59 Best Bars in South Carolina, USA

Have a cocktail and appetizer as you watch the colorful sunset behind the church steeples. There are actually two bars at this venue atop the Vendue hotel; the lower Deck Bar has tables and chairs shaded by umbrellas, but the view of the water is partially obscured by condo towers. Keep going to the upper-level bar, which offers a 360-degree panorama and an open-air atmosphere. You'll find live music by local and regional bands on weekends.

Order a pomegranate, juiced on the spot and spiked with the liquor of your choice, at this casual but stylish hangout for wine, cocktails, and tapas. It's a coffee shop by day and a bar at night, but both iterations are distinguished by excellent service and impressive extras to go with your drinks.

This place doesn't seek attention—it won't even list its phone number. But with a soaring tin ceiling, exposed-brick walls, and a penchant for projecting black-and-white films onto the wall, the charisma comes naturally. An inventive cocktail menu served up by sharply dressed mixologists helps, too. Try their take on the spicy-sweet Brown Derby, a bourbon drink made with jalapeño-infused honey, or the Bells of Jalisco, featuring reposado tequila, more jalapeño honey, and lime juice. There's also a light menu of panini, charcuterie, and homemade Pop-Tarts.

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 establishment characterizes the craft cocktail movement with its "farm-to-shaker" seasonal selection of creative concoctions. The bar showcases exposed brick walls and wooden beams inside its lounge areas, though warm evenings are best spent outside on the rooftop patio. Inside, some of Charleston's best bartenders muddle and shake clever mixtures like the Dad Bod (Demerara rum, rye whiskey, Falernum, grenadine, and lime) and the Double Standard (a blend of serrano pepper--infused gin and cucumber vodka).

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.

Two of Charleston's most respected sommeliers co-own this wine shop and oenophile haven that spins classic records and hosts live bands on weekends. The walls are lined with carefully curated bottles that can be taken to go or popped and enjoyed on the spot.

This palace of fun combines a bowling alley, a restaurant, a taproom, an outdoor patio, and a game area into one establishment. There's live music most days. Eat an upscale Southern entrée like shrimp and grits or espresso-rubbed rib eye before rolling for a turkey.

This venerable local beer hall opened in 1995 as the city's first microbrewery and serves an excellent selection of beer and a menu of elevated pub fare and pizza. It also hosts occasional live bands. There's a second, larger location 3 miles south of town in a restored airplane hangar.

The elegant supper-club atmosphere at this popular spot makes it a wonderful setting in which to enjoy an evening of jazz, swing, or blues. There's a special martini menu, an extensive wine list, and a late-night menu. The club fills up quickly, so make reservations.

If you're up for a rowdy evening of entertainment (and a worthy basket of grub for dinner), grab a spot in the backyard between April and 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.

Sommelier-owned, this wine bar lauded for its hospitality focuses on natural wines, along with fortified wines like madeira and sherry. The elongated space is small but welcoming, and a menu including charcuterie, savory meats, and vegan gnochetti make perfect pairings for the international varietals. 

This throwback speakeasy mixes signature craft cocktails and offers a respectable beer-and-wine selection to accompany Southern-inspired burgers, pork chops, and duck dishes. A ragtime jazz band plays in the early evening on weekends, then the tables are removed and a DJ transforms the dining room into a full-on dance club.

Dubbed the "Barmuda Triangle" by locals, the little cluster of bars and restaurants located just off Sea Pines Circle is a fun spot to grab a drink, eat wings and burgers, watch a game, or meet up with friends in the various outdoor areas. Reilley's Grill & Bar is the area's cornerstone, with a big outdoor bar, seating area, and delicious food. Elsewhere, the Boardroom is open late with live music; One Hot Mama's has tasty wings and burgers; MidiCi Italian Kitchen has wooden tables and open-air seating; and Brother Shucker's Bar & Grill serves up fun with raw oysters, vodka specials, and trivia nights.

The popular Salty Dog Cafe has been drawing crowds for more than 30 years with its lively atmosphere and outdoor bar and seating area overlooking scenic Braddock Cove at South Beach Marina. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and guests can sit inside or outside and enjoy items such as crab dip, fish sandwiches, fried shrimp, and Jake's hush puppies. Adults can relax with a cocktail from the extensive drink menu, and kids can hop over to the Salty Dog Ice Cream Shop located next door. Don't forget to bring home a T-shirt with the trendy Salty Dog Cafe logo at the nearby store.

An oceanfront bar with well-known rock bands performing on the raised stage, the Windjammer attracts a mix of young people just out of college, salty locals, and visiting tourists. Expect to pay $10--$25 admission when there's a live band, but if you sit on the back deck there's generally no cover charge.

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, '90s, and '00s.

The 2,000-seat Alabama Theatre has a regular variety show of singing and dancing ($40–$54) with a patriotic closing; the theater also hosts guest music and comedy artists during the year and a holiday-themed show

In the hopping Vista neighborhood, this funky spot has neon-painted walls, colorful string lights, an adjacent tattoo parlor, and a lively crowd, making it the perfect setting for karaoke and dancing to live bands.

This homey wine bar on the city's fast-growing East Side is a relaxed setting for sipping intense wines with funky biodynamic and natural labels cropping up often on the smart by-the-glass list.

This South Pacific–theme bar and restaurant features live music, a great selection of craft beers and cocktails, and a lunch and dinner menu serving up tasty tacos and burgers. Located on the second story in Coligny, there's indoor and outdoor seating.

Husband and wife Patrick and Fanny Panella ply their guests with selections from more than 100 bottles of wine and 35 varieties of cheeses and charcuterie, freshly baked breads, contemporary art, and tasteful antique furniture. All of it is imminently available, too, from the Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz to the tables and chairs. Cast in low lighting, the wine bar serves as a comfortable backdrop for a pre- or post-dinner drink.

You'll do well just to find this place. Tucked into an alley behind the Walgreens at King and Calhoun streets, Burns Alley offers cozy quarters for sports fans in need of cheap beers and a giant projection screen. A small upstairs area overlooks the action, offering a premium vantage point during crowded evenings.

This friendly watering hole with 40 draft beers on tap offers a late-night menu of wings and pub grub. Live music on weekends and ample screens for sports events make this a popular hangout for the college crowd.

The elegant Charleston Grill hosts live jazz seven nights a week, drawing from the city's most renowned musicians. Performers range from the internationally acclaimed Brazilian guitarist Duda Lucena to the Bob Williams Duo, a father and son who play classical guitar and violin. The place draws an urbane crowd that spans generations. Down the hall, the neighboring Thoroughbred Club offers nightly live music and an impressive selection of bourbons.

The heart of Charleston's live music community lies off the peninsula at this colorful club decorated with murals. Touring acts like the Robert Jon & the Wreck play the main stage nightly, while the sprawling outdoor deck hosts family-friendly concerts by local musicians every early evening. While there’s a solid bar-food menu, Malika Kitchen serves Pakistani street food from an on-site converted container, and the bar’s adjacent neighbor is the western Chinese eatery, Kwei Fei. The Pour House also hosts a popular farmers' market on Sunday afternoons, with live soul and funk music on the deck.

Touring comedians—some of whom have made cable TV appearances—make their way to this little comedy club that's inspired belly laughs for 25 years on the north side of town. There's an on-site restaurant serving pizza and burgers.

Several nights a week this lounge brings top-flight comedic talent to Hilton Head. There's a light menu of appetizers and sandwiches, plus a full bar. General admission tickets are $44.50 per person. Book ahead online because the shows sell out fairly quickly.

A tiny space belies big flavor at this classy cocktail bar that serves up custom drinks like the Bourbon & Clyde, melding Woodford and Old Forester with fernet, pistachio, and green chartreuse. The fancy amalgams are complemented by charcuterie and caviar, in an elegant, dimly lit room framed by wood and leather.

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.