50 Best Bars near Johns Island

“Great food and atmosphere!“

“One of our favourite spots on the island“

“Love Gilligan's
We are from out of town and have been going to Gilligan's for years on our trips to Kiawah. Gracie our server was great along with the food.
Alligator bites, complimentary hush puppies to start. Seafood platter and grouper tacos were great!
Highly recommended“

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

“Tried and true for 20 years. Absolutely best restaurant in Charleston. Food always incredible, service always perfect.“

“Leon's is literally in my dreams! My boyfriend and I went there for the first time three years ago. It blew our minds! Affordable, delicious food, and such a fun atmosphere. We returned a couple of times on the same trip. We live in NJ... and set up a trip last year JUST to go to Leons. I am actually scared to post a review because I selfishly want to keep it a secret for my boyfriend and I. Man, if you like chicken and oysters... you cannot go wrong. Damn, now I need to set up another trip. :)“

“I would give the harlow 6 out if 5 stars if I could! From the service to the menu, the multiple oyster choices, the happy hours, the many specials, quality of the drinks, the happy, personable culture of the staff, the many heat lamps keeping the little outdoor garden oasis toasty and cozy, and the staff has nearly no turnover, and lots of Charleston restaurants have stupendous food, but what makes the harlow stand alone as a best of the best, is an obvious comeraderie amongst them coupled with the tastiest crab Mac n cheese in the universe along with their other delicious fare!“

“Not much space to eat, but you can order ahead and take to go. We saw that the line ended around 10:45 on a Friday morning so keep that in mind if you are really wanting to make this stop. Food was really good. My daughter, who’s a barista, felt her drink was a little weak, I agree. My iced coffee was good though. We also shared a banana bread that was to die for. I got a turkey sandwich and she got an avocado toast. My sandwich was so big I could have shared it for sure. Worth our wait in line.“

“The service was impeccable! Suzanne and I had one of the best experiences during our weekend in Charleston. Suzanne loved her Shrimp and Grits, and I opted for a Ribeye Sandwich. I'm glad I did as it was perfect. Suzanne's birthday brunch was enhanced by the live Gospel music lofting through the building. I could go on and on about our brunch it was that much of an experience.“

“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.“

“Madison Maison is THE spot to go in Charleston. The whole scene is a vibe. Our server Journey, was incredible.“

“So, only rating the Speak Easy as the club was not our scene. The Speak Easy though was one of a kind, and awesome. The guy working the door was super nice and was able to get us in for a cocktail without a reservation. The bartender was great, and the fact that they have no menu, was very new to us, but we loved it!“

“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.“

“The cocktails here are truly exceptional. Unique flavors that had me treasuring every sip! I especially enjoyed the Tony Basil and Dark and Shady. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. We came on a Sunday and there was a great band playing under the full moon. Awesome experience overall.“

“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 .“

“Had a great experience at Bar George! The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, making it a nice spot to relax and spend time with friends. The food was tasty, the service was friendly, and the overall vibe was enjoyable. Great place for a casual evening with good food, drinks, and a fun atmosphere. Would definitely visit again!“

“Me and my daughter had been traveling all night (and looked like we had been). We stopped here because we were starving and needed to kill time until we could check into our hotel. The staff was so friendly to us. I felt like we were under dressed (it was Easter) but no one seemed to judge us for it. As for the food - amazing!!!!! I got the fried artichoke sandwich and it was sooooo good. The fries were also very good. This place has such a good vibe. I wish we were in town longer so we could enjoy it again.“

“This place was genuinely a fever dream in the best way possible. everyone that goes to Charleston has to come, nonnegotiable. It's even better in the nighttime. It's a girls only with men optional bar. The only negative is that it closes at 12 AM cause that's when their liquor license ends :(. I love this place through and through. Bury me at Zachs Daiqs. 10/10 expierence.“

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

“The Rum Punch is amazing, good service and good food“

“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.“

“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.“

“Delicious food, great atmosphere and unique drink options. Highly recommend.“

“Now if you want to enjoy some quality time in a old fashioned bars than this is the one for you! It is one of the oldest continuing bar in Charleston with over 170 varieties of beer in stock. They also have a great food menu with excellent prices. You must come on down and check out a piece of West Ashley history.“

