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 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 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 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.
BellyUp! Charleston / Over 50
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.
15 spots
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.
Bar Polari describes itself as a special hideaway for the LGBTQ+ community in Charleston, on Reynolds Avenue in North Charleston. The site names Brent Compagni as owner. It was the LGBTQ Bar runner-up in City Paper's 2026 readers' poll.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
Weems Pennington taught himself to make ramen about five years ago, went to Japan in 2025 to study it, and opened this ramen bar on Reynolds Avenue in December 2025 with Sharon Brown as general manager. There are four bowls ... shoyu, shoyu lite, miso and a vegetable ramen on fennel and shiitake broth ... plus karaage three ways and korokke. Cocktails are named after albums. It serves food until 12:30am, walk-ins only, behind a bright green mural near King BBQ.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
The Blind Tiger is a pub on Broad Street with an outdoor patio. The site explains the name: blind tiger was the late 1800s term for an illicit drinking and gambling house.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
A King Street address with no King Street frontage. The bar's own site calls it a local dive bar, and its structured data gives the address as 354 Unit B King St. The local guide Exploring Charleston (8 November 2025) says it opened in 2006, sits down Burns Lane between Meeting Street and King Street, and is reached through a hidden entrance off King Street, with live music on weekends.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
Chico Feo was founded in 2013 and calls itself a permanent fixture of Folly Beach that is always evolving. The site carries a surf report next to the menu and a calendar of music. City Paper readers voted it Best Folly Beach Restaurant, Best Folly Beach Bar and Best Folly Beach Happy Hour in 2026, and it is the first taco answer from the beach on r/Charleston.
This is a music venue. It is loud when a show is on.
A West Ashley neighborhood bar that City Paper says has been operating in Avondale since 1952. In June 2026 the paper listed its blue plate specials at $9.95 ... country fried steak or pot roast with two sides and a soft drink or iced tea, weekdays 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
A Hampton Park neighborhood bar north of the Crosstown, away from the visitor streets. City Paper named it the 2026 Best of Charleston winner for Best Meal Value, and its Fig Lebowski burger ... whipped feta, bourbon onion fig jam and crispy prosciutto ... won the most creative category in the paper's 2026 Burger Throwdown. Owner Mike Tronoski told the paper the kitchen runs a different burger special every day.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
Planet Follywood says: 'Since 2004 we're a family owned island staple for good times, great food and southern hospitality.' Breakfast is served Friday to Sunday mornings, burgers and daily specials after that, with late night snacks and live music until 2am.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
Southern Roots says it works with local meats, produce and beers. It has live music, outdoor seating, a private room called The Edisto Room, and a locals night every Wednesday with half-priced prime brisket smash burgers.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
Tattooed Moose is known for Mike's Famous Duck Club, which the site says was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and for duck fat fries. City Paper readers voted it Best Fries in 2026. The kitchen runs late ... to midnight most nights and 1am on Friday and Saturday ... and the bar stays open to 2am.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
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.
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.
This is a music venue. It is loud when a show is on.
A bar and music room in an old ironworks on the upper peninsula. The venue says it is in the Ole Charleston Forge building and has served food, drink and live music since 2011, with the kitchen open until 1 a.m. every day. The Post and Courier's 2026 itinerary sends readers there for $5 pitchers of Miller High Life on a patio that faces the Ravenel Bridge, and City Paper (June 2026) points to the $13 disco fries and the $12 patty melt.
This is a music venue. It is loud when a show is on.
The Moose is known for the Duck Club ... duck confit, applewood smoked bacon, hickory smoked cheddar and garlic aioli on a Hawaiian roll ... and for a long craft beer list. Guy Fieri featured it, and the venue notes a 2024 return on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Its own site now lists two rooms, Park Circle and Johns Island, and the tourism office says it has been a local favorite since relocating to Park Circle.
Open late. Go earlier if you want a calmer room.
The same over 50 spots, sorted by the reasons people actually pick them.
Recommendations from real Charlestonians, always attributed to whoever wrote them.
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