Lowlife Bar

In a lowlife bar by the dusky shore, Where the charm offers so much more. Jerk chicken sizzles, spices dance, A culinary feast, a taste-filled trance. Crabcakes crisp to a Marylander's cheer, Fresh and flavorful, the taste is clear. Friendly faces, music's tune, A hidden gem beneath the moon.

Yes, you have to go to the bar to order. Yes, you have to get your own water and refills. But listen, we’ve been in town for 3 days now and this has been the BEST meal we’ve had thus far. The staff is extremely helpful, their patio is dog friendly and their food is phenomenal. The Avocado Toast with smoked salmon was to die for and the crab cake sandwich with waffle fries was extremely flavorful. You cannot miss this spot when visiting Folly Beach!!

Loved this place. The falafel sandwich and crab cake sandwich were awesome. The waffle fries are great and good prices!

This was a very lively atmosphere and the food was really good! The poke wontons were fresh but smaller like an appetizer. The tiny mushrooms were a nice touch and added some woodiness. The jerk chicken was amazing with tangy and flavorful spices, perfectly cooked and with subtly coconut and lime rice. You order everything at the bar and they bring it to you. We also tried the ice cream taco and it was small for the price but it had a good shell and the ice cream inside was very tasty. A lot of whipped cream around it and not a lot of fruity pebbles. We didn’t try any drinks but the looked great as well!

Great beachy bar in Folly. Definitely going back. Our bartender Mike was attentive & professional.

Best bar/restaurant in Folly. The drinks and food are superb. The bartenders are all super friendly. Atmosphere is relaxed but energetic - it's just got a great energy and a vibe that's perfect for Folly. The menu has a good variety, including vegetarian options. All orders happen at the bar but they do bring the food to your table. Beer selection is limited but very good. Great place for brunch any day of the week! Grab one of their specialty mimosas, they're all amazing. After 3pm their menu changes (a few brunch items drop off) but it's still a great choice for lunch, dinner, or just a snack. As for cocktails, you almost can't go wrong with their specialties - there's something for everyone's taste.

Cool little spot!! Start off saying the absolute best chicken sandwich I have ever had, paired with the best waffle fries I have ever eaten. Wife got the cheeseburger and it was so tender and juicy. Definitely stop by for the food, truly cool place!

Great place for casual drinking and eating. Food is very good. Try the Thai Brussels sprouts and the shrimp roll. And the fried chicken sandwich. Their fries are great too. friendly service. Outside seating available. You seat yourself and order at the bar. Pretty fast service.

A spot I find myself draw to whenever we're in Folly! The cocktails are fresh, and well-crafted. The food is tasty and service is great too. Love this place for a morning cocktail and brunch! Good vibes all around 10/10

I was with a group of 5 who went on Tuesday evening after Easter. It was still very busy & we had a challenge finding a table for 5. Eventually we were able to sit at the outside bar which was nice since they had the overhead warmers, it was still cool & windy in early April. We were a bit disappointed because they only had a few seafood items and they were out of the Tuna Poke, Mahi Tacos & Crab Cakes. It was a festive vibe because the entertainment, a guy named Liam was rocking the place. He was getting an enthusiastic ovation after every song. He did an exceptional cover of All Along The Watch Tower. The food was good. The bartender Cory was amazing! She was friendly & professional. This place has a 'dive bar' vibe but if you're OK with that you will enjoy it

I cannot believe I haven't reviewed lowlife yet! My favorite bar on Folky that never disappoints with cocktails or food! The brunch is amazing--probably the best avocado toast I've ever had in the area. But I cannot stress enough how amazing the waffle fries (both dipping sauces are unreal!) and Brussels sprouts are here, I refuse to come without ordering them. As far as cocktails go-I've tried most of their specialty list and they are all delicious! I am a big fan of the Slow Life cocktail, it's small but packs a punch! My pup and I love it here and the ambiance is always amazing indoors and out!

The breakfast burrito is amazing!! Their local hot sauce is so good that we bought a bottle. If you are in folly you definitely have to stop by this hidden gem

Try to avoid getting a drink here. There are so many other places nearby that will make you a true drink for way less. My cocktail was one of the worst I ever tasted so I asked if I could get a margarita, first time I've ever had to do something like this. Bartender seemed chill about it and when I watched him make the margarita he put a splash of tequila and filled the entire thing with sour mix. Took one sip, & asked for my check. $14 bill for two sips of the worst drinks I've ever tried. Headed back to the bar I came from before which was selling top shelf margs for $10 with healthy pours on the liquor. I regretted just walking out and not paying for it but I wasn't going to stoop down to the Lowlife bar name and figured I'd just write a review about it. So don't get a drink here and if you feel like trying so otherwise then definitely don't let the dude with the long hair make it.

Very cute, busy but not too busy, casual dress, good good for groups of solo visit. We only tried the cheese dip thing which I didn't love but my friends did. Besides a guest putting their mini dog ON the bar, everything else was great. One of the bartenders politely asked them not to put their pet on a public bar and they obliged. Definitely worth checking out when you're in SC.

Great beach bar. You seat yourself and order at the bar. Food comes out quickly and drinks are good. Their take on a pina colada wasn't our favorite but we loved all the others. For food we did the queso, crab cake sandwich and avocado toast. The queso was great, chips super light and thin. The fries that came with the crab cake were everyone's favorite. I grew up on the Chesapeake bay so am a tough crab cake critique and these met my standards, only disappointment was it was d r o w n i n g in sauce. Almost made it inedible. Hopefully that was a fluke thing but next time I would definitely request the sauce on the side. The avo toast was my personal favorite bite. I'd definitely order that again. A very fun and yummy stop when on Folly.

Love this place! Food is great mostly every time, however, there have been a few times where it has been not as great - likely due to the amount of people and orders being processed at any given moment. Same with the service, most times it is great - but same concept as the food, can vary depending how busy they are. We tried the double cheeseburger and added bacon, which was good... and huge! Also tried the Caesar salad with shrimp, and the shrimp were great. I think the Erik Estrada drink was the best part of this visit. Frozen piña colada with cinnamon, allspice & clove. Overall, highly recommend - and be patient if they happen to be busy during your visit!

So many people in Charleston have raved about low life bar, so I was really excited to try it. The vibes are awesome! It is exactly the type of place you would want to hang out at before or after a beach day at Folly. The servers were so kind and friendly, and I just really enjoyed being there. I got the piña colada (which has kind of a cool funky name at the restaurant that I cannot recall right now) and it was amazing! I loved that drink, and will certainly go back for more of it. The food left a lot to be desired. I will start with the chicken sandwich. A good chicken sandwich has to be really crispy on the outside and unfortunately this sandwich seriously lacked crispiness. The chicken was simply too soft and melted into the bread creating a bit of a soggy mess. The flavor was nice, but the texture really was not there. We also got the crabcake sandwich. Again the flavor was good, but there was not enough crispiness to distinguish the crabcake from the bread. I will say, their fries are outrageously delicious. I highly recommend you order those. Although we only tried those two dishes, we were a bit disappointed. However, I will be going back to Lowlife bar for drinks and french fries, and perhaps to try a few more menu items. You should go try it too!

So glad to have stumbled upon an espresso martini in Folly! Friendly staff, dog friendly :)

LOVE THIS PLACE. Okay the cutest indoor outdoor bar vibe with friendly service and a unique menu. Every food item had a fun twist on something you've had before. The fries are an absolute must if you coming here and they make their own ketchup. The Brussels were some of the most unique flavors I have ever had and delicious. The avo toast was on a flavorful (I believe sourdough) bread and it was thicccc with avo and radish which complimented it well. Then not pictured were the ahi tuna nachos which were my least favorite just because everything else was soooo great. And I truly say this because they were still delish! Drink menu looked good with some fun flavored mimosas that I will definitely try next time we're in town. Overall- don't miss this gem!

THIS IS THE SPOT! we came out after a bartender recommend it! The food was amazing! The French onion grilled cheese was to die for! The bartender were super cool!

