Drinking Games
A bar for everyone
BY KRISTINE GOODRICH AND LAURA HETTRICK
Charleston is notorious not just for its growing variety of restaurants but also its nightlife options. Whatever scene you prefer, the streets of downtown have a bar suited for you.
Room With A View: Stars Restaurant
One of the best rooftop bars in Charleston, Stars offers sweeping views of the city and an escape from the hustle and bustle of King Street below. Relatively new to the area, Stars is a perfect place to enjoy happy hour. Drinking a cocktail here while watching the sunset will leave you without a care in the world.
For the poolshark in Jeans: AC’s Bar & Grill
Looking for a relaxed setting where you can drink a beer, play some pool and enjoy some tasty bar food? Then AC’s is the place to be. From the outside, the dark space may not be too enticing, but it is the welcoming, lived-in atmosphere inside the door that makes it worth visiting. AC’s is your typical “no frills” bar with $2.50 beers of the month and an abundance of cocktails. Jam out to some old records and enjoy the relaxed environment.
For the Daisy Dukes: Market Street Saloon
Charleston’s own Coyote Ugly. Order a drink from Charleston’s sexiest, boot-stomping bartenders or dance the night away on top of the two-tiered dance floor. Feeling brave? Hop right on top of the bar and shake what your mamma gave you. Market Street Saloon is full of fun for everyone, making it the perfect spot for birthdays and parties. Take the edge off and get a little rowdy at this North Market Street hot spot.
Tapas on the Dance Floor: Mercury Bar
One of Charleston’s newest additions is a tapas bar by day and club by night. If you love to dance, this is the place for you. The front bar sports stylish leather booths for lounging while the patio bar has plenty of space to wander and enjoy the fresh Charleston night air. Have a local beer on tap and dance to the DJ of the night.
Holy Rollers: Mad River
This bar and grill was once a church and holds that same theme to this day. From the outside you can see the old church’s steeple as well as some stained glass. On the inside, old pews have been transformed into booths. On Thursday nights, get the chance to win a VIP night, which includes free drinks and $2 drinks for friends. You may not be forgiven for your sins here anymore, but you will be able to forget them.
Forever 21: Burns Alley Neighborhood Bar
It may be difficult to find this tucked-away bar, but it is a must—only if you’re actually 21. The rafters above the bar have hundreds of fake I.D.s. The bar has arcade games and Skee-ball, and during UNC Chapel Hill basketball games, it's packed with fans, including the owner, who's a Tar Heel. You can even have some of the Tar Heel state’s own beers like Sky Blue.
Strike While It's Hot: The Alley
The one thing downtown Charleston was missing for years was a bowling alley. Now that The Alley has opened, two favorite pastimes have been combined: bowling and drinking. When you walk into The Alley, you feel as if you have just stepped into an giant warehouse. It has tall ceilings and an enormous bar. While you wait for a lane behind the bar, you can shoot some hoops or play air hockey and enjoy a drink.