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    Proof

    4.1 (243 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Proof Photos

    Business Info

    PROOF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    JC R.

    Proof was the 3rd bar we hit on King St and it was playing dance music so patrons were dancing and having so much fun! GnT was simple but refreshed me, others also ordered vodka & water to keep us all hydrated! Young hip and lively crowd. Stayed for 2 drinks then head out to Republic! Cool dance place with disci lights and very friendly vibe! Oh, I wanna dance with somebody...

    My elephants keeper
    Carly M.

    This is my second time at Proof and 1st time ordering the elephants keeper. The drink itself takes about 20 minutes to be ready to serve. So while waiting you get an MGD pony to pass the time. It was worth the wait and worth the price. It's a very small place that is all about the upscale cocktails. I haven't been disappointed yet and I would visit again when I am in town!

    Boiled Peanuts
    Tasha F.

    Cool, small bar on King St. We stopped by during their late night hours and ordered 2 drinks from their specialty cocktails, and the bartender made me a Paloma. My friend ordered "My Elephant's Keeper" from the menu, was told it takes 10 minutes to make, and it did. Interesting concoction. The staff was very polite.

    Pink Rabbit
    Young K.

    Very nice mellow vibe. My friend and I stopped here for cocktails and sat at the bar. The bartender was super sweet and had a great sense of humor. I got the Pink Rabbit, and if you like a fruity gin cocktail. I highly recommend! Overall, 8.5 out of 10!

    Ambiance
    Bonnie J.

    These are the best made cocktails. I had a French 75, a drink I order often. It was so well done, I ordered a 2nd. The bartenders are precise and put on a good show as they prepare the cocktails. We have been cruising King Street for a couple of nights. This is the spot.

    Specials for Christmas
    Yirel M.

    This is my second time in Charleston and I always come to Proof. The drinks are so crafted and the bartenders super experienced in what they do. The bar is intimate and in the midst of so many other popular restaurants and bars. Do yourself a favor and bar hop, but make sure you always make it back to proof!!

    Hendricks drink. Forget the name. It was great.
    James S.

    Best cocktail bar in Charleston, hands down. Came here all three nights on our last trip to town. Small setting, not packed in like sardines though because they only let you in if there's an open seat. It's pretty dark inside. I really enjoyed the playlist, especially what one of the bartenders referred to as the "emo Sunday" mix. There's usually 2 guys running around making sure everyone is taken care of and two guys crafting some amazing cocktails behind the bar. The menu is great because it's all sorted by the main spirit in the drink, so all your gin drinks are near each other, all your rum drinks, etc. Each drink is more inventive than the last, just check out the menu I posted from my visit. I spent three nights here with two other people, everyone trying each other's drinks, so I tried somewhere around 12 drinks and there was maybe one I wouldn't order again, just due to my own personal preferences. I tried really hard not to order the same thing twice, but couldn't help myself with getting the Oui Chef again after having it about 2 years earlier and loving it. You'll see a very sweet looking drink in my pictures with strawberry and mint on top, but that one actually had little sweetness at all and was very forward with some Mexican spices if I remember correctly. Everything is so inventive and well executed. These guys take their cocktails seriously. Best part of all, in a day and age when cocktails in a city like Charleston start at $15 a piece, Proof's average drink is $12-13. I know I dropped $20 a piece for drinks at the Citrus Club just before coming here. This won't hurt the wallet nearly as much. I can't say enough good things. Get to proof and try something fun or even their version of your favorite classic.

    Bar.. 21 and over only to enter proof
    Laura P.

    This is a bar, mostly cocktails but also wine, beer etc. Love the vibe, the bartenders know their drinks! We got the El choc which I thought would be chocolate tasting and looking but it has creme de cacao in it ( hence the name). The bathrooms share a sink, funky fun setup in general. Thumbs up!

    Knuckleball
    Scotty C.

    I can't even begin to explain how much I love this bar. I've never had a drink I didn't like here but my favorites are the sazerac... so simple but nails perfection here, and the knuckleball... wildly creative and unique with a pickled peanut snack at the end. Speaking of snacks, they've got small food items on the menu. I don't know how they do it but their boiled peanuts are the best I've had to date and perfect for sharing over a cocktail or two. If you're looking for a heartier dish, come on Fri or Sat night when Two Nixons takes over the tiny kitchen with Ramen... this is ending soon so your mileage may vary but I highly suggest you make it in for a bowl. The folks behind the bar are the coolest mofos in town. They play the best music, and you'll never be elbow-to-elbow with Chad trying to order shots because they only allow enough people in the bar to sit down and be comfortable. You'll never see them close for a hurricane unless the bar is actually underwater and if you're not convinced yet then proof isn't the bar for you.

