50 Best Cocktail Bars in Charleston

“Spent several late afternoons/early evenings at Doar Bros. last week and had a great time! Jake and Stephen are artists in creating phenomenal craft cocktails! JD, one of the owners, very personable and welcoming! All great guys! If you're in to cocktailing, no trip to Charleston is complete without a stop at Doar Bros.! Cheers!“

“We enjoyed oysters, yellowfin tuna, clam chowder, steak and the fish basket plus some delicious drinks! Service was amazing as well as the entire experience. Highly recommend!“

“Phenomenal food and atmosphere. Get the “dessert bread” appetizer if you come. Had the grouper on special and it was incredible“

“Had brunch today. Food was good. The chicken and waffle was really tasty.“

“It was an unplanned visit to High Cotton. Our party was very underdressed. The hostess was quite pompous and gave the impression we should go elsewhere. Obviously if it was a planned dinner we would have been well dressed. The food was exceptional. The staff were incredible. But our waiter, Jamal, made our experience very memorable. He made sure we were welcome despite our attire. Jamal and my 11 year old grandson became good friends for the evening. Jamal was impressed with my grandson's order of a pot of mussels in garlic sauce, smoked duck, lobster mac and cheese and strawberry shortcake. Jamal was the highlight of our evening. Our family highly recommend you ask for Jamal if you visit High Cotton. The next visit we will look our finest and definitely ask for Jamal.“

“My husband and I sat at the bar and were pleasantly surprised by the cocktail engineers helping us navigate our lunch. We started with drinks and an order of calamari; prices seemed high, but we are always willing to pay for superb experiences, after all, this is our first time in Charleston, thus our first time at Bar167. The place was packed; everyone was chatting with one another, along with the friendly staff. Between my husband and I, and the new friends we made, I think every cocktail on the specialty menu was made and sampled. The cocktail engineers were knowledgeable, attentive, and welcomed all the questions (no matter how dumb they were). We had the crab roll and the fish sandwich – did not disappoint! CAN I JUST TELL YOU, the damn Tzatziki Drink was unexpectedly amazballs.
This was a great place, if we are ever in the area again, we will be there“

“The Dewberry Charleston's rooftop Citrus Club is stunning, and I am totally obsessed with this place. I recently visited with my boyfriend + some friends of ours while in Charleston, SC and we had the absolute best experience!! Our waitress was so sweet - she was attentive, kind, and took excellent care of us during our visit. The atmosphere inside of the Citrus Club is so chic and luxurious, but their outdoor rooftop space is the reason you must visit. There are perfect views of Charleston's incredible architecture from every single angle of their rooftop (as pictured in this review). You are at the best spot in the house, regardless of where your table is located. For cocktails, I highly recommend their Spicy Margarita. Regarding their food menu, their Grilled Seasonal Vegetables and Hamachi Tataki are both excellent! :-) We will be back, Citrus Club - thanks for the hospitality!“

“OMG, The food, service and overall experience was amazing. Dan and the guys behind the bar made sure it was an excellent experience. Will be going back every year on St. Patrick’s day.🍀“

“Lowlands was a fantastic find! I chose it because it was within walking distance to an event, though it wasn’t initially recommended. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance, food, and exceptional service. We sat at the upstairs bar, where Avery took great care of us. Thank you, Avery, for making such a great first impression! We’ll definitely be back.“

“Unique cocktails; friendly knowledgeable waitstaff“

“Stepped out of our typical places to eat to try Azur and we were really impressed. Food, drinks, and service were all top tier. Pedro and Chris were great bartenders who made sure our experience was absolutely excellent.“

“literally everything we had here tonight was fantastic. the calamari strips are some of the best calamari I have ever had. the drinks were wonderful. I had this seard fish with the succotash which was so good. my boyfriend had the pot roast melt and loved it. the owner was absolutely fantastic. we will definitely be back repeatedly!“

“Amazing food and awesome staff. Highly recommend.“

“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! 🔥✌🏼“

“Bottom line up front: Amazing food and great atmosphere!

I’ve been fans of Kwei Fei since back in the days of their pop ups at The Daily. They’ve always brought the heat (literally) and have been eager to try this new venture, Beautiful South.

Stopped in for Sunday Brunch and it did not disappoint. The char siu fried rice had that familiar wok char and was on point! Also had the char siu bao, salt and pepper pork, and shumai. It brought back memories of dim sum in the Bay Area (big compliment) but without the old lady that gets mad when u don’t like what she has on her cart! ?

Wish I had taken pics, but honestly was too busy eating!“

“Not just a meal, but an experience. My taste buds are still craving everything at Wild Common. I would go back in a heartbeat. The food, wine som, creative cocktails, and atmosphere are 5 stars!“

“French Fries are the best and the sweetest girl from Georgia pretty blonde was super nice and friendly and made sure we didn't sit dirty with empty plates and glasses - Did not catch her name but the atmosphere was absolutely wonderful-“

“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.“

“Not sure why this location has a lower rating than the other. I had a great time at both locations and I’m glad I went out of my way to pop into this one. If I was local I’d be a regular for sure! I sat at the bar top and enjoyed my coffee and people watching. The team work and way the staff interacted with each other made it known that it was a well run establishment. Great job, Babas!“

“Great meal and awesome waitress“

“I don't drink alcohol and I still absolutely loved it! It was more small plates. Lots of cocktail and alcohol options all my friends loved. I think i ate some of every small plate and each plate was delicious!! I have never had caviar before and this was the best way to try it. I loved it! The only thing i changed was i took the caviar off of the cracker they served it on because the cracker almost overpowered the taste of the caviar it was so good. I also loved the caviar over the deviled egg. I can't wait to go back. The chocolate dessert was a hit for every person at the table. 5 star meal.“

“My wife and I dropped in here for cocktails while in town for Spoleto. What a great bar! John and Jessica made us feel very welcome and poured us some delicious cocktails. They have a wonderful cocktail list but can make virtually anything you desire. The Veranda Lounge has my highest recommendation.“

“Always amazing!! Cooking class with Chef Tyler was so fun!! Zero George is our go to in Charleston!“

“Dined here back in 2019, but form wouldn't let me select that. It is has since closed (as a result of Covid? I'm unsure.), but so hope it reopens in the future. Lovely upscale dining spot with an old school feel. Fantastic design. Delicious food.“

“I’m a Texas gal living here in Charleston and I’m particular about my Tacos! Had some friends stay at an Airbnb across the street and it was convenient so I finally went. I’ve now been twice in less than a week. Everything is so fresh. Well flavored. Delicious. Cocktails are lovely. Staff was helpful and attentive both times. Casual, fun, and yummy for my tummy! Go!“

“Bonita was awesome and treated us like family during our stay. We enjoyed a quick lunch in a pinch, with a treat at the end for the little kiddo.

Lobster rolls super tasty.
Mushrooms are seasoned perfectly and complimented our meal.

Definitely recommend the Caesar salad with the addition of the grilled shrimp seasoned and grilled just right.“

“I found out about Southbound, through my job. I had to go do some work there, and found the owner and everyone there, super friendly. Most people at restaurants ignore working people while they are there. As my 42nd anniversary was quickly approaching, I decided to give this place a try. Some of my past picks, have not been the best. Southbound cleared EVERY hurdle I have about restaurants. From the moment we approached the restaurant, great service began! While coming thru the gate, the hostess yelled out, "HEY LARRY" and then said, "This must be your beautiful wife"! Like CHEERS, it felt great to go somewhere, "Where everybody knows your name" We were seated and got to view the open fire oven. I had dropped off 42 roses the week before for them to put on our table, for my wife. Tropical storm Debbie, and downtown flooding prevented us from going exactly on our anniversary. I was worried that store bought roses, would not last thru the weeklong delay, Joel assured me everything would be taken care of, and not to worry. As we were seated, there on the table, sat 42 roses. Fresh, and arranged with baby breath flowers included. I was told the young lady with the hostess had arranged them. They were gorgeous! They also had an anniversary card on the table from them, not something I had dropped off. The service was tremendous, the food indescribably outstanding! I have only had steak Tar Tar once before in my life, and was greatly afraid to try it again, as the first time was awful. It was superb! They take great pride in the presentation of their food products. I felt like I was in an episode of Master Chef. We had the steak, as well as the Sea bass, okra, corn, sweet potatoes, and the Caramel cake. Everything absolutely wonderful! This was a truly wonderful and memorable dining experience!! I would give 100 stars, and a Siskel and Ebert two thumbs up! There was only one thing I was disappointed about. No sweet tea! Were In Charleston SC, no sweet tea. Everything else totally made up for it though. The staff even had everyone present sign a menu, wishing us a happy anniversry1 I will most definatly go there again for a special occasion. Thanks to Andrew, Joel, and the entire staff, for making this night special!!“

“The atmosphere was nice the food was amazing and the drinks were delicious! Also the dessert was yummy! Nice place to relax eat good food and unwind!“

“Stopped by on a whim. Excellent drinks, good food. Corn bread WONDERFUL surprise.“

“We are staying in the hotel and have loved a relaxed afternoon in the lounge. Service is 10 star. All the team are amazing and go above and beyond. If your looking a welcoming place to relax then look no further

Parking: There is a hotel valet service and I think street parking

Kid-friendliness: The cookies are amazing and fresh baked. It is an adult space but children are very welcome.“

“Exceptional wine selections in self serve machines and an owner that is extremely knowledgeable about wines throughout the world! Great service and a wonderful positive vibe. I can't wait to go back!“

