The Christmas season is upon us, and I get “Buddy the Elf level” excited about all the Christmas things. From over-the-top decorations to holiday-themed events, I love it all — even the part where we hear Mariah belting out “All I Want for Christmas” for the eight millionth time. I can’t wait to take my son to the Festival of Lights, especially now that he’s a little older and is really starting to understand Christmas. Experiencing the excitement and wonder through your child’s eyes is pure magic.
I love, love, love this time of year in Charleston.
Blue Christmas
With all the excitement comes the inevitable holiday fatigue, which can make you feel like a real-life Grinch. If you have school-age kiddos, you are well aware of all the activities leading up to Christmas break. It’s a lot. My son is three and not quite at the stage where school events take over the month of December, but I’m already excited for/dreading it. Is there a word for that? Dread-citement? Can we make it a word?
Sure, there are things you can do like meditation, box breathing, or repeatedly punching a plastic Santa yard decoration in the face to mitigate the stress and overwhelm of the season. But doesn’t a night out on the town with your girlfriends sound a lot more fun? Bonus if those girlfriends are also moms who are feeling the pressure too? Extra bonus if the bars you hop around to have decked all their halls for Christmas? That’s a resounding fa la la from me!
Girls’ Holiday Night Out Has Entered the Chat . . .
Two years ago my dear girlfriends, who also happen to live within walking distance, and I started a fun holiday tradition. We don our holly jolliest apparel and hit the streets of downtown Charleston for all of the bars that go to Christmas extremes with their decorations and bespoke holiday-themed food and drink menus. This will be year three, and I can’t wait! It is an absolute blast of a night!
Here are the spots we’re hitting this year, not in any particular order, plus a list of several holiday pop-ups around Charleston!
- Sippin’ Santa at Prohibition: 547 King Street. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., daily until January 1st.
- Bar Mashmas: 701 East Bay Street. Hours: 4:00 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday).
- Little Pine: 237 Meeting Street. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday; 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday until January 5th.
- Blind Tiger: 36-38 Broad Street. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Monday through Sunday.
- Frannie’s Winter Courtyard: 181 Church Street. Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday; 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday until January 5th.
- The Dewberry: 334 Meeting Street. Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 7:00 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday.
Other Holiday Bars & Spots Not to Miss
Here is a more extensive list of other restaurants/bars/events around town that all have awesome holiday decorations and themed menus!
*Please note that not all the bars/restaurants listed have their websites updated with their holiday menus/info. Please check their social media pages for updates.
- Thoroughbred Club at Charleston Place: 205 Meeting Street. Hours: 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 12:00 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday.
- Camellias at Hotel Bennett: 404 King Street. Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Thursday; 5:00 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday.
- Ritual Rooftop: 145 Calhoun Street, Unit 301. Hours: 4:00 p.m. to close, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., Friday; 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Saturday; 11:00 a.m. to close, Sunday.
- Iron Rose at Mills House Hotel: 115 Meeting Street. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., Saturday; 8:00 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday.
- The Watch Rooftop & Kitchen: 79 Wentworth Street. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday; 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday.
- Santi’s: 1302 Meeting Street. Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
- Cleats Christmas Bar: 1640 Meeting Street Road, Suite 101. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesday).
- Sweatman’s Garden: 90 Folly Road Boulevard. Hours: 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
- Skate the Stadium: 161 Seven Farms Drive. Hours: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday; 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday (closed Dec. 7, 24, 25, 31).
- The Polar Perch: 644 Coleman Boulevard. Kitchen Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday; 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.
Whether you are hitting the town for a much-needed night out, or just grabbing a quick lunch after your 10th trip to Target, you can’t go wrong with any of the above spots to keep you from going full Scrooge.
Where in Summerville?