One of the most creative and memorable cocktail bars I have ever been to. If you are in Charleston, please don't miss this place. Don't let the name deter you if you are not a gin person because they have many options with different types of liquors. One tip: sit at the bar if you can, the set up is stunning especially for taking photos! The cocktail menu was moderately extensive with two full pages of complex and simple cocktails. Honestly, it was so difficult to choose what drink to get because I wanted to get everything on the menu. The bartenders were so attentive and talented - their implementation of each cocktail was even better than the menu descriptions. Not only were the drinks delicious but also beautifully presented. They have some bar bites as well as quite a few small and large plates, we got the pretzels which to my absolute surprise were so good! If I ever go back to Charleston, I will definitely be hitting this place up. read more

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The Gin Joint absolutely lived up to the hype. The cocktails were outstanding, creative without being pretentious, and every drink felt thoughtfully crafted. You can tell the bartenders know exactly what they're doing. The surprise star of the night, though, was the grilled cheese. Calling it a grilled cheese almost feels unfair because this thing was next-level. Perfectly crisp on the outside, rich and gooey on the inside, and paired with the cocktails so well that we were talking about it long after we left. Sometimes the simplest thing on a menu ends up stealing the show. The atmosphere strikes that perfect Charleston balance of classy, cozy, and effortlessly cool. Great service, great drinks, and one of the most memorable grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever had. If you're in Charleston and appreciate a serious cocktail program, The Gin Joint is a must-visit. Come for the drinks, stay because the grilled cheese will ruin lesser grilled cheeses for the rest of your life read more

The Gin Joint - Sign - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

My husband wanted to try the Gin Joint so we snagged a table after our dinner reservation. They do a fun cocktail where you choose 2 words then the bartender creates one, based on those words. Hubs chose boozy & tart, and his cocktail was fantastic!! It has a lemon lime tart flavor and he absolutely loved it! I chose the Queen of Versailles in an attempt to go for something different than what I typically order & I didn't want anything sweet...well friends, it is very strong and does have a fish taste per its description in the menu, so this one is absolutely on me, but I won't be ordering that again! I should have gotten the blueberry yogurt style cocktail, so I'll absolutely be trying that next time!! They have a cute patio & very polished bar area as well! Loved the vibe at Gin Joint! read more

The gin cocktails we had were AMAZING. Yes, it's pricey but you're in a tourist area, it is what it is! The menu had some crazy things I would have tried if I wasn't a light weight (uh there was a drink with blue cheese and cabbage on the menu??!!!)... wouldn't consider it except the drinks we had were SO GOOD I'm willing to give the mixologist the benefit of the doubt. I want to go back--STAT! read more

This place was very cute. Good vibe, drinks were good if you knew what you are in to. The soft pretzels were a win here. Service was southern charm of course. read more

This little speakeasy like bar has really good mocktails. We were sat down at a community table by a friendly server. The first round of mocktails my wife and I picked out ourselves. They were really good. The second round my wife asked for a fruity tart drink because you can give the bartender two words and the will make you a drink that describes those two words. That drink was a knockout! It's a special thing when you go to a bar and they have amazing mixologists. The bar staff knows exactly how to make a solid drink! read more

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Pretty vibey cocktail bar located in the heart of Charleston. The bottles lined up along the entire wall is pretty cool. They have a large selection and even a Bartender's Choice cocktail where you pick two flavor notes for them to customize a drink for you. We did each try one and it was solid, but a bit weird that the waiter never explained the drink or anything after dropping it off. We also tried the Causing a Ruckus ($15) and Charlie's Mom ($15). The cocktails were good, but they came in such tiny glasses. Overall, nice spot to take a date. The drinks were solid, but nothing that wowed me. Also, it took awhile for us to get our drinks, but there's only one bartender for the entire place. read more

