Updated at: 09-10-2023 - By: John Lau

Charleston, West Virginia is home to a vibrant bar scene with a variety of options to choose from.

Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a drink with your furry friend, celebrate a milestone anniversary, or experience the local haunts like a true Charlestonian, there’s something for everyone.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best bars in Charleston, including rooftop bars, wine bars, cocktail bars, and more.

So, whether you’re a local or just passing through, get ready to discover some of the best spots to grab a drink in Charleston, WV.

Top 14 Best Bars In Charleston Wv

The Empty Glass

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The Empty Glass is a local hangout in Charleston, West Virginia that features live music and open-mic nights in a casual setting with pub grub.

It is located under a three-story house at 410 Elizabeth Street in Charleston’s historically diverse East End. The bar is known for its live music, with performances seven days a week.

Legends have played there, and legends have been made there for decades. The Empty Glass is a popular spot for original music from both local and traveling bands.

The bar has a variety of music genres and is a great place to discover new sounds. The schedule of upcoming performances can be found on their website.

The Empty Glass Cafe is also known for its good food and beer selection. It is a nice place to relax and meet people. The bar has a health score and is known for its live music.

Bar 101

Bar 101 is a festive hangout located at 101 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301. It offers poke bowls and sandwiches by day and specialty martinis and dancing by night.

The bar menu includes wings, teriyaki pork nachos, and a variety of martinis such as Pamatini, Bubbly French, Exotique Tropical, Lemon Drop, Cosmo 101, and Appletini.

The bar also offers a drink called Meltini, which is made with mango vodka, passion fruit rum, pear vodka, and pineapple juice.

Bar 101 is open from Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am and on Friday and Saturday from 3:30 pm to 2:00 am.

It is known for its live music, downtown location, and date night atmosphere. The bar accepts credit cards.

Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille

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Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille is a restaurant and bar located in historic downtown Charleston, WV. It is an airy, bustling hangout featuring pub grub, Greek food, many TVs, a patio, and occasional live music.

The restaurant serves authentic American and International cuisine and is open every day of the year, including holidays. They have a full menu that includes pub grub, Greek food, sandwiches, salads, burgers, and more.

Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille is known for its late-night hours and is open until 3 am every day. The restaurant has a location at 218 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301-2206.

Copper Pint Irish Pub

Copper Pint Irish Pub is a bar located at 808 Kanawha Blvd E in Charleston, West Virginia. It is a small hole-in-the-wall bar that overlooks the river and is popular among local college students.

The bar has a whiskey Wednesday event. However, in February 2021, the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration suspended the bar’s license after receiving complaints of overcrowding and COVID-19 violations.

Red Carpet Lounge

The Red Carpet Lounge is a restaurant and lounge located at 308 Elizabeth St, Charleston, WV 25311. It is known for its fine dining and American cuisine.

The restaurant has a phone number of (304) 342-9977 and is located in the East End neighborhood of Charleston. The restaurant has a health score and takes reservations.

The Red Carpet Lounge has a website where customers can order food online.

Cantina 22

Cantina 22 is a bar and lounge located at 4102 MacCorkle Ave SE in Charleston, West Virginia. It is known for its dive bar atmosphere and has been a neighborhood favorite in Cabin Creek: CSX Way.

The bar accepts credit cards and has a menu, but specific details about the food and drink offerings are not available in the search results. The Cantina has been in business for 35 years and has a presence on Twitter.

Big Joe’s

Big Joe’s is a bar and grill located in Charleston, West Virginia. It was owned by Joe Guilfoile, who passed away in September 2022.

Guilfoile was a well-known figure in the Charleston community, having been a morning radio personality at V100 before owning Big Joe’s.

The restaurant is known for its menu, which includes items such as BBQ chicken and rodeo burgers. It also offers delivery. Despite Guilfoile’s passing, Big Joe’s remains open for business.

Vino’s Bar & Grill

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Vino’s Bar & Grill is a bar and restaurant located in Downtown Charleston, West Virginia.

– Location: Vino’s Bar & Grill is located at 812 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25301.

– Menu: Vino’s Bar & Grill has a full menu.

– Reviews: According to Tripadvisor, Vino’s Bar & Grill has great food, friendly staff, and is reasonably priced. Yelp has 13 reviews and 14 photos of the restaurant.

– Live Music: Vino’s Bar & Grill offers live music.

– Sports: Vino’s Bar & Grill is also a sports bar where you can watch your favorite sports.

– Social Media: Vino’s Bar & Grill has an Instagram account with 1078 followers and 154 posts.

Impulse Nightclub

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Impulse Nightclub is a nightclub located at 205 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301. It is West Virginia’s only Vegas-themed nightclub.

The owner of the nightclub voluntarily turned in the business’s liquor license in 2013. Charleston Mayor Danny Jones expressed his desire to shut down the nightclub in 2013.

Short Story Brewing

Short Story Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery that has a location in Rivesville, WV. They recently opened a new taproom in downtown Charleston, WV.

The taproom is located at 186 Summers St.  and is an eclectic craft beer taproom. The taproom is open from noon to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 4 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays.

Broadway

Broadway was a gay bar located at 210 Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston, West Virginia.

It was known for its lively nightclub atmosphere, drag shows, dancing, and strippers. However, it is now permanently closed.

The bar was located in a classic southern-style building. It was a popular spot for the LGBTQ+ community in Charleston.

Boulevard Tavern

The Boulevard Tavern is a music venue located at 806 Kanawha Blvd E in Charleston, West Virginia. It is known for its live music shows and small size.

The Boulevard Tavern used to accept credit cards. The venue also had a menu, which can be viewed online. The Boulevard Tavern was open seven days a week, starting at 4:00 pm.

The venue is closed as of the time of writing

Kita Modern Japanese

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Kita Modern Japanese is a Japanese restaurant located in Charleston, West Virginia. The restaurant offers a relaxed and sophisticated twist on the traditional Izakaya style of informal eating and drinking.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, with business hours from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The menu features Japanese cuisine, seafood, and sushi. Customers can order online for delivery or pickup.

The Bear’s Den

The Bear’s Den is a restaurant and bar located at 405 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301. It is situated in the lower level of the Historic Daniel Boone Hotel.

The restaurant serves salads and sandwiches. The Bear’s Den has a full menu and offers takeout and delivery services.

The restaurant is open for pickup and delivery from 11:00 am to 8:15 pm. Visitors can download a visitors guide to Charleston, WV.