Sure, Mount Pleasant has its share of chain spots and sports bars packed with folks watching the game. But this coastal town also hides gems where the food is serious and the vibe is right for lingering over a cold beer and good conversation. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best bar & grills—places where the burgers are juicy, the company is better, and you won’t just be another seat at the bar.
The Reel Bar
$ | (843) 856-0028 | WEBSITE
If you’re sketching out your perfect vacation day and the words ‘beach,’ ‘casual,’ and ‘fire pit’ all come to mind, then head to The Reel Bar. This isn’t one of those stuffy resort restaurants or obnoxiously crowded tourist traps. The Reel Bar is a simple bar and grill with excellent food that is reasonably priced (at least compared to most waterfront options in Mount Pleasant), but also lively enough to feel like a celebration.
Come here, relax completely, order a little too many custom cocktails, and desperately try not to think about going home.
Art’s Bar & Grill
$ | (843) 849-3040 | WEBSITE
Art’s Bar & Grill is one of the best bar and grill spots in Mount Pleasant – even if you’re eating alone. But the fantastic burger joint also happens to be very friend-appropriate. They’ve got the best burgers in South Carolina, mean chicken wings on Wednesdays, and also feature delicious French toast with $4 breakfast specials daily.
It’s friendly enough to have a conversation here, but not so quiet that your friends will hear you chewing your burger – or the happy little noises you’ll inevitably make when you realize how good it is.
Tru Blues House of Wings
$ | (843) 881-1858 | WEBSITE
Even if you’re not a die-hard sports fan, it’s safe to assume you’re one of the 99.9% of people who enjoys good wings. If that’s the case, you’ll love Tru Blues House of Wings’ phenomenal chicken wings, which come in a variety of flavors including the popular “extra hot” option. The indoor seating is simple but cozy, with a lot of large flat screens and a pleasant noise level. Tru Blues also has that classic sports bar atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcome.
One thing to note is that they get quite busy during game nights, and waits – especially on the weekend – are common. You can always grab a drink at the bar and watch the game on another screen if the thought of standing around makes you restless.
King Street Grille – Mt Pleasant
$ | (843) 216-7272 | WEBSITE
King Street Grille is a solid bar and grill spot in Mount Pleasant. Even though it’s popular, you can usually get seated without a reservation – just in case this happens to be a spontaneous family outing. Prepare to indulge here as most of the food is hearty plates that usually arrive at the table within 15 minutes of when you order, which also makes this a good option if you have somewhere to be after dinner.
Get some drinks, sit outside on the patio if it’s nice, and order the artichoke dip even though you may get some on your shirt while watching the game.
Rivertowne Public House
$ | (843) 971-3822 | WEBSITE
Does your friend have a playlist of live blues bands on their phone? Perhaps they own more than one flannel shirt? Then take them to Rivertowne Public House, where you will have one of the most energetic and satisfying meals in Mount Pleasant. This is a bit of a boisterous spot, with a packed house and various menu items that might require a quick shout over the music, but the food is undeniably good.
The music lineup changes constantly, but we’ve had some outstanding bacon brie burgers and beautiful plates of shrimp and grits here. They have a lively bar scene, but you can also just grab a table and eat in.
Manhattan’s Food and Spirits
$$ | (843) 388-7036 | WEBSITE
Manhattan’s Food and Spirits is a solid choice for a couple of reasons. To begin, the food has gotten much better. There’s karaoke obviously, but also some great fried pork chops and hand-breaded chicken tenders with fries. Manhattan’s also happens to feature a great billiards setup, home to one of the most relaxed atmospheres in Mount Pleasant in case you want to start with a drink before singing. There’s some nice outdoor seating too.
And if all that – plus their welcoming bartender – doesn’t put you in a fun mood, well, maybe this night out just wasn’t meant to be.
Blues Coastal Bar & Grill
$ | (843) 216-3200 | WEBSITE
When it comes to Mount Pleasant bar and grills, Blues Coastal is almost a bit of a cliche at this point. This place has probably seen more game day crowds than the local sports bar that’s been around for decades. But you know, there’s that whole saying about, “if it ain’t broke,” so we still stand by Blues Coastal as a great casual spot.
The wings are some of the area’s best, the food – a hearty mix of bar classics and coastal flavors – is always good, and it’s got a welcoming atmosphere that deserves one of those local newspaper features. Your friends (probably) won’t think you’re a cliche if you meet them here. They’ll just think you have good taste and want this to go well.
The Shelter Kitchen + Bar
$ | (843) 388-3625 | WEBSITE
If you’re looking for a place more on the bar and grill end of the spectrum, The Shelter is the pick. Aside from some of the best fried pickles and fried okra in the city, they have good bar food here, a crab cake BLT and Holy City burger, and a pleasant outdoor seating area. It’s a good place to start a night or end one – and even if things aren’t going as family-friendly as you hoped, you can still get Mount Pleasant’s best sweet potato fries as consolation.
Vickery’s Bar & Grill
$$ | (843) 884-4440 | WEBSITE
There just aren’t a lot of marsh-view restaurants in Mount Pleasant where we want to bring the family. They’re usually the kind of places where the wait is punishingly long and fried flounder sandwiches cost $25. However, Vickery’s is an exception. The bar and grill overlooking the creek is still a little pricey, but if you’re worried about the tab, come for a weekday lunch and order favorites like fried green tomatoes and fried plantains for less than $12.
The food will just be a background singer though, because the marsh view here is incredible. It’s so pretty at sunset that your kids might get nervous you’re about to move here.
The Southern Bar & Grill
$ | (843) 849-0396 | WEBSITE
The Southern Bar & Grill is the perfect place to finally wear that new flannel shirt you’ve been saving for just the right occasion. Not that there’s any pressure to dress up at this Mount Pleasant spot – the vibe is genuinely welcoming and unpretentious. But The Southern Bar & Grill is exactly the kind of comfortable, authentic restaurant where you and your favorite casual outfit will feel right at home. Also, the food happens to be outstanding.
We absolutely loved the homemade potato skins, hand-battered onion rings, and incredible brioche cheeseburger. The cocktails here are also fantastic – that ‘A Freshy’ with fresh grapefruit is particularly refreshing. Just be careful not to get any of that delicious burger juice on that nice shirt of yours.