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Dinner with a View: Rooftop Dining in Charleston

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Charleston is known for her spectacular skyline. From the diamond spans of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River to sunsets on the water to church steeples dotting the horizon, this city is postcard worthy. To get a bird’s eye view of these breathtaking views, we’ve selected our top picks for outdoor dining/drinks so you can enjoy two of Charleston’s best features – her good looks and her good food.

Charleston Crab House:

The downtown location of this Lowcountry staple serves up fresh local seafood with a view of the Charleston Market below. The nighttime lights make this a perfect dinner choice with the hustle and bustle of the city right beneath you. 41 S. Market St., Charleston | charlestoncrabhouse.com

Pavilion Bar:

Reserve a private table at this rooftop bar and soak in the views of the Charleston harbor and cityscape while enjoying dinner and drinks. The food will not disappoint and neither will this view. Located at the top of the Market Pavilion Hotel. 225 East Bay St., Charleston | marketpavilion.com

The Rooftop at Vendue Inn

 

Rooftop Cocktail Bar at the Vendue Inn:

Serving up cocktails and views of the Charleston harbor, this sky-high dining destination is near Waterfront Park. Take in the great glimpses of the water, Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River and historic Fort Sumter. Open daily for lunch and dinner with special weekday pricing on select beers and cocktails and shared plates. 19 Vendue Range, Charleston | vendueinn.com/rooftop-bar

Stars Rooftop & Grill Room:

Grab a seat on the recycled wicker furniture and order up a cocktail, artisan wine or craft beer and take in the 360-degree view of downtown Charleston. This hotspot is especially popular with the locals for late-night cocktails and dancing. 495 King St., Charleston | starsrestaurant.com

The Watch:

Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits: Perched atop the Restoration Hotel, The Watch has one of the most sought after views in downtown Charleston. A carefully selected small bites and entree menu offers options for every palette, and the extensive drink menu is an excellent bonus. Visit right before sunset for an Instagram-worthy selfie plus happy hour specials. 79 Wentworth St., Charleston | therestorationhotel.com/the-watch

Burwell’s Stonefire Grill:

This award-winning steak and seafood restaurant offers a modern outdoor scene, lined with lights and an exquisite view of downtown Charleston. The seafood is always fresh and the beef is always prime. Head to the rooftop patio bar for happy hour each day from 4-7 p.m.  14 North Market St., Charleston | burwellscharleston.com

Pour Taproom, Charleston, SC
Pour Taproom

Pour Taproom:

The simplest way to have a drink with a view is by visiting the highest rooftop bar in Charleston. At Pour Taproom, you serve yourself and pay by the ounce instead of the glass, giving you the freedom to sample as many beers or wines as you’d like. You’ll love the panoramic Charleston views. 560 King St., Charleston | https://www.pourtaproomcharleston.com/

The Citrus Club:

Located on the Dewberry’s 8th floor terrace, The Citrus Club, features a chic rooftop bar with amazing (river to river) views of Charleston. They serve well-curated small plates and fanciful cocktails to adults only (21-and-up). You don’t have to be a guest of  at The Dewberry Hotel to access it, but you will need to check in with the concierge by the elevator to receive a temporary keycard granting you access to the sky. Here you will find a civilized, not rowdy crowd. Check the website for dress code. 334 Meeting St 8th floor, Charleston | https://www.thedewberrycharleston.com/drinks-dining

Uptown Social:

This hotspot is popular with the younger crowd. While there is not much of a view, come for the greenery of the rooftop space and its fabulous mural. You’ll enjoy amazing menu of bar food and drinks. Late nights at Uptown Social are packed wall to wall on the rooftop and dance floor. It’s also perfect for a long Sunday afternoon’s socializing and watching the games. 587 King St., Charleston | uptownsocialchs.com

Henry’s:

The cozy seating on the rooftop deck offers the feel of sitting on southern porch complete with your favorite cocktail and live music. Henry’s is the perfect downtown dinner destination or late-night stop after an evening exploring Charleston. 54 North Market St., Charleston | henryshousecharleston.com

SpiritLine Dinner Cruise

SpiritLine Cruises:

For true waterfront dining, book a dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina. As you dine on a multi-course dinner, take in the views of the Charleston harbor at sunset plus live music and a full-service bar.

Saltwater Cowboys:

Fresh local seafood and smoked barbecue with views of Shem Creek make this a great spot for lunch, happy hour or event Sunday brunch. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Monday to Friday. 130 Mill St., Mount Pleasant | saltwater-cowboys.com

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

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