50 Best Cocktail Bars in Charleston

“Doar Bros was the very first bar we visited in Charleston before we moved here, so it has always held a special place in our hearts! We recently had the opportunity to take our engagement photos there, and the entire experience was wonderful. Adam was incredibly kind and accommodating in making it happen, and Jake was absolutely fantastic. We are so grateful for their hospitality and for helping us capture such a special milestone in a place that means so much to us. Such a great spot with even better people. We can’t recommend it enough!“

“What an amazing place! Went without reservations..told them it was my 70th birthday! Got a great table for 2 in back dining room…food was amazing! Our waiter Brian was the best! When I was disappointed that the didn’t have an apple dessert I wanted he had someone go across the street to get me one with a candle on it! And Josh brought us a glass of champagne… they didn’t know us …just met us.. and treated us to make my night extra special! Try High Cotton you will love it! ( we had the Filet and crab cakes)“

“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.🍀“

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

“Came for the cocktails and photos, stayed for the food. Our server Geordi was exceptional. We were intrigued by the appetizers on the menu and decided to forgo a main course. Good choice. Each app we ordered(4) was delicious and beautifully thought out and prepared. A wonderful experience .“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

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

“Having frequently visited Charleston my entire life, I can confidently say the Dewberry is the finest hotel in Charleston. From the amazing room decor, the quaint lobby cocktail bar, to the breathtaking rooftop bar, you have everything you could want in a hotel. Couple that with absolutely delightful and accomodating staff with the utmost Southern hospitality and you will find it is likely one of the best hotels you have ever visited anywhere.“

“Absolutely amazing! Amazing food, amazing management, amazing staff! You honestly can’t go wrong with this establishment, just be prepared to wait to get in…but it will be well worth the wait!“

“Unique cocktails; friendly knowledgeable waitstaff“

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

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

“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.“

“Wonderful ambiance and service. Fantastic drinks!“

“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!!“

“Lupe is AMAZING and a wonderful bartender! The space is cute and quaint! Visiting this bar immediately felt like discovering a new “third place” in the city! Locals and kind strangers sat at the bar and we had a wonderful night. And, I laughed with everyone! It was such a fun time! It had been a while since I sat at a bar alone. Such an amazing neighborhood bar with good vibes, great people and drinks!“

“They definitely committed to the bit. It has a great atmosphere with a wonderful drink selection and we loved the charcuterie. Katie was a wonderful hostess and single handedly ran the place with style and grace. If we are ever back in Charleston, we will absolutely return.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“WOW! What an incredible view of Charleston and OMG- the dishes & service was Stellar!
Met up with a girlfriend to join at the rooftop deck of The Nickel Hotel for Rosemary Rose for a quick early Happy Hour. We were the first ones there (they open at 4pm). Was greeted by Callie (spelling) front desk the bartender made an amazing rendition of an Aperol Spritz with White Peach Red Bull & St. Germain.. it was so gorgeous outside we had to take a seat outside under the shaded umbrellas & comfy sofas. Fun upbeat relaxing music was playing in the background. We had Daniel as our main server although two others also helped us along the way. The service was incredible!
The food (tapas type portions but enough to share) was OMG, Seriously Over The Top! The flavors were a journey on their own. We ordered the Rosemary Frites, the Chilled Shrimp, the Mushroom Toast, Chicken Skewer, Stuffed Cabbage Skewer, Shrimp Skewer & Kale Salad.. so seriously good & craveable! We also tried other cocktails too & they were accommodating to change a flavor or liquor.
Really, this was so good that I am confident to go back and have other items and they would be equally as good. Plus you really cannot go wrong with indoor dining or outside seating if it is a gorgeous day!“

“Amazing birthday celebration dinner.“

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

“10/10 — absolutely phenomenal.

We’ve been loyal Hall’s Chophouse customers since 2019 and have probably eaten there 60+ times, but Burwell’s completely blew us away.

The staff was incredible from start to finish. “Nurse Destiny” is hands down the best waitress we have ever had. She made the entire experience exceptional.

