Speakeasy

A quiet little spot tucked away upstairs downtown.
I was there for work with friends and we tried the cherry whiskey they made in house and it was awesome. I have to get back there and buy barrels of it. Thanks for the great whiskey.

One of my favorite bars in Charleston! The drinks are thoughtfully prepared with care. These bartenders know what they’re doing. It’s a very chill atmosphere secretly hidden off a crazy night club! It almost feels like you’re transported back in time. Oh & definitely try the cheese platter!

This was one of if not my favorite bar in Charleston. Great atmosphere, service, and drinks. I went here every night of my trip.
It is even fun stumbling upon the bar. Can’t wait to head back to Charleston to visit again!

Friday nights around the Market Street/​East Bay Corridor, you’ll find yourself surrounded by lots of clubs and sportsbars, the kinds of loud and obnoxious joints that serve jello shots and play House of Pain’s «Jump Around.» If you’re a discerning drinker, like I am, then you’ll no doubt find the drinking establishment options about as appealing as a root canal with the Novocaine. Too many douchebags, too many scantily-​dressed bimbos flashing their tramp stamps, too much of a lot of bullshit I don’t want to put up with.
Which is why Speakeasy is a mecca, a paradise in the midst of some serious douchey nonsense. Speakeasy is the best-​kept secret in Charleston, and it needs to stay that way, but if this review has its way, it won’t be much of a secret anymore.
Now pay attention, because Speakeasy doesn’t advertise. You read right: there is NO SIGN OUT FRONT. No sign that tells you the name of this establishment is Speakeasy. I mean, do you know what a Speakeasy is? You don’t? Ask your grandfather or your great-​grandfather, and they’ll tell you. Look for the sign for a club called Light, and tell the bouncer you’d like to go to Speakeasy. The bouncer will ask you to wait until there’s either a table available, or a space by the bar open. Since it was just my wife and I, and there were two spots at the bar, we opted for the bar.
We were led in, literally led in, by someone, a host, a manager, I don’t know, nor did I care. Once in, it felt like I was in a speakeasy, essentially a converted apartment atop some shitty nightclub. The beautiful thing about Speakeasy, from the get-​go? No loud music, no hookup scene, no douchebags. Listen up: if you’re the kind of frat-​house boozer that wants to do Jagerbombs and drink Bud Lights by the dozens, get lost. Speakeasy is a serious drinking establishment, run by people that respect the drink. A place where the bartenders take their time to make a quality drink is the kind of place where the patron is EXPECTED to take their time to sip and savor their drink. No doing shots of Jäger-​whatever, you douchebag. Wet Willie’s is next door, asshole. I’m here to drink some fine bourbon and have an intelligent conversation with the bartender.
All kidding aside, Speakeasy is a throwback, a place where the cocktail is highly valued. If you don’t see anything you don’t like on their menu, tell them what you like, and they’ll help you out and not disappoint. Best of all, it’s a quiet locale where conversation is valued more than posturing and preening. If you’re going to act like a douchebag and try to pick up chicks, you’re wasting your time. Get out. People come to Speakeasy to enjoy a classic cocktail done right, by bartenders that, once again, respect the cocktail, and respect the person drinking the cocktail.
You know what’s the best thing I can say about Speakeasy? They made us feel like we were the only people there that mattered. When that happens, that tells me I’m in the best little drinking establishment in the world, and I can’t wait to go back, whenever that may be, and hopefully very soon.
Ladies and gentlemen, Speakeasy just may be my favorite bar ever, and, believe me, I’ve done some serious drinking, and there are bars in Manhattan in which my name is still whispered as a legend spoken of from generation to generation, so for me to declare Speakeasy my favorite drinking establishment ever is no exaggeration ever, even with the three Royal Manhattans and the ounce of Moonshine (my first ever taste!) floating inside me.

I’m not a huge fan of the name of the bar, but the cocktails here are quite good. With a name like Speakeasy one would assume the cocktail list would be all classics, happily not. There are several nice things to try and I suggest you do. Located above a night club called Light simply ask the doorman about it and they will show you up.

Loved it. The atmosphere was perfect. Super chill cats at the bar, comfy seats, nice cocktails. I hope these cats keep it going.

I thought I was drinking in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The bartender turned the holy Larry Bird the night I was here. He is a great guy despite being a Giants/​Yankees fan. Go Red Sox.
I drank perfect Bourbon drinks and had a nasty headache the following day. I was not expecting a NYC moment in SC. Great spot fellas.
Greg

Apple Pie moonshine is incredible!

The first rule of Speakeasy… You don’t talk about Speakeasy. Got it Mr. Durden? When people want to know about The Speakeasy it is most easily explained in a way that you do not need to be a member or anything, but you have to know it is there. The way it works is…
1. Walk up to the bouncer for Club Light on East Bay St.
2. Tell the bouncer that you and your party would like to go to Speakeasy.
3. He radios the hostess and she comes down to let you know if there are any tables available or if there is a wait (There is no hanging around by the bar upstairs… you either have a table or you don’t)
4. Once they have a table ready, they brink you upstairs as if you are going to Club Light. Just before you walk into club light you turn into an unmarked black service door that looks like an exit or something.
5. You are then in a dimly lit «holding room» as the hostess gets everybody inside the holding room (This is where the magic happens, instead of walking into some bump and grind club, you took a left turn and went back in time in this «holding room»).
6. The big wooden door in front of you is opened and you enter a prohibition style hidden bar.
You can immediately tell that the place used to be an old apartment (there is still a shower in the bathroom), which adds to the prohibition feel. All the bartenders are dressed in vests and ties and you feel kinda like Al Capone coming in for a night cap. Cocktails are listed on a menu, with daily specials on a chalkboard but you are not limited to these selections. The bartenders will put together a custom drink for you upon request to suit your desires and preferences. One time, I saw a girl tell the bartender that she needed a drink that was gluten free. Without any hesitation the bar keep said that was not a problem and probed for some detail of her particular palate. She mentioned a few things she liked, one of them being cucumber, he put together a custom cucumber cocktail just for her that she said was the best she had ever had.
I have also had drinks tailored to order and they have been some of the best I have ever tasted as well. It is well known that the drinks are fantastic, but the feel of going back in time really separates it from any bar I have been to (even ones with similar concepts). I always bring out of town guests here and they are always impressed. Last time, we were seated at a table next to Bill Murray and his friends. Which makes it cool, not because we got to meet Bill Murray and slam back some shots with the guy, cause we DID NOT. Speakeasy is the type of place that there is an understanding not to behave that way. Even though a friends significant other thought it would be cool to introduce himself and let Mr. Caddyshack know that it was his birthday (like Bill Murray cares) when I politely suggested that he not do so in any way shape or form. I advised him that Bill Murray is in a place like this so he doesn’t have to be bothered by everyone looking for autographs reciting his movie quotes to him. He can simply enjoy himself with friends as we were there to do as well.
If you don’t know what I mean by this, then you probably shouldn’t go to Speakeasy. If you do, then you are probably the type of person who doesn’t mind paying $ 10+ for a drink when you know you are really getting the atmosphere for free.