Absolutely love this place! The owners are both super kind and give great recommendations for books & wine. I love that their wine menu rotates so there's always something new to try. Great selection of books and if they don't happen to have a book you want in stock, you can order it and they'll text you when it comes in. (Mine arrived super quickly & my preorder arrived the day the book was out) I need to get in there on a trivia or bingo night. read more

Nestled in a quaint neighborhood, the one of a kind Philosophers & Fools is a total gem. Let me start by saying this is not a place where you need to whisper, like at a library... There's music and people socializing... The ambiance, especially at night completely transports you to a different place. A place that feels distant, but welcoming and cozy. Speaking of cozy, there's a nice lounge area in the back that's perfect for a small group, maybe even a book club. If the lounge is occupied, no worries, the bar is quite large too. And there's about 4 small tables near the entrance. The menu has the perfect amount of items. I personally love their entire wine list and their popcorn is out of this world! As for the books, their selection is quite impressive. There's truly something for everyone, even kids. Two of my favorite things are that they had a section to honor black history month. And the other cool thing is, even though I'm married, their "Blind date with a book" table was the cutest thing ever. I've never seen anything like that before. Lastly, this place is perfect for a date night, a pre dinner drink, book club, a first date, or to just have some alone time. There are a couple of similar places in Charleston, but Philosophers & Fools has perfected the concept and they're definitely in a league of their own. I also appreciate that it's woman owned. read more

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Wonderful place to spend your afternoon. Great vibe and people. Relax, dive in, enjoy. Thoughtful solid wine selection. Get the cheese boards. Embrace the tunes. Find your book. Told ya - wonderful place to spend your afternoon. read more

Philosophers and Fools is an awesome little bar / cafe / book store in downtown Charleston. I came in for the first time this weekend with a couple of friends to discuss our latest book obsession, and it was a perfect spot for this. They have $1 popcorn which tastes just like movie theater popcorn, 1 cent Swedish fish, coffees, alcoholic beverages, and some other small food items. The popcorn and Swedish fish were delicious. I also had an iced coffee with oat milk and it definitely hit the spot! The environment is quiet enough to read and relax, or converse with your friends at the bar. I really enjoyed coming here and hope to be back soon! read more

Philosophers & Fools - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

P&F is Cheers" plus. A comfortable wine bar and bookstore that any neighborhood would envy. Wine and books are carefully curated. Conversation is always spirited and interesting. And by the time you leave, everybody knows your name. Worth a trip from anywhere! read more

I found Philosophers & Fools through my extensive Yelp search for cool bars and restaurants. This one I discovered was both a bookstore and a wine bar, which appealed to me, and I knew it would appeal to my wife. Therefore, I checked out the establishment with her on our last day in Charleston before we returned to Florida. The establishment didn't disappoint on our first visit. While the bar area and lounge was quiet for a Monday mid day, the vibes were warm and welcoming by the store and bar manager. The back area lounge was quite stylish and comfy, while the fine-wooden bar area offered wine, craft beer, coffee, other beverages, and other small bites. We picked up some books including one I am enjoying called "Wicked Charleston." The cold brew bred me more life as I would need it for the travels back to the tropics. We really loved our time at Philosophers & Fools in Cannonborough, and hope to see it again when we return around New Years. read more

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A cozy welcoming spot to relax in a find a good book to read on my flight back home. I really enjoyed their selection of organically produced wines. read more

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The best of concepts. When describing it to my family, I said that the book selection was limited from a full book store, but way better than what you would get at an airport book store. Options for everyone. Lovely staff and enjoyable drink selection. read more

Philosophers & Fools - The perfect amount of whimsy. - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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When most other places were closed due to snow, I was able to find warmth and wifi at Philosophers & Fools! This is such a sweet and welcoming spot. Grab a book, grab a drink. Sit at the bar, or sit in an armchair. If I was local, I would make this a go-to spot! read more

Terrific concept (although I think a sipping whiskey would be nice). The bar is bigger than I thought it would be and the seating area smaller. Both work well though. Loved the date-stamped "library card" bookmark! read more

Philosophers & Fools - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

6 months later, this place is still a staple of the Elliotborough neighborhood downtown. Neighbors won't like me saying this but for those not on foot, you can usually find a parking spot on Rutledge. Bogard street is a little hit or miss. Perfect for someone that works remotely to get some quiet work in. Nice paninis / Sammie's for snacks if you're going during the day. We each had a glass of Pinot tonight. Works well for me to wind down after work from 5 or 6 to close at 8. read more

