Best Bars In Mount Pleasant SC Updated 04/2026

If you’ve never spent a golden afternoon watching dolphins glide past while nursing a cold beer on the banks of Shem Creek, you’re missing out on one of the South’s most underrated drinking experiences. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina sits just across the Cooper River from historic Charleston, and while its big-city neighbor gets most of the nightlife headlines, Mt. Pleasant has quietly built a bar scene that holds its own on every front: waterfront dive bars, craft beer pubs, self-serve wine caves, speakeasy-style cocktail lounges, and entertainment bars where bowling and axe throwing come with a full cocktail menu.

This guide covers the best bars in Mount Pleasant SC from every angle — the sun-soaked waterfront spots, the cozy craft-beer havens, the elegant wine bars, and the high-energy entertainment venues — so you always know exactly where to go and what to order when you’re in the Lowcountry.

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Why Mount Pleasant Has Become a Serious Bar Destination

Mount Pleasant is no longer just a bedroom community for Charleston professionals. Shem Creek is one of South Carolina’s premier waterfront destinations, offering breathtaking coastal views, explorable boardwalks, creekside restaurants with fresh seafood, and a laid-back atmosphere that exemplifies the Mount Pleasant experience. The town has grown dramatically in recent decades, and its food and drink culture has grown with it.

Nestled just across the Cooper River from Charleston, Mount Pleasant is a vibrant town that perfectly blends Southern charm with a lively bar scene. Whether you’re winding down after a day of exploring the picturesque waterfront or gearing up for a night out, this area boasts a variety of bars that cater to every taste — from cozy neighborhood pubs to trendy rooftop lounges.

The bar scene breaks down into a few distinct zones. Shem Creek is the undisputed hub of outdoor waterfront drinking, with several bars clustered along the boardwalk offering harbor views, live music, and cold drinks almost every day of the week. Coleman Boulevard is the neighborhood craft-beer corridor, anchored by longtime locals like Coleman Public House and Art’s Bar & Grill. Then there are the hidden gems scattered around Seaside Farms and the broader I’On corridor — wine bars, cocktail lounges, and entertainment venues that reward explorers willing to look past the obvious.

The Shem Creek Waterfront Bar Scene

If you’re visiting Mount Pleasant for the first time and you only have one afternoon, Shem Creek is where you go. The boardwalk runs 2,200 feet from Coleman Boulevard to the mouth of the creek, where you can catch views of shrimp and crab boats, dolphins, and even Fort Sumter on a clear day — the perfect pairing for a day of bar hopping and sightseeing.

Red’s Ice House: The Quintessential Shem Creek Cold Beer Stop

Red’s Ice House is probably the bar that most people picture when they think of drinking on Shem Creek. Located on historic Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, Red’s is the perfect spot for taking in Lowcountry wildlife and scenic Charleston sunsets in a friendly, laid-back setting. Think of it as a honky-tonk seafood shack perched directly over the water — bar stools up against the railing, boats sliding past, pelicans posing like they own the dock.

Happy hour at Red’s runs Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the bar areas only, featuring $5 beers, wines, and Firefly Vodka Cocktails, as well as $5 bites including Fried Calamari, Jalapeño Caps, and Fried Pickles. The Monday night all-you-can-eat snow crab special for around $29 has become legendary — expect serious waits and zero regrets. The upper deck is the prime real estate here: cold beers, great beer specials, and an unobstructed view of dolphins working the creek.

Best order: A bucket of cold domestics or the signature Voodoo Juice, paired with the blackened grouper sandwich or the lobster mac and cheese.

Address: 98 Church Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Vickery’s Bar & Grill: Three Bars, One Iconic Waterfront Experience

Established in 1999, Vickery’s is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. With wide open views of Shem Creek and the Charleston Harbor, Vickery’s is the Lowcountry’s quintessential waterfront dining experience, offering a shaded outdoor deck, floor-to-ceiling glass windows for indoor dining, and outdoor picnic tables and seating along the marsh and dockside.

What makes Vickery’s special is that it’s actually three bars in one. If you’re looking for a cold beer, you can visit the main bar upstairs or the two outdoor bars — Muddy’s Dock Bar and the Shark Fin. During the warmer seasons, Vickery’s offers live music at Muddy’s with fun drink specials. Muddy’s Dock Bar is the full-on waterfront experience: dogs are welcome on leash, the patio is open air, and the sunsets over the harbor are genuinely spectacular. The Shark Fin Bar is a smaller, more intimate outdoor option that opens Wednesday through Sunday.

Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the main bar and both outdoor bars. The drink menu is loaded with Cuban-inspired cocktails — Vickery’s has a Latin-Southern menu that brings its own personality to the creek. Try the Raspberry Espresso Martini or the Pecan Pie Martini if you want to drink something that feels distinctly Lowcountry.

