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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The Alley Charleston

Caroline Tan

The Alley

Alexis Candela 

Charleston Icehouse

The Icehouse

Kickin' Chicken Charleston

Kickin' Chicken

Charleston Sports Pub

Courtesy of Charleston Sports Pub

Closed for Business

Closed for Business

West Tin Roof Ashley

West Tin Roof Ashley

H?M Charleston

H?M Charleston

Bar Mash

Bar Mash