The Best Bar in Charleston, South Carolina

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Reviews Updated by

M
Melissa

Charleston loves a good party, and the city boasts an ever-growing array of choices for a night on the town. The more mature crowd goes to the sophisticated spots, and there are many wine bars, clubs featuring jazz groups, and trendy lounges with craft cocktail menus. Rooftop bars are a particular Charleston tradition, and the city has several good ones. Many restaurants offer live entertainment on at least one weekend night, catering to crowds of all ages. The Upper King area has grown exponentially in recent years, overtaking the Market area in terms of popularity and variety of bars and lounges. A city ordinance mandates that bars must close by 2 am, so last call is usually 1:30.

Charleston Pour House

The heart of Charleston's live music community lies off the peninsula at this colorful club decorated with murals. Touring acts like the Robert Jon & the Wreck play the main stage nightly, while the sprawling outdoor deck hosts family-friendly concerts by local musicians every early evening. While there’s a solid bar-food menu, Malika Kitchen serves Pakistani street food from an on-site converted container, and the bar’s adjacent neighbor is the western Chinese eatery, Kwei Fei. The Pour House also hosts a popular farmers' market on Sunday afternoons, with live soul and funk music on the deck.