50 Best Bars in Charleston

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

“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!“

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

“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. :)“

“Found Baba’s through an Instagram story and was intrigued by their peanut milk lattes.

My brother and I both got a latte and they were very delicious, not too sweet! We ordered the pickled shrimp toast and the baguette with ham and butter to snack on, both were incredible! For the two small drinks and two menu items, plus tip, it was a little over $50 which seemed a bit pricey for the portion size, but would definitely go again.

The atmosphere was very cozy, a little crowded but worth the wait!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Madison Maison is THE spot to go in Charleston. The whole scene is a vibe. Our server Journey, was incredible.“

“So, only rating the Speak Easy as the club was not our scene. The Speak Easy though was one of a kind, and awesome. The guy working the door was super nice and was able to get us in for a cocktail without a reservation. The bartender was great, and the fact that they have no menu, was very new to us, but we loved it!“

“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! 🔥✌🏼“

“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.“

“This place was genuinely a fever dream in the best way possible. everyone that goes to Charleston has to come, nonnegotiable. It's even better in the nighttime. It's a girls only with men optional bar. The only negative is that it closes at 12 AM cause that's when their liquor license ends :(. I love this place through and through. Bury me at Zachs Daiqs. 10/10 expierence.“

“Another fancy rooftop bar. It's nice and I'm sure it's great for hotel guests. Never got to try the food because the people I asked weren't my server and he just didn't bother to come by for half an hour or more despite everyone saying they would send over a server. Ended up going elsewhere to finish out our evening. Plenty of staff but not much ownership of customer experience.“

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

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

“This place has a very 50s classy vibe. They play old black and white movies on a TV in the background and the music sound system is great. Hands down, had one of my most amazing cocktails that i have ever tasted, Breakfast at Tiffany's. It is impossible to describe the flavor exactly but it had a slightly creamy texture and citrus flavors. And it was topped with a biscuit!! Love at first sip. I still dream about this drink. Bartenders were nice and helpful. I would not recommend the food. We ordered some sort of cheesy bread with a marinara sauce. Took way too long to come out, felt over baked, and very basic. Very dark inside in the evenings.“

“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.“

“Always enjoy my drinks and food here! Andrew, Adeline, and Reese were awesome! The drinks are always delicious and a good price for the area! My friend from Peru vouches for the Peruvian chicken, and I vouch for the doughnuts! Excellent vibes!“

“We had dinner at Legami the other night and had such a wonderful experience! Jackson was our server and was incredibly sweet, attentive, and professional. His recommendations were spot-on, and he truly made our evening extra special. Great food, great atmosphere, and outstanding service! We’ll definitely be back!“

“Good food, beautiful place“

“Amazing staff, incredible food, beautiful mystical and magical service- words do not express what a treasure and a gift recovery room truly is to charleston. Thank you Mr.RecRoom and Staff for your patience and willingness to participate in photo ops! I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of the incredible rec room experiences I’ve been blessed with, for better or for worse. ❤❤“

“Limited menu for drinks, but all super good and fun atmosphere. Small little seating group areas with some fabric dividers. Our server was great. If you needed anything, you could flip a lighted switch and she would see it and come. Apparently, reservations are recommended, but we got in without one. It was a fun experience!“

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

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

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

“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 “.“

“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.“

“We really wanted to give this restaurant the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately, the service fell short. We had to go up to the bar a couple of times to get drinks even though we were seated at a table. Our server didn't seem very familiar with the special and mixed up tables a few times. We were also there for a special occasion, and the overall service felt a little impersonal. After having phenomenal service at another local restaurant recently, it made us feel like the experience here could have been much better. That said, the food was great, and we had absolutely no complaints there!“

“Yummy vegan options!, great service, and cute decor.“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

“Our server was great (Jayden!) and Kory was wonderful too! Quick service, great food, and servers that went out of their way! Five stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“Best bartenders on James island“

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

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

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

“I came here with a few friends, and we all left really impressed. Mike V. was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was welcoming, funny, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu, while also being genuinely attentive and accommodating. He took the time to understand our tastes and helped guide each of us to drinks we'd truly enjoy, even going as far as creating a few custom cocktails based on my friends' preferences.

What stood out the most was how personable he was. He made an effort to get to know us, and by the end of our visit, he was joking with us like part of the group, which made the experience feel even more enjoyable.

All of the drinks we tried were both unique and perfectly matched to our tastes, and the small bites were excellent as well, especially the truffle popcorn, seasonal flatbread, and pretzel bites. The ambiance was also perfect for a relaxed late afternoon drink.

Overall, this was a 10/10 experience and a highlight of our weekend in Charleston.“

“Some gal pals and I went here the other month and from start to finish it was an absolute delight. As a seasoned veteran of sampling culinary delights I have got to admit it was one of the best meals and experiences of my days. Absolutely no notes.“

“This was a really fun bar to be at on my weekend in Charleston! We went on a Friday night, so there was great live music, great energy on the dance floor, and really quick service from the bartenders. The bar also had a great decor and lovely atmosphere“

“Delicious food, great atmosphere and unique drink options. Highly recommend.“

“Now if you want to enjoy some quality time in a old fashioned bars than this is the one for you! It is one of the oldest continuing bar in Charleston with over 170 varieties of beer in stock. They also have a great food menu with excellent prices. You must come on down and check out a piece of West Ashley history.“

“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!“

“Home team was a pleasure to work with! Great with responding and getting answers to me quickly, they arrived on time to cater a wedding I coordinated, set up on time, and the food was delicious! Extremely friendly and easy to work with staff who were very helpful! As a planner I appreciate a great catering team and they’ve got it! Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“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!!“

“Great place to stop and have a drink or two with great seafood!“

“I love the Pour house so much. It is my favorite place to go in Charleston. I have seen so many of my favorite musicians play here and have also gotten to meet a few of them here too. The deck is the best vibe in the world and the inside shows are fantastic. The sound and lighting are done so well and there is even big fans so it doesn’t get too hot and stuffy even when it is packed especially now that they have two garage doors as well. And you can see and here the music from the deck too. They have thoughtfully upgraded this place over the past 10 years I’ve been going here and they have all been excellent positive changes without changing the vibe. 10/10 for me. Love it here.“

“Sugey’s is the starting and ending point for the Wednesday group bike ride through Charleston with @holycityspin. Had a refreshing and much appreciated Miller’s High Life pony after the ride. Super fun, small bar that says metal but welcoming for non-metal heads like this old former punk.“

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

“When you walk in, you can tell that this place is a local hangout. And that’s a good sign to me.
The service is friendly and helpful.
I tried the habanero pineapple drink. I was expecting it to be spicier. But I love spice so maybe it’s normal for y’all. I ordered tuna and bang bang, shrimp tacos, and pork belly ( current taco if it sells a daughter gets donated to a charity ), I was pleasantly surprised with my whole meal. It was excellent!
Love, the fact that they give back to charity. They also have trivia night I believe on Tuesdays. They also have taco Tuesday where they have a couple of varieties of their tacos for three dollars apiece.
I would gladly come back to this place and I sure will.“