Upper King · $ · bar food, burgers

The Post and Courier's alphabet guide gives it the letter A and calls it one of the oldest of the city's dives, 37 years old when the guide ran. After a fire burned its original location it moved to 467 King Street in 2000, ahead of the redevelopment that became the Upper King nightlife district. The paper notes pool tables, affordable drinks, and that it is one of few downtown places serving food after midnight ... a dozen burgers, cheesesteaks, loaded fries and nachos.

Acme Lowcountry Kitchen

Isle of Palms · lowcountry, seafood, southern, breakfast

Acme describes itself as a no-frills beach grill with a full bar and deck serving Southern coastal cooking. City Paper readers voted it Best IOP Restaurant and Best IOP Brunch in 2026. A regular on r/Charleston says they always plug it for dinner and brunch that is not high-end.

Agaves Cantina

Daniel Island · mexican

A Mexican cantina on Island Park Drive on Daniel Island with a house cocktail list. The site's own structured data files it under Charleston, 29492.

Avondale Wine & Cheese

Avondale · cheese, charcuterie

Avondale Wine & Cheese has been pouring in the Avondale strip of West Ashley since 2006 and describes itself as female-owned. City Paper readers named it Best Wine Selection for 2026 and runner-up for Best Wine Bar.

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6 spots

Bar Mash

Eastside · bar food

Bar Mash is a bar and kitchen at 701 East Bay Street, open from 4pm Monday to Saturday with a daily happy hour and the kitchen going until 10pm.

Dive In Food & Spirits

Eastside · bar food

The newest bar in a building with a long local memory. The Post and Courier reported in August 2026 that Dive In opened in June 2026 at 525 Meeting Street, a single-story building that was once home to the Black-owned Thunderguards Motorcycle Club and then to Palace Hotel, which closed in 2025 after less than two years at the address. Owners Fitz Gaines, Lamar Bonaparte and Tyler Wicker have been involved in Republic Garden & Lounge, Red Palm Tavern and Bourbon N' Bubbles downtown. Picnic tables sit on the patio in front.

Last Saint

Eastside

Last Saint calls itself an eastside cocktail bar, on Meeting Street. City Paper readers named it Best Cocktails for 2026.

The Annex at Last Saint

Eastside · cocktails

A bar inside a bar. The Post and Courier (27 June 2025) reported that a yellow door at the back of the cocktail lounge Last Saint leads to a tucked-away speakeasy with six barstools and three booths, run by bartenders Bri and Andrew Travis. There are no menus ... guests name a base spirit and a few adjectives and the bartender builds the drink, at $16 each when the paper visited. Last Saint itself comes from the group behind Bar George on James Island and Ok Donna downtown.

The Archer

Eastside · american, burgers

Marc and Liz Hudacsko opened The Archer in August 2024 as what City Paper calls the more grown-up sister to their Rutledge Avenue spot Berkeley's. It is a restaurant and cocktail bar with free parking on site and a daily happy hour. The kitchen serves until 11pm and the bar until midnight.

The Commodore

Eastside

The Commodore is a live music and dance room on Meeting Street. Its site says the club started in the early 80s as A Touch of Class before it was revived under the current name, and that entry is ages 23 and up. City Paper readers named it Best Jazz & Blues Club for 2026.

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Rooftops and Patios Can we sit outside? Live Music Where can I eat and hear a real band? Private Dining and Buyouts Can we take a room? Craft Cocktail Programs Who is taking the bar seriously? The Whole Family Table Will they be fine with a four-year-old? Late-Night Food What is still open? Seafood and Oysters Who is getting good product in? Vegan and Plant-Based Where can I eat with no asterisks?

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