Browse by Style: ◊ Fine Dining ◊ Casual Dining ◊ Tapas ◊ Bars & Grills ◊ Sports Bars ◊ Pubs & Taverns ◊ Lounges ◊ Dives ◊ Dance Clubs ◊ Live Music ◊ Sushi & Hibachi Browse by Area: Charleston Area ◊ Downtown Charleston ◊ West Ashley ◊ James Island ◊ Folly Beach ◊ Johns Island ◊ Kiawah Island ◊ Seabrook Island   Mt. Pleasant Area ◊ Mt. Pleasant ◊ Sullivan's Island ◊ Isle of Palms ◊ Shem Creek ◊ Daniel Island   North Charleston Area ◊ North Charleston ◊ Summerville

 

Downtown Charleston

Home > Charleston Area > Downtown Charleston

Restaurants & Bars Downtown Charleston

  Charleston, noted as the "All American City", is widely known for it's eclectic variety of restaurants, history, and diverse nightlife options.  From local seafood restaurants and prominent low country cuisine...to fine dining, tapas, and sushi bars, Charleston may just have it all!  Research, compare, and select your evening's agenda from one (or more) of the numerous restaurants, bars, and nightlife hot-spots that Charleston, SC has to offer.

  Even Charleston's sports bars, pubs and taverns have a reputation for splendid food, as well as happening nightlife!  After dinner, pop around from bar to lounge or, gather with friends, family, and co-workers at one of Charleston's dance clubs or live music nightclubs.  Don't worry about finding a bite to eat in Charleston either, there's always an economical happy hour or well prepared midnight snack, just around the corner!

  The city was founded as Charles Towne in 1670 and moved to its present location at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers. Charleston is often referred to as "The Holy City" because of the prominence of church steeples on the low-rise cityscape.  It is also home to the College of Charleston and The Citadel, two very respected institutions.  Oozing southern charm, like no other city in Dixie, Charleston has been recognized as the "best-mannered" city in the U.S!

   Sift through the downtown options below and find the optimal place to suite your mood, taste buds, and style!  Know before you go!

Charleston Restaurant, Bar, & Nightlife Directory

Charleston Area  39 Rue De Jean upscale casual  Coast Bar & Grill casual dining/seafood  Cypress fine dining/local/eclectic  Il Cortile Del Re fine dining/Roman/Tuscan  Magnolias fine dining/southern  McCrady's fine dining/eclectic  Mellow Mushroom casual dining/pizza/beer  Oak fine dining/steakhouse  Toast casual/art gallery/breakfast  Tommy Condon's casual/Irish pub  Tristan fine dining/local/innovative  Tsunami sushi/djs/hip  Bars/Pubs/Taverns  AC's Bar and Grill bar & grill/no frills  Big John's Tavern dive/f&b/billiards  Beer Works sports bar/tunes/billiards  King Street Grille sports bar/upscale/billiards  Mad River Bar & Grille 27 HD TV'S/pub fare/live music  Market Street Saloon "coyote ugly" of Charleston  Silver Dollar college/economical/live music Lounges/Clubs/Live Music  Club Light Dance Club/Night Club/DJ  Squeeze Martini Bar college/economical/live music  Torch Velvet Lounge college/economical/live music

  Charleston Bars and Restaurants are spread out throughout the Charleston peninsula.  Some of the restaurants and bars are strategically placed in groups which makes bar hopping very convenient to the food and drink connoisseur.

One has the historic Market Street area, King Street, Broad Street, and East Bay Street areas to Choose from.  Market Street which is a popular tourist destination offers an open aired shopping market between North and South market Streets selling everything from jewelry to Charleston nick knacks.

  The Market area is mainly between East Bay Street and King Street and is lined with some of Charleston's most prominent restaurants and bars.  One can choose from fine dining restaurants, casual dining restaurants, sports bars, specialty bars, French bistros, and seafood restaurants as well.
 
  Next...King Street has a plethora of shopping and nightlife in the Charleston, South Carolina area.  Upper King Street, which has just blossomed dramatically with in the last five years, is a hip spot to enjoy dining and nightlife in Charleston, SC.  Besides the normal hair salons, furniture stores and specialty shops, this part of King Street is now known for its restaurant and bar scene.  One can stroll down the Upper King Street area for lunch or dinner and find Tai restaurants, Tapas bars, fine dining restaurants, French bistros, sexy lounges, seafood restaurants and college bars with live music nightly in Charleston, SC.  Students attending College Of Charleston, Medical University Of South Carolina (MUSC ), Trident Technical College, and Carolina Southern University (CSU) should find this area's central location and crowd quite appealing!
 
  After King Street, the Broad Street part of downtown Charleston is also a great place to go for a quick lunch or a splendid evening of drinks and dining.  During the day Broad Street is filled with law offices and other government buildings as well as specialty shops and boutiques.  But...from happy hour on, one can find fine dining steakhouses, local pubs, wine shops and bistros with an array of food and beverages to choose from. 
 
  Last but not least...East Bay Street from Calhoun Street and up, offers quite a bit of dining and nightlife in Charleston.  You've got fine dining restaurants, dive bars, daiquiri bars, brew pubs, seafood restaurants, rooftop bars, and sushi restaurants galore.  East Bay Street in Charleston, SC is more of a locals hot spot...but tourists who enjoy good food and good times should explore this part of downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

Check out our Blog!