The Gin Joint - Causing a Ruckus and Charlie's Mom. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I've never seen so many varieties of gin...pages and pages on the menu. The bottles decorate shelves all around the bar, the wall, everywhere. They have an extensive menu is interesting cocktails, and mocktails! I like alternating between cocktail and mocktail when I'm out. I love it when there are great options for both. The bar snack menu was great too...really nice variety of options, including some for sharing with a group...like charcuterie and cheese boards. We were there in the early afternoon on a hot day so we sat inside for some much needed air conditioning, but they do have a lovely little courtyard where you could sit outside if you wanted. It started to get a bit busy around 6pm and the service started to get a little slow, but it was time for us to go at that point. Overall great experience. read more

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Our group was looking for a spot to have a cocktail before dinner. The Gin Joint looked promising so we walked over from our hotel. They were packed when we arrived but we only waited a couple minutes for a table. Our server came over and gave us a rundown of the menu. There were so many options! I ended up going with the bartenders choice: refreshing and sweet. My cocktail was a pretty pink, a bit tart, and a little fruity. I really enjoyed it! Stylish, speakeasy vibes. Creative, unique and yummy cocktails. Knowledgeable staff. The Gin Joint is absolutely worth checking out while in Charleston! read more

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On East Bay street right in the middle of top restaurants is this somewhat hidden bar. It was a lot more casual that I thought it would be. We were there for the drinks not any food. The service was nice - huge menu of drinks (not just gin). We would come back. read more

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One of the coolest places in the city for a cocktail. Not a great place for large groups due to limited seating. Friendly staff, and I highly recommend the "pick any two words" option...expert mixology at its finest! read more

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Severely disappointed with this place. I would not recommend based on the complete lack of customer service and the micro aggressions we experienced from the staff. Let me start by saying that I had been wanting to go here for a long time. We decided to come in after our elopement a couple of weekends ago. My husband, best friend, and husband's friend. We arrived around 4 pm and it wasn't super busy. There were a couple empty tables. This place is very small inside. There were 3 staff members that we immediately saw. The host helped us to a table. I was surprised by the inside. I thought it would feel more like a cocktail lounge inside but it honestly just looked like a regular restaurant, just a little dark. We then proceeded to wait 10-15 minutes for someone to come to the table. Tables near us were being helped but we just sat there. Eventually my friend got up and went to the bar where 3 staff members were congregated and asked politely if we should order there or if someone would help us at the table. The woman's response: ".....yeah." OKAY. My friend proceeded to the restroom and came back feeling uncomfortable by the exchange. A minute later a younger girl came up to the table. She was not friendly. In fact, we could tell she was annoyed with us for going up to the bar after waiting for 10 minutes (although she had walked by our table several times beforehand). No greeting from her at all. We ordered 4 cocktails and pimento cheese dip. Dip was okay. Cocktails were good. Service is where it completely failed. I must say the waitress was pretty young so I'm not sure if part of it is maybe that she does not have enough customer service experience to be working at a place that advertises itself as a higher end cocktail lounge with handcrafted cocktails and a place to go for an experience. She seemed like someone who should probably be working at a more casual restaurant. Bare minimum service with attitude towards us. The icing on the cake was that it was torrentially pouring outside and we had left our umbrella at the hostess stand at the front of the restaurant. They had put it out of the way near the door so it wouldn't be wet in the booth or on the main aisle through the restaurant. The hostess came back while we were finishing our drinks and asked to give back our umbrella, which was still wet, and proceeded to drip water all down my wedding dress. There was no need to hand it back to us and I'm shocked she did. It wasn't in her way or anyone else's. It felt like they did not want us there for whatever reason. And this was after we just politely asked about having our order taken after being ignored. That experience from the hostess was the real kicker. Let me also say that they were aware it was our wedding day. Maybe not the best day to be complete jerks to people. I'm mad I spent money here. I'm mad I let these people treat me like this on our special day. I wish I could have spent my money elsewhere at a place that values customer service. I will not be returning and I would not recommend anyone go here. read more