“Gorge was possibly the greatest host I’ve had At a bar. We mentioned it was our first time and he generously gifted us a shot that was absolutely wonderful. Each drink is so layered and personable that I feel like I’m tasting a story. Making this my weekly regular, even if just for Gorge’s superb company. What an incredible team and gem of a speakeasy. I understand what’s it’s like to really taste liquor instead of just consume. Amazing!!!“

“The food was incredible and our server, Courtney B was outstanding!! Courtney helped us select the perfect items and she made it fun!! Awesome!“

“Wonderful ambiance and service. Fantastic drinks!“

“I had the quesadillas on the shareable menus for dinner. It's the best quesadillas I've ever had. My wife had the lobster roll. Really loved it. Highly recommend coming here especially during happy hour!! Very relaxing vibe, not super busy so service awesome too! They should be flood d given the excellent food!! And drinks!! We came on a Tuesday. May be much busier on the weekend.“

“The staff was amazing. It was our anniversary and the GM personally came to our table and poured us a glass of Champaign to celebrate. They also gave us a free dessert. The hostess, wait staff, and GM all took time to wish us a happy anniversary. The food was amazing as well! Overall it was a great dining experience!“

“Amazing birthday celebration dinner.“

“This place we stumbled upon and I am so glad we did. The staff was so amazing and attentive, Timmy and Damien were so very helpful on pointing out key dishes and cocktails. The wine list is very impressive and not to expensive. We had the eggplant for a starter (yummy) and the Walnut bolognese for our main. Both unbelievably delicious and wow no meat in that sauce!!! Also don’t sleep on the bread and butter, they source fresh sourdough from the local bakery Grit down the street and the butter…….🤤 We loved the staff and the whole experience. We will be back for sure. Thanks for a lovely evening and memorable date night.“

“Amazing food and drinks with great service.“

“We went to Peacock for my Birthday dinner and it was amazing! This was our first time here but we will definitely be back! Aaron was our server and was so attentive and gave us the best recommendations for food to try. He knew about everything! From the appetizer to the dessert, everything tasted great! We split the Steak Frites and got the Blistered Green Beans as well. Oh my goodness, they were both amazing! The flavor of the steak and green beans were so great. Finished up with lemon cheesecake with blueberry compote and it was so good! It was a fantastic birthday dinner!“

“Thank you for having Charleston Society of Horror yesterday for our monthly meeting! We had a wonderful time. The food was great, service was even better and we will be back.“

“Great BBQ. Fantastic sides.“

“Reviews are all over the place. We walked past on day one of our trip and thought the decor was really cool. The gal at the door was so nice and that made us want to go back. We just wanted a light snack and cocktails so we sat at the bar. It too entirely too long to get a drink. I mean to tell you we almost got up and left. It was not well run or organized at all. The manger was useless and the 1-2 bartenders were really not that busy. It was disappointing. we did like the tacos and our cocktails were inventive. Although they did not have fresh cut cucumbers for my gin and tonic. They subbed in cucumber juice, which is just not the same. The ceiling artwork and other wall art is really worth a look.“

“We had a wonderful experience last night at Bearcat. We had a rare "date night" and chose to sit at the bar while electing for the chefs tasting menu. WOW. The food was incredible, the service top notch and attentive. The whole experience was refined - plating, presentation, and even little history lessons while being served - but it was never "poncy" or "snooty" - it felt like anyone could come in, have an INCREDIBLE meal, fun conversation, and become part of the Bearcat family. We'll definitely be back- the scallops dish and the pork belly dish will be menu items I dream of until we return! P S. don't sleep on the cocktails! Whether ordering from the thoughtfully designed menu or requesting something creative from the bar team's minds - you won't be disappointed!“

“We adored this place! We accidentally found the downtown Charleston location during our stay there at a close AirBNB! We visited 3 times in our 2.5 days there. Then, we passed by the John’s Island location on our way to Kiawah and decided to make the 25 min drive the next morning for our coffee and pop tart fix! Great coffee, service, pastries, toasts and local drink and food finds!“

“Really wasn't in the mood for Mexican... but because of being hungry and it was convenient... we came in thinking by the name it was a steakhouse... thank god we did this. This has got to be the best we have eaten!!! Nacho piled high best tasting chicken on the tacos... ADDED bonus if you like heat and spice, this is your place. The salsa and /or the cheese dip is 10 out of 10, even though I could only stand a small amount.“

“Great little cocktail bar. Wide variety of drinks. Very intimate feel for friends or a date. I had a passion fruit Paloma which was good but a tad in the sweet side. The bartenders aren’t super chatty but they’re also super busy making drinks due to the variety. Would definitely come back to try more on the menu!“

“Great customer service and great food!“

“Kayla B was a friendly as she was persuasive — how did we end up with that second round of cocktails?! — and make great recommendations about what paired best with the proteins we ordered. Easy to speak with, funny and laid back. The food was outstanding, as usual, which was even better on the patio in the late afternoon sun. A favorite for locals and“

“Great food and service!!!“