Nightlife
When the sun goes down, not all the people in Greater Charleston pack it in. In fact, locals and visitors who seek nighttime entertainment are met with an abundance of choices.
If you are interested in listening to live contemporary music, dancing, or just hitting the bar scene, start with the spots we’ve described below—you won’t be bored. If you like beer and want to sample it straight from the folks who create it, try one of the brewpubs. Many of the nightspots are actually lounges at restaurants where dining is the primary focus, and many of these places are described in greater detail in the Restaurants chapter. We also have a category called Dinner Cruises for those who want to spend an evening on the waters of Charleston Harbor cruising and dining with live music and dancing as after-dinner options.
While Charleston is affectionately called the “Holy City” in reference to its many lovely churches, it also has a reputation for entertaining where socializing has a long and rich tradition. If you plan on enjoying a few beers or cocktails as part of the fun, be aware of the legal restrictions in the Charleston area, and know that area police departments actively enforce these laws. The minimum drinking age is 21 in South Carolina, and open containers are not allowed on the streets or in moving vehicles. A charge of driving under the influence may be levied against anyone whose blood alcohol content is measured at .08 percent or higher. In the city of Charleston, last call for liquor is usually 1:30 a.m., and closing is mandatory at 2 a.m.
Overview
The coffeehouse phenomenon has taken a firm hold in this area, and aside from larger establishments like Starbucks there are at least a half-dozen non-chain houses to explore around the Peninsula. There are a number of conventional movie theaters showing first-run films here in the Lowcountry. There’s even a movie house on James Island, Terrace Theatre, which shows first-run films in a setting where you can enjoy light fare, wine, and beer while you watch the flick. We’ve listed theater names and phone numbers and suggest you call for titles after checking the local paper’s movie listings.
1. Blind Tiger Pub
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 577-0088
Address: 36 and 38 Broad St.
Description: If you are looking for British pub atmosphere, escape into this friendly environment with its dark English mahogany walls and cast-iron stools. Order Bass Ale or Guinness Stout, or try a Black and Tan (Bass on bottom, Guinness on top). Fear not: The beer is chilled appropriately for Charleston, not served lukewarm as in England. A nice selection of appetizers is available until 10 p.m. There is live music some nights and a crowd that just keeps coming back. The back courtyard is a nice option when weather permits.
2. Carolina’s
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 724-3800
Address: 10 Exchange St.
Insider Pick:
Description: The bar at Carolina’s restaurant is an upscale alternative and a very popular meeting spot for professionals. Seating is available at the bar proper and in the surrounding areas. Try one of Carolina’s specialty cocktails for an extra treat. Bar customers often feel comfortable staying on for dinner. Carolina’s has an additional private dining room. Both areas are nice places to meet after work or after other events for a nightcap.
3. Club Habana
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 853-5900
Address: 177 Meeting St.
Description: Located in the swanky, upscale space directly above the Tinder Box (where all manner of tobacco products are sold), this is a late-night destination for a cigar and an after-dinner drink any day of the week. The intimate bar serves cordials, ports, wine, martinis, and specialty coffees. Mini Beef Wellingtons among their appetizer list seem the perfect complement to the experience. The cozy spot has both male and female aficionados, so the company is always varied and interesting. The plush couches and tasteful decor encourage patrons to puff away and sip a fine brandy in perfect comfort. Through a brilliant feat of air-conditioning engineering, the atmosphere is actually breathable. Happy hour is Mon through Fri from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
4. 82 Queen
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 723-7591, (800) 849-0082
Address: 82 Queen St.
Description: A long-standing, favorite hangout for the local Broad Street business set and others, the bar at 82 Queen is narrow (but comfortable enough) and a good place to see friends. You’ll find a fine mix of people there knowing and not knowing each other’s names. Patrons especially like the back bar if the weather is nice. They enjoy hanging out in the courtyard while waiters zip by with tempting appetizers, and outdoor diners enjoy their fare beneath the stars.
5. The Griffon
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 723-1700
Address: 18 Vendue Range
Description: A popular hangout for young professionals is The Griffon, a cozy English pub with an easy, friendly atmosphere. Especially busy at lunchtime, workers from the financial and legal offices on East Bay and Broad Streets stop here for simple but hearty sandwiches and maybe a cool brew. Others check in for happy hour, and some stay for dinner. It’s open each evening and attracts a nice mix of locals and tourists out and about on East Bay.
6. Henry’s Bar & Restaurant
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 723-4363
Address: 54 North Market St.