“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!“

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

“Limited menu for drinks, but all super good and fun atmosphere. Small little seating group areas with some fabric dividers. Our server was great. If you needed anything, you could flip a lighted switch and she would see it and come. Apparently, reservations are recommended, but we got in without one. It was a fun experience!“

“Amazing staff, incredible food, beautiful mystical and magical service- words do not express what a treasure and a gift recovery room truly is to charleston. Thank you Mr.RecRoom and Staff for your patience and willingness to participate in photo ops! I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of the incredible rec room experiences I’ve been blessed with, for better or for worse. ❤❤“

“We had dinner at Legami the other night and had such a wonderful experience! Jackson was our server and was incredibly sweet, attentive, and professional. His recommendations were spot-on, and he truly made our evening extra special. Great food, great atmosphere, and outstanding service! We’ll definitely be back!“

“Good food, beautiful place“

“Atmosphere, food, staff, great place!“

“Ultimate dive bar, love it! Quick question- is the angry chick death metal playlist from corporate or just a Wednesday, Thursday , Friday , Saturday thing?“

“Souvenir stainless steel cups with cork bottoms are $50, first alcoholic drink is free then unlimited re-fills on soft drinks! Every year changes colors! Big pool and kiddie pool, tons of water features, kiddie slide and 2 big water slides for adults and big kids!“

“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.“

“Wow and just wow! I spent many days researching places to stay, probably looked at 40 different places and this was the last hotel I researched, wish it were my first. Not our first time in Charleston, certainly not our last. Here’s why you should hit the submit button. We arrived early like 11am, did a pre check in. The front desk asked our plans while waiting on the room. We told them we were visiting Sullivans Island and would be back around 4pm. The front desk asked if we would like a “beach set up.” The butler packed us beach chairs, towels, waters and sunblock. I was flabbergasted and so happy already we had chosen this place. When we came back later around 4pm…walking in staff is friendly, check in process is seamless and you are greeted with a “welcome cocktail.” After a few moments a butler shows you to your room and all the amenities. From the mini bar snacks, drinks, plush bathrobes, having clothes steamed for the perfect anniversary dinner, to surprise champagne and night caps, to breakfast set up in our room. We only spent one night, however we spent the whole next day exploring the charm of Charleston and we had a picnic on the waterfront. You guessed it the butler service packed us a bag with towels to have our picnic, sunblock and cold waters. I cannot say enough great things about the front desk staff, butlers and the valet staff. Five stars from us and we will be back for many years to come. Thank you for making our 18 year wedding anniversary top notch!“

“Super fresh, delicious brunch. Gluten free banana bread exceptional. Friendly staff. Attentive owner. Excellent!!!“

“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.“

“Our server was great (Jayden!) and Kory was wonderful too! Quick service, great food, and servers that went out of their way! Five stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“Best comfort food in West Ashley! Daily specials are all homemade and portions are huge! Best deal in Charleston!“

“Home team was a pleasure to work with! Great with responding and getting answers to me quickly, they arrived on time to cater a wedding I coordinated, set up on time, and the food was delicious! Extremely friendly and easy to work with staff who were very helpful! As a planner I appreciate a great catering team and they’ve got it! Highly recommend!“

“Great ambience and open mics on Wednesdays“

“We really wanted to give this restaurant the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately, the service fell short. We had to go up to the bar a couple of times to get drinks even though we were seated at a table. Our server didn't seem very familiar with the special and mixed up tables a few times. We were also there for a special occasion, and the overall service felt a little impersonal. After having phenomenal service at another local restaurant recently, it made us feel like the experience here could have been much better. That said, the food was great, and we had absolutely no complaints there!“

“Best bartenders on James island“

“Good vibes! Great beers! Great to have this spot in the neighborhood !“

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

“Great food, great atmosphere, loved everything about this place!“

“This was a really fun bar to be at on my weekend in Charleston! We went on a Friday night, so there was great live music, great energy on the dance floor, and really quick service from the bartenders. The bar also had a great decor and lovely atmosphere“

“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.“

“I come to Mex 1 at least twice a month, and it’s always a great experience. The atmosphere is fun, the food is great, and the service is consistently good. Adam the bartender is awesome—friendly, attentive, and always makes us feel welcome!“