Big John's Tavern

We stumbled upon Big John’s Tavern while looking for a break from walking around Charleston. We discovered the best happy hour of our trip! Our group of six enjoyed all of our cocktails and beer selections! The staff were very friendly and fun.Our bartender,, Will was the best!

Amazing bar with great staff! As a traveling UK national, I was given an extra half pint on the house when I ordered a "pint".. the staff welcomed the confusion of quantities by given me more!!! Legends!!!

We picked this place because of the menu on the website. We wanted the chopped steak and the clothes line bacon. When we got to the restaurant they had no items that they had listed. They had 2 different smash burgers 3 different hot dogs bologna sandwich and fried shrimp dinner. What we had was good and the service and people were great. If the menu is an old one I suggest you remove it from your website.

What a joke. Wish I didn't spend a dime here. The bartender working tonight Sunday 6/29 was so rude. Walked in and was completely ignored from the get go. He spent his whole time chumming it up at the bar with his friends. He completely ignored us. We asked if they were serving food and he said "until 1" and walked away. We had to ASK again to order. Bartender was talking about getting stoned and going to Folley beach the next day. A LITTLE attention and kindness goes a long way. I've never not tipped before but tonight I tipped nothing. That bartender deserves to be fired. Such a shame he makes this place look like crap. Don't waste your time.. especially if you're a women. You'll be completely ignored and will have to bother him for service. We had to have the bar back cash us out. What a JOKE. Also had his dirty shoes on the bar the whole time? Only nice person was the cook who came out . We had to ask for our check, napkins, waters. Like what is the point ? He was only friendly to his buddies at the bar. He literally looked our way ONCE 😅😂 also their espresso martini was the worst one I've ever had. I was so disappointed. They added egg white. Why? Made it smell and taste like wet dog. Disgusting

So I have been on the hunt for the best burger in Charleston, and let me tell you, it has ended after trying the double bacon burger from Big John’s. It’s a no frills burger in an age where everyone is trying to do something different. Well seasoned double stack of patties, melty American cheese, bacon, and special sauce; pretty much all you need. The best part? Extremely modestly priced for what you get! The entire staff here is awesome and the casual divey atmosphere makes Big John’s one of my favorite spots for a burger and a beer. Go try one for yourself!

Cool bar came here on a recommendation…First round of cocktails was fine tried to get a miller light in between my and my wife’s second round I tend to drink faster the clown behind the bar cracked it open and said that’ll be 9 dollars I laughed said okay gave him a 20 he gave me a 5 and 5 singles back a dollar short I ate in a few of the most expensive restaurants in the area that price is absurd and a lie idk what I did or if this is the usual? The other bartender was cool had his girlfriend at the bar this was a Sunday before memorial Day worth being noted I tip 30 to 50 percent on bar tabs

Wish I could give negative stars. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone but especially not to any woman. Went during a trip with friends and we were treated SO poorly. We were a small group and weren’t being rowdy, we just wanted a drink and dinner. The bartender sat with his feet up on the bar and completely ignored us (literally turning away when we tried to get his attention). We practically had to beg him to take our food order (which we didn’t get to finish since he walked away halfway through). I’m a firm believer in tipping regardless of service but I did not tip. What a clown.

My favorite restaurant in South Carolina. Incredible bar staff (Taylor and Austin) in particular. The freshest beer and incredible food. I asked for my wings to be extra hot and it was put in as a special request. The hottest, most delicious wings I’ve ever eaten. I went back the next day for another tray. Best whiskey sour I’ve had in a long time. Taylor has a gift pouring drinks. Long live BJ’s

Great googly moogly - fantastically welcoming, great drinks made by caring and friendly bartenders in a comfy room with plenty of different seating options to accommodate anyone. Good variety of beers and drinks, but not trying to be everything to all people - just aiming to be a great neighborhood bar and hitting that one out of the park. It's great. That said . . . the FOOD is actually better than that. The double cheeseburger with thinly sliced jalapeños was one of the best burgers I've had in years (and I have a lot of burgers). My wife liked her chili cheese dog, too, but - man, did I love that burger. I'll remember this place and I'll return next time we're in Chuck Town. Big John's Tavern is outstanding.

If you're visiting Charleston, make sure you stop in and experience Big John's!!! So my wife and I spent the weekend in Charleston (went to a concert Friday night)...spent Saturday and Sunday seeing the sites, taking museum tours, etc. went to City Market on Sunday AM and decided to stop at Big John's Tavern. What a great spot and we had a great time!!! Greeted very warmly by Eric and Katie, we spent a couple of hours chatting, drinking, laughing and generally having the best time. Both Eric and Katie are the kind of employees that keep people coming back!!! The bar has a great vibe, lots of big screen TVs for football on a Sunday. Amazing place, well worth the short walk and highly recommended!!!

Love this place. Small Tavern near downtown. We got the Tuesday special: Double cheese burger with fries for $10. I didn't take a picture because there was nothing particularly exciting about its appearance. However, it was amazing. It is simple, but who cares. The flavor was great. I'm not even a hamburger person and I ate the whole thing. The two gentlemen working and very attentive. The burgers came out quickly and were hot. You get curly fries and a side of ketchup with your burger. Since it was a tavern, we also tried the Red and Hefeweisen from local, Charleston breweries. Loved those, too. Beware, it's a small, local dive. Ok, don't beware. Enjoy the atmosphere. This is so much better than the pricey restaurants on Bay Street. Leave your tight ass at the door. I mean, come on, the napkins are bar towels. Give this place a try. You'll live it!​

This was such a fun bar! The building is super cool too! The old architecture is stunning! The bartenders were super cool and funny! They were also super considerate! I got a bunch of drinks but the strawberry bliss and strawberry burst (can) were definitely my favorites. We went two nights in a row because it was so enjoyable! Definitely recommend coming here!

Ask for Brendan Oniel! By the far the best bar tender in the south! Great bar all around - thanks to our awesome bar tenders!

Came in to BJ's for a night cap this weekend and had such a blast. Bar staff was fun,conversational & accommodating. Our bartender Eric made it worth the visit and we appreciated the conversation & the local insight! Walked away with a restaurant recommendation that turned out it to be perfect the next night. Felt obliged to offer this review!

Great atmosphere and top notch drinks! We had a great bartender named Eric that not only was very personable but took the time to explain some of my interests in the drinks that my girlfriend and I had ordered and told us some places of interest for our weekend visit!

Eric was an amazing bartender! Coming from a service industry background, I was super impressed with his speed, customer service & the quality of the drinks! This spot is a must when visiting Charleston!

Service and ambiance was great! We will come back again!! Bartender was super attentive and plays chess.

Very good service and wonderful drinks! I am not sure what it is but Bar drinks hit differently. Like they add something that makes you instantly tipsy. At any rate the bartender was was super helpful and was happy to answer any questions we had. We were there pretty early! It was s a great time! I thought the look of the bar was cool! It was definitely giving old tavern

Neat place with absolute terrible customer service. We walked in, we weren't greeted, we seem to bother them w/ our patronage. The young lady stayed on her phone, never smiled...she didn't want to be there! The guy was just too cool for school. He left and ate his dinner and left us all hanging. Neither one of them represented this place well. Please review camera footage...just sad!

5-25-23 8pm Came here for a quick drink before going on our Ghost Tour nearby. Thought to get an espresso martini with that little bit of caffeine for a jolt. To my surprise the bar tender was making the drink on front of me and I noticed the raw egg. Truthfully wished she told me first as I would have passed. So she continued with the drink and said it adds to the froth on top. Listen I will try anything once and next time I definitely would not get. I could smell egg with every sip on the glass. It felt like I was doing Penance for something I did wrong. Hubby had his gin and tonic and the. We ran off to our tour. Cute little hidden place so it was nice and not too crowded as we got two seats at the bar. Definitely would come back next visit to Charleston but probably I would just get a beer.

stopped at Big John's for a quick lunch. we tried the chicken cesar wrap and ahi tuna wrap. the short rib nachos were delicious! the food was fresh but smaller portions. the prices were a bit steep for what we ordered (and no sides came with the handhelds). the service was quick and attentive. would recommend for a quick drink and apps.