I had been to The Gin Joint in Charleston once years ago, and honestly, coming back I forgot just how good it was. The cocktails were perfectly balanced, and they definitely offer some unique options -- it's a great spot if you want something different than your typical bar menu. I love going somewhere that pushes you to try something new. They do have outdoor seating that's pet friendly, which is always a plus. The service was fantastic -- they had water bowls out for the pups, and since we were sitting outside, the servers kept coming out to check on us, which I appreciated. Inside is just as nice -- dim lighting, very intimate vibe. At one point there were two people at a table fully making out, which honestly made me laugh a little... but I guess that just adds to the ambiance. The bartender mentioned their cocktail menu changes quarterly, which makes it even more fun to come back and try new drinks. I got the Victory Lap ($16), which the bartender described as a "melted piña colada." It was delicious -- tropical but not overly sweet. My husband got the Root Awakening ($16), served in a soup dish, which was very good and totally different presentation-wise. Overall, amazing cocktails, great service, pet-friendly patio, and a fun intimate atmosphere. Definitely a place worth revisiting. read more

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This place was the BEST! It is very rare to find craft cocktails for $15. Their menu is so extensive that anyone can find a drink, no matter their palate. The low lighting gave everything a speakeasy feel, which was a lot of fun and service was speedy and kind. Cannot recommend enough the soft pretzels. The cheese that comes with is DIVINE!!! I will be thinking about it until I return. read more

The Gin Joint - Sign - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Attended a Galentine's event. Loved the ambiance of the restaurant. Very cozy with dim lighting. Friendly wait staff. Great food! Served a "walking" taco and Mexican corn dip. Fun celebrating with friends! read more

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Loved it! First of all... I'm a Gin guy, so when I saw this place on a travel show and I was going to Charleston, I of course had to check it out! I highly recommend that you sit at the bar so you can talk to the mixologist, ask questions and watch the magic happen! My wife and I tried 4 drinks and enjoyed them all. I loved the "Pick Two Words" Menu. The way it works is you tell the bartender two words from the menu (for example Fizzy and Refreshing) and she makes you a drink from those adjectives! I thought it was a lot of fun! And I got to drink (checked two vacation buckets!). read more

The Gin Joint - Pick two words! This one is "Fizzy" and "Refreshing". - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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As others have mentioned they have a very unique menu. We put a blind finger down and ordered. Really fun to try new things. Really Really fun to try concoctions you'd never make at home. The atmosphere is cool and intriguing. Absolutely will go back when I can. Be aware, both times we went it was pretty loud as it's a small place and everyone was having fun. read more

I can only speak to the drinks as I didn't have any food while here. We stopped in for a drink at the bar before dinner close by. The bar is small and gives speak-easy vibes. They have a wide variety of spirits and syrups with an interesting drink menu. We chose the bartenders choice where you pick two words and they make you a drink based on those words. I ended up getting an apricot sour with the words "fruit" and "tart". It was absolutely delicious. ($16). Very fun place to stop by for a drink! read more

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A friend and I stopped by The Gin Joint after my birthday dinner while visiting Charleston. It was the perfect spot to wrap up a full day of activities. Chill, dim, quiet. Really just good vibes all around. We didn't have a reservation but they had available tables on the Thursday night we were there. Our server was prompt and gave good menu suggestions. I went with the raspberry gin cocktails named Simple Pleasures. It was smooth, crisp, and moderately fruity. I enjoyed it quite a bit. As a gin fan, I would definitely return to try more cocktails on future trips to the city. read more

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I always have to find cocktail bars when we travel to different cities so we tried The Gin Joint since it looked interesting. We went early at like 5:00 before dinner so it was nice we had the whole place to ourselves. Our server was very friendly and helpful. All the drinks looked very unique so we ordered a bunch. We ordered almost every drink on the menu just about haha. We tried to order the weirdest drinks . The colonel mustard was one of our favorites- gin , honey Dijon syrup, cocchi americano , lemon,sotol, pineapple, and dill. This was one of our favorites! Frog parking only - it had a gin that was infused with sonething similar to pesto - it was good. The 7th inning stretch - we had drinks like this before but it's always good- like a Cracker Jack in a cocktail. We were debating on whether or not to get the sweet victory drink. This had tomato gin, bacon, Mayonnaise, rye bread. We weren't going to because my husband is allergic to tomatoes. But we couldn't leave without trying it, it just sounded too crazy to pass up. It's actually clarified so the whole drink was clear like. It was actually decent I'm glad we tried it. We went to dinner across the street afterwards drunk from all these good drinks haha . But wouldn't change a thing , I'm glad we tried all of them. I'm not sure if we'll ever be back in Charleston again, but if we do we're coming back here! I think my husband even said this might be his new favorite cocktail bar ever. read more