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    3 years ago

    Eh. Nothing special. Drinks average, service average. Ambiance cool, but overall would skip

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    2 years ago

    GREAT service with a large menu of specialty cocktails so there's "something for everyone" here!

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    3 years ago

    Awesome place. Absolutely nothing to complain about. Great and unique drinks. Amazing service. Very good atmosphere.

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    Ask the Community - Proof

    How often is there live music here? In town for a few days and really want to hear some good live jazz standards.

    On Monday nights.

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    Last Saint - Bar

    Last Saint

    (61 reviews)

    Eastside

    My first time visiting a speakeasy since living in Charleston, and the Annex absolutely blew me…read moreaway. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was intimate, beautiful, and the perfect setting for a relaxed Saturday night cap. What made the experience truly special was the bartender. There's no traditional menu, instead, he takes the time to learn what you like and crafts drinks based on your taste. I've never experienced anything like that before. The level of knowledge and creativity behind the bar was incredible. Every drink he made was stunning and tasted even better than it looked. I was honestly so impressed that I couldn't even remember all the ingredients he mentioned because I was too busy being amazed at how good everything was. It was one of those moments where you realize there are real levels to this craft. I walked in thinking I knew a thing or two about mixing drinks at home, and left with a whole new respect for the art of it. The atmosphere, the personal attention, and the quality of the cocktails made this place feel truly top tier. Huge shoutout to the bartender, easily a 15 out of 10. Cool, knowledgeable, and passionate about what he does. If you're looking for an intimate spot for date night or just want to experience thoughtfully crafted cocktails in a beautiful setting, the Annex is the place. I will absolutely be back as soon as possible.

    My husband and I visited Last Saint for cocktails before a group dinner when we were in Charleston…read morelast weekend, and it was the perfect place for drinks before a dinner. (On occasion, I rant about how we need more cocktail bars and wine bars that don't serve food at all or just snacks like nuts - don't get me started.) Last Saint is a really cool dual concept cocktail bar. The front of Last Saint is more casual - small, cozy, allows walk-ins. But you can also make reservations (or try to get lucky walking in) at the Annex. The Annex is their weekends-only cocktail experience in the back of Last Saint. You walk to the back of the bar and press ring the bell by the yellow door. Someone answers and seats at one of six seats at the bar and three small (but private) tables. The Annex is a no-menu experience. The friendly and creative staff ask you questions about your preferences for drinks and then make you something that fits the bill. It was personal and fun, and we enjoyed all the drinks we had. A reservation at the Annex is good for a 1.5 hour time frame, which was perfect for us to have two drinks before closing out and heading to our dinner reservation. We sat at the bar, which I loved, because we got to chat with the staff and watch them make our and others' drinks while we enjoyed our creative cocktails. The staff have a wide knowledge of cocktails and an almost endless supply of ingredients to choose from when making your drinks. A truly fun experience. One I haven't had in any other city. I wish there were more bars like Last Saint!

    Prohibition - Brasstown Burger - very tasty!

    Prohibition

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$

    Cannonborough

    If you're looking for a spot in Charleston that truly leans into the holiday spirit, Prohibition…read moregoes all out with its Christmas decorations from the moment you walk in. It sets the tone immediately, and the festive energy carries straight through the meal. We kicked things off with Bloody Marys and a Morning Fog -- simple, classic, and done right. For starters, we shared the Hula Hoisin Wings. They were definitely on the heavier side with the hoisin, but still absolutely delicious. The Mistletoe Mango Tuna Poke Tacos were a standout. They come as a small plate with three appetizer-sized tacos, and every bite was bright, fresh, and beautifully balanced. The Buddy the Elf Burger offers a choice of a single or double patty; ours was cooked perfectly. The smoky bacon really brought everything together and gave it that extra "wow" factor. We rounded things out with the O Come, All Ye Fried Rice with Hanger Steak, which was another winner -- perfectly cooked, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. As if the meal wasn't great enough on its own, we happened to be there while Emily Curtis was performing. She's truly incredible and added such a fun, memorable vibe to the day. I'd be remiss not to mention Kevin our server. Go see him. He was great. The whole team works great together. Don't let the bar-like atmosphere fool you -- Prohibition is far from your typical bar food or bar scene. There's a great space in the back, and the elevated menu makes it absolutely worth the visit. A festive, flavorful, all-around fantastic experience.

