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Best Bars in Charleston — Ranked by Locals · CharlestonRanked

Home/Bars

Charleston · Bars

Best bars in Charleston

Cocktail rooms, beer patios, and late-night spots worth crossing town for.

Showing 37 of 210 in Downtown · May 6, 2026

1
225 Meeting St, Charleston
Doar Bros.
Snug bar specializing in unique cocktails, wine & beer, plus monthly Italian dinner nights.
4.9565 ratings
Open
2

Downtown108 Cocktail bar43 Rooftop8 Dive bar5 North Charleston25 West Ashley22 Beer / brewery47 Outdoor seating136 Reservations96 Live music95

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AreaDowntown108 North Charleston25 West Ashley22 Mount Pleasant19 Sullivan's Island7 James Island7 Daniel Island6 Folly Beach4 Hanahan4 Johns Island3 Kiawah Island2 Isle of Palms2 Goose Creek1 Clear

TypeCocktail bar43 Wine bar26 Beer / brewery47 Sports bar21 Dive bar5 Speakeasy3 Rooftop8 Clear

VibeOutdoor seating136 Live music95

476 King St, CharlestonTrending

Uncork Charleston

Wine bar and small plates spot on upper King, pulling double duty as a late-night lounge with live music.

4.7★·1.8k ratings

Open

The Archer

601 Meeting St Ste. 140, CharlestonTrending

The Archer

Neighborhood bar and kitchen on the Meeting Street corridor, pulling a loyal crowd with straightforward food and well-made drinks.

4.8★·1.7k ratings

Bar Mash

701 E Bay St Suite 100-2, CharlestonTrending

Bar Mash

Whiskey-forward bar on East Bay with a deep bourbon list, pub bites, and live music most nights.

4.8★·2.9k ratings

Dalila's

441 Meeting St Suite F, Charleston

Dalila's

Intimate cocktail bar tucked into a Meeting Street suite, pouring serious drinks in a low-key, well-lit room.

4.7★·215 ratings

Pearlz Oyster Bar

153 E Bay St, CharlestonTrending

Pearlz Oyster Bar

Relaxed, light-filled eatery with outdoor seating serving classic seafood, raw bites & burgers.

4.6★·2.9k ratings

Citrus Club

334 Meeting St 8th floor, CharlestonTrending

Citrus Club

Rooftop cocktail bar on the eighth floor of 334 Meeting, with skyline views, live music, and valet.

4.7★·9.6k ratings

Thoroughbred Club

205 Meeting St, Charleston

Thoroughbred Club

Elegant lounge at Charleston Place hotel offering cocktails, small plates, desserts & live music.

4.6★·335 ratings

Last Saint

472 Meeting St B, Charleston

Last Saint

Dimly lit Meeting Street coffee bar that slides into cocktails after dark.

4.7★·202 ratings

The Restaurant at Zero George

Left Side, 0 George St, CharlestonTrending

The Restaurant at Zero George

Upscale hotel eatery creating seasonal New American cuisine & craft cocktails.

4.8★·4.2k ratings

The Peacock

213 E Bay St, Charleston

The Peacock

All-day cafe and bar on East Bay that shifts from morning coffee to cocktails and live music after dark.

4.5★·595 ratings

The Belmont

511 King St, Charleston

The Belmont

Dimly lit King Street cocktail bar. Old movies on the back wall, classic drinks executed right.

4.5★·455 ratings·cocktails · date night · late night

The Cocktail Club

479 King St, Charleston

The Cocktail Club

King Street upstairs cocktail bar with a deep menu and a working fireplace in winter.

4.5★·923 ratings·cocktails · date night

Haberdash

87 S Market St Suite #B, Charleston

Haberdash

Basement cocktail lounge beneath the Market Street bustle, drawing groups for reservations and drinks away from the tourist foot traffic above.

4.7★·74 ratings·source:cwm · wedding-beauty

Vintage Lounge

545 King St, Charleston

Vintage Lounge

Swanky wine bar with pours by the glass & a wide selection of fondue, charcuterie & appetizers.

4.5★·373 ratings

Pour Taproom: Charleston

560 King St, Charleston

Pour Taproom: Charleston

Pour-your-own rooftop taproom with soaring views & 70 craft beers, plus sandwiches & nachos.

4.5★·611 ratings

Bar Vauté

1 Broad St Floor B, Charleston

Bar Vauté

French wine bar and cocktail lounge tucked below street level at the corner of Broad, pulling double duty as a late-night café.

