50 Best Bars near Folly Beach

“I LOVE Lowlife bar!! The servers and bartenders are incredible! I came by for lunch and the server brought me all the different dipping sauces for the shrimp sandwich. The customer service is 1000/10 and the food and drinks tasted amazing. Highly recommend!“

“Atmosphere, food, staff, great place!“

“This place will forever be a staple of our Charleston trips moving forward!!! The best hole in the wall with good drinks, live music, pool tables, and more! Such a down to earth place and I could spend every weekend here if I lived in Charleston! I cannot wait to get back here!“

“We started our day with breakfast here. It was very delicious!!! Our server was all smiles and very friendly. She made sure we had what we needed.“

“The Spicoli and the Redneck....Blackened Fish Tacos. 10/10.“

“Great food. Great atmosphere. Awesome waitress. 5 stars from me“

“Only tried the coffee and pastries for our first visit, coffee was 10/10 as was the cream puff, hands down the best I’ve ever had (it was overflowing with delicious filling)! With having a small child I really appreciated that they find & bring your order to you! Can’t wait to go back to try the other menu items!
Oh I also have to give a shoutout for the terrific napkins, they’re not the wimpy ones where you need 10 to wipe one finger!“

“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!“

“Always a stop for me while in Charleston to see what new bottles they have on the bar. Neta was lovely. Cheers LS staff 🙏🏻

Edit:
Still my favorite spot to grab a drink and chat with friends. Staff still doing an awesome job“

“Everything was a hit! Cheddar bacon fries with the cheddar dust, amazing. Black and blue burger, fried shrimp, and the Harlow, the best hands down. Then there’s the MASSIVE banana pudding. We live in Summerville, but will for sure be making the trip back!“

“One word for this restaurant's cuisine "DELICIOUS" and the customer service was "AMAZING". First time visiting Charleston, SC. I had the Bison, Sauteed Spinach w/ garlic and Mashed Potatoes. 😋 Recommended by my hotel, The Dewberry Charleston.“

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

“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!“

“The service is spectacular. Ben the curley haired bartender is the best. He has the best personality and smile. Every time I’ve been in it feels like I am really welcomed. Thanks for the great afternoon.“

“By far my favorite bar. I’ve been going here for years and have never been to a place quite like it. It’s my favorite spot for a night out dancing or just a drink with friends. I have always felt safe here as a queer person and know the staff will always have our backs to ensure our safety and wellbeing. My trans friends feel the most comfortable coming to this bar because of how amazing the staff is and the community within the establishment. I adore coming in to see Conner and David at the bar and they truly make my night. I will always recommend rec room to anyone that will listen. Thanks for making such a unique and inclusive space ♡“

“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.“

“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.“

“Get the ricotta gnocchi with the truffle service!“

“Very cool place that was established in 1952. Local bar with pictures and stickers all over. Wine glass was not clean and had somebody's lipsticks on (Yuck) but bartender went and cleaned another glass for us once we showed him that.“

“Hmmm I really enjoyed bar George but a few things probably keeps it from being one I’ll frequent. First they only had one variety of oyster. And it was ok. But then they didn’t have horseradish for it. I get that everyone wants to be fancy with mignonette but have a lil on the side for us common folks. LOL

Now all that said I also had a small peach Caesar salad that was delicious and the drinks have the best curly straw around!“

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

“Among the best Keylime pie that I’ve ever tasted! The shrimp Poboy was delicious, and the scallops were amazing. Lightly breaded perfectly prepared!“

“Fantastic Drinks & Even Better Service!

My wife and I love it here, and I have to say, it’s one of the best spots in town! The atmosphere is inviting, the drinks are top-notch, and the service is outstanding.

Allen is a master of mixology—his cocktails are perfectly balanced, creative, and always spot-on. Anna brings such a warm energy behind the bar, making everyone feel welcome while serving up delicious drinks with speed and skill.

Whether you’re looking for a craft cocktail, a classic pour, or just a great conversation, this is the place to be. Highly recommend stopping by if you haven’t already. We will definitely be back soon!“

“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.“

“This was the most amazing experience on our 10 day road trip! We needed "adventures " and they allowed us to put a a sign above their bar for our beloved deceased friend. it stayed up the entire weekend we were there. you have no idea how much we love amd appreciate you amd your kindness!!“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

“Great little neighborhood spot!“

“It is a good little bar , good service and good atmosphere , enjoyed going there will again when I go to Charleston again“

“Wonderful meal and fabulous service - looking forward to going back soon!“

“Awesome Dining Room!! Wonderful food Great Atmosphere!“

“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!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“JW is the best bartender ever!! He’s the reason we keep coming back😁“

“Best bartenders on James island“

“Love coming here for the Catfish Sandwich and frozen Cin and Tonic!“

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

“Excellent meal and staff!“

“Had a great time. I’m not someone who interacts with people unless I’m talked to first. But regardless of that they made me feel very welcome. Service was great. People watching was just as great. And I had a gorgeous girl who sat next to me and didn’t make me feel weird for existing. 10/10 recommend. Music isn’t too loud so you can have an actual conversation. And drinks are very reasonably priced. I’ll be back again.“

“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.“

“The aqua terrace bar is a really nice spot for a cocktail. The view is nice. The atmosphere is great. The bartender was awesome. Super friendly. They were having technical difficulties the night I was there so they didn't have food. So I can't rate that. But the drinks were great. The location was great.“

“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!“

“I can't believe Legami wasn't on my radar until recently! We had an incredible dinner with outstanding drinks. The Legami Martini truly made its mark with the burrata-stuffed olives.

We tried the oysters, which were uniquely paired with pickled onions. The added crunch gave them an unexpected texture that actually worked surprisingly well together. The Shrimp Kataifi was another favorite. I had never had anything like it before but I do wish the portion included more than three shrimp for the price.

This was the best Gnocchi dish I’ve ever had. It was both creamy and flavorful. If Gnocchi isn’t your style, I highly recommend the Pappardelle Al Ragu. Overall, it was a great dinner with exceptional service and beautiful presentation.“

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

“What a perfect spot for some Saturday lunch!! Our waitress was the best! Emily took great care of us even though the place was super busy!“

“Bottom line: very hip spot and yummy food, but expensive for what it is.

Went here after the aquarium with my wife and kids. We had a short wait for our table and the hostess and wait staff were incredibly kind and attentive.

I ordered the “Naughty Burger” my wife got the Basic Bowl with chicken and we got 2 kids PB&Js. The food was all very tasty. One of my kids PB&Js came out burnt/over toasted but they remade it quickly and without fuss.

My youngest was overtired and not on very good behavior unfortunately so we had to take her out for some fresh air to calm down twice but the staff was very understanding and kind.

If I had to say something negative I’d say it’s a little expensive for what it is. Each adult entree was a decent portion size and about $20 which feels a little steep but still reasonable. The PB&J with some apple slices was $8 a piece which is nuts, but I understand they have a business to run and have to cover wages and overhead—and the food was good.

Definitely worth checking out if you’re not going with kids or if your kids are old enough to order adult entrees. Solid spot for a light lunch.“

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