50 Best Cocktail Bars near Johns Island

“I have coined a phrase “I’m Loyal to Royal”. As a foodie, when it comes to quality food, fresh seafood , great ambiance and amazing staff they have no equal! In the past two years my mission was to try every item on the menu. Finally accomplished that feat and Royal Tern is still a 5 star rating. They also have non-menu specials that knock it out of the ballpark“

“Go early and often. This is a fantastic local restaurant cooking fresh bold flavors to order right in front of you and the quality is outstanding. There are not a lot of tables or parking spots so get there early as it's first come first serve. We tried multiple different appetizers and entrees and all of them were great! A couple standouts for us were the collard greens and the carrots, both things that we expected to be decent but not amazing and they were just as flavorful and they stood up on their own against the entrees. All of the food is so flavorful and the drinks were pretty good too. The staff is very friendly but you do have to get to and order it at the counter but then they will bring it to you. If you haven't been I would definitely recommend giving it a try.“

“Incredible place!! The cocktails, food, and owners were top tier!! Moscow mule and The Bees Knees were so freaking good. Steak, taters, and cabbage were delicious. Even the key lime cheesecake was perfect! The owner also took time to give me suggestions for other places to check out while I'm here. I will be back!! Thank you for the hospitality!“

“Great location. Nice view with lots of outdoor seating. The wait staff when we visited were not the A-team but friendly and our food arrived quickly. Good beer selection. Kids menu is great as well. I was impressed with the clam chowder and my wife enjoyed her crabcake sandwich. We look forward to returning.“

“Spent several late afternoons/early evenings at Doar Bros. last week and had a great time! Jake and Stephen are artists in creating phenomenal craft cocktails! JD, one of the owners, very personable and welcoming! All great guys! If you're in to cocktailing, no trip to Charleston is complete without a stop at Doar Bros.! Cheers!“

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

“It was an unplanned visit to High Cotton. Our party was very underdressed. The hostess was quite pompous and gave the impression we should go elsewhere. Obviously if it was a planned dinner we would have been well dressed. The food was exceptional. The staff were incredible. But our waiter, Jamal, made our experience very memorable. He made sure we were welcome despite our attire. Jamal and my 11 year old grandson became good friends for the evening. Jamal was impressed with my grandson's order of a pot of mussels in garlic sauce, smoked duck, lobster mac and cheese and strawberry shortcake. Jamal was the highlight of our evening. Our family highly recommend you ask for Jamal if you visit High Cotton. The next visit we will look our finest and definitely ask for Jamal.“

“The atmosphere, food and service were phenomenal. We sat upstairs and enjoyed the unique cocktails before being sat which was in a timely manner. Mark/Bark was our server who was “knowledgeable, charming, and funny.” Would definitely recommend. It won’t disappoint.“

“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!!“

“Highly recommended. Staff were very attentive, and of course the view was amazing. We went just after dusk. Very stylish. Drinks were good. Went for after dinner drinks but menu included food. Slight wait for a table, but the hotel bar had an open space that was nice pass the wait.“

“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!“

“I had an absolute great time at this establishment a couple of weeks ago! The service was better than I ever expected at an "oyster bar!" The food was over the top! And the atmosphere led lots of beverages and fun! Basically, if we weren't cognizant of letting them turn over the table (they did nothing to pressure, we just wanted the server to get another round of tips), we may have stayed until escorted out!Of course, we'll be back!“

“My husband and I stopped by this bar and had a great time. The bartender was fantastic—super attentive and friendly. We were planning to head to another spot, so we didn’t finish our drinks, but he noticed and kindly offered to make us something else, thinking we weren’t happy with them. We assured him that wasn’t the case and promised we’d be back. It was a thoughtful gesture that made the experience even better.

Drinks were great too, obvi!“

“We are staying in the hotel and have loved a relaxed afternoon in the lounge. Service is 10 star. All the team are amazing and go above and beyond. If your looking a welcoming place to relax then look no further

Parking: There is a hotel valet service and I think street parking

Kid-friendliness: The cookies are amazing and fresh baked. It is an adult space but children are very welcome.“

“The Darling Oyster Bar was wonderful. From the stylish decor to the food and service— everything was of the highest quality. I tried oysters for the first time, and they were better than I anticipated. The blue crab tagliatelle was delicious and so was the key lime pie. Zach and Robert were so friendly and helpful and made our dining experience very enjoyable and memorable.“

“Unique cocktails; friendly knowledgeable waitstaff“

“I've only been there during the day and it was always really nice. Nice group nice crowd bartenders for amazing. Went on super bowl Sunday and they watch the game I just watched the puppy game and went home. Been there a long time now The owner had passed and his daughters are running it definitely visit them it's a great place. I did not order food so I don't know what they have. But I'm sure they have food cuz that's our kitchen. Very friendly

Parking: Plenty of parking behind the restaurant is where you find the bar

Wheelchair accessibility: It is a slab building I think so easy wheelchair slope to get in with wide doors. Outside smoking area very accessible. Nice place“

“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!“

“The food is absolutely amazing, the staff is exceptional. nothing on the menu disappoints. so glad we stopped in that we came back a second time before we left town. anytime we come to Charleston we'll be back for dinner!“

“Great wine. Friendly staff“

“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.“

“Amazing food and drinks with great service.“

“A better speakeasy here in Charleston. The atmosphere here on an afternoon is exceptionally relaxing with the low-light ambiance to it and chill music playing. The place is pretty clean, and the drinks are a fair price for Charleston. They do not skimp on the alcohol here, and they do have a wide variety of liquors, beers, and wines. It does look like a hole-in-the-wall place from the outside, but once you step inside, you'll find yourself in a great, calm, speakeasy environment. Just remember that you have to ring the doorbell to get in.

Parking: Street parking avaliable.“

“Brunch was Fantastic! Had Scallop Benny & Shrimp & Grits. Outdoor & indoor seating. Great service & atmosphere!!“

“Wonderful ambiance and service. Fantastic drinks!“

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

“Great places to eat and enjoy a good drink and people“

“Love ❤️ the place great vibes, great food, wonderful DJ.“

“We have celebrated many birthdays, anniversaries and special events at the Establishment. Never once had an experience short of excellent. The staff is always top shelf and the kitchen has never missed a beat. You won't be disappointed!“

“Service was fast and friendly. Food was fantastic! Best smash burger I've ever had. Fries were perfectly salted and crispy.“

“Amazing birthday celebration dinner.“

“We stumbled into the rooftop for a bachelorette party and had the most amazing time. Dana was the most caring waitress. She recommended drinks to the group, hand delivered shots to the photo booth for the bride, and gave us advice about the city! The drinks were lived by the group! Go here and ask for Dana!“

“Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this place. Our meal was fantastic!

For appetizers, we had the ricotta and crab—something my wife wanted more than I did, so I wasn’t expecting much, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was incredible. The fried oyster sliders, delicious.

For entrées, we ordered the short ribs and the burger. The short ribs were good, but the biggest surprise was the burger. That cheese sauce and “fancy” sauce—whatever it is—was insanely good.

On top of that, the $10 happy hour cocktails (the daiquiri was great, especially for the price) and free parking in the building made the experience even better.

Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“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.“

“She crab soup and filet mignon was great. Calamari was a little chewy and a super thick cut. Scallops were a little underdone, which made them chewy. They were plated with a cauliflower puree that tasted a little weird. Service was great. Really neat rustic atmosphere.“

“Food and service was good but wish they kept their social media updated. Arrive at 4:30 and were out of the Double-barrel and ribs. If looking to go for their ribs, definitely suggest calling ahead as this was a huge disappointment. The wings however were amazing! The white hot and their hot honey and blue sauces were fantastic! The pork rinds with Tabasco honey and blue cheese were so fun and tasty! They arrived at the table popping with deliciousness!“

“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!“

“Not gonna lie. Food was very good. Fine dining prices and somewhat limited menu (my wife and i were on the bar side so maybe they have a bigger menu on the dining side) but the flavors and textures of the food as well as restaurant design, music selection and volume and service were all been spot on. We shared the dumplings appetizer. Flavors and texture amazing. Some kind of amazing crunch on the dumpling mixed with a zesty miso sauce that ticked the tastebuds, the pork tenderloin with apple glaze and cauliflower three ways was really fantastic. Crunchy cauliflower, pureed cauliflower were both great, and then the crème brûlée. This is the only thing that was both a hit and miss. It was very creatively presented almost like a terrarium but there were too many things going on. The cake bites were fine (spongy texture) the crunchy caramelized top that you broke to get into the bowl was great, but the “crème” part was way too soupy and the lemon parfait sheet was really cold and didn’t mix well with the other flavors. A+ for trying and presentation. The service was incredible. Each dish was presented by a different server making it feel like everybody was working together to deliver a fantastic dining experience. All in all the prices are high so that I would recommend it if someone else was buying, but couldn’t frequent their despite how great the meal was just from a budget standpoint. But highly recommend giving it a try.“

“Bottom line up front: Amazing food and great atmosphere!

I’ve been fans of Kwei Fei since back in the days of their pop ups at The Daily. They’ve always brought the heat (literally) and have been eager to try this new venture, Beautiful South.

Stopped in for Sunday Brunch and it did not disappoint. The char siu fried rice had that familiar wok char and was on point! Also had the char siu bao, salt and pepper pork, and shumai. It brought back memories of dim sum in the Bay Area (big compliment) but without the old lady that gets mad when u don’t like what she has on her cart! ?

Wish I had taken pics, but honestly was too busy eating!“

“all around great experience! we were seated immediately outside with no reservation and even though it was chilly out the heaters kept us perfectly warm! the food was so delicious and came out so quickly and the little touch at the end with the free brandy tasting and flower was lovely! highly recommend!!“

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

“Phenomenal food and atmosphere. Get the “dessert bread” appetizer if you come. Had the grouper on special and it was incredible“

“Not just a meal, but an experience. My taste buds are still craving everything at Wild Common. I would go back in a heartbeat. The food, wine som, creative cocktails, and atmosphere are 5 stars!“

“I've been here a few times now and the food is always delicious. Drinks too! Prices are fair and the vibe is good. Our servers have been great, but I bumped it down a star for the hostesses unwelcoming attitude both times we've visited. They seem bothered by doing their job.“

“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!“

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

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

“Lizzy, our server, was an absolute delight! The suggestions she made were spot on. Lizzy has the most fun personality! We were so happy and fortunate to have been served by her. It was our anniversary and they had a nice sign at our table as well as a card recognizing us. Also when we walked in they greeted us with the acknowledgement! The food was cooked to perfection! So full of flavor! I would recommend to anyone visiting Charleston or celebrating a special occasion! Top tier!“