This is the best beach bar on Folly. It is tucked a few streets back from the beach and is a couple buildings away from Center Street, which gives it a hidden gem vibe. It has a great outdoor bar and, although a little cramped, the inside has lots of seating and a fun beach feel. Their specialty cocktails are a little pricey, but they are well worth it. My go to is the Dark and Shady, they're variation of the dark and stormy. It's garnished with candied ginger! Their food is GOOD. I've never had anything bad. Probably some of the best food on the island. I highly recommend this spot.

my favorite is the Queso and chips but they do a mean fried chicken sandwich. The Margaritas are delicious. ambiance is so much fun, great people and music playing. The staff are amazing, so friendly and accommodating. love Izzy, Cory Mike Alex and Matt are my favorites.

Super cool environment! The drinks were bomb! Great little spot to grab lunch and a drink.

Good vibe and great fries. Our group absolutely loved the tacos and fried chicken sandwich. The staff were accommodating and quick with service. Drinks were very tart. Too much lemon and lime juice. Caesar salad was okay, but I wouldn't get it again. Just didn't have very flavorful lettuce and the chicken for whatever reason had a bit of a fish taste, which I did not enjoy.

What has happened here!! As a local this is one of my favorite go to spots on Folly! Tonight was ridiculous. Sat outside and some yo yo decided it would be a good time (7ish) to run an impact driver to fix a table. Seriously nobody cares that you can use a power tool. Mind you this was something he could have easily taken to the back of the restaurant to repair. But how would the rest of the staff have had a chance to chit chat with him. I'm sorry but do these things when the restaurant is closed. Nobody wants to hear that when they are trying to relax at a bar. So on top of this, it seems that the bar staff was more concerned with taking shots and drinking behind the bar than they were with serving customers. It sucks because I have always talked this place up, heard great things about the owner, but damn not interested in this crap. Had one drink and that was it.

Really enjoyed Lowlife. We went in on a Saturday night in November and it was easy to get a spot under a heater on the patio to bring our dog. Our bartender was super friendly and spoke very highly of his staff and team. They opened on thanksgiving to feed their staff and locals.

Had a great time! The service was great at the bar and it's close to everything. Drinks were really good, but the food options were a bit limited. The food we had was great, though, so this is a perfect place to have a drink and have some finger foods. Will definitely go back.

Great chill atmosphere - live music - enjoyed the vibe. We had the deep fried Oreos and they were sooo good. Definitely recommend.

Great drinks and friendly staff. Perfect blend of a laid-back setting with high quality cocktails and food. I tried the Eric Estrada with a dark rum floater. Thinking about it makes me want one.

Lowlife should be renamed Highlife. Their food is spot on and always consistent. I had my usual which is the avocado toast with two poached eggs on top. The bread is perfectly toasted on the outside chewy on the inside. Every bite is a delight with pine nuts, watermelon radish, shallots, and the perfect hint of basil. The creamy avocado and the yolk makes a killer sauce. My husband had the breakfast burrito which was so perfectly savory- the salsa with it had a spot on hint of smokiness, just wished he had some potatoes or chips with it. The only thing that I drop a star for is the paper that I end up eating on the bottom of the basket... It gets soggy with the food and rips apart ending up in my gut lol Definitely add Lowlife to your highlights here on Folly!!

This is one of my favorite bars on Folly. The specialty cocktails are so good! I got the Toni Basil and it was refreshing and delicious. They have a great atmosphere and I love that you can sit outside at the bar. The drinks are pretty pricey but they are definitely worth the cost. The staff is always great and very friendly. This place is not to be missed when heading down to Folly beach!

I absolutely love the Lowlife Bar, it has amazing fries and burgers. The fries were crisp and the burger was delicious. Great for kids, has many options!

Awesome bar/atmosphere/food!! We go every time we visit Folly Beach! Thai Brussels and Erica Strada is a must.

GET THE PINA COLODA. Great staff cool vibes. Came here for one drink and turned into three. Bloody Mary's are spicy if that's what you're looking for. Cheers

Pleasantly surprised with the service, the food, and the atmosphere. Went here for a leisurely lunch while visiting Folly and enjoyed it so much that my husband and I BOTH bought tee shirts, because they were even awesome! We had the pimiento cheese and the shrimp roll and both were refreshing, flavorful, and great portions for the price. And OMG those waffle fries! The best. Love the open air flow, the bar's design is super fun and the staff was really welcoming and friendly!

