Charleston has earned a great report as a destination for out - of - townsman . In fact , we ’ve been voted one of thetop tourist spotsin the world for the past five years . And while it ’s satisfactory to mark off out the must - see places around town , is n’t there some fun in living like a local and doing things only locals know about ? So please , if you ’re looking to have yourself a really good time in Chucktown doing what weactuallydo , hop-skip those tourist traps and check out these under - the - radiolocation local favorites … all of which take home at bar .
Attempt bar putt-putt
Upper Deck Tavern
This place is one of those mysterious bars that only true locals make love about . It ’s not the nicest … but , like , in a charming way . There ’s no sign alarm you to its presence , which think of you have to either know , or know someone who knows , which sketchy bowling alley to stray down so as to find it . Once inside , take a shot at the “ bar putt - putting . " Climb on the bar and endeavor to get a hole - in - one into a rocks glass . If you get it , you win a loot , and some serious bragging rightfield .
Master the 5 pin challenge
The Alley
This tradition originated at the Food & Beverage League night ( it ’s a bowling thing ) , but derive opprobrium at The Alley Downtown . If you knock down all the pins on your first frame except for the five pin – the one straight off in the eye – the pressure ’s on : your teammates are allowed to make as much randomness as they want to stress and trouble you from drop down that last pin . If you miss it , you owe them – and the opposing squad ? ! – a prize . Whether it ’s a round of shots or an order of tater tots , the penance must be paid .
Be the first to announce the train
Icehouse
Icehouse is one of the oldest bars in Summerville , and is so named because it used to be the place citizenry came to get ice long before icebox were invented . Since it ’s properly next to the tracks , workers used to debase big blocks of frappe onto railway car and have them brought into Charleston . today it ’s a saloon , and those train tracks , while still extremely operational , do a slenderly dissimilar purpose : if you hear the gearing a - comin ' and are the first person to yell “ TRAIN ! ” , the barkeep will swarm you a free blastoff . See , now you have a reason not to cover your ears when you hear a whistle blowing .
Become a bar trivia champion
The Kickin' Chicken
Charleston is largely a college townspeople , so it ’s fulfill with some pretty smart citizenry , which is why it take a leak perfect sense that seemingly every bar worth its salinity in the Holy City tender a trivia dark . But among them all , your best stake is to lead to The Kickin ' Chicken ( Thursdays at 10 pm ) , Rec Room ( Thursday at 8:45pm ) , or Bay Street Biergarten ( Tuesdays at 8:30pm ) . Many of the hosts at these places really pull double duty : lover favoriteBill Davisis a stand - up comedian , and bring that talent to the trivia phase . So you actually get double the amusement while try on to get freebee in rally for all that ( typically pointless ) knowledge .
Master the bar arcade
Charleston Sports Pub
This is one of the best style to slay the bar panorama in Charleston . Nothing cook us languish for the simpler days of youthfulness more than hour drop in front of classical biz like Pac - Man , Galaga , and foosball . And now that we ’re capable to do that with a drunkenness in hand , maturity does n’t seem so high-risk . If you ’re looking for the good 1 , head to The Alley , Charleston Sports Pub , or Burn ’s Alley . expend a night at any of these and you ’ll master your game in no time .
Drink a boot
Closed for Business
If you go through that movieBeerfestand thoughtdrinking from a bootseemed like a estimable idea , you might desire to check out Closed for Business . But be warned : it ’s actually nothing like the motion picture , and is only offer up during Oktoberfest . This place is a posh streak with a serious beer selection ( over 42 on tap alone ) . The flush offered is 2.5 liters of your choice – provided the ABV is n’t dangerously high-pitched – and cost $ 25 . So please , serious beer drinkers only .
Win the karaoke contest
Dudley’s on Ann
surely , there are many places you could go for some good karaoke in Charleston and grab 15 arcminute of fame , but Dudley ’s on Ann is doubtless the best speckle . This station offer karaoke every Wednesday night at 10 pm hosted by DJ Matterhorn . If you ’ve really get down skills and do n’t just sloppily want to belt out out some Journey , sign up for one of the measure ’s karaoke competitions . Offered a duo of times a year , these competitions generally last for about six hebdomad until a final succeeder is chosen . Who knows ? You could be the next one !
Call (boozy) bingo
Tin Roof
This ai n’t your grandmother ’s lotto plot . end by Tin Roof on a Wednesday nighttime , grab a free beano circuit board and some tiddlywinks , and settle in as innkeeper Lily Slay and Rex William Stickel have you rolling with laughter as they rend number and deliver a few goofy jokes . Winners get either free drinks or some weird prizes , like rubber favourite or a strange yodel CD . frankly , it ’s all in how the hosts experience that nighttime . ( Hopefully they ’re feeling innocent beverage whenever you go . ) romp is from 7 - 9pm on Wednesdays , and there are plenty of chances to win .
Channel Forrest Gump at the ping pong table
HoM
HoM fairly much looks like a lot of bar in Charleston when you first take the air in : it ’s pallidly lighted and relatively minute , with a few cubicle line along the walls . But if you head to the backroom , you ’ll witness two ping pong tables set up wait for you to throw down after you order yourself a hamburger or some cocktails . But do n’t chow down too much ( though it ’s not hard to consume either the Businessman or Cowboy Killer burgers in one sitting ) ; unless you ’re like Forrest Gump , you ’ll probably need your DOE for when you possibly - but - most - definitely wallop one of the balls off the table and require to run around to examine and catch it .
Play a round of bocce
Bar Mash
Bocce has become the new popular legal profession game around Charleston , so much so that you could evenjoin a leagueif you palpate so prepared . But of class , experience free to just cease by Bar Mash and play a pear-shaped sans the conference . Alongside an indoor bocci court , this Chucktown favorite has an former - schooling nickelodeon , a shuffleboard tourist court , and a square choice of whiskey and bourbon . Plus there ’s plenty of Coors Banquet on wiretap for those who are so over PBR . Bocce or not , there ’s plenty to do at Bar Mash . But seriously , meet boccie . It ’s very fun !
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Caroline Tan
Alexis Candela
The Icehouse
Kickin' Chicken
Courtesy of Charleston Sports Pub
Closed for Business
West Tin Roof Ashley
H?M Charleston
Bar Mash