    Food and drinks were both good... not the best I've ever had but good…read more Lunch on a Friday... several ppl at the bar but we were the only seat customers. The waitress was indifferent and seemed as they we were bothering her ....which is fine, as I was equally "bothered" by her and her attitude. I liked the bar and restaurant and the menu was solid. Our service would have made this 5 stars but we have lots of other choices on King Street that will have staff more excited for our business.

    Doar Bros. - Drink - Bourbon and Clyde.

    Doar Bros.

    (275 reviews)

    $$

    Ansonborough

    Every time I find myself in Charleston I must stop here. Not your average bar at all. I like that…read morethey change up their menu so every time I visit there is something new to try. I have never had a bad drink here. I got the Batata Clarified Milk Punch (description in picture) which was fantastic. The toasted marshmallow garnish was a great touch for the season we were in. My mom got the Bourbon and Clyde and she said it was incredible. Description also in picture. The orange foam and pistachio crumble was a great addition. Another great drink for autumn. My second drink was the Smokin Indo which was probably my favorite. They performed the smoked glass technique with applewood which was not only cool to watch but added a unique flavor to the drink. We always make a point to get the assorted cheeses when we are here because they make a great charcuterie board. They switch up the cheeses just like they change their cocktail menu. Love to sit at the bar because it is truly an art to watch the bartenders make these drinks and really adds to the experience. Everyone who works here is super kind and knowledgeable on their craft. However, if you are able to be there when the two Doar brothers are working it makes it truly special. They give postcards with their check and there's a bowl of matchbooks sitting on the bar. One of the best cocktail bars in Charleston. Debated writing this because I selfishly want to keep it under the radar but it definitely deserves its accolades.

    The last trip to Charleston, we made a reservation for Doar Bros to pop in for a cocktail after…read moredinner. I loved the atmosphere! It's super cozy, very chic, and pretty small. The service was on point and the bartender was killing it at the bar - multitasking making 3 drinks all at once. It was super impressive and I took a few videos of him. I'm giving 4 stars because the first cocktail I ordered was SO SWEET that I couldn't get it down. I tried to drink it but had to send it back. We asked when we ordered about the flavor profile and supposedly it wasn't sweet, but all 3 of us agreed it was way oversweet. My black manhattan was phenomenal and my husband had a mocktail moscow mule that was awesome. Overall, I'd come back again - just be mindful of the ingredients in the drink and modifying as needed for sweetness. Make a reservation if you can!

    La Cave - CAVIAR DEVILED EGGS

    La Cave

    (23 reviews)

    Cannonborough

    People are always looking for a great date night place, and I would have to say that La Cave fits…read morethe bill. The interior is very elegant and bathed in low lighting with soft music playing while you dine. It's a little small so make sure you make those reservations! We started with cocktails, and I ordered the Jean De Florette with vodka, lillet rose, fig syrup, passion fruit, lime, crushed ice, and a fleur garnish. The fig syrup was the star providing a nice sweet and earthy flavor. My wife enjoyed the Harvest in Provence with charred corn mezcal, see the elephant amaro, bonal, lime, simple syrup, and a spiced corn garnish. This drink is so smokey but very refreshing. We were brought a complimentary hors derv which was a house made potato chip with tuna and spices. Really great for getting your palette ready for the coming meal. They only do this from 5pm to 6pm. We have had our eyes on the Raclette Burger Slider for some time. The burger was a good-sized slider, about the same size as a single cheeseburger with tons of ooey gooey raclette cheese smothering it. Of course, we had to order the Pommes Frites to go with the sliders and they arrived super crispy with a nice rosemary-lemon aioli for dipping. The grand finale was the Boeuf En Croute which was their play on a beef wellington. The filet was a nice medium rare with a flaky pastry crust and a delicious sauce bordelaise. A great way to finished. With its beautiful decor, great service and good food I would highly recommend this place for any date night!

    my friend had the reservation for la cave for about two months now, it was for her birthday. The…read moreday before the reservation, she was called and said that the reservation was canceled. We thankfully got it fixed but when we showed up at the door, they asked for our IDs and we had to wait 10 minutes after our reservation to be seated. we were never informed that it was 21+, it doesn't even specify on the website. And result of this we had to be given wristbands before even entering the restaurant. when we finally entered the restaurant, we were happily guided to a beautiful table. the service was perfect. we got fries for the table and our food came out pretty fast. i got the salad which was okay, it had a interesting vinaigrette but i added lemon which really made it better. i tried my friends slider and it was delicious. the food and service saved this review. the place was gorgeous, i recommend!

    Proof - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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