50 Best Cocktail Bars in Charleston

“The best place in downtown Charleston to stop for a cocktail!! Adam welcomed our group of 7 with wonderful hospitality. We tried several different cocktails from the menu including the Bourbon and Clyde(this drink is a must if you visit Charleston), Manhattan, Sazerac, Ticket to Paradise, and Running Sraight. We enjoyed our top notch cocktails with the popcorn that was gourmet. Will make Doar Bros a place to stop every time we are in Charleston!! Well done establishment!“

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

“The food was excellentellent and the atmosphere was great. Was a great dining experience for our mother-daughter trip to Charleston“

“Fabulous. And if you're impatient, the sro.. best service in the house!“

“Ordered the tennis anyone cocktail and ceviche tacos - both were fantastic. That said, I ordered the ceviche tacos for lunch - they were under the shareable section of the menu. I was thinking there would be 2 normal size tacos. When they arrived I nearly spit my drink across the table because I was laughing so hard. There were 3 teeny tiny tacos. Delicious tacos but think a heads up that they are baby tacos would have been useful. Left with my stomach empty but heart full thanks to the view and delicious cocktail.“

“The atmosphere and aesthetic at The Living Room are simply impeccable — that perfect blend of mid-century modern and classic Charleston sophistication. It’s one of those spaces that just feels good to be in.

I’ve been here many times for cocktails, and they always knock it out of the park. Thoughtful, balanced drinks served with real skill — consistently excellent.

On my most recent visit, I stopped in for lunch and was genuinely surprised by how good the food was. I already have high expectations, and this exceeded them. The brunch we had would easily rival (and frankly outperform) many of the top dinner menus in Charleston. Beautifully prepared, flavorful, and refined without being fussy.

It’s rare to find a place that nails both ambiance and execution across the board, but The Living Room does exactly that. Highly recommended.

Photos: Salmon Avocado Salad, Local Vegetable Galette, Creme Brulee Frech Toast“

“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!!“

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

“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!“

“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.🍀“

“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!“

“Dalila's was stop number 2 on our DIY Cocktail Crawl. We were told it was somewhat of a dive bar and very small. Small but MIGHTY! 💪
The atmosphere was fun and unique and the bartenders were friendly.
We were only in for 1 drink, but easily could've stayed longer.
🍹I had the Pin Up from their Happy Hour Menu (Monday - Saturday 5-7pm). It was very reminiscent of a Pornstar Martini, just lacking the vanilla, but this was GOOD! So fresh and so full of real flavor, not just sugar. I'd 100% order again.
🍵 Hubby had The Cougar and also enjoyed it.
They had a Pizza Martini on special that I would've tried but I wasn't feeling savory. Maybe next time?
Definitely put on your list to hit up for happy hour!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Unique cocktails; friendly knowledgeable waitstaff“

“This is the best rooftop bar in Charleston. It’s so put together and feels like you’re in Architectural Digest. A beautifully executed interior is matched by the service and drinks. As a Charlotte native, I won’t skip this place on my trips down. Just incredible.“

“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!!!“

“Wonderful ambiance and service. Fantastic drinks!“

“Had a fish sandwich. Collard greens, slaw, fried oysters, and calamari. Outstanding. Collards off the chart. Service even better. 15/10 recommend.“

“Gin in my favorite libation…I’ll have to frequent this tiny bar more often.“

“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 birthday celebration dinner.“

“Natalie was amazing. Great food recommendations! Nice conversation and vibe. Enjoyed the experience.“

“This is a MUST!! It’s like a beautiful art museum as soon as you enter, beautiful exhibits!! It’s definitely a VIBE, mature crowd and the food was delicious!“

“Amazing food! My family and I went here yesterday during our trip to Myrtle Beach based on some recommendations I saw online...and this place exceeded all expectations!! All of us were beyond satisfied with our meals. Delicious flavors and good portion sizes too! We said we will come back to Myrtle Beach (from PA) just to come back here 😂. Great service, nice atmosphere, and the food is absolutely amazing! We wanted to get photos of our meals but we were so excited to dig in when it came out that we forgot all about photos! Go check this place out and see for yourself.“

