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13 Hottest Restaurants in Charlotte, December 2023

The Hottest New Restaurants in Charleston, December 2023

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A gilded bar with leather stools.
The Den at the Emeline Hotel.
JB McCabe

Where to Drink in Charleston Right Now, November 2023

13 of the city's hottest libation menus

by Erin Perkins Updated
2 comments / new
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The Den at the Emeline Hotel.
| JB McCabe
by Erin Perkins Updated
2 comments / new

There's a wealth of opportunities for imbibing in Charleston, but where to find the latest and greatest? The newest and hottest? Here's an updated Cocktail Heatmap of places to visit as soon as happy hour hits. While this map focuses on restaurants and bars that have opened within the past year, we've also included some older establishments undergoing a new heatwave thanks to recent changes to their cocktail menus or bar program.

We've also included some newer wine and beer bars for those not in need of a super stiff drink. Go out and try somewhere new this week — perhaps you'll find a new favorite libation or bartender in town.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Pinky & Clyde's Arcade Bar

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If you’re looking for some old-school arcade games in a dive bar atmosphere, stop by Pinky & Clyde’s. This spot has cold beers and Pac-Man.

1044 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 471-2413
(843) 471-2413

King BBQ

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To match the playful spirit at Chinese barbecue spot King BBQ, bar manager Amy Kallicragas created a rainbow’s worth of cocktails to sip with the smoked meats. For dirty martini lovers, there’s the Shimmy Shimmy Ya with a kick from a pickled pepper. Margarita fans will like the Eye of the Tiger made with tequila, Thai tea, and mandarin.

2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

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Sugey's Bar

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The owners of pizza place D’Allesandro’s and dive bar Cutty’s have a new metal music bar on King Street. Ben and Nick D’Allesandro put former Cutty’s manager Sarah Griffith in charge of the space, and she created Sugey’s — the only bar in Charleston dedicated to heavy metal bands,  ’80s horror films, and tiki drinks.

638 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
A dar bar with a disco ball overhead.
Sugey’s Bar is the only metal bar in Charleston.
Erin Perkins

Also featured in:

Beautiful South

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The cocktail list at Beautiful South adds even more depth to the Cantonese cuisine at Beautiful South. Bar manager Lily Cantral (formerly of the Ordinary and FIG) serves creative drinks like the house martini made with sesame gin, Fino sherry, vermouth, and MSG.

128 Columbus St Suite 101, Charleston, SC 29403
A dark bar with red stools.
The bar at Beautiful South.
Mike Ledford

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Frontier Lounge

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The former dance club Mynt is now dive bar Frontier Lounge. Modeled after funky bars in the 1970s, Frontier has wood paneling, linoleum tiles, an old dad couch, and plenty of kitschy paraphernalia.

135 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

Bearcat

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Bearcat, a fine dining restaurant without the fuss, recently opened its bar in the Avondale neighborhood. Drinks range from a fancy frozen strawberry daiquiri with chartreuse to Coors beer. The big draw is the snacks, like wood-fired oysters with wagyu fat or the tartare with Carolina Gold rice.

25 Magnolia Rd, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 225-0477
(843) 225-0477

Also featured in:

The Den

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The group behind the Emeline Hotel and Italian restaurant Frannie & the Fox recently opened the intimate (and slightly hidden) bar the Den. The space seats 30 and focuses on martinis, caviar, and Italian snacks. Seasonal flavors like a tomato martini share the menu with a classic martini service featuring various liquor and vermouth choices.

181 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2644
(843) 577-2644
A wooden bar with leather stools.
The Den at the Emeline Hotel.
JB McCabe

The Habit

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The new French Quarter establishment the Habit is billed as a “multi-tiered entertainment experience.” The first floor holds the main dining and a large bar; there’s another bar and a lounge area for live entertainment on the second floor; and the third floor holds a rooftop bar that overlooks the harbor. The bars are fully stocked with beer, wine, and liquors and offer signature drinks like the Ain’t Misbehavin’ which is a dirty martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives.