Best order: The specialty cocktails are the stars here, but the she-crab soup and fried green tomato tower pair brilliantly with a cold glass of white wine.

Address: 1313 Shrimp Boat Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Saltwater Cowboys: Live Music, Frozen Drinks, and BBQ on the Water

Since 2017, Saltwater Cowboys has been Mount Pleasant’s go-to waterfront restaurant on historic Shem Creek, known for seafood, slow-smoked BBQ, cold cocktails, and unforgettable sunset views. If Red’s is the no-frills cold-beer-and-raw-bar option, Saltwater Cowboys is the place where the day-drinking energy gets cranked up with live music and a party vibe.

If it was a rough week and a cocktail is the first thing on your mind, head over to Saltwater Cowboys. Mingle with locals on their waterfront deck while listening to live music and enjoy one (or a few) of their many famous cocktails. The frozen coffee drink — a spiked frozen coffee concoction — has developed a serious cult following among regulars. Special events happen nearly every day, which means there’s almost always a reason to stop in.

Local craft beers brewed in Charleston are on tap here, giving it a distinctly Lowcountry flavor even in the beer selection. The BBQ-meets-seafood menu is genuinely good, and the sunset views over the marsh rival anything you’ll find in the broader Charleston area.

Best order: The frozen spiked coffee drink, or any of their rotating frozen cocktail specials. Pair with the smoked brisket or fresh-catch oysters.

Address: 1337 Shrimp Boat Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Tavern & Table: The Elevated Shem Creek Experience

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If Saltwater Cowboys is the party, Tavern & Table is the sophisticated older sibling at the same address. At Tavern & Table, there is both a beautiful indoor bar and a scenic waterfront bar on historic Shem Creek. Both bars serve classic cocktails and housemade barrel-aged cocktails, alongside expertly selected wines, seasonal craft beers, and standards by the bottle.

The barrel-aged cocktail program is genuinely impressive and separates Tavern & Table from every other bar on the creek. Cocktails like barrel-aged Negronis and Old Fashioneds arrive with depth and complexity that you don’t typically expect from a casual waterfront spot. Happy hour runs weekdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the bar only, with select specials that change throughout the year.

Tavern & Table has half-off appetizers and wine specials during their happy hour, and they have one of the best happy hours on the creek for the quality-to-price ratio. The dockside area is perfect for casual cocktails and small plates if you want something more intimate than the main bar. The lighthouse out front is also your landmark — you’ll spot it from the boardwalk.

Best order: A barrel-aged cocktail alongside the cheese and meat board, or start with the flatbread pizza if you’re planning a longer evening.

Address: 1407 Shrimp Boat Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Sunsets Waterfront Dining: Exactly What the Name Promises

Sunsets is nestled along Shem Creek’s quaint yet vibrant waterfront. Guests are welcome to join by land or dock it and kick back with seafood baskets and craft cocktails. This is a newer entrant on the Shem Creek scene, but it has quickly won over locals with its combination of solid coastal food, creative cocktails, and one of the best sushi programs on the creek. The Nikkei Burrito and Mango Roll have become crowd favorites. Arrive by boat if you can — the dockside approach to this place is the move.

Address: 97 Ronnie Boals Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

The Craft Beer Scene: Mount Pleasant’s Neighborhood Pubs

Coleman Public House: The Undisputed Craft Beer King of Mount Pleasant

Ask any serious beer drinker in the Charleston area where to go in Mount Pleasant, and Coleman Public House comes up immediately. Since 2010, this neighborhood spot has been serving upscale-casual cuisine and an ever-changing selection of the finest ales from the region and beyond.

Coleman Public House is an award-winning pub and beer bar featuring a wide selection of constantly rotating taps and upscale-casual cuisine. The tap list — 16 rotating taps featuring lunch, dinner, and brunch service six days a week alongside a wide array of cocktails and wine — leans heavily toward quality craft selections. Past tap lists have included brews from Westbrook, Stone, Victory, North Coast, and Rodenbach alongside Belgian imports and local Lowcountry favorites.

The ratio of craft beers versus macros at Coleman is definitely in craft’s favor, and the service staff are genuinely knowledgeable about the beer program. The food punches well above the typical pub-grub category: the shrimp and grits are routinely cited as some of the best in the Charleston area, the Wagyu smash burger is legitimately great, and the smoked gouda mac and cheese earned Coleman a “Coma-Inducing Skillet of Cheesy Goodness” award from Charleston City Paper. The truffle fries are a must with any beer order.

The vibe is relaxed and unpretentious. Park your vehicle and walk inside to a very clean and inviting atmosphere of comfortable seating and a great bar, with a large selection of ever-changing draft craft beers alongside an incredible menu. Outdoor seating is available, and the space is family-friendly. Monday is the only closed day.

Best order: Order a beer flight with four of the day’s rotating taps, then pivot to the shrimp and grits or a burger.