Philosophers & Fools - Fatty Light! - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

My newly met friends and I wandered the streets of Cannonborough looking for a place to grab a glass of wine when a woman approached us and provided two suggestions in opposite directions. When asked which was better she pointed down the street and said, "Philosophers and Fools" so off we went! This little wine bar / independent bookstore is new in the Charleston area having opened less than two months ago at the time of this review. It still had that new store smell that of fresh paint and new drywall. A commanding wooden bar is immediately noticeable upon entering and nearby are a variety of bookshelves neatly arranged and perfectly faced. There also was a nook where there were a few comfy looking chairs that one could read and sip. I instantly was reminded of a similar themed bookstore / wine bar in Asheville but this was on a much smaller scale. The owners are also the operators and they discussed the process of how they selected their books and I never thought how much energy must go into creating an inventory from scratch. They are a neighborhood bookstore and wine bar and decently near Verns and Chubby Fish that if / when either has a long wait time P&F is a great location to sip a glass of wine and pass the time. They have a solid wine selection, several beers, a hard seltzer, and several nonalcoholic beverages from coffee to hot chocolate. I had two glasses of wine and thought both were excellent. Highly recommend stopping by! read more

Philosophers & Fools - Pinot noir and the menu - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I only wish I had more time to be in this place. It was so cute and adorable and will forever hold a special place in my heart. From the reading bar to the reading spot in the corner-- absolutely amazing place to pop on by. They have newer books as well! read more

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I've been to this book store / bar a few times and it's always wonderful! The owners are knowledgeable and always willing to chat. They have regular events and let local book clubs reserve seating for meetings. We're lucky to have them around read more

What a neat place! Two favorite things combined into one -- drinking and reading. Wish I had an ideal parking situation so that I could enjoy the space a little longer. I'll certainly be coming back! read more

Philosophers & Fools - Bookstores Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Philosophers and Fools is a quaint local bookstore tucked away on Bogard Street. They have a great selection of non-fiction, history, LGBTQ, Young Adult, and Fiction. When I went on Sunday, they were playing calming jazz music. They have a little reading lounge area with leather couches and chairs, a bar, and some little tables. The owners are super friendly. I can't help but by something when I'm here- they always have a book that I've been wanting to read for ages and can't leave without. read more

very welcoming and cool place. I was welcomed and was able to have a great relaxing two drinks. it always great when they serve you with a beautiful smile, drinks and books and welcoming atmosphere what else would you need to recover ? read more

Cute little bookshop with beer and wine? Yes! Cozy corners to read in? Yes. Friendly and helpful staff? Yes! Do they have all the books you ever dreamed of? No, but they can order them. I had a good first visit here and will be back to support them when I can as I hope this little bookshop sticks around. read more

We had a wonderful time at Philosophers & Fools. The food is excellent -- we had flavorful simple sandwiches and fun snacks. The drink selection is similarly fantastic; a range of beers from light to dark to sour to hoppy plus a bunch of options for wine. Oh yeah and a nice iced coffee. On the book side of things, we got a bunch of great suggestions from the staff and enjoyed how knowledgeable they were about the full selection. Overall a big highlight of our trip to Charleston. read more

Loved the drinks, popcorn, owners are super cute, great ambiance. I loved everything about it.

Loved the neighborhood feel and the neighborly service. The book selection was fun to peruse and I was tempted to break my budget for sure! Next time I'll come in for the beverages. read more

Awesome rotating wines, great service, smells like new books. What's not to love? Owner is super nice, and the book selection rivals that of the drinks and snacks. Very cozy and quiet atmosphere. read more

I stepped into this cozy spot this past weekend and was so impressed by the owner. It was a quiet Sunday so I got a lot of help picking out some thoughtful reads with her help because I'm not a big reader. You can tell how special this place is and how every single book in the store is a part of the owners archives. It's my favorite new addition to this cutest neighborhood in Charleston! read more

Toooooooo loud!!! Food very good, service good, however, the noise level was intolerable. We could not have a conversation!

Such a nice place to chill and have a casual (and inexpensive) drink with the gals! Went here before dinner and will 100% be back

Such a fun bookshop! A little of everything, tasty beverages, and friendly staff. A place for all bookish folk to go and enjoy.

Philosophers and Fools has the best selection of books in Charleston. The owners are clearly knowledgeable and personally interested in books and wine, and it shows through in the quality of both. It's a great neighborhood spot that feels comfortable and friendly and represents the best in what a small business can be. read more

Great vibes with cozy reading spots!! The owners were so nice and hospitable. Also a great book selection and layout!