There's no shortage of $10+ cocktails in Charleston, but where do you go when money is tight and you still want a buzz? Here's a handy dandy map of places practically giving the bar away. Some are just during happy hour or certain days, so plan accordingly.
Bars are presented in geographical order. If we missed your favorite deal, leave it in the comments.
French-Asian restaurant Fish celebrates happy hour longer than the competitors. Sunday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., grab a seat at the bar and order a $4 well liquor drink. If you get peckish, there's $6 dim sum and other nibbles.
Spanish tapas hangout Barsa offers $3 well drinks and $3 off their specialty cocktails during happy hour (Monday through Friday, 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.). If you're feeling hungry, the paella is discounted during these hours as well.
Caribbean-influenced Fuel has lots of deals for drinkers from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m during the week. $6 Cadillac Margaritas, $4 house Margaritas, $4 Grand Ma shots, $4 Jäger shots, $5 featured drinks, and $3 house liquors. Just don't let all that drinking mess up your bocce game — they have a court.
Celebrate $5 Wednesday bourbon happy hour (5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.) at The Cocktail Club. $5 is a steal for brown liquors that normally go for $10. Relax in the swanky atmosphere with a glass (or two) of Bulleit, Blanton's, or one of their many other choices.
It's a dance club at night, but to entice patrons before the sun goes down, Mynt offers cheap booze. The specials vary, but on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., guest can order $1 vodka and $1 bourbon. It's probably going to burn a lot on the way down, but what do you expect for a dollar? If that's not your style, mojitos are $3 during Monday's happy hour.
At raw bar Pearlz, it's all about $3 liquors, $1 oysters, and $3 champagne during the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., during the week. They're always busy, so get there early.
It's a little hard to find, but you'll be rewarded with $2 house liquors if you can locate Burn's Alley before 7:30 p.m. during the week. It's a no-frills type of place, but it's cheap.
Specialty cocktails are just $5 at Asian fusion restaurant Co from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the week. They also offer food specials starting at $4.
The patio at Republic Reign is the place to be during happy hour. From 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., premium cocktails are just $5. There's a heavy discount on wines, food, and beer, as well.
From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., during the week, Upper Deck Tavern offers $2 off its already cheap liquor. And it's not just PBR here — the bartenders have a few cocktail tricks from their years in service. Or order a Jameson neat.
This college dive bar offers deep discounts from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the week. House hooch is $3 and call liquors are $4. There's always something weird on the televisions here or a killer soundtrack to keep you entertained while you enjoy your beverage.
Recovery Room, the grown-up dive bar, offers $2.75 well liquors during happy hour (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the week). Owner Chris "Boston" DiMattia's bar is just the place to hide after a long work day.
To entice patrons to come out before sunset, Faculty Lounge offers steep discounts on Monday through Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The deals include $1 PBR drafts, $3 well liquor drinks, $5 specialty cocktails, and $6 top-shelf whiskeys. This is one of the few Saturday happy hours in town.
NoMo superstar Edmund's Oast keeps a rotating happy hour list full of $4 deals, including a cocktail from mixologist mastermind Jayce McConnell. It could be a punch or any number of potent libations. Check in between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. during the week to take advantage of the deal.
The views of Shem Creek are spectacular at Vickery's and so are the happy hour deals. During the week, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., well liquor goes for just $3.
Depending on the evening, Mount Pleasant staple Red Drum has a rotating list of cocktail specials. It might be half-off vodka night or perhaps $5 margaritas at happy hour. The patio is the place to be when the weather is nice.
Monday through Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., hamburger haven HoM offers deep discounts on domestic beers like $1.5 PBRs. Glasses of wine are $5 and a shot of Fireball with a side of High Life is $5.
French-Asian restaurant Fish celebrates happy hour longer than the competitors. Sunday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., grab a seat at the bar and order a $4 well liquor drink. If you get peckish, there's $6 dim sum and other nibbles.
Spanish tapas hangout Barsa offers $3 well drinks and $3 off their specialty cocktails during happy hour (Monday through Friday, 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.). If you're feeling hungry, the paella is discounted during these hours as well.
Caribbean-influenced Fuel has lots of deals for drinkers from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m during the week. $6 Cadillac Margaritas, $4 house Margaritas, $4 Grand Ma shots, $4 Jäger shots, $5 featured drinks, and $3 house liquors. Just don't let all that drinking mess up your bocce game — they have a court.
Celebrate $5 Wednesday bourbon happy hour (5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.) at The Cocktail Club. $5 is a steal for brown liquors that normally go for $10. Relax in the swanky atmosphere with a glass (or two) of Bulleit, Blanton's, or one of their many other choices.
It's a dance club at night, but to entice patrons before the sun goes down, Mynt offers cheap booze. The specials vary, but on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., guest can order $1 vodka and $1 bourbon. It's probably going to burn a lot on the way down, but what do you expect for a dollar? If that's not your style, mojitos are $3 during Monday's happy hour.
At raw bar Pearlz, it's all about $3 liquors, $1 oysters, and $3 champagne during the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., during the week. They're always busy, so get there early.
It's a little hard to find, but you'll be rewarded with $2 house liquors if you can locate Burn's Alley before 7:30 p.m. during the week. It's a no-frills type of place, but it's cheap.
Specialty cocktails are just $5 at Asian fusion restaurant Co from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the week. They also offer food specials starting at $4.
The patio at Republic Reign is the place to be during happy hour. From 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., premium cocktails are just $5. There's a heavy discount on wines, food, and beer, as well.
From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., during the week, Upper Deck Tavern offers $2 off its already cheap liquor. And it's not just PBR here — the bartenders have a few cocktail tricks from their years in service. Or order a Jameson neat.
This college dive bar offers deep discounts from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the week. House hooch is $3 and call liquors are $4. There's always something weird on the televisions here or a killer soundtrack to keep you entertained while you enjoy your beverage.
Recovery Room, the grown-up dive bar, offers $2.75 well liquors during happy hour (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the week). Owner Chris "Boston" DiMattia's bar is just the place to hide after a long work day.
To entice patrons to come out before sunset, Faculty Lounge offers steep discounts on Monday through Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The deals include $1 PBR drafts, $3 well liquor drinks, $5 specialty cocktails, and $6 top-shelf whiskeys. This is one of the few Saturday happy hours in town.
NoMo superstar Edmund's Oast keeps a rotating happy hour list full of $4 deals, including a cocktail from mixologist mastermind Jayce McConnell. It could be a punch or any number of potent libations. Check in between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. during the week to take advantage of the deal.
The views of Shem Creek are spectacular at Vickery's and so are the happy hour deals. During the week, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., well liquor goes for just $3.
Depending on the evening, Mount Pleasant staple Red Drum has a rotating list of cocktail specials. It might be half-off vodka night or perhaps $5 margaritas at happy hour. The patio is the place to be when the weather is nice.
Monday through Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., hamburger haven HoM offers deep discounts on domestic beers like $1.5 PBRs. Glasses of wine are $5 and a shot of Fireball with a side of High Life is $5.
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