The Cocktail Club

"NYC's West Village meets the South in this upstairs bar-lounge perched above The Macintosh restaurant on King Street. The 1881 building has been cooly reimagined—you can see the original beams and salvaged doors through the Cocktail Club's exposed walls; and the sole, long bar is made from reclaimed wood. The layout design reads more home than bar, split into three different lounge areas, each with a slightly different vibe, a mix of high wood tables and low leather couches, fireplaces, and fun lighting accents. When the weather's nice, there is also the rooftop terrace and garden (which is where the Cocktail Club's fresh garnishes come from). The ambience here is matched by the quality handcrafted cocktails, house-made infusions, and expert spirits list."

"Most cities have them these days: that upscale lounge that’s marinated in the history of mixed drinks, and brags an ever-changing menu of inventive craft cocktails and their highly-skilled makers. In Charleston, that place is The Cocktail Club above the Macintosh . Note the red leather sofas and whisky crate side tables before stepping on onto the roof garden, where high wooden walls and comfy benches make a perfect, secret garden-esque setting for that muddled fruit sundowner. It’s first come, first served, and it gets a little crazy at peak hours, but you can buy into VIP membership, expect to jump all the way to the front of that line." - Paul Oswell

"It's Charleston architecture taken down to its brass tacks here, literally, with framing of former room walls creating different spaces, crumbling brick fireplaces anchoring those rooms, roomy leather chairs and an underlit bar so tall there are ladders for the bartenders. This was one of the first solid craft cocktail bars in Charleston, and it's still going strong. The Double Standard, made with serrano gin and cilantro and lime juice remains a classic known throughout the city. But the Cocktail Club walks the line between craft bar and club, so plan accordingly. There's a velvet rope and a lot of people ready to mingle." - Stephanie Burt

"Cocktail spots typically fall into two categories: there are fancy cocktail bars that take themselves a little too seriously, and then there are cocktail lounges where the bartender has to ask what the ratios are for a Negroni. The Cocktail Club on Upper King fits perfectly between the two. The bartenders here are very focused on creating great drinks and yes, those drinks sometimes take a few minutes to make. But with a large rooftop terrace, a downstairs lounge filled with leather couches, and regular live music, this place never feels too fancy, which is exactly why we like it so much. photo credit: Andrew Cebulka" - Emily Yates