167 Raw Oyster Bar

Lower King · seafood, oysters, raw bar

167 Raw moved from a tiny room at 289 East Bay Street, now 167 Sushi Bar, to a long narrow 19th century building on King Street with original brick walls and a walnut bar. It takes no reservations. City Paper readers voted it Best Oysters and Best Raw Bar in 2026, and on r/Charleston the tuna burger is the dish people name.

167 Sushi Bar

Ansonborough · sushi, yakitori

167 Sushi Bar is the sushi and yakitori room from the 167 Raw group, in the East Bay Street storefront where 167 Raw itself began before moving to King Street.

39 Rue de Jean

Upper King · french, brasserie

39 Rue de Jean is a French cafe, brasserie and bar on John Street just off Upper King, with exposed brick, a patio and a private room upstairs. Explore Charleston reported in spring 2026 that it was marking its 25th anniversary with themed wine dinners and expanded lunch. It belongs to Holy City Hospitality, a Charleston group, and City Paper readers voted it Best French in 2026.

82 Queen

French Quarter · lowcountry, southern, seafood, she-crab soup

82 Queen is the Lowcountry restaurant on Queen Street that City Paper readers voted Best She-Crab Soup in 2026. The top answer in a r/Charleston she-crab soup thread agrees. Opinion on the rest is split: it is offered as the most Charleston restaurant in one thread, and in the same thread a commenter says it is not as good as its reputation.

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BellyUp! Charleston / Over 50

Over 50 Charleston

Nobody publishes the noise level, and it is the thing that decides the night.

Good places to eat and drink in Charleston, minus the nightclubs. When a spot gets loud later or draws a lot of kids, the card tells you.

4 spots

A.C.'s Bar & Grill

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.

Go early. It turns into a late-night spot later in the evening.

Félix Cocktails et Cuisine

Upper King · french

Félix is a cocktail bar and small plates room on Upper King, with a kitchen that stays open until midnight every day. City Paper readers named it Best Place for a Girls Night for 2026.

Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.

The Belmont

Upper King · small plates

The Belmont is a cocktail bar on Upper King that stays open until 2am every night, with charcuterie, flatbreads and shared plates.

Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.

The Brick

Upper King · bar food

The Brick calls itself a Charleston sports bar, on Ann Street just off Upper King, open until 2am every day. It was the Sports Bar runner-up in City Paper's 2026 readers' poll.

Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.

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