Cute little place with great snacks and cocktails. Beachy vibe off the main street. Off season it was just busy enough but not crazy. Got to keep my cute beer koozie too thanks!

Still drooling over their house made falafel burger... it is made with cucumber salad & mint yogurt (ask for no yogurt to make it vegan) on a sesame bun with waffle fries, spicy ketchup & house pickles. Also their roasted garlic hummus with basil salsa verde, salsa macha, carrots, celery & warm pita was delicious!! My friends got the avocado toast one with eggs and one without, they loved it!!! Great vibes , drinks and outdoor dining atmosphere! I highly recommend this place!!! Go check it out!

Well... if you walk in based on the name and expect a divey bar.... Nope! But the drinks were decent and the atmosphere was pleasant. The drinks weren't very well balanced though. Mixologists they are not.

Lowlife has a very creative atmosphere with delicious food that is always consistent. You have to visit this hidden gem if your in the area.

Busy, fun atmosphere. Order food and drinks at he bar, then find a table. The "summer water" and "Erik Estrada" were amazing!

Great ambiance, location and food! Chill and laid back with excellent menu. Love Folly!!

A cute little spot near the beach. Very chill vibes. I parked right out front & was fine even though signs said they were for local permits only.

Welcome to FLAVORTOWN 8.5/10 stars. Unique drinks. Good food. Great customer service.

Bar itself has really cute decor, makes it feel low key and intimate but tbh prices don't really match quality of the food and choices. I did go after brunch hours so their brunch options aren't reflected in this!

Best food in Folly, and a great bar. Creative, delicious food and drinks. A must visit when in town.

Everything here is great. GREAT. We weren't even that hungry, but our local friend ordered a few things & we added some more, then it was ALL Delicious and we left happy and stuffed. Best fish tacos maybe in my lifetime. Poke wantons BOOM !!!! Drinks were Awesome, owner checked in with us a couple times. We're going there again!!!! #loveit

Wonderful creative place with its own handmade falafel. The drinks are amazing. The service is phenomenal

Food and drinks are amazing. Bartender is severely overworked. There are two other employees who's job is idk what? They can't order food or make drinks. All they do is run food for customers but they can't place orders or serve drinks which makes them.....Either way great drinks and a nice ocean vibe!

Love that they offer brunch every day. Nice outdoor seating. Waffle fries are amazing, and the rest of the food and drinks were delicious! Ordering is clunky, there is no wait staff other than food runners, so the you have to order everything at the bar and the bartender takes all of the orders and makes drinks, while also tending a full inside and outside bar. It wasn't busy and we waited for refills, can't imagine it works well when they're busy. They would benefit from using something like Toast where you can order and pay through an app.

Best bar on Folly Beach. The staff is awesome! Friendly and attentive. Food is Charleston level, outside of Charleston. And cheaper. Great 'island style' cocktails you won't find anywhere else. Forget your close toed shoes and inhibitions. You're at the beach now.

Margaritas were fabulous. Loved the Thai Chile Brussel sprouts , waffle fries and Fish Tacos. Indoor and outdoor seating. You had to order food and drinks at the bar but they bring your food to you. All employees had masks on and each table had hand sanitizer on it.

What a spot. Open air vibe with tasty strong drinks and great food. Staff seem like they really enjoy working there too.

The best food on this side of Folly! Food was great, vibe was chill and perfect, and the staff were pleasant. Jerk chicken, Brussels and Ahi Tuni were scrumptious. We had a little one with us and the staff brought him some surprise Oreos. Great move and everyone was happy.

Needed something low key on thanksgiving eve on folly. And boy did this hit the mark! fun atmosphere, huge portions, and yummy food. i got the Brussels to start (per reviews, unique flavor but not my personal favorite), and the fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich was MASSIVE and fell apart, but was in the top 5 fried chicken sandwiches of my life. But, the real showstopper