Address: 427 W. Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 11:30 AM–10:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 11:30 AM–11:00 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM–10:00 PM

Art’s Bar & Grill: 20-Plus Years of Local Love

Art’s Bar & Grill on Coleman Boulevard is one of those places where the regulars know each other by name and the bartenders know your order before you sit down. Art’s has been voted Best Bar in Mount Pleasant by readers of Mount Pleasant Magazine — an honor the bar has earned by serving awesome local food and genuine Southern hospitality for 20 years and counting.

The oyster program is what Art’s is particularly famous for. If you love oysters, Art’s is the place in town — oyster roasts happen every weekend during the season, with Bull’s Bay Clusters sourced exclusively from local purveyors at $19.99 per bucket. That combination of dirt-cheap local oysters and cold beer on a weekend afternoon is one of the most authentically Mount Pleasant experiences you can have. Don’t come expecting craft cocktails; come expecting honest, cold drinks and the kind of relaxed Southern hospitality that makes you want to stay for hours.

Address: 413 Coleman Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Burns Alley Tavern: The Beloved Dive Bar

Every great bar scene has its anchor dive bar, and in Mount Pleasant, that’s Burns Alley Tavern. Burns Alley Tavern is a dive bar offering live music, karaoke, a pool table, a jukebox, and various games — open seven days a week starting at noon. It’s consistently ranked among the top bars in Mount Pleasant on Yelp precisely because it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: a great neighborhood bar where people genuinely enjoy themselves.

The owner is frequently on-site and clearly invested in making the place work. Happy hour is a genuine value here, and the combination of live music nights, karaoke, and pool makes it one of the more entertaining bars in town beyond just the drinks. This is the bar you end up at when you want the evening to turn into a night.

The Wine Scene: Elevated Options for the Discerning Sipper

Ardoa Wine Bar: France Comes to Mount Pleasant

Ardoa Wine Bar in Seaside Farms is one of the most genuinely unique wine experiences in the entire Charleston area. Ardoa offers an eclectic selection that extends to craft beers and sparkling beverages, but at its core it is a wine-focused bar with innovative self-serve wine dispensers that let you sample premium wines by the glass, discovering hidden gems and renowned labels at your own pace.

Inspired by the quintessential French culinary tradition, Ardoa Wine Bar presents a splendid array of cheeses, charcuterie, paté, foie gras, rillettes, and desserts, each perfectly paired to complement its fine wines. The French-born owners bring genuine expertise and passion to the curation process. Clément, the co-owner, has become something of a local legend for his warmth, his encyclopedic wine knowledge, and his willingness to guide first-timers through the self-pour system with the patience of a true wine educator.

The self-serve wine dispensers give customers the opportunity to sample different wines ranging in price, taste, color, and origin — whether a beginner or connoisseur, everyone can have a new wine experience at Ardoa Wine Bar. The format is brilliant for people who want to explore: load a card, pour a taste-sized sample at one of several price points, try something you’ve never heard of, and move on to the next bottle. Wednesday features half-price cheeses, making it the best value night of the week.

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Best order: Load up a card and work your way through three to four different taste pours across different varietals. Ask Clément for his recommendation of the week, and always order the charcuterie board.

Address: 1960 Riviera Drive, Suite D, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 4:00 PM–10:00 PM, Friday–Saturday 4:00 PM–11:00 PM

Saint Urban’s Wine Bar: European Elegance in I’On Square

For a more traditional European wine bar experience, Saint Urban’s in the charming I’On Square neighborhood delivers. With its curated wine list and perfectly paired charcuterie and cheeses, Saint Urban’s is a cozy, European-inspired wine bar tucked into Mount Pleasant’s charming I’On Square. The setting is intimate and refined — the kind of place that feels appropriate for a first date, a quiet anniversary, or simply a solo glass and a good book on a weekday evening. The wine program leans Old World and focuses on food-friendly pours that reward slow sipping.

The Entertainment Bar: Where Drinking Gets Competitive

MIX: Duckpin Bowling, Axe Throwing, and Craft Cocktails Under One Roof

MIX opened in October 2023 on Coleman Boulevard and immediately filled a gap that Mount Pleasant didn’t even know it had. MIX is a new “eatertainment” venue offering duckpin bowling, axe throwing, street curling, darts, and much more alongside a full craft cocktail program.

Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, featuring $2 off drafts, $4 wells, $5 frozen drinks, 50% off wine, $1 wings, and $5 cheese pizza. That happy hour deal is genuinely excellent — it stacks entertainment with serious drink discounts in a way that makes an early-evening visit feel like an event in itself. Monday nights bring BOGO bowling from 7:00 PM to close, $5 Tuesdays offer $5 bowling, $5 arcade time, and $5 axe throwing, and ReMIX Sundays feature $7 Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and Frosé.

