Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our guide to the Five Best Rooftop Bars in Charleston.
I have recently got back from a trip to the South Carolinas and fell in love with Charleston, it’s lively atmosphere, great food and fabulous rooftop bars! Read on for a few of my favorite rooftop bars including Fiat Lux, at the Hotel Bennett, Élevé at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Citrus Club at The Dewberry, The Rooftop Bar at Coconut Joe’s at Isle of Palms and The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue
Five Best Rooftop Bars in Charleston
1 Fiat Lux, at the Hotel Bennett
Fiat Lux, is situated in the Hotel Bennet, just steps from Marion Square, and provides some of the most spectacular rooftop views of Charleston. Experience a panoramic view of Charleston’s skyline paired with a wide range spirit selection and specialty seasonal cocktails.
Hours: Sunday – Thursday | 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Friday – Saturday | 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
Dress code: Daytime Attire – Casual dry pool or swim attire is acceptable. Shirt, swimsuit cover-ups and footwear are required. Evening Attire – Collared shirt required for gentlemen. Well-kept denim and dress shorts are acceptable. Gentlemen’s hats and caps are not permitted in any of the indoor dining or bar venues. Gentlemen are permitted to wear outdoor hats at outdoor venues. Women are permitted to venue-appropriate hats prior to 5 p.m. or dressier hats before or after 5 p.m.
2 Élevé at the Grand Bohemian Hotel
A beacon for the unexpected and the avant-garde, Élevé was concocted for the curious, and offers delicious handcrafted delicacies in a sumptuous setting. Their elegant rooftop garden is the backdrop for inventive coastal cuisine with Southern heritage and rooted in French culinary techniques.
Élevé is a picture-perfect setting for private dinners and other intimate gatherings in Charleston and offers vibrant cuisine with a Bohemian twist. Each dish is infused with fresh herbs and seasonings and finished artfully.
Refresh your mind and nourish your soul as you overlook the cobblestone streets of magical downtown Charleston, whilst sipping on one of their speciality cocktails.
They also hold special events such as the Thanksgiving Day Supper on November 24th from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, where you can indulge in your favorite Thanksgiving classics and Southern inspired cuisine.
Hours: Breakfast: Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 11:00 am, Saturday – Sunday, 7:00 am – 10:00 am
Brunch: Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Lunch: Monday – Friday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Dinner: Daily, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Bar Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm, Friday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 12:00 am Dress code : Casual
3 Citrus Club at The Dewberry
The crown jewel in a city known for its steepled skyline and sea-skimming views, The Dewberry’s 8th floor terrace features the highest rooftop in Charleston and offers stunning views over Charleston and the river.
Located at The Dewberry, this modern chic rooftop bar is the perfect spot for a night out on the town, and as you might expect features citrus-inspired cocktails and fresh lite bites.
They offer speciality cocktails with inventive names such as “purple rain” and “tropical itch” and an extensive snack selection, including chicken wings, crispy brussels sprouts and crispy piña colada shrimp.
Please note that this is an “adult only” lounge (guests must be over 21) and smoking is not permitted.
Hours: Monday – Thursday | 4pm – 10pm, Friday – Sunday | 12pm – 10pm
Dress Code: “relaxed yet proper” style is appropriate at Citrus Club. Collared shirts are required for gentleman. Athletic apparel; swimsuits and beach cover-ups are not permitted.
Photo Credit for Citrus Club (including featured image) : Andrew Cebulka
4 The Rooftop Bar at Coconut Joe’s at Isle of Palms
The Rooftop Bar at Coconut Joe’s offers a fully panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. From the rooftop, on a good day, you can see dolphins playing off the shore, shrimp boats doing their hard work, and families enjoying the warm Atlantic Ocean and the great Isle of Palms beach.
It is also one of the best music venues in the Charleston Metro Area. During the season, live music is available Wednesday through Sunday at various times. Spend some time on the rooftop and listen to great music and enjoy the ocean breeze while sipping on your favorite beverage.
Specialities include their famous coconut shrimp, the BBQ shrimp nachos and the fried pickles, but they also offer southern fried favorites, burgers and sandwiches and a wide selection of drinks, including frozen cocktails.
Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner. Monday – Thursday:11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Friday:11:00 am – 12:00 am, Saturday:10:00 am – 12:00 am, Sunday:10:00 am – 10:00 pm Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Dress code: Casual
5 The Rooftop Bar at The Vendue
Situated in the French Quarter, the Rooftop Bar at the Vendue is the perfect spot for an al fresco lunch or after work get together to enjoy refreshing specialty cocktails, beer and wine.
The Rooftop is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, offering sweeping views of the Charleston Harbor, Waterfront Park, The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and more, and is a great place for sunset views!
Hours : Sunday – Thursday 11:30am – 11:00pm, Friday – Saturday 11:30am – 12:00am
Dress code : casual
No reservations needed or taken
I hope you enjoyed this feature about The top 5 Rooftop Bars in Charleston and have a look here for more of our travel features.
You can also read or download our ultimate travel guide to what to see and what to do in Charleston below.
By Julia Rees in The Velvet Runway Travel Guides
50 pages, published 11/6/2022
December 19, 2022 at 10:11 amI´d love to go to these rooftop bars, they look gorgeous! 🙂
I wish you a great holiday season,
Tiziana
http://www.tizianaolbrich.de
January 10, 2023 at 11:51 amThank you Tiziana! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season 🙂
November 28, 2022 at 4:23 pmI’ve never been to Charleston but it’s on my list! I also love rooftop bars so thank you for sharing this 🙂
https://www.mariannyc.com/grand-hotel-cancun-managed-by-kempinski/
November 28, 2022 at 5:34 pmSo glad someone else loves rooftop bars too! They’re so fun 🙂 And I would definitely recommend putting Charleston on your bucket list xo
November 18, 2022 at 5:11 pmOh my goodness these all look so incredible! And I love that they each have their own unique vibe. I’d love to have a cocktail at each and every one. Haha!
November 21, 2022 at 3:12 pmThanks Laura! They definitely each have their own vibe, and a cocktail at every one sounds fun 🙂
November 14, 2022 at 10:20 amLove a good rooftop. Thanks for sharing!
-Nina
November 15, 2022 at 5:16 pmI love a good rooftop bar too x
November 13, 2022 at 6:13 pmI would like to have a drink in every of these bars. View look amazing, interior perfect and cocktails very delicious.
November 15, 2022 at 5:09 pmYes, I really love a rooftop bar! I think the view makes everything taste better x
November 13, 2022 at 1:35 pmThese all look amazing! Thanks for sharing this.
Gemma x
http://www.jacquardflower.uk
November 15, 2022 at 5:04 pmGlad you like them Gemma x
November 12, 2022 at 9:34 pmOh, these would be so fun. It’s always fabulous to have such a great view when you are traveling,
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
November 15, 2022 at 5:04 pmTotally agree Jodie! I love a great view 🙂
November 12, 2022 at 3:01 pmSaving this post! We are headed there next Spring and can’t wait to try some of these places out 🙂
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
November 15, 2022 at 5:02 pmThanks Shauna! I hope you have a wonderful time there 🙂
November 12, 2022 at 6:45 amBeautiful rooftop view of the surrounding places. Good looking food too.
November 15, 2022 at 4:59 pmThanks Nancy! The views were all spectacular! x
November 12, 2022 at 1:56 amSo many delicious drinks and cocktails! I would love to hang out on one of these rooftops to chill!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
November 15, 2022 at 4:53 pmThanks Carrie! I love a rooftop bar! Currently in one in Estepona in Southern Spain x
November 11, 2022 at 10:34 pmAll of these rooftops look fabulous! I hope I can take my husband there soon. I loved it. The hotel we stayed at had a wonderful rooftop too.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
November 15, 2022 at 4:49 pmI do love a rooftop bar! So glad you enjoyed Charleston x
November 11, 2022 at 4:54 pmGreat round up! I loveeeee Charleston! It’s just so charming! I’d 100% live there. Now I just have to get my husband on board LOL!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
November 15, 2022 at 4:43 pmThanks Lizzie! I love Charleston too 🙂