Just had the appetizers but they were all terrific! Locals type of place but they were very welcoming. Plan to visit again on future visits

Service, ambiance, drinks, were all great. We didn't get any food, but those that did you could tell it was good.

Although I miss Cain's which was in this spot previously the vibe is fun here. A bit loud since it was hard to talk with the person next to you. Cool place for a few drinks. Try the purple haze. Lots of craft beers offered. Great service.

How it took us so long to go here is beyond me! Big John's Tavern has THE BEST espresso martini I've ever had. Freshly brewed espresso, right in front of you! Egg white foam, not sweet but plenty of flavor. The smash burger will have you dreaming about when you get to go back. The pretzel appi is so yummy. Highly recommend this little dive bar gem. You won't regret it!

One of the best bars I've ever been to DELICIOUS food and an espresso martini that is to die for! Definitely get pretzels and brussels sprouts! And amazing staff

Great service, knowledgeable staff. Would highly recommend this establishment. If you love bacon this is a must.

Excellent cocktail, beer & wine selection. shrimp & scallop appetizer. Attentive $ friendly service. Great, chill atmosphere.

On the recommendation of someone who grew up in Charleston, we tried his favorite dive bar Big John's Tavern. This is not a dive, but it is a very simple bar with a super reasonable happy hour (half off all local distilled spirits and beers). After an extremely long pause when we were seated at the bar, we were finally asked what we would like to drink. Service after that was great. I had a gin and tonic for $4.50 while husband had a local brew for $4. We ordered a seafood salad for 1295 that was an enormous portion of scallops and shrimps with a very light lemon aioli, topped with a mystery green puff that turned out to be flash fried chives. What an amazing garnish, it melted in my mouth! The shrimp and scallops were huge and very generous. Had we known that the bread was going to be deep fried, we might have ordered it toasted. I brought my own rice crackers to stay GF (thankfully), and husband ate some of the salad with the fried bread and then switched to just forking up the delicious chunks. Highly recommend! Although we were in Charleston for four nights we did not make it back for a proper meal but I have heard the burgers are great!

OKAAAYYYY I am so tempted to not leave this review because I want to selfishly keep this spot a hidden gem!! But I know that would be wrong of me, haha. I came here a couple weeks ago for a Yelp event but decided to come back last night with my friend who invited me along and W O W. First of all, this is my new favorite spot for both dirty (gin) martinis anddd espresso martinis (legit one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had). Secondly, THE FOOD. They have a new chef with a new menu and you wouldn't expect this kind of food to be served in this kind of bar but that's what makes it all so cool -- it's the oldest bar in Charleston, it's soo cute, they do karaoke on Tuesdays, and even have a speakeasy next door in the vape shop but shh, I didn't tell you that. Check out the pics to see the amazing food we got! I can't wait to bring all my visitors to this epic spot.

HOLY COW BIG JOHNS - I came here for a Yelp event a few weeks ago and honestly was not super impressed, but when I learned they had a new chef, decided to give it a new try. Honestly, this meal was mind blowing! Started with an espresso martini and this recipe with the chocolate + egg whites is amazing! I would order this as a dessert. I also had a dirty martini which was tasty but not my favorite. THE APPETIZERS were life changing! GET THE CURRIED STEAK TARTARE - flavors are bold and complex, steak is fresh and buttery, and crostinis are perfectly crispy and a delectable ratio to the tartare! The soft pretzels will forever live in my memory, portion was generous to share and having the choice of mustard, beer cheese, and cinnamon honey butter made my heart sing. The cinnamon honey butter paired with the pretzel reminded me of a gourmet Auntie Anne's cinnamon sugar pretzel - to die for. For entrees we got the Shrimp Linguini and Alabama Duck. The Shrimp Linguini was light and flavorful and shrimp was plentiful and well seasoned. The Alabama Duck was an unexpected WOW! The portion was huge, pairing with the pearled couscous and veggies were perfect. We had enough to bring each item home for leftovers and I want to give major props to the chef - she is a culinary genius! A little about the atmosphere, this is the oldest tavern in Charleston so it is cozy and casual and has the old time tavern vibe. They have karaoke Tuesday nights and bartenders are super cool and interesting to talk to, you can tell how passionate they are in what they do. Harry is awesome! Don't tell them I told you, but the vape shop next door is actually a speakeasy - I can't wait to check that out!