And the food was outstanding. Every course was incredible, and we all agreed it was better than our last 60 visits to Hall’s Chophouse.

Burwell’s has officially earned a spot at the top of our Charleston restaurant list.

10 out of 10. We will absolutely be back.“

“Great music, happy hour, and staff!“

“My wife and I went there for date night last night and our only complaint was we haven't been there sooner. The wait staff was amazing, from the hostesses to the bartenders and finally the server. The food was next level and the focaccia was only describable as sinful. Prices were very reasonable and portions were huge. We will definitely be adding it to our rotation. 10/10.“

“I took my date to The Peacock’s rooftop for our first date, and the entire experience was exceptional.

From the moment we arrived, the waitstaff and management were incredibly attentive, ensuring every detail was taken care of. The chef even went out of his way to create his own unique take on a dish just for us, which made the evening that much more memorable.

The level of hospitality truly set this experience apart. The entire team helped create a magical evening that I won’t soon forget.

Without question, one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had in Charleston. I’ll absolutely be back.“

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

“Great meal and awesome waitress“

“I can't recommend this restaurant enough, out of all the great food I had in Charleston this was my girlfriend and I's favorite place! We shared the pupu platter, pork dumplings, scallion oil noodles, and sweet and sour grouper cheeks. Every dish stood out with distinct, unique flavors, but my favorites were the dry-rubbed spare ribs from the pupu platter and sweet and sour grouper. Very cool dishes I haven't seen anywhere else. We also experienced great service and enjoyed the dark, moody ambiance in the restaurant. Go give them a visit!“

“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.“

“Excellent food , service was excellent and an all around great experience. Will definitely be back“

“Great food and service!!!“

“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.“

“Absoluetly phenominal tacos. Too many great options to try in one trip, so no doubt you'll be back. I grabbed 3 diffefent ones but the the firecracker shrimp and fried chicken ones absoluetly stand out and I wish i lived closer. Great service, friendly an attentive staff, and a clean, welcoming environment. Well worth the trip!“

“Little Jack's Tavern was such a treat! The staff was attentive without hovering. The seating was intimate and I really felt as if I was dining in the 1940's.

The cauliflower appetizer, house salad, crabs cakes, and cocktails were all delicious and expertly prepared. I wasn't expecting the cauliflower to be my favorite item and will dream of it until I can visit again (soon!). Easily shareable between three or four.

The crab cakes were tender, the salad crisp.

The cocktails - Corpse Reviver and Pims Cup - perfection! So many places have no idea how to mix or balance cocktails anymore. It is an art form and a mastered art form at Little Jack's Tavern.

Excellent experience on all front - atmosphere, service, quality, quantity.

We will be back and I'm getting that sweet little corner table for me and my sweetheart!“

“We just wanted a good steak and Victors surpassed all of our expectations. Great ambiance. Kara was amazing. Food excellent.“

“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.“

“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!“

“One of our fave places! They arguably have the best orange spritzes in the world! We're obsessed with the pickled shrimp toast and ham and butter sandwich! Oh and you must try the peanut drink. It's DELICIOUS! The staff is also always so friendly and consistent. 😍“

“My wife and I absolutely love this restaurant and come here as often as we can. It's a wonderful husband-and-wife-owned Italian restaurant, and you can truly feel the passion and care they put into every single dish.

I travel all over Europe and I've eaten at countless Italian restaurants along the way. I can honestly say this is the best pasta in the area—hands down. Every meal is consistently outstanding. The pasta is always cooked perfectly, the sauces are rich and flavorful, and every dish is made with care. We've never had a meal here that disappointed us.

The service is just as exceptional as the food. The staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive, making you feel like family every time you walk through the door. It's the kind of place that genuinely appreciates its customers, and that shows in every interaction.

I honestly don't understand how anyone could leave anything less than a five-star review. This restaurant consistently delivers amazing food, outstanding service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. If you're looking for authentic Italian food made by people who truly care about what they do, this is the place. My wife and I will continue coming back again and again, and we recommend it to everyone we know.“