213 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 955-5226
(843) 955-5226

Also featured in:

Azur

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Executive chef Dominic Chantepie, son/beverage director Mathis Chantepie, and general manager Benjamin Boisson opened European restaurant Azur to bring the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain to downtown Charleston. There’s a long bar inside, but the patio is a quaint spot to sip a glass of albarino when the weather is nice or order an espresso martini to end a meal.

159 Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 573-7893
(843) 573-7893

Also featured in:

Sorelle

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Charleston-based Beemok Hospitality Collection (owners of the Charleston Place hotel) and chef Michael Mina’s Mina Group opened Italian restaurant and market Sorelle, and it comes with a stunning bar space full of plush velvet, marble, fresh flowers, and opulence. The menu focuses on Italian wines and amaros. The room is for walk-ins and serves the full dinner menu.

88 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 974-1575
(843) 974-1575
A dimly lit marble bar.
The bar at Italian restaurant Sorelle.
Peter Frank Edwards

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Sweatman’s Garden

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Food and beverage vets Danielle and Brent Sweatman recently opened Sweatman’s Garden in the South Windermere Shopping Center with fancy sodas, a full bar, and fondue. All of the sodas are nonalcoholic, but for an extra $5, the bartenders can add the customer’s choice of house liquor or a cannabis-based infusion.

90 Folly Rd Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
A wall full of plants and a yellow couch.
Sweatman’s Garden in West Ashley.
Erin Perkins

High Rise Dry Bar 

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Want to experience the buzz of a bar without the booze? The group behind High Rise Beverage Company, makers of hemp-derived CBD and THC seltzers, set up the High Rise Dry Bar to showcase cannabis-infused nonalcoholic cocktails. For example, the Invigorate is made with turmeric, carrot, mango, and coconut shrub, topped with the drinker’s choice of High Rise CBD or delta-9 seltzers. Drinks can also be made without CBD or THC.

1989 Maybank Hwy Unit 103, Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 641-7077
(843) 641-7077
A wooden bar with leather stools. Ratan lamps are overhead.
High Rise Dry Bar.
Mike Ledford

Colectivo

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Yes, there’s a margarita on the menu at Mexican restaurant Colectivo, but customers can explore other fun drinks made with agave spirits, like the Next Epazote with mezcal, Nixta (corn liquor), lemon, and epazote (a Mexican herb).

2901 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455
(843) 789-3638
(843) 789-3638
The bar at Colectivo.
Mike Ledford

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Pinky & Clyde's Arcade Bar

1044 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

If you’re looking for some old-school arcade games in a dive bar atmosphere, stop by Pinky & Clyde’s. This spot has cold beers and Pac-Man.

1044 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 471-2413
(843) 471-2413

King BBQ

2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

To match the playful spirit at Chinese barbecue spot King BBQ, bar manager Amy Kallicragas created a rainbow’s worth of cocktails to sip with the smoked meats. For dirty martini lovers, there’s the Shimmy Shimmy Ya with a kick from a pickled pepper. Margarita fans will like the Eye of the Tiger made with tequila, Thai tea, and mandarin.

2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

Sugey's Bar

638 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

The owners of pizza place D’Allesandro’s and dive bar Cutty’s have a new metal music bar on King Street. Ben and Nick D’Allesandro put former Cutty’s manager Sarah Griffith in charge of the space, and she created Sugey’s — the only bar in Charleston dedicated to heavy metal bands,  ’80s horror films, and tiki drinks.

638 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
A dar bar with a disco ball overhead.
Sugey’s Bar is the only metal bar in Charleston.
Erin Perkins

Beautiful South

128 Columbus St Suite 101, Charleston, SC 29403

The cocktail list at Beautiful South adds even more depth to the Cantonese cuisine at Beautiful South. Bar manager Lily Cantral (formerly of the Ordinary and FIG) serves creative drinks like the house martini made with sesame gin, Fino sherry, vermouth, and MSG.