Cool spot. No frills. Best burger in town by far. Wings were amazing one day, we went back the next and they were 1/4 the size and the same price- that's gonna be a no for me. Service is pretty good considering they are mostly kids- early 20's... the drinks are very well made. The bacon app was very good too. I'd go back for the burger and bacon, not the wings though.

Zach is by far the best bartender I've ever had! He had all of us laughing so much while also making us the most delicious drinks! Great vibes and will definitely come back and hope Zach is our bartender!

Great place to chill and relax food was delicious, and I will definitely recommend the grill chicken salad delicious... My daughter feels very relaxed great vibes..

The bar tender Eric is awesome. He was so personable, really made the bar come to life. The best place in Charleston. There is a reason it has surpassed the test of time!

Don't stop here if you don't want to be met with undeserved rudeness!! While some bartenders are professionals, that cannot be stated for the entire staff!! My girlfriend and I have been on a tour of the Southeastern U.S.. We're from Fort Lauderdale and started with a few cities in our home state Florida, before moving on to Savannah, Georgia, where we had a brilliant time (highly recommend it; we're coming back for a full week with our closest friends). Being a History buff this particular stop made sense. But so does Charleston, South Carolina. We so like to have a good time, and in each one of the cities we visited, we scheduled several night time stops. To get to the point. Out night in Charleston started at The Rooftop, an awesome bar In Downton Charleston limited by its hours of operation (they close at 10pm). So we ventured out for the closest place that would be open longer. That turned out to be Big John's Tavern, which closed at 2am. At first we were having a good time. There was live music, the atmosphere of locals seemed to gel properly, and we were doing something that in my opinion was quite responsible, which was keeping hydrated while drinking water our alcoholic drinks - personally I had asked for a Sweet Tea Bourbon and my girlfriend asked for a typical drink Gin and tonic or some derivative. This should have been the first sign of trouble. Instead of the Sweet Tea and Bourbon, which is supposed to be the signature drink of South Carolina, the bartender, who was drunk off his behind, brought us a Baileys and Bourbon, hoping, I guess, we wouldn't tell the difference in our Inebriated state. That was not all. As we proceeded to be responsible drinkers by hydrating between rounds of drinks, we stepped outside to have a conversation with the bouncer/doorman and the singer who had previously been singing live at the venue (she was quite good), and when we tried to return, the bartender barred us from returning inside and literally ordered the same man we had been talking to, the bouncer/doorman to not let us back into the bar because, according to him, we were not buying drinks. The bouncer/doorman was extremely apologetic. He was a really great guy. The bartender, in his hasty judgment, had forgotten we had not closed our tab. So, as opposed to his desire, we had to return inside to close the tab. At that point, I, personally, didn't not want an explanation, and he wasn't willing to offer one. His rudeness, and greed, had overwritten any desire and venture for a good time. He tried, unsuccessfully, I may add, to end the joy with which we had marched in through his doors. We walked out without making a fuss, and continued on our marry way. There are better places in Charleston where our money and yours can be spent better. At the end of the day, we all should support local businesses, but we should support local businesses that focus on caring about their customers, instead of just MONEY, and care also about providing a good and professional service. In the case of a bar, a good time. He, the bartender, literally, in his haste, drunkenness, or whatever it was only charged us $8 for what could have really been a $40 tab. In doing what he did, not only did he try, again, unsuccessfully, to ruin our night, but also shot his greedy self on the foot and the bar for which he works/owns/or helps at! If you're an owner or operator of this place, you should know exactly who I'm talking about as his picture, taken at a time of celebration - is included in review! If you're a customer - beware - this could also happen to you!

Nelson and Casey were great! So glad we stopped in for a Bloody Mary! The bacon appetizer was outstanding along with some others. Everything was outstanding!

We popped in here quickly for a drink before our dinner reservation elsewhere. Seems like a great spot where locals might go. The drinks and service were great! We went during happy hour where drinks from local breweries were half off. It was a great way to try a local beer!

This place is Heaven on Earth. The best espresso martini I have ever had lives here. The food is 10/10, drinks 10/10, atmosphere 100/10. I want to be buried at this bar on a bed of espresso martinis

The bartender is knowledgeable and lots of fun to chat with. I had the most fun martini Earl grey House infused earl grey tanqueray with lemon and lavender. Yum

Looking for a place to watch the playoff football game and found Big John's. The black eyed peas and cracklings were a surprise! Not expecting it to be sweet and covered in brown sugar but it was good! The smash burger was amazing. Great service too!

Delicious food, great service, amazing drinks. 10/10 wish I could live here so it could be my go to pub.

A comfortable and trendy place, much cleaner and a great redo of an old haunt of mine from decades ago, before the fire that destroyed the interior. There is a really long bar now with a number of bottles of spirits (as seen in the main photo on Yelp) and two large color TVs playing movies. Good that they were not playing sports, but movies AND with closed captioning turned on. Delightful place, but mainly a young clientele, and mainly young ladies when my wife and I were there. Only downer is finding parking because, cafte all, it is downtown Charleston and near the market.

Great service and fun vibes- Austin killed it, would go again any time!!! not from Charleston, but came here and felt welcomed. come here any time!!

I haven't been here in 10 years and it still just as good if not better. I want to hear for a yelp elite burger binge event and stop by today to get a burger and a brewski paired with the Tyrannosaurus rex double IPA from new realm brewing. Excellent customer service and not very busy at all today.

Top notch service. Entertaining staff and great personalities. When I come to Charleston, I will visit again. With a name like John (Hales) You have to visit Big John's tavern

Stopped in after walking and sightseeing the battery and surrounding areas. Had a delicious local Kolsch and it was included in happy hour pricing so only $4. Didn't eat this time but would consider for next visit

Maggie and Ricky are literally the best bartenders I have EVER had and worked with! I have traveled and worked in bars for 13 years and traveled to 17 different states. And by far they are the best group I have ever had for service! He's an incredible manager and she's is in incredibly personable server/ bartender! She also has the best smile and truly was very personable, which I have found to be very rare, especially from an out of town guest. Literally the best experience I have had at a bar in years! This will definitely be a stop I make sure I take coming forward while traveling for work!

Best nachos in town...great local place for a beer, cocktail or burger. Highly recommended this place.

Fun Sports Bar - calling all New York Giants Fans!!! Reservations are not usually needed, but are available! Walking distance from the downtown market, making this a great spot to stop in for a drink and food after a day of shopping

Great bartenders and the bacon clothesline was great!!! Would definitely recommend this place and we look forward to going back soon!!

Awesome food ! Awesome service! The bartender/servers checked in and were great personable and just really nice people. We will come back

A great restaurant to start at if you're on vacation. Food, fun, entertainment, and a lot of laughs. The Karaoke is one of the best parts aside from the delicious food.

My wife and I are in town for the weekend and just wander in. I am a fan of amber ales and it did not disappoint. My wife was undecided on a drink so the super cool bartender recommended an espresso martini "as the best in town." We interacted with three different staff and all had great personalities. The brisket nachos came in a tin can and were nicely presented. The bacon was hanging by a clothes pin on a rod. My descriptions are not doing this place justice, so just go in and experience for yourself!

Ricky was by far the best bartender I've had in Charleston!! I came home to visit family this holiday season and he really knew how to show his customers a great time! Not only did he serve every drink with a smile but he made THE BEST ESPRESSO MARTINIS in town! What a shock!

New and inexperienced yelper here. My review is worth your time please give it a read... I gave it a three out of five stars for the following -the drink selection is great. I'm from Wisconsin and the Old Fashion drink is not what I'm used to. It is a solid 2/10 with a very smoky taste -the chicken sandwich is two chicken tenders with a bun. The chicken is very good, but sad by the tender type presentation -I heard from my companions the smash burger was good -the nacho's were sub par, very limited meat portions -the fries were electric. By far the best thing on the menu that we tried The atmosphere and environment were great. The staff was very friendly and fun as well. Hope this helps!

Best smash burger ever.. bacon on a close line.. service is good and reasonably priced considering the area.