Description: Henry’s used to be known for its Old Charleston meals and clubby side bar. Today, under different ownership, it has updated trappings and a new reputation for light food and live music nightly. The ambience is contemporary New Orleans, and the second-floor lounge is open Fri and Sat nights. This is a happening place for the Market Street crowd.
7. Kaminsky’s Most Excellent Cafe
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 853-8270
Address: 78 North Market St.
Description: Kaminsky’s Cafe tempts the minute you enter the door with their case full of “most excellent” desserts. In addition to specialty coffees, wine, beer, and liquors are on the menu. Kaminsky’s serves from noon until late night.
8. McCrady’s
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 577-0025
Address: 2 Unity Alley
Insider Pick:
Description: Neatly tucked down Unity Alley, off the hustle and bustle of East Bay Street, is this small but attractive haven for a quiet drink. It lays claim to the fact that George Washington tipped a few here back in 1791. Today, this beautifully turned-out restaurant and upscale bar is a favorite with downtown business types and professionals because of its cozy atmosphere. Its extensive wine list and premium bar serve happy-hour specials to please the after-work crowd. And its popular dining room close by makes a natural progression from an after-work respite to an evening on the town.
9. Mills House Hotel
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 577-2400
Address: 115 Meeting St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Easily the best location in Charleston if you’re looking to be at the center of things, the Mills House Hotel is home to 2 nightspots that deserve your consideration. The handsome First Shot Lounge (in honor of the first shot fired at Fort Sumter in the Civil War) just off the Barbados Room Restaurant is a classic Southern setting that oozes charm. There’s a grand piano, and often someone is on hand to play your favorite Gershwin tune. The Best Friend Lounge (named for the nation’s first steam locomotive originating in Charleston) is a separate, more intimate bar with quiet entertainment Tues through Sat.
10. Music Farm
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 577-6989
Address: 32 Ann St.
Description: Now in its second decade on the Peninsula, one of the most popular nightspots for contemporary music enthusiasts is the Music Farm—affectionately referred to by regulars as the Farm. The beat goes on at weekly gigs when live bands—yes, favorite city sons Hootie and the Blowfish were once among them—perform here. The Farm’s website has more information about upcoming entertainment and ticket prices. The college crowd is thick, but also expect to see 30-somethings, 40-somethings, and older-somethings elbowing their way toward the bar. The Farm is across the street from the visitor center, and parking is available on the street as well as in the nearby garage.
11. Noisy Oyster
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 723-0044
Address: 24 North Market St.
Description: Located on bustling Market Street, this friendly little bar offers libations that seem to taste better in the salty sea air of the nearby Cooper River. The restaurant always has a number of seafood specials sure to please. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Additional locations are at 7842 Rivers Ave., North Charleston (843-824-1000), and 9800 Dorchester Rd., Summerville (843-821-1213).
12. Peninsula Grill
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 723-0700
Address: 112 North Market St.
Insider Pick:
Description: The Peninsula Grill at the Planters Inn offers a very beautiful, romantic, upscale bar tucked inside the restaurant. In warm weather, we recommend a drink here before and after dining outdoors in the gaslit courtyard. This bar always attracts a well-dressed, attractive crowd and is a classy oasis amid the carnival atmosphere of the Market at night. The delightful Champagne Bar carries an extensive list of labels, and several are sold by the glass. The bar opens daily starting at 4 p.m.
13. Roof Top Restaurant & Bar
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 414-2341
Address: 23 Vendue Range
Description: On the roof of the Vendue Inn in downtown Charleston is this rare find on the Peninsula—a place (for cocktails) with a rooftop view and refreshing sea breezes. With two separate levels, the Roof Top Bar was much anticipated by locals. This place is a lovely location for starting a summer evening in Charleston catching the sunset over the rooftops of Charleston. The service is friendly, and you can enjoy live entertainment most nights.
14. South End Brewery and Smokehouse
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 853-4677
Address: 161 East Bay St.
Description: Here’s a restaurant with its own microbrewery. Ice-cold hand-crafted brews, made on the premises, are served with baby-back ribs, oven-baked pizzas, and specials off the wood-burning grill. The glass elevator takes you up to a third-floor cigar lounge and billiard and game room with spectacular views over the city. South End has live entertainment on weekends and serves both lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
15. Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub and Seafood Restaurant
City: Charleston, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 577-3818
Address: 160 Church St.
Description: Every day is St. Patty’s Day at Charleston’s only authentic Irish pub owned by an Irish family. In fact, families are indeed welcome here. Tommy Condon’s has traditional Irish singalongs Wed through Sun and serves Irish spirits as well. The layout of the facility, with its big horseshoe bar, makes for a good party flow, and people mix and mingle all around.