50 Best Cocktail Bars near North Charleston

“come in as a stranger and leave as a friend!“

“Awesome bar. Great staff! Pool tables, darts, jukebox, lots of t.v.’s , non smoking inside, great renovations cold drinks and the a.c. Works EXCEPTIONALLY WELL“

“Great food! You can tell the products are fresh and made with pride! Had the tuna eggroll special, best one I've had! Sat outside but fans were on and was a nice night. Service was good. Will go back when visiting SC again!“

“servicio y frescura en los productos,“

“Every time I go to this place I have an amazing experience from the time I walk into the door with all the great decor and the food and the great customer service that I received every time the place is very clean inside and outside they also hold different events there as well. The drinks they serve is also amazing the Pina colada is made from scratch and it is the best.“

“Whether you're looking for a chill spot to hang with friends or grab a quick bite to eat, this spot has you covered. The food is casual with care. ( hella good fries ) Always interesting craft drinks to choose from and the staff? It's like they only hire models, I swear. So if you're looking for a casual bite and some well crafted spirits or just wanna watch attractive people sling drinks, Sissy's the spot for you.“

“Just moved here from Cincinnati, Ohio, and this was my first time checking the place out. Honestly, they do service the right way here. The bartenders and the owner have such great personalities, I felt comfortable right away. I tried the Negroni and wow—it was one of the most well-balanced ones I’ve ever had. Crazy thing is, it was on draft, but it tasted like it was made hand-to-hand. Easily the best Negroni I’ve ever had.

I didn’t eat food this time, but everything I saw coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. The chef clearly knows what he’s doing—pumping out beautiful dishes nonstop. Definitely feels like a safe space, and they sold me on the very first visit. Can’t wait to come back!“

“I take my son here regularly on the weekends between 12 and 2, when they let the kids in to play. It is our got to spot for our outings. LD is simply awesome and we always have the best time when we are there!“

“Doar Bros. absolutely delivers on every level.
From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, stylish, and inviting the kind of place where you instantly know you’re in for a great experience.

The drinks were exceptional. Beautifully presented, perfectly balanced, and clearly crafted with attention to detail. You can tell there’s real passion behind the bar. Every sip felt intentional.

Service was just as impressive friendly, attentive without being intrusive, and genuinely welcoming. The team made us feel taken care of from start to finish.
Food, service, atmosphere all five stars. Doar Bros. isn’t just a spot to grab a drink; it’s a place you want to linger and enjoy. Highly recommend and can’t wait to come back!“

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

“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)“

“the food is delicious and different from other restaurants. the staff is so friendly and the outdoor atmosphere is wonderful. I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner or a nice night out at the bar.“

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

“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.🍀“

“Ordered the tennis anyone cocktail and ceviche tacos - both were fantastic. That said, I ordered the ceviche tacos for lunch - they were under the shareable section of the menu. I was thinking there would be 2 normal size tacos. When they arrived I nearly spit my drink across the table because I was laughing so hard. There were 3 teeny tiny tacos. Delicious tacos but think a heads up that they are baby tacos would have been useful. Left with my stomach empty but heart full thanks to the view and delicious cocktail.“

“I just realized that despite all the times I’ve been here, I’ve never left a review. I want to take a moment to highlight two people who are truly the reason I keep coming back and why I recommend this place as often as I do. Maddison and Meghan are some of my favorite people I’ve ever met in the food and beverage industry. Their customer service, depth of food and beverage knowledge, and overall grace are unmatched. They are what make the Living Room what it is.“

“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!!“

“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!“

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

“We were kid free and decided to hit this little pub up for dinner. The atmosphere is amazing! It's hard to believe this place exists in the strip that it's in! There were booths as well as high top tables and bar seating. Very eclectic but kinda felt like we were in a pub in Ireland! There were games available as well as a patio. We could've easily spent all evening here!
My husband had a Guinness and he says it was perfect. I had a house mule and the inhouse ginger beer was top notch! A little sweeter than expected, though maybe it was the simple syrup.
The food was a bit disappointing though. The croquettes that were on happy hour (4-5:30pm) were good!
I had the Reuben with Tots and it was decent, but the sauce it came with was spicy. I half wonder if I got the wrong sauce. The tots were pretty good, nice and crispy and the seasoning was good!
My husband had the fish n chips. The breading was crisp on the outside but soggy on the inside and slid right off the fish. The fish was very dry. The fries were the best part of this meal.“

“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.“

“Inventive twists on classic cocktails. We decided to check this place out as it was around the corner from our hotel and we were not disappointed. We tried several drinks between us and my favorite was the dream girl, which was a savory flavored daiquiri that sounds weird but works so well it had me wanting more! Duffy the bartender was great at explaining all the flavors and gave us some great local Charleston tips too!“

“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 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!“