MIX features a large bar area, duckpin bowling lanes, axe throwing bays, darts, arcade-style games, and high-top tables where guests can enjoy the tasty menu items on offer. The venue becomes a 21+ experience after 7:00 PM every night. The private speakeasy lounge space is available for buyouts and events. Flatbreads and wings are the go-to food order, and the signature cocktail list is more thoughtful than you’d expect from an entertainment venue.

MIX is conveniently located at 730 Coleman Boulevard — just 10 minutes from Downtown Charleston, 3 minutes from Shem Creek, and 5 minutes from Sullivan’s Island.

Best order: Book a duckpin lane, order a frozen cocktail, and add a flatbread. The $5 Tuesday deal is one of the best value nights out in all of Mount Pleasant.

Address: 730 Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Hours: Monday–Thursday 3:00 PM–10:00 PM, Friday 3:00 PM–11:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM–11:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM–9:00 PM

Worth the Drive Across the Bridge: A Notable Honorable Mention

Scotty Doesn’t Know Speakeasy: Charleston’s Best-Kept Secret (Minutes Away)

Technically located in downtown Charleston rather than Mount Pleasant proper, Scotty Doesn’t Know Speakeasy appears on virtually every “best bars near Mount Pleasant” list for a good reason: it’s extraordinary, and it’s a short drive over the Ravenel Bridge.

Scotty Doesn’t Know Speakeasy offers a blend of classic and modern cocktails in an authentic Prohibition-era setting, with friendly, knowledgeable, and flexible staff. Once inside, guests are transported to the past with its dark ambiance and vintage furniture, while live music adds to the atmosphere.

The speakeasy is hidden behind the Charleston Custard and Candy Shop on East Bay Street. Upon entering the colorful custard shop, head to the back door, where a doorbell is hidden behind the drink fridge. Ring the bell to kick off your evening of cocktails, wine, and bites in the relaxing hideaway.

The menu at Scotty Doesn’t Know features unique, high-quality cocktails, wine, and champagne. For something refreshing and creative, order the Flowers Cocktail (Tanqueray gin, strawberry-infused Aperol, egg white, lemon, simple syrup). The speakeasy also offers small bites including a macaron board, cheese board, cashews, and olives. Reservations are strongly recommended via Resy, especially on weekends.

Address: 247 E. Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401

A Quick Comparison: Choosing the Right Mount Pleasant Bar for Your Night

Practical Tips for Drinking in Mount Pleasant

Getting to Shem Creek: Shem Creek has limited parking — only about 35 spots in the lot near Shem Creek Park. Consider rideshare or a designated driver, especially on busy weekend afternoons. The boardwalk is easily walkable once you’re there, which means you can bar hop between Red’s, Vickery’s, Saltwater Cowboys, and Tavern & Table on foot.

Best Season: The best time to visit Shem Creek is on a sunny Saturday between March and October. The waterfront patios come alive with energy, live music, and day drinkers enjoying the breeze.

Dolphin Spotting: Stand on the boardwalk between Saltwater Cowboys and Tavern & Table in the early afternoon for your best shot at spotting dolphins in the creek. This is not a joke — dolphin sightings are genuinely common and they tend to show up right when you’ve got a cold beer in hand, which is obviously perfect.

Happy Hour Strategy: The best back-to-back happy hour move in Mount Pleasant is Tavern & Table from 4:00–6:00 PM (upscale cocktails, wine specials, half-off apps), then walking to Red’s Ice House to continue from 4:00–7:00 PM (cold beers, $5 bites). Two bars, one golden hour, zero wasted daylight.

For Wine Lovers: Ardoa Wine Bar in Seaside Farms is a completely different experience from anything on Shem Creek. Visit on a Tuesday through Thursday when it’s quieter, load up a card at the self-serve dispensers, and let Clément guide you through something French and unexpected.

For Group Events: MIX takes reservations for groups and private buyouts at least 48 hours in advance. Their event packages for axe throwing, bowling, and private bar service are some of the most competitively priced group entertainment in the Charleston area.

The Lowcountry’s Best Bar Town No One Is Talking About Enough

There’s a reason locals in Mount Pleasant tend to smile a little when visitors head straight to downtown Charleston for their nightlife. The truth is that the bar scene over here — waterfront and inland, dive and refined, craft-focused and wine-forward — is deep enough to keep you busy for a week without repeating yourself. Whether you’re parking yourself at a bar stool over the water at Red’s, discovering something extraordinary from an old-world producer at Ardoa, or throwing axes between rounds of duckpin bowling at MIX, Mount Pleasant delivers drinking experiences that go well beyond what its suburban reputation suggests.

The creek doesn’t lie. Show up, sit outside, and order something cold. The Lowcountry will do the rest.

Sources: https://chesbrewco.com
Category: Drink