{"id":3148,"date":"2024-09-19T13:04:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T18:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doubleblacktransportation.com\/charleston\/?p=3148"},"modified":"2026-03-09T00:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T05:24:13","slug":"party-bus-charlestons-best-bars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doubleblacktransportation.com\/charleston\/party-bus-charlestons-best-bars\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plan a Party Bus Crawl Through Charleston\u2019s Best Bars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s no secret that Charleston has one of the most vibrant bar scenes in the country. It is made up of  waterside taverns, live music joints, rooftop bars, breweries, nightclubs, packed college bars and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With so many options available for us locals, it can be even more challenging if you’re just visiting for the weekend. You don\u2019t want to miss out on the spots that match your group\u2019s vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to see all of that Charleston has to offer is by booking a party bus and using it to crawl through the Lowcountry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this Charleston party bus<\/a> crawl guide we will provide a couple of types of drinking establishment options for each timeframe, that way you can decide what is best for your group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please feel free to mix and match as much as you want! Or you can even separate the crawl into multiple days, that way you can see as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, let\u2019s go over your preferred method of transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Charleston<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Charleston Party Bus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is simply no better way to explore Charleston than on a party bus. Surround sound speakers and LED lighting that changes to the beat creates a party on wheels. While wraparound seating and built-in coolers provide a comfortable environment for all of your guests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ample storage room allows you to leave your belongings on board as you criss cross through the Lowcountry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many of Charleston’s popular drinking spots are on the Peninsula, don’t make the mistake of thinking Downtown is all Charleston has to offer. In particular, a lot of the best daytime spots are in Shem Creek and North Charleston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Charleston<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daytime Drinking\/Lunch Spots in Charleston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t drink all day if you don\u2019t start early, and Charleston\u2019s beautiful weather provides the perfect backdrop for daytime drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your two best options will be to go down by the water in Shem Creek or hit one of North Charleston\u2019s large breweries with outdoor patios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shem Creek Bars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shem Creek is a district in Mt. Pleasant, which is home to several waterfront drinking and dining establishments. The liveliest bars in Shem Creek are also lunch spots, making it a perfect place to start your Charleston bar crawl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most popular Shem Creek spot is Saltwater Cowboys, where they serve BBQ and seafood with a great view of Charleston Harbor. It doesn\u2019t take reservations and fills up quickly, so we recommend heading there right at 11:00 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other great spots include Red\u2019s Ice House, Vickery\u2019s Bar and Grill, and Coleman Public House. A boardwalk connects all of these spots, making it an ideal daytime activity for 3 to 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Shem<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Charleston Breweries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are breweries all over the Charleston area, but the biggest and funnest are in North Charleston where the land is cheaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holy City is one of our favorites because of its large outdoor area, with a capacity of 300 customers. It also has 30 beers on tap and great food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other honorable mentions include Palmetto Brewery (Charleston\u2019s oldest), Edmund\u2019s Oast (best food) and Bay Street Biergarten (german beer hall with live music). For a more in-depth analysis, check out our guide to the best breweries in Charleston<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Charleston<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Evening Drinks and Happy Hour Spots in Charleston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Golden hour is a special time of day in Charleston and you\u2019re going to want to celebrate it properly on your party bus bar crawl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you started off in Shem Creek, you can head over to a brewery for dinner or vice versa, and enjoy the sunset views on the Harbor (though the sun will be in the opposite direction).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or if you skipped one of those options on purpose, we recommend hitting one of Charleston\u2019s rooftop bars!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charleston’s Best Rooftop Bars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Who doesn\u2019t love a good rooftop bar? Classy cocktails, delicious light bites and a beautiful view, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, Charleston has a handful of great rooftop bars, ranging from fancy to casual and almost everything in between. Here are our favorite ones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fiat Lux –<\/strong> A swaggy spot on top of Hotel Bennett. This is the highest rooftop bar in the city and has the price tags that come along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vendue –<\/strong> Offers a nice mix of sandwiches, craft cocktails and good vibes. Overall nice spot without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revelry Brewing –<\/strong> As the only brewery with a rooftop bar, this is likely the most affordable rooftop in the city. However, being only two stories up, the view isn\u2019t particularly remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fiat<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nighttime Party Bus Ride<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once Golden Hour is over and you\u2019ve grabbed some light bites, this is a great time to enjoy the party bus. We often recommend using it to take everyone home so they can change and get ready for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you decide to change or not, it is fun to ride on the bus from around 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, because the city enters a lull before the night festivities begin. You can use this time to drive through Rainbow Row or check out The Battery before dropping you off at your nighttime destination.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late-Night Bars and Party Spots in Charleston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Charleston has a plethora of nighttime options. We sort them into 3 main categories: live music joints, packed bars and nightclubs. We\u2019ll break them down now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Henry's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Live music joints in Charleston<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Charleston has a ton of great live music. Where you decide to see it depends on your taste, it is easy to find country, rock and jazz every weekend in the Lowcountry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocktail Club –<\/strong> Look no further for rock music, delicious drinks and a lively scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry\u2019s –<\/strong> The oldest continuous restaurant in all of South Carolina, Henry\u2019s is an icon filled with live music at the bar, a large porch and fun rooftop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honorable mentions include Prohibition, Forte Jazz Lounge and the Charleston Pour House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Packed Bars in Charleston<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes all you need is a lively atmosphere and fellow binge drinkers to have a good time. If that\u2019s the case, here are our favorite options in Charleston:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uptown Social –<\/strong> Charleston\u2019s most popular bar is guaranteed to be packed with tons of young people and blasting music. Try to get there before 10:30 pm to avoid the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ritual – <\/strong>An elegant rooftop with good drinks and a large outdoor terrace to enjoy warm Southern nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Nightclubs in Charleston<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you interested in skipping the line and popping bottles at your own table? If so, here are our recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republic –<\/strong> Charleston\u2019s most famous nightclub (it\u2019s the setting for Bravo\u2019s Southern Hospitality), they\u2019ve got tons of table options and a nice outdoor patio to cool off in between sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trio –<\/strong> The best place to see A-list DJs in the Lowcountry. You can go GA if you\u2019re early or cut the line with a VIP table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Charleston Party Bus Crawl Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Charleston is an incredible city for a bar crawl, offering a diverse mix of venues beyond just Downtown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re enjoying the waterfront spots in Shem Creek, relaxing at a brewery in North Charleston, or hitting the nightlife on the Peninsula, there’s something for every group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 A Charleston party bus<\/a> gives you the flexibility to experience it all without missing out on any of the best spots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, plan your route, mix and match your favorites, and enjoy everything Charleston\u2019s vibrant bar scene has to offer!<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that Charleston has one of the most vibrant bar scenes in the country. It is made up of  waterside taverns, live music joints, rooftop bars, breweries, nightclubs, packed college bars and more. With so many options available for us locals, it can be even more challenging if you’re just visiting for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"disabled","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"disabled","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guides-and-tours"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"320w":false,"480w":false,"800w":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Case Renor","author_link":"https:\/\/www.doubleblacktransportation.com\/charleston\/author\/case\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"It\u2019s no secret that Charleston has one of the most vibrant bar scenes in the country. It is made up of  waterside taverns, live music joints, rooftop bars, breweries, nightclubs, packed college bars and more. 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