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!“

“Super cute coffee shop! The barista who helped me offered recommendations and I ended up trying the whipped honey espresso. Absolutely delicious, light and sweet with just the right amount of caffeine for an afternoon pick-me-up. Although it was pretty busy there was still enough seating to find a spot inside or outside.“

“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! 🔥✌🏼“

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

“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.“

“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. :)“

“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!“

“My husband and I came here not really knowing what to expect but just heard about it through the grape vine. Katie was our host for the evening and words cannot express enough how amazing she was. Her knowledge of wines, and just alcohol in general lead us in the direction we didn’t know we needed for the perfect night. We enjoy the BEST wine and BEST REAL espresso martini I have ever had.

We had the best time carrying on with Katie and enjoying our night. For Katie alone we would be back, but we will 100% be back for cocktails, food, and the atmosphere.“

“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.“

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

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

“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!“

“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. ❤❤“

“We’ve been to Belmont every single night of our holiday, which probably tells you everything you need to know!

It was originally recommended to us by the team at Uncorked, and we’re so glad we took their advice. The cocktails are excellent, but what really makes this place special is the staff. A special shout-out to Doug and Murat who treated us so well throughout our visits and always had the best recommendations.

We loved grabbing a spot by the window to people-watch while enjoying a drink. The atmosphere is fantastic. It’s not an overly young crowd, but it’s still lively and full of energy. The music is great and at the perfect volume, so you can actually have a conversation without shouting.

The food menu looks amazing, and we’ll definitely be back to try more of it. Belmont has become our favorite bar in Charleston. Great drinks, great atmosphere, and even better people. Highly recommend!“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“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 “.“

“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.“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

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

“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.“

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

“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“

“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!“

“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!!“

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

“Best bartenders on James island“

“Good food, beautiful place“

“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.“

“Was what we expected. Pricey food and drinks, but you essentially pay for the views and service; both of which were excellent.

Note: get a reservation online ahead of time. Also, you don't have to get a table outside. It's comfortable inside at the bar, and you still get views.“

“Best sushi in charleston, coming from a northerner. So many other places are over hyped. Miss Rachel is the key to the kitchen - bringing authenticity and personality to the true meaning of what makes the culture of good food in this city. Go see Megan at the bar too she’s the best.“

“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.“

“Love love love this bar! Can't go wrong with a heavy metal bar that shows scary movies and skate videos. It feels like a warm hug. I love the vibe!! Nice to have a bar to feel at home at when I'm visiting from Savannah frequently. :)“

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

“We came in to celebrate parents night out and my birthday, and our waitress Alexis made the whole night. She was fabulous -- attentive, fun, and made me feel incredibly celebrated and special. She really went above and beyond to make the evening memorable.

The food was 10/10 across the board. The focaccia with the brown butter whipped ricotta was the perfect start. The tortellini wagyu was incredible and the ravioli did not disappoint either.

Highly recommend, and if you can, ask for Alexis.“

“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.“

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

“Stay fresh ya cheese bags…“

“Best cocktails in Charleston!“

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

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

“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.“

“Silver is a great spot for cheap drinks, amazing staff, and great entertainment from live music to DJ’s late night. When you get tired of king st. Prices def make silver one of your stops it won’t disappoint. The outdoor patio was a great addition that was added in the last year“