AC’s Bar and Grill

This old favorite has been around for 20+ years and draws a more hardcore crowd than back in the day.

39 Rue de Jean

The 30-and-over clientele looks beautiful at this “French bistro,” evening-out staple where the bartenders remember what you drink, the atmosphere is festive, and a limited menu is served until closing.

Big John’s Tavern

The least downtown feeling of all peninsular drink-easies, this old institution is really gritty, but the patrons (often Citadel cadets and grads) and graffiti are entertaining.

Blind Tiger

This busy pub by night has re-opened its kitchen in the last year and now serves a great casual lunch and dinner.

Blind Tiger:

38 Broad St.  577-0088. On weekdays, this old pub draws a mellow crowd of regulars who work in the area. On weekends, it is a free for all where twenty-fivish regulars, post-weddingites, seventy-somethings, and upwardly mobile down towners all gather for revelry. Voted Best Pick Up bar in Charleston.

Blossom:

171 East Bay St.  722-9200. A seafood restaurant with a Northern Italian spin serving lunch, brunch, and dinner and featuring a softly lit bar, and a spacious dining room with views of the open kitchen.  Gourmet pizzas and pasta are big sellers. Don’t miss the signature Bellini cocktail. Free, tended parking.  M–Sa 11:30am–3pm; Su brunch [...]

Chai’s

Serving up tapas, wine and jazz, this scene-thick, scenester-rich bar draws a 30-something crowd who come for the vibrant refreshment and refreshing vibes.

Charleston Grill & The Thoroughbred Club:

Charleston Place Hotel, 205 Meeting St. 722-4900. The two hotel bars of Charleston Place both offer live music nightly  in an elegant, quiet setting. Food is served until 11 in each, and the desserts and after-dinner drinks are also a draw. The Thoroughbred Club offers tea from 2 to 4. website

Club Habana:

177 Meeting St.  853-5900. This staid cigar bar serves great martinis and other libations in a refreshingly unpretentious manner and is a great spot for a drink before or after dinner. The thoughtful owners have taken care of everything, including the air—a state-of-the-art cleaning system removes any annoying smoke effluvia. Altogether, the good feeling is [...]

Club Pantheon:

28 Ann St.  577-2582. A raucous dance hall option that opens only on the tail end of the week (F–Su from 10pm until) and caters to folks who don’t mind long, beat-driven house music and lots of guy-on-guy dancing.  website

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