4.5★·131 ratings

Veranda Lounge

61 State St Main Entrance, Charleston

Veranda Lounge

Rooftop lounge on State Street with live music, cold beer, and views over the lower peninsula.

4.5★·145 ratings

Zero George

Right Side, 0 George St, Charleston

Zero George

Elegant boutique hotel set in 1800s buildings offering free breakfast, a bistro/bar & loaner bikes.

4.8★·403 ratings

The Gin Joint

182 E Bay St STE 102, Charleston

The Gin Joint

Cozy, intimate bar/eatery serving cocktails & eclectic small plates in a 1920s-inspired setting.

4.4★·1.3k ratings

Events at 495 + Satellite Rooftop Bar

495 King St, Charleston

Events at 495 + Satellite Rooftop Bar

American eatery with a seasonal menu & mid-1930s vibe boasts a rooftop bar & wood-fired oven.

4.6★·4.2k ratings

Prohibition

547 King St, Charleston

Prohibition

Rustic-chic Modern American restaurant with creative cocktails & a Jazz Age theme.

4.4★·3.1k ratings

Babylon

145 Calhoun St, Charleston

Babylon

Middle Eastern-themed nightclub and lounge on Calhoun Street with cocktails, live music, and a hookah-friendly atmosphere.

4.5★·68 ratings

The Spectator Hotel

67 State St, Charleston

The Spectator Hotel

Upscale hotel with a stylish cocktail bar & butler service, plus free breakfast & loaner bikes.

4.7★·688 ratings

Faculty Lounge

391 Huger St, Charleston

Faculty Lounge

Low-key, convivial cocktail lounge offering beer specials, tap wine & bar snacks, plus dance nights.

4.4★·232 ratings

Muddy's Dockside Bar

1313 Shrimp Boat Ln, Mt Pleasant

Muddy's Dockside Bar

Waterfront dive bar on Shem Creek with cold beer, live music, and a front-row seat to the shrimp boat traffic.

4.7★·2.9k ratings

Bourbon N' Bubbles

570 King St, Charleston

Bourbon N' Bubbles

Fashionable haunt highlighting elevated sharing plates, champagne & handcrafted cocktails.

4.3★·1.3k ratings

Scotty Doesn't Know Speakeasy

251 E Bay St, Charleston

Scotty Doesn't Know Speakeasy

Cocktail-forward speakeasy tucked behind East Bay Street, pouring wine and drinks in a low-lit, reservable room.

4.4★·151 ratings

Zachary's Daiquiris | Downtown Charleston Bar

460 King St, Charleston

Zachary's Daiquiris | Downtown Charleston Bar

Frozen daiquiri counter on upper King, pouring strong, simple drinks with a no-fuss New Orleans-style carry-out culture.

4.3★·398 ratings

On Air

565 King St, Charleston

On Air

Narrow King Street bar with live music and cocktails, drawing a loyal local crowd most nights.

4.3★·37 ratings

Benne’s by Peninsula Grill

112 N Market St, Charleston

Benne’s by Peninsula Grill

Daytime coffee shop and evening cocktail bar from the Peninsula Grill team, tucked into the Market Street corridor.

4.2★·252 ratings

Salty Mike's

9 Lockwood Dr, Charleston

Salty Mike's

Waterfront dive bar on Lockwood Drive with live music, cold beer, and a dog-friendly patio facing the Ashley River.

4.2★·323 ratings

587 King St, Charleston

Uptown Social

Thin-crust pizza, sliders & upscale pub fare in a sports-centric alehouse with a rooftop deck.

4.1★·1.9k ratings

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits

75 Wentworth St, Charleston

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits

Place for cocktails, views & Southern-accented New American fare at the top of a chic hotel.

4.1★·1.3k ratings

Ritual Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge

145 Calhoun St UNIT 301, Charleston

Ritual Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge

Rooftop bar and restaurant on Calhoun Street with cocktails, wine, and live music above the downtown Charleston roofline.

4.1★·693 ratings

Republic Garden & Lounge

462 King St, Charleston

Republic Garden & Lounge

Nightclub with innovative cocktails & small plates, served in a sophisticated setting.

4.0★·1.4k ratings

Dudley's

42 Ann St, Charleston

Dudley's

Energetic LGBT-friendly hangout with drag performances, karaoke, billiards & dancing.

3.8★·246 ratings

AmenitiesReservations96