Pubs and beer halls
Fancy kicking back after a hard day’s sightseeing with a few ice-cold beers and some tasty food? There’s an array of appealing spots scattered across Charleston, from grungy dive bars to more genteel craft beer pubs.
This slick gastropub boasts Charleston’s most extensive and diverse range of draught beers. There’s a strong emphasis on unusual and rare local brews, but the menu also includes highly quaffable offerings from Belgium, Germany, and Ireland. To soak up some of that booze, you can take your pick from a mouth-watering selection of pub classics like beer battered fish and chips, and potato skins crammed with melted cheese, bacon, and hot sauce.
453 King Street, Charleston SC 29403.
Cocktail bars
The city also delivers on the style front, with a number of seductive cocktail lounges, fine wine bars, and sleek roof-top joints to nimbly hop between.
The Cocktail Club
The Cocktail Club offers an utterly refined drinking experience, in a speakeasy-style venue that playfully recalls prohibition-era Charleston. The imaginative cocktail menu makes use of rare spirits, freshly-squeezed juices, and house-made infusions. If you really feel like splashing out, you can also indulge in exquisite vintage Champagnes and artisan wines.
479 King Street, Charleston SC 29403.
Nightclubs
If you’re in the mood for throwing some shapes after a few evening drinks, Charleston has you covered with an appealing choice of nightclubs. Take your pick from hip DJ bars, sleek VIP clubs, or vibrant gay-friendly venues. Calhoun Street is the epicenter of the late night scene – here are a couple of suggestions to get you started. Mynt
Mynt is one of Charleston’s swankiest nightspots, which gets packed at weekends with a crowd of sharply-dressed young professionals. You can start your evening with an expertly-mixed mojito and some light bites from the tempting food menu. Later on, join the hordes on the sleek hardwood dance floor, and get down to an eclectic mix of chart hits, hip hop, and cutting-edge dance music.
135 Calhoun Street, Charleston SC 29401 .
With huge dance floors, state-of-the-art sound systems, and an outdoor patio area, Trio is one of the hottest late-night venues in town. It regularly plays host to top guitar bands as well as club DJs, so you’ll have a great time whatever your taste in music may be. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, there are also luxurious VIP areas which can be booked in advance, and which offer private seating, bottle service, and security.
139 Calhoun Street, Charleston SC 29401.
Comedy clubs
Charleston boasts a small but thriving comedy scene, with an eclectic selection of venues specializing in stand-up, improvisation, and even mystery theater parodies.
Theatre 99 proudly proclaims itself as Charleston’s home for improv comedy. Their outrageously talented in-house comedians take to the stage to perform razor-sharp improvisations based on audience suggestions. The troupe also dabble in sketch shows, stand-up, musical comedy and cabaret, so no evenings are alike. There’s also a tempting selection of beers and wines on sale to further fuel your merriment.
280 Meeting Street, Charleston SC 29413.