128 Columbus St Suite 101, Charleston, SC 29403
A dark bar with red stools.
The bar at Beautiful South.
Mike Ledford

Frontier Lounge

135 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

The former dance club Mynt is now dive bar Frontier Lounge. Modeled after funky bars in the 1970s, Frontier has wood paneling, linoleum tiles, an old dad couch, and plenty of kitschy paraphernalia.

135 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

Bearcat

25 Magnolia Rd, Charleston, SC 29407

Bearcat, a fine dining restaurant without the fuss, recently opened its bar in the Avondale neighborhood. Drinks range from a fancy frozen strawberry daiquiri with chartreuse to Coors beer. The big draw is the snacks, like wood-fired oysters with wagyu fat or the tartare with Carolina Gold rice.

25 Magnolia Rd, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 225-0477
(843) 225-0477

The Den

181 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401

The group behind the Emeline Hotel and Italian restaurant Frannie & the Fox recently opened the intimate (and slightly hidden) bar the Den. The space seats 30 and focuses on martinis, caviar, and Italian snacks. Seasonal flavors like a tomato martini share the menu with a classic martini service featuring various liquor and vermouth choices.

181 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2644
(843) 577-2644
A wooden bar with leather stools.
The Den at the Emeline Hotel.
JB McCabe

The Habit

213 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

The new French Quarter establishment the Habit is billed as a “multi-tiered entertainment experience.” The first floor holds the main dining and a large bar; there’s another bar and a lounge area for live entertainment on the second floor; and the third floor holds a rooftop bar that overlooks the harbor. The bars are fully stocked with beer, wine, and liquors and offer signature drinks like the Ain’t Misbehavin’ which is a dirty martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives.

213 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 955-5226
(843) 955-5226

Azur

159 Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

Executive chef Dominic Chantepie, son/beverage director Mathis Chantepie, and general manager Benjamin Boisson opened European restaurant Azur to bring the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain to downtown Charleston. There’s a long bar inside, but the patio is a quaint spot to sip a glass of albarino when the weather is nice or order an espresso martini to end a meal.

159 Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 573-7893
(843) 573-7893

Sorelle

88 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401

Charleston-based Beemok Hospitality Collection (owners of the Charleston Place hotel) and chef Michael Mina’s Mina Group opened Italian restaurant and market Sorelle, and it comes with a stunning bar space full of plush velvet, marble, fresh flowers, and opulence. The menu focuses on Italian wines and amaros. The room is for walk-ins and serves the full dinner menu.

88 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 974-1575
(843) 974-1575
A dimly lit marble bar.
The bar at Italian restaurant Sorelle.
Peter Frank Edwards

Sweatman’s Garden

90 Folly Rd Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

Food and beverage vets Danielle and Brent Sweatman recently opened Sweatman’s Garden in the South Windermere Shopping Center with fancy sodas, a full bar, and fondue. All of the sodas are nonalcoholic, but for an extra $5, the bartenders can add the customer’s choice of house liquor or a cannabis-based infusion.

90 Folly Rd Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
A wall full of plants and a yellow couch.
Sweatman’s Garden in West Ashley.
Erin Perkins

High Rise Dry Bar 

1989 Maybank Hwy Unit 103, Charleston, SC 29412

Want to experience the buzz of a bar without the booze? The group behind High Rise Beverage Company, makers of hemp-derived CBD and THC seltzers, set up the High Rise Dry Bar to showcase cannabis-infused nonalcoholic cocktails. For example, the Invigorate is made with turmeric, carrot, mango, and coconut shrub, topped with the drinker’s choice of High Rise CBD or delta-9 seltzers. Drinks can also be made without CBD or THC.

1989 Maybank Hwy Unit 103, Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 641-7077
(843) 641-7077
A wooden bar with leather stools. Ratan lamps are overhead.
High Rise Dry Bar.
Mike Ledford

Colectivo

2901 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455

Yes, there’s a margarita on the menu at Mexican restaurant Colectivo, but customers can explore other fun drinks made with agave spirits, like the Next Epazote with mezcal, Nixta (corn liquor), lemon, and epazote (a Mexican herb).

2901 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455
(843) 789-3638
(843) 789-3638
The bar at Colectivo.
Mike Ledford

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