazing!

The food was not as good as the one in Savannah that closed down. I was very excited to get my favorite dish. But when I say not as good, it means just not five stars. It was probably four. If I'm being nitpicky, it was probably just because the vegetables were overcooked“

“We had such a wonderful experience celebrating our anniversary here, and a huge part of that was thanks to our incredible waitress, Naomi. From the moment we sat down, she was warm, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic about making our evening special.

What truly stood out was the thoughtful surprise she organized for us — the entire staff signed a beautiful anniversary card, and she even gave us a postcard to send as a keepsake. It was such a personal and meaningful touch that made the night unforgettable.

Naomi checked on us at all the right moments without ever being intrusive, made great recommendations, and made us feel truly cared for throughout the entire meal. The food and atmosphere were fantastic, but Naomi’s hospitality elevated the whole experience.

Thank you for making our anniversary so memorable — we will absolutely be back!“

“The Rum Punch is amazing, good service and good food“

“Share Our Suzy is incredibly grateful for Swig & Swine and their continued partnership in presenting our annual Denim & Diamonds event. Their commitment to supporting local breast cancer patients and giving back to the community means so much to our mission. Because of partners like Swig & Swine, we are able to provide real support to women in the Lowcountry during treatment. We are thankful for their generosity and for standing with us year after year.“

“We recently had an event at the Rooftop of the Hilton Garden Inn and it was fantastic! The food was delicious, drinks were strong, and the space is big enough to fit up to 80 ppl. Paige is so great to work with and was on top of it every step of the way; highly recommend using this venue if you have a smaller group and wanted to have amazing views of the marina.“