50 Best Bars near Folly Beach

“First , special thanks to Mike
We stayed in Folly for Thursday-Saturday and visited many of the bars. We came here 3 times because it was just the BEST by far. Food, cocktails and service were excellent. We’ were able to have lunch ,dinner and brunch. Can’t say enough good about it. Want to recognize how the staff was excellent, all of them. A special thank you to Mike who was above and beyond kind and welcoming.“

“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!“

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

“Ohhhh mannnnn, u ain’t had an experience n such a cool bartender til u had a “Drop In” experience!! 5 stars!!“

“Visiting from Missouri, brother-in-law brought us here. I had the fish & shrimp basket. The food was outstanding I really liked the sweet tea. Cheyenne was an outstanding server, she was very professional, personable and very attentive.“

“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! 🔥✌🏼“

“A real gem! We stopped in for a drink and to perhaps try a "plate"
We were there for 4hrs.
The atmosphere is fresh, yet cozy. It's a tiny place, so everyone is right there, attentive to our needs. The music is relaxing yet upbeat, transporting you out to the world and yet not too loud for conversation! The menu looks simple but when you eat from it, you realize how thoughtfully put together each dish is! Pistachio-Parmesan Salad, Shrimp Toast were our picks and were both outstanding.“

“Andrew was excellent and very present and an amazing bartender. The other bartender that was working rushed us out of the restaurant saying we needed to “chug” our drinks so we can get out in time before they close. As someone who works food and bev, I understand the wanting to close up and get out, but he rushed us. Frankly, it was very rude and unprofessional. I have never been to a place that essentially tried to kick us out because we were not finishing our drinks fast enough. The service is usually extremely awesome but tonight i was disappointed in how uncomfortable i was that we were rushed out of there.“

“The best, freshest seafood! Best fish taco i ever put in my mouth. And love the atmosphere!“

“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!“

“We were at Halls Chop House on April 12th for our 50th Anniversary. We have been to a lot of great restaurants in our time together but none compare to Halls! The level of kindness and service is unmatched. Our meal was outstanding! Brooke, our server was an absolute delight!“

“All I can say is WOW. My sister and I were visiting for a girls weekend and came across The Belmont while walking King Street. From the welcoming staff as we entered seats were made available quickly! Let me tell you- their holiday and their full time cocktails are incredible. We sat at the bar, and James couldn’t have been sweeter-plus can that man make a martini like no other!! The Belmont will absolutely be on our “must visit” next time in Charleston!“

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

“I love the Recovery Room. It has a great atmosphere, and is an extremely clean and good laid back dive bar. The drinks are good and it's always full of plenty of people, inside and in their outdoor seating. You can play pool, foosball, and other stuff. I had the opportunity to take some pictures very early when it wasn't crowded, so here they are.“

“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.“

“Get the ricotta gnocchi with the truffle service!“

“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!!“

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The five star dive bar“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I walked through the doors for a drink and a bite to eat at this establishment earlier this evening. I suppose one cannot prepare for such things. I have to start somewhere, though, so I'll begin by saying upon sitting at the bar I initially thought I had made a mistake. "You're not dressed for this," I kept thinking. This establishment is incredibly luxurious, and I was dressed in a very casual street attire. But I was also wrong. The bartenders, Rose and Tori, made me feel welcome and right at home. They prepared an alcohol-free "mocktail" for me, since I don't usually drink alcohol and had come primarily for the food. I'm not sure what the ingredients were but it was absolutely phenomenal. Then, Chef Karen came out of the kitchen specifically to recommend something special for me for the night (by the way, the prices here are amazingly affordable for the quality). It was not busy at all at the time so I'm not sure everyone will have the same experience but it was nice. I ended up ordering the Speck Taters (that was Chef Karen's recommendation, although I'm not sure if I got the spelling right), what I initially believed to be just some fun diced potatoes. I was not ready for what happened next. I do love food, I must say, but usually I eat too fast and don't get to genuinely enjoy my meal. This was the first food I've had in years that forced me to slow down and savor it. There are no words in the English vocabulary to describe the flavor. It transcended any other culinary experience I've ever had, and was about as close to a spiritual experience as I've ever had eating anything. Chef Karen is a genius, and her recommendation couldn't have been more inspired. I have henceforth decided that whenever I am downtown, I simply must return to this place again. And I recommend everyone and anyone to try this fantastic establishment. Because here they serve quite literally the best food I've ever eaten in my entire life.“

“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!“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

“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.“

“Obviously it's a tiny spot and I'm sure had I been there on a busy night it would have been less enjoyable but this little neighborhood bar is perfect to hang & try some random beers. The option for 3oz pours means you can try everything they have and live to tell the tale. Glad I found it on my trip.“

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

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

“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!!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

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

“Best bartenders on James island“

“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.“

“Went here for a bachelorette party and had dinner and also came back for drinks later. Our server and later bartender Anna was AMAZING. She made our trip to Charleston great by not only her friendly and personable service but also recommending things we could do and see while we were there. 10/10 would recommend going there for not only the great atmosphere, food and drinks but also the staff for making our trip a memorable experience.“

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

“Nice bartender. Good location and it was little uncomfortable early part but as it got darker it cooled off. I had flat bread but wish there are better choices to spend a full evening vs going to different place for real dinner. Overall, it is good experience.“

“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!“

“1st time eating there and OMG!! Delicious!!! Must try the pork rind nachos .. it’s a must!!“

“Best cocktails in Charleston!“