Our Favorite Pre-Game + Happy Hour Cocktail Bars Before Dinner In Downtown Charleston For A Girls Getaway Weekend

February 10, 2022 Ruby Riot Creatives

Mid-shoot for our brand photoshoot at a rooftop bar… ya girls like some cocktails, what can we say?

So you and the girls are dressed up. Fake eyelashes? Maybe. Some daisy dukes in there? Possibly. Strappy heels? They could be in there. All we know is you ladies look GOOD. Where do you go for your pre-game, pre-dinner cocktails? Here’s our take on our favorite spots to grab a cocktail or two as you start to kick off your night on the town in downtown Charleston.

Our Favorite Pre-Game + Happy Hour Cocktail Bars Before Dinner In Downtown Charleston For A Girls Getaway Weekend

This feature is part of a multi-part series we created with the girls at Reagan Events— Reagan Kerr and her assistant Hannah Hunter, and myself, Shelby Ring of Ruby Riot Creatives wedding videography. We love us some tasty snacks, some bougie cocktails, super vibey bars we can dress up or down in to feel super cute, and creating fun times with girlfriends, so here’s our take as late twenty-thirty-something Charleston locals on some of our favorite pre-dinner cocktail spots that are sure to be a crowd pleaser for you and your ladies getaway weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Living Room @ The Dewberry For A Pick-Me-Up Pre-Game Drinks

You're going to want to go to the Dewberry downstairs bar, The Living Room, set the mood right, get an afternoon pick-me-up espresso martini, and then you'll be ready for pre-dinner drinks. The aesthetic is so dialed in here, you and the girls will feel like you’ve stepped into another era in this award-winning space.

We love going to the Kleerrrrrrrb!! The Citrus Club… that is.

The Citrus Club: Take It Up To The Rooftop At The Dewberry For Charleston Skyline Views

Upstairs at the Dewberry, we love The Citrus Club, which is upstairs (or as our ratchet friends like to say in our group chat— the Citrus KLERRRRB.) You definitely want to dress to impress if they're going to let you up there. The downstairs lobby bar at the Dewberry is more relaxed. The Citrus club on the rooftop it's beautiful; you can catch the sunset- it's one of our favorite rooftop bars in Charleston. When you walk into the hotel, you can ask the reception desk where to direct you for the elevators to get up to The Citrus Club. There will be an attendant at the elevator, they’ll give you an estimated wait time.

The Vendue Rooftop: More Skyline Views + Pre-Dinner Cocktails + Apps

Another great rooftop bar area is the Vendue Rooftop Bar for some rooftop scenery; you get an amazing view of the water, all of historic downtown, an amazing view of Broad Street. They have great cocktails, and great apps (Two words: Crack Fries.)

Camellias At Hotel Bennett: Girly Girl + Insta-Worthy Pink-Everything Champagne Pours

If you're looking for a girly-girly place, Camellias at Hotel Bennett is as feminine as it gets. They are known for their champagne pours, and it is super Instagram-worthy. Camellias is a great place. Camellias is downstairs right off of the lobby of Hotel Bennett.

Vintage Lounge On King Street: Porrons + Espresso Martinis

We also love Vintage Lounge on King Street for pre-dinner drinks, or you can also use it as a nightcap and get another espresso Martini in if you want to carry your night on, too. Also, not sure how you feel about a water-fountain-esque handheld wine bong…but they have Porrons (sounds like purrr-OHwn)… and they are such a fun ice breaker activity, and it’s one of the only places in Charleston we know to offer Porron carafes! We’ve certainly had our share of communal porron wine carafes (perfect for 4-8 friends!)

A Pour-On…What? What’s a Porron?

Let me ask Wikipedia to explain it to you —

A porró is a traditional glass wine pitcher, which holds 0.75 liters (25 US fl oz) typical of Spain, originating in Catalonia. Some might say it resembles a cross between a wine bottle and a watering can.

Vintage also has great snacks too. So if you have a reservation on King Street, Vintage is a great place to pop in. (You can make reservations here, too!) Their pre-dinner scene is very different from their post-dinner scene, which is fun.

Here’s a video from Business Insider on how to hack how to not spill wine all over yourself drinking from a Porron. Get a leg up on the ladies watching this entertaining tutorial.

Depending on what kind of night you’re aiming to have, maybe you share a porron at Vintage Lounge and attempt to do a full watering-can pour sip into your mouth with your gorgeous silk dress on…the party trick goal is to lock your elbow out and bring it back towards your mouth before your mouth fills up (and you spill wine all over yourself!)… take the gamble… it’s the thing memories are made of.

THE ORDINARY For A Few Oysters On The Half-Shell And A Cocktail Waiting For Your Dinner Reservation

The Ordinary is amazing for seafood. And they're also great for just like a starter. Their bar is beautiful, like breathtakingly beautiful. It's built in the old bank lobby. And so their bar is gorgeous for grabbing a drink, maybe a few raw oysters, and then keep on moving down king street. And it's very central. I like that it's right in the middle of everything.

If you want a ratchet night out and have some post-dinner entertainment-- check out our blog on Ratchet Night Life In Charleston. See, last time, my girlfriends were in town for restaurant week, and they were like, Reagan, take us to the club. And so it's like, I don't do the club, but we're going to go. We went to Republic, and it was an undertaking... Let me tell you more…

What’s Next On Your Itinerary?

Check out these other helpful articles for building out your Charleston weekend itinerary: