14 Best Nightlife in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand, South Carolina

Step back to a bygone era when you enter the jukebox front door of this hip-movin' shag spot that's constantly hosting shag contests. Two different dance floors guarantee you can find a melody that gets you dancing, or just hang along the edges and take in the action. The Shag City Grill sells burgers and sandwiches.

If you're up for a rowdy evening of entertainment (and a worthy basket of grub for dinner), grab a spot in the backyard April–September for the annual free Sunday summer concert series featuring national touring acts; on Friday check out free local acts. It's quite a sight, as fleets of boats anchor for a waterway view of the stage and the landlocked crowd packs the bank to relax and sip on pales and lagers from the on-site brewery, Independent Republic.

A Myrtle Beach show staple since 1986, the Carolina Opry is a polished, action-packed variety show featuring live country, light rock, show tunes, and gospel music, plus comedy skits. There's also a "Time Warp" show that pays tribute to the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and a celebrated Christmas Special.

This 21-and-older complex features three clubs, including a 6K DJ video system in the main nightclub, Envy. There's also Bourbon Cowboy, with live bands, and Club Rewind, which features songs from the '80s--'00s.

The 2,250-seat Alabama Theatre has a regular variety show of singing and dancing with a wonderful patriotic closing; the theater also hosts guest music and comedy artists during the year and a holiday-themed show.

Touring comedians—some of whom have made cable TV appearances—make their way to this little comedy club that's inspired belly laughs for over 20 years on the north side of town. There's an on-site restaurant serving pizza and burgers.

You can dance the shag and take lessons from the pros at this classic club that hosts shag events throughout the year for dedicated and novice dancers. There's also an on-site café.

This happening waterfront joint is set up for a backyard party, featuring live music on the gazebo stage every Friday and Saturday night. There's also an excellent menu of steamed, fried, and broiled seafood.

This giant shed (quite literally—its exterior facade is rusty corrugated steel) showcases up-and-coming talent and national names in blues, rock, jazz, country, and R&B in its 2,000-seat concert hall and on stages in its Southern-style restaurant with patio. The Sunday gospel brunch is a great deal, and there's free live music on the deck every evening.

This venue features high-energy shows by impersonators of pop stars like Bruno Mars, Dolly Parton, Elvis, Garth Brooks, and the Blues Brothers.

You can have a drink, watch boats come back from a day of fishing, hear live music, and enjoy the evening breeze with a stroll along the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, a picturesque boardwalk that connects eight waterfront bars and restaurants, from Drunken Jack's on the north end to Wicked Tuna at the Crazy Sister Marina on the south end. On the Fourth of July, the Marsh Walk serves as your front-row seat to the wildly popular Boat Parade. Also included along the way are colorful waterfront stops with fanciful names like Dead Dog Saloon, Creek Ratz, Bubba's Love Shak, and Wahoo's.

This place might be small, but it's big on the shag moves, cold drinks, and fish baskets. It has four pool tables and karaoke every Thursday and Sunday.

This Dolly Parton–owned production features a 15-foot-deep water lagoon staged with pirate ships Crimson and Sapphire. Ye families will enjoy a four-course feast while watching swashbuckling fights, pyrotechnics, acrobats, high dives, and mermaids in flight.

A '50s-era neon sign welcomes revelers into this classic dance hall inside the Ocean Drive Resort, where DJs and a regular rotation of rock and beach music bands perform every weekend. The Shaggers Hall of Fame is also located here, in the OD Beach Club.