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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.
An oceanfront bar with well-known rock bands performing on the raised stage, the Windjammer attracts a mix of young people just out of college, salty locals, and visiting tourists. Expect to pay $10--$25 admission when there's a live band, but if you sit on the back deck there's generally no cover charge.
The elegant Charleston Grill hosts live jazz seven nights a week, drawing from the city's most renowned musicians. Performers range from the internationally acclaimed Brazilian guitarist Duda Lucena to the Bob Williams Duo, a father and son who play classical guitar and violin. The place draws an urbane crowd that spans generations. Down the hall, the neighboring Thoroughbred Club offers nightly live music and an impressive selection of bourbons.
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.
Once a train depot, this towering space is filled to the max when popular bands like Galactic, Neko Case, and Big Gigantic play. Tickets typically range from $15 to $25. The bar is open only on nights when a concert is scheduled.
This place isn't really a dive bar—it just looks like one, thanks to dim lighting and an expansive deck that backs up to the train tracks. The bar serves an array of canned beers and a tasty trio of punches with rum, bourbon, or vodka poured over crushed ice. Hungry? Feast on blue-collar eats like fried bologna sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes, and house-made beef jerky. There's also live music throughout the week on an intimate indoor stage.