“Best seafood ever and I don’t particularly like seafood, but this was exceptional“

“Our waiter, Michael, recommended that we come here! He was our waiter at another restaurant and was so lovely we followed him here. The food was absolutely fantastic, also. My family split appetizers and sides and truly enjoyed every single bite. Michael gave us fantastic service as usual. I highly recommend him and this restaurant!“

“We had the most amazing night celebrating our 10th anniversary. The entire team went above and beyond and we left feeling so filled with joy—and OUTSTANDING food. Flavors that we never will forget and memories for a lifetime. WC team, thank you for making our first night in Charleston one we will never forget.“

“Always a pleasure to visit Beautiful South. The staff is all friendly, attentive, and accommodating. And the space is inviting and alive. The dining area has a more cozy section with booths and a buzzier section with small tables, but we always enjoy the spaceous bar, where Johnathan and Gabriel make excellent drinks (on and off menu) and are genuinely hospitable fellas. All of the food is cooked with care, good luck trying to decide what to eat without doing a complete tour de force of the menu. Beef dumplings are extremely flavorful, don't be scared of the rose water - it's just a hint but a unique and memorable one. The green beans are good enough to eat a popcorn bucket full. And the Hunan chicken is unctuous and saucy and just delicious. Did I mention there is plenty of convenient parking? What more do you want?“

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

“Great music, happy hour, and staff!“

“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.“

“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! 🔥✌🏼“

“Great experience, showed up 15 minutes before our reservation, and they had no trouble accommodating us. Service was phenomenal, we got poutine as an appetizer best I've had south of Canada. Dinners came promptly, everything was timed nicely and cooked to perfection. My only regret was not leaving enough room for dessert.“

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

“Incredible food with wonderful southern charm. Server and hostess were incredibly courteous. Great service, we had Dillon. I loved the halibut and spouse had the prime rib. Both of us put this food toward the top of our experiences.“

“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.“

“Very cool atmosphere! Very romantic! Live music, great food! Definitely 5 stars from me! ⭐️“

“We visit Le Farfalle every time we visit Charleston, as it is a tradition for me and my son. We love the food and the atmosphere. We can’t wait to have many more trips together to enjoy there.“

“Great food! We came for lunch and ordered the combo meal. It was a good price and generous portion! Everything tasted amazing! The salsa is a cooked salsa where the peppers and tomatoes are roasted giving great flavors! Nice cozy atmosphere with friendly staff.“

“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!“

“What an unexpected pleasure! We planned to go for happy hour but loved the bar area so much that we stayed for dinner. The bartender was an expert in mixing cocktails and quite helpful with advice about visiting Charleston. The food was delicious and relative in the presentation. Looking forward to going again!“

“My daughter and I stopped in tonight for a light dinner. It didn’t disappoint. The staff was amazing, especially Eric & Jacob. The food was tasty and my espresso martini (with peanut butter tequila) was a hit. Thanks for the hospitality and good times.“

“I’ve been in here a number of times for coffee and to do some work. Usually a fairly quiet spot plus their coffee is great. If you have a sweet tooth give the peanut butter mocha a shot, it’s incredible. Friendly staff and great coffee, highly recommend Babas if you’re downtown!“

“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!“

“Great customer service and great food!“

“Visited this place with my bf!! Very good food!! Was greeted by a lovely host who gave us a menu to order being that we were ordering to go!! Then we ended up placing our order with the very nice bartender behind the counter. Not even 5mins he acknowledged us so we just ended up placing our order with him. Food came out fast and correct as well. Will be returning!!!! With or without my bf lol !!!“

“First time here! Lunch on Thursday and it was an amazing experience. This place oozes with charm! I had the fish and chips and it was really great. I love the lighting the decor the menu and the service. I would love to come here in the evening and have a Cabernet and taking the charm. Love this place!“