Without a doubt, Charleston is a happening town. Unfortunately many visitors as well as locals miss out on the great selection of bars, cafes, and clubs the city has to offer. There is something for everyone. Remember that much of Charleston proper is now smoke-free even in bars and clubs. Here are our favorite bars, clubs, and coffee shops.
| Name | Location | Type | Cover Charge | Value | Food Served? | Live Music | Open Days | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooftop at Vendue | Peninsula | Bar | No | 4 | No | Yes | Sun-Sat |  |
| Poe's Tavern | SE 9 mi. | Bar | No | 2 | Lots | No | Sun-Sat | |
| Charleston Beer Works | Peninsula | Bar | Occas. | 3 | Lots | No | Sun-Sat | |
| King Street Bar & Grill | Peninsula | Bar | No | 3 | Lots | No | Sun-Sat | |
| Raval | Peninsula | Bar | No | 4 | Some | No | Sun-Sat | |
| Mad River Bar & Grill | Peninsula | Bar | No | 2 | Lots | No | Sun-Sat | |
| VooDoo | W 3 mi. | Bar | No | 4 | Some | Yes | Sun-Sat | |
| Chai's | Peninsula | Bar | No | 5 | Lots | Yes | Tue-Sun | |
| Kaminsky's | Peninsula | Coffee | No | 5 | Dessert | No | Daily | |
| East Bay Cafe | Peninsula | Coffee | No | 4 | Dessert | Yes | Daily | |
| Rutledge Coffee & Cream | Peninsula | Coffee | No | 4 | Dessert | No | Daily | |
| Cafe Paradiso | Peninsula | Coffee | No | 3 | Some | No | Daily | |
| Kudu Coffee | Peninsula | Coffee | No | 5 | Some | No | Daily | |
| Purple Tree Lounge | Peninsula | Dance | $5< | 4 | No | No | Thu-Sat | |
| Pantheon* | Peninsula | Dance | $10 | 4 | No | No | Fri-Sun | |
| Wet Willies | Peninsula | Dance | $5< | 2 | No | No | Sun-Sat | |
| Trio | Peninsula | Dance | $5/10 | 5 | No | Yes | Thu-Sat | |
| Club Light | Peninsula | Dance | $5< | 3 | No | No | Thu-Sat | |
Click one of the table headers to sort the contents by that column. Click again to reverse the order.
Table Key
Name: Name will be clickable if more information is available.
Location: Direction and driving distance from downtown Peninsula. Driving distances computed from Marion Square. Direction listed first to enable sorting by region.
Cover Charge: Approximate cover charge for one person's entry. Note, these are approximate and can change more quickly than we can update them. A '<' symbol indicates the cover is only charged late at night. A '/' means before and after 9 or 10 p.m.
Value (1-5): A rough idea of the overall experience. A 5 is exceptional.
Food Served? Whether or not any food is served at this location. Keep in mind the kitchen closes at some locations after a certain time.
Live Music: Is live music ever provided at this destination?
Open Days: Days of the week the bar is open. For detailed hours of operation, contact the business directly because these change regularly.
Map: Click here to see the location on a map. You can easily compute driving directions from this page as well.
(* Note: Pantheon is a gay club, though far from exclusive. The spot has become a favorite among heterosexuals, especially couples.)