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I enjoy visiting different cocktail bars, especially during my travels. I'm so happy that I found this place. We have been walking in the area a couple of times and for some reason, this place stood out to me. Turns out they serve amazing cocktails, but they're unique as well. They also have an extensive spirit list.  It was dark near the bar area so we sat by the window. The staff are so sweet and knowledgeable here. If we hadn't already eaten dinner we would love to try their food like the bone marrow, burger, or shrimp dumplings. We love the cocktails we ordered. And what is also special about this place is the bartender's choice section. You pick 2 adjectives, and they will make a cocktail based on the descriptors, that are not on the menu. Reminded me of a cocktail place we have at home. I chose 'refreshing' and 'herbal' and it was exactly what I asked for. read more

The ambiance was moody and warm which I loved-- gin is my favorite and the drinks packed a punch of flavor and were liquor forward. I got the rest in peas and mans got a sweeter drink that I'm spacing on the name of. Service was a bit slow but they were nice. Solid place that encapsulates what I'd expect from a gin joint-- although we talked about wishing they would add art to the walls or ceiling to enhance the vibe even more. read more

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The Gin Joint is one of my favorite places in Charleston. Their soft pretzels are homemade and so soft with flakey salt. My favorite part about The Gin Joint is their unique option to order a mystery cocktail. You can select two adjectives from the menu and the bartender will craft a cocktail specific to the words you chose. It's a great atmosphere as well. read more

The Gin Joint - Egg nog - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I had dinner nearby and ending up finding this place on the walk back to the hotel, I mainly went in out of curiosity hahaa. But it's a small place inside, they have a few table indoors and outdoors. The staff was great, answering my questions and letting me know how the bartenders choice worked. The 2 adjectives I gave were vegetal and refreshing...my drink was so good!! It was some sort of cucumber based drink, again really good! I would definitely go back, and try some new pairings! It's $15 for the bartenders choice, well worth it and I think pretty comparable to other bars in the area! If you're looking for something unique, try out this place! read more

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Cool experience. Nice atmosphere and an extensive drink menu. We had several rounds of drinks and enjoyed the cheese platter.

An intimate stylish spot with an interesting drink menu. Came in here late at night after seeing a concert at the Gaillard. The dim lighting and small space is very cozy and romantic. They have an enormous Gin list. It literally looked like a bible. They also have a fun option where you name two descriptive words and the bartender makes you a drink. Might be one of my new favorite bars in Charleston! read more

I used to come here a lot more years ago, but I've since turned into a bit more of a hermit so I rarely venture downtown. However, some friends wanted to go and I was on board. Inside was decorated for the holidays with nice greenery and the same dark mood lighting. There was a short wait to sit the three of us so we took a walk around the block since it was pretty nice out. Once we got the text that the table was ready and headed back, we were quickly sat. We had a little wait for us to get our order placed but all was well. The bartender's choice is always a good option - each of us had at least one of those. One of my friends and I also each had one of the Christmas drinks. While pretty much every time there's at least one ingredient that I have no clue what it is, everything always tastes great and is perfectly balanced. For the first time ever though, we also had some food. We got a cranberry orange focaccia with an herb butter (perfect balance of sweet and savory and tangy), chicken sausage with roasted potatoes and apples, and the burger. Everything was delicious and I would totally come back and eat here again! read more

Great bartender! Very cognizant of any allergies or dietary restrictions. Great small bar vibe. Perfect for gin lovers. read more

The Gin Joint - Gin and tonic - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I just love this restaurant! Whether you sit at the bar or reserve a table in the dining room, the food and service is always spot on! The decor is fun and it's close to everything downtown. read more

A gem of a place to stop in and get a cocktail (if you fancy gin that it) and while they have plenty of other options go with the gym. My personal favorite thing to do here is to do the bartenders choice by selecting two words and having them create something unique. My go to is always floral and fizzy. It's not great for a large group so I recommend keeping it under 4 but definitely under 6. Dark lit great for a date night read more

We really enjoyed our stop at the Gin Joint! Sadly we had reservations to get to or we would've stayed longer! The drinks we had were very good! Staff was knowledgable! Small, intimate place - we made reservations so we had no issue! Would recommend stopping in! read more

The Gin Joint - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This place is a go to for my coworkers and I. We try to make it here every other week or so. The drinks are for sure expensive, expect to spend 16-17$ per drink but you will be amazed. Some of the better drinks I've ever had have come from here. Get creative with the menu. The ambience is great, nice low lighting with great service. Definitely worth checking out read more

A beautiful specialty cocktail bar located right in downtown Charleston. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're visiting Charleston. The vibes are really fun and the people are lovely. My sister ordered a drink that wasn't to her liking and they kindly let her order something else. One tip is their recommendations can be a little off depending on what you like so my recommendation is to stick with what you like. read more

The Gin Joint - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This is a TOP TIER experience for anyone who even remotely likes gin. I am a love gin and this place exceeded all expectations. The staff is incredible. Don't order from the menu, do the random drink where you choose 2 or 3 adjectives. I promise you will love it. We came back multiple days to try different words each day and every one fit the description perfectly. My favorite was herb and refreshing. Just a very clean drink. If you are feeling adventurous, definitely try unusual. That one was always fun ordering. Their bone marrow dip is also very good. This was by far the best place to grab a few drinks in Charleston. read more

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This place was a surprise hit!!! I expected the cocktails to be on point but it exceeded expectations ! I had the peach cocktail and it was delicious. The food is creative and delicious! Roasted oysters- amazing! Hummus- original and just so yum! This place has mood, good food and out of this world cocktails!!! read more

I never want to eat mussels without cherry tomatoes again. I have tasted the combination and then with the massive amount of garlic I was terribly thrilled with how tasty this dish was. I wanted to go somewhere different and saw The Gin Joint had great reviews. I came in on a Tuesday night and was surprised how busy it was! Apparently people know, so be prepared to wait since it is a small space. It has a speakeasy feel since it is tucked behind this small gate and in this complex. Inside there's a few booths, a bar, a long table, and then a couple of corner tables. I took a corner table as the bar was full. I ordered the mussels and then tried the bartender's choice. I had a couple fun drinks picking a couple adjectives and running with it. I can't tell you what they were because no one told me. Service was ok. My waitress was professional and courteous. Not exactly warm but that was fine. It was all delicious. read more

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Went all the way down there today, Sunday at 3:00 pm. App says they were open..surprise, Closed!! If you have an app, update it!! Bad business!! Frank G read more

The vibes here are immaculate, it feels like an intimate speakeasy with warm lighting. There is a small outdoor seating area that's nice and intimate too! While we were here there was an altercation involving a really rude guest trying to get in and yelling about unfair service, but everyone who was seated knew the servers and hosts were very kind and they did a great job at handling the situation. Ian, Kayla and Sam were total pros, and good people too. I didn't get to try any food on this trip, but the gin cocktails are so unique and fun. Definitely worth a stop on your trip to Charleston! read more

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Love visiting this spot when in Charleston! It does get busy so get there around 5 ish. Their happy hour runs from 5-6 and includes a few $7 cocktails. I recommend the daiquiris or martinis! Well done classic cocktails. They also have a few snacks at a discounted price ($5-7). If you can, get the cheese plate or their olive assortment! If you decide to order food off of their actual menu their charcuterie is large and loaded with great meats and cheeses! read more

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Not super busy at the time. We were greeted promptly and sat outside. I was super excited to have Something Different and have the "Bone Marrow" appetizer as we strolled around downtown. Minutes later another customer was sat at the table next to us. The attending waitress never talked to us one time as she came back and forth 5 times including getting the recently sat tables order. The inside atmosphere is intimate and the outside is cozy yet airy. After contemplating to go to inside seating, we decided instead to leave and go elsewhere. Being busy is 100% understandable, getting ignored is another. read more