The next time you’re in Charleston, use this list of my favorite happy hour spots to pause for a drink or snack between hitting the beach, dinner reservations, or watching a magnificent sunset on the harbor.
Bistronomy by Nico
Happy Hour Deals
Monday-Friday from 4-6 PM
$5 glasses of house wine, $4 house liquor, a $5 daily cocktail, $4 house beer, $15 proper champagne
Charleston has fallen in love with French Chef Nico, and while there is no need to put on a happy hour to get people through his restaurant doors, he does it anyway! If you aren’t feeling a full evening meal (although you should… it’s the best lobster tail in all of Charleston), you can hang out on the weekend with a cheap fancy cocktail and indulge in French brunch.
LoLa Seafood Kitchen
Happy Hour Deals
Tuesday-Friday from 4-6 PM
$4 mimosas, $7 and $8 cocktails
Discounted appetizers & oysters
With too many small plate specials to list, this dog-friendly patio is a great meet-up spot for some low-key authentic Lowcountry cooking. Meet some Park Circle locals and learn about how this food truck turned restaurant still throws the best Mardi Gras celebration in all of Charleston.
Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano
Happy Hour Deals
Monday-Friday from 4-7 PM
$2.75 margaritas and discounted beer and frozen drinks
A staple in the NoMo neighborhood long before it was trendy and full of breweries, Santi’s whimsical decor, authentic Mexican and bottomless chips and salsa has kept them a Charleston staple for nearly 2 decades. Check out their second location off Coleman in Mount Pleasant when driving to or from Sullivan’s Island.
Le Farfalle
Happy Hour Deals
Monday-Friday 5-7 PM
Cocktail of the Day $6, Draft Peroni $4, Negroni on Tap $7, Aperol Spritz $7
Select Wine for $7
Snacks and small bites from $5-$8
Nestled back on Beaufain Street and filled with string lights, an aperol spritz at this picturesque osteria may transport you to Italy or just convince you to stay for dinner. If you do, spring for the Squid Ink Spaghetti.
Shelter Kitchen & Bar
Happy Hour Deals
Monday- Friday 4-7 PM
$3 house wines and liquors, $2.50 domestic drafts
$3 Margarita Mondays with rotating taco specials
Burger and a Brew Tuesday
$9 mimosa carafes on Saturday and Sunday
Head over the bridge to Mt. Pleasant to this chill local hangout with great daily food and drink deals. Then head across the street to stroll along Shem Creek Park to watch the sunset.
Stella’s
Happy Hour Deals
Meze Ora (Monday-Friday 4-6 PM)
Discounted wine, cocktails and select small plates at the bar
With a bar that wraps through the center of the restaurant and old black & white films projected on the wall, the Stella’s aesthetic is one of the most underrated in downtown Charleston. Sit at the bar and order a carafe of red wine and some of Yia Yia’s fried potatoes. Stick with mezes or let the smell of roasted lamb convince you to stay for dinner on the back terrace.
Pink Cactus
Happy Hour Deals
“Tequila & Taco” happy hour ( Monday-Saturday 3-6 PM)
$5 margaritas, $4 tequila shots and mexican ashtrays, $3 Tecate
Snacks, tacos and chips and salsa ranging from $3-$5
This Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood joint isn’t far off upper King Street, but will feel different and a bit more relaxed. The digs are unassuming, the margaritas are spicy and fun, and the house made chips are fried to perfection. Pick up some fresh local produce next door at The Veggie Bin while you’re at it!
Indaco
Happy Hour Deals
Tuesday-Friday 5-7 PM
$6 cocktails, local beer and house glasses of wine
½ price bites including marinated olives, margherita pizza, prosciutto de parma, polpettes, flatbreads, and little gem salad.
This restaurant is an excellent option for a meal on upper King, but you can always stop off at the bar when in search for a quality Negroni or quick appetizers at a great price. Since happy hour is at the bar and first come first serve, make sure to get there early to beat the locals!
The Cocktail Club
Happy Hour Deals
Monday- Thursday 5-8 PM
Friday 5-7 PM
$5 select craft beer, $6 select red or white wine, $7 featured cocktail
Climb up the stairs, collapse into a leather sofa and let someone bring you a fancy featured cocktail. Although the Cocktail Club’s upper King Street location keeps things pretty crazy on the weekend, it is delightfully low-key for a post-work midweek drink before dinner, with specials running Monday through Friday.
Lewis BBQ
Happy Hour Deals
Monday- Friday 4-6 PM
$5 margaritas, ranchwaters, beer + a shot
$4 draft special, Pacifico, Shiner Bock, Michelada
$5 Lewis nachos, chips & queso, loaded fries
With the $5 nachos and fries both loaded with Lewis’s famous BBQ brisket and green chile queso, this is some serious bang for your buck. Order at the bar but sit outside under the old oak tree covered in lights and often surrounded by live music. If the bites and margs aren’t enough for you, stand in line for a full brisket platter, just leave room for the amazing banana pudding!
O-ku
Happy Hour Deals
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5-7 PM
Half-price select Makimono (rolled sushi) rolls and $3 off select cocktails
This is the Charleston happy hour you make reservations in advance for and actually eat a whole meal. O-ku is a flagship stop in Charleston for some of the best sushi (especially the salmon & lemon roll), so why not enjoy it for half price? Their cocktail selection stays fun and fresh too.
Edmund’s Oast Restaurant
Happy Hour Deals
Monday-Friday 5-6:30 PM
$4 beers, $6 wine and discount cocktails
Indoor bar & outdoor patio
Edmund’s Oast recently revamped their indoor bar and patio’s happy hour and their outdoor patio (The Bower) remains one of the locals’ favorite spots in all of Charleston to meet up for a drink as it is dog-friendly and central to basically all of the city.
Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.
Happy Hour Deals
Power Hour from 4-5 PM every day of the week
Half of all dine-in food and drinks, including pitchers.
I would venture to say that Power Hour at Edmund’s Oast Brewing is a city-wide holiday at this point. I mean… half price EVERYTHING seven days a week…it just can’t be beat. They even used to sell their merch for half price until they found out people were buying their clothing items and marking them up on ebay (seriously folks?! Way to ruin a good thing for everyone). Plus, the outdoor green space makes for the perfect place to lounge around with a big group of friends or let the kids play while mom and dad partake in a pitcher or pizza!
