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. :)“

“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.“

“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.“

“Review is specifically for Annex at Last Saint, the speak easy in the back of the bar. We knew we could make a reservation per the website but didn’t plan well. They were full unfortunately but kindly offered to add us to the waitlist list and told us an approximate time it’d be open. We got the text from Resy and returned. Our only interaction was with Mark who was fabulous. There is no menu- chat with you about what you like/what you’re in the mood for/allergies/etc and create a drink off of that. The atmosphere, experience, drinks, and staff were outstanding. Would recommend to anyone looking for a unique and intimate 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.“

“finally getting around to catching up on my reviews & this one has been on my list to share! def has to be your next girls night stop. has a luxe and moody vibe. plenty of room to catch up, gossip, drink, & spill the tea. the talking pits are great for conversation!“

“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.“

“Good food, beautiful place“

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

“I always have The Belmont at the top of my list when people ask me which bar to try next in Charleston. It’s a very appealing place for a 30 and up crowd, although 21+ are welcome. This is where you go for well-crafted cocktails and a high quality of ingredients, all made in house.

Fresh squeezed fruit juices and home-made specialty syrups make all the difference for a great drink. They carry a well-curated liquor selection and really care about what they serve to their guests.

They refresh their house cocktail menu seasonally, so there’s always something new to try along with all the classics.

Vincent is your favorite bartender’s favorite bartender!“

“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.“

“This place is incredible, I was walking down the street solo and gave it a try. Everyone was extremely nice, Kyle got my flight together and it was great. Matt had just started his shift he is definitely an asset to your establishment very kind and when I asked him who Zach was he gave me the story, I went on and donated to make a wish!!! I wish we had a spot like this back home!! Loved every minute of my time here!!!
Thank you!!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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. ❤❤“

“Great rooftop bar at The Dewberry Hotel. Hostess checks you in fro the Guinness and gives you a “pass” to take the elevator to the 8th floor. Another hostess greets you and seats you. Just outdoor area with panoramic views of the city. Small intimate seating indoors with a few booths, bar and counter seating. They do have sharables , sandwiches, salads, and sweets but we were there for the beverages. Great place for a real cocktail. I had “white Album”. It was the perfect cocktail. Large, clear ice cube, appropriate glass ware, and garnish…and the flavor! One of the best cocktails Ive had in a very long time. Great mix of flavors; not too sweet, not too boozy. Refreshing and yummy. My husband was also very pleased with his selection, the pineapple-jerk Old Fashioned. Again, great mix of flavors. Enjoyable without any one component overpowering the other. And did I mention the ice? It’s amazing. If you’ve ever tried to make clear ice cubes, you know it’s quite the task. They have mastered it. The ice was (almost) as amazing as the cocktails. Staff was friendly and professional. We will definitely be back for another round… or two! Check it out, you wont be disappointed!“

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

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

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

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

“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.“

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

“First time is a charm! We hosted my son’s engagement celebration at The Peacock! The rooftop bar was the perfect location for our semi-private event. Joe and Dia were so attentive and made our evening fun and simply perfect! Michelle was so helpful and planned a wonderful evening for us!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Best bartenders on James island“

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

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

“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!“

“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!!“

“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.“

“This is literally the best ramen I've had in my entire life. I think about it when I'm not eating it. I gave away all my cheap pockets of ramen because it's ruined forever. Are noodles are chewy and there's alien surprises and the veggie ramen. I am endlessly grateful that this fantastic place with wonderful food and fantastic humans is in my neighborhood!! I will continue to eat here multiple times a week for all of eternityyyyy“