“Unique cocktails; friendly knowledgeable waitstaff“

“New rooftop bar at the Nickel hotel on King street. It was my second time there so I came by after work to check out the vibes and it didn’t disappoint. The decor is charming and very chic, offers bar seats, some booths and sections indoor as well as some couches and outdoor tables. They have these fire-pit tables which was a nice touch with the cool nights. I sat at the bar this time and ordered a last word that was spot on. Snapper crudo was light and fresh, and the fried pastry was crispy, creamy and delicious. Their menu is small but had some good options across the board.
The prices were expected as it is a nice rooftop cocktail bar in downtown Charleston. Overall it was a nice time and I find it suitable for all types of groups for good vibes. 😎“

“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!“

“Absolutely love this spot. Jorge makes some of my favorite cocktails in Charleston. I genuinely tell my friends I hope he’s working every time we come! Dive feel with fantastic service, dim ambiance, great for a date night or cocktails with friends. Oh also happy hour deals slap and I love the $5 surprise cocktail.“

“Wonderful ambiance and service. Fantastic drinks!“

“We're from Louisville so we're used to southern hospitality and charm. Hyman's were above and beyond. Genuinely amazingly friendly and hospitable. The gm was on the floor, as I understand he is most nights, and personally came by and personally thanked us for coming in and choosing them. The service was fantastic and the food was great. They have an extensive menu and 4 different fresh fish on the menu that can all be prepared almost any way you want. fried, broiled, Cajun, scampi, jerk. Choose whatever you want. The hush puppies are fantastic and everything was well presented and well cooked. Pricing is very reasonable but not cheap, nor should it be for the quality of food and the exceptional service. Meals were about 25 to 30 bucks a person. That's pretty typical for a slightly higher end experience in most Midwestern towns and far far cheaper then the 40 to 50 a person you would pay at a more say "exclusive" restaurants. If you want posh elegance that's not what they offer. If you want great food, amazing hospitality, reasonable prices, and straightforward seafood you'll regret it if you don't visit Hyman's at least once during your time in Charleston. It's located right down by the old market, so spend the day/afternoon walking the battery and shopping the market, and then stop in for an excellent dinner. Expect about a 45 min to 1 hour wait. Since it's literally 3 min from the market you can put your name in and then browse the market. There is a convenient public parking garage about 4 minutes walk away. Thanks for the hospitality!!! Most friendly dining experience my family has had in years!“

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

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

“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.“

“literally everything we had here tonight was fantastic. the calamari strips are some of the best calamari I have ever had. the drinks were wonderful. I had this seard fish with the succotash which was so good. my boyfriend had the pot roast melt and loved it. the owner was absolutely fantastic. we will definitely be back repeatedly!“

“Amazing birthday celebration dinner.“

“I was visiting my daughter in Charleston and we had dinner, the drink menu had great choices and I particularly enjoyed the Gold Rush, the crab stuffed cannoli appetizer was the perfect starter before the outstanding ribeyes we both had! The real star of the show here is the Assistant Manager Jacqueline, she was very accommodating and her smile and pleasant demeanor made you feel right at home. I will be back every visit to Charleston in the future, well done👏🏻“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“We recently visited Charleston and forgot to make dinner reservations, that’s when we happed on to The Royal Tern. Despite no reservations, they gladly seated us at a great table. The food was exquisite, everything from the Raw Bar, the fried shrimp, to the halibut. The halibut was prepared perfectly and was so unique; the ingredients worked together in delicious synergy. My cocktail was on-point, too. As a home cook, being able to watch the chefs prepare the meals was fascinating. Mad respect for their craft. Met one of the owners as he was making his rounds in the dining room, and he was a lovely person. He even printed a map w/shortcuts for us since traffic is so bad in the Charleston area. Highly recommend, will definitely be back next time we’re in town.“

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

“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.“

“I tried the Wagyu steak here a while back and it was excellent. It was cooked to perfection just the way I wanted and was tender as butter. It was expensive but it was well worth the price for a steak that didn’t leave me trimming off any gristle.“

“This is honestly one of the best meals I have had in a really long time. The food was unique and so tasty. Service was perfect too. (Heads up the bill splitting and tipping system is a little weird, make sure to read the bottom of the menu just so you understand it-I’m not complaining, it was just new to me) Updated from previous review on 2026-03-18“

“Great music, happy hour, and staff!“

“The food was pretty good.“

“the food and the staff are all amazing! thoroughly enjoyed it!!“

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

“Our bartender Dave was absolutely fantastic. We were visiting Charleston for the weekend for Valentine’s Day and heard through word of mouth how good The Peacock was. We arrived and Dave immediately stood out — warm, funny, & attentive, to the point where we left for dinner and came back for a night cap. The Peacock is lucky to have him.“

“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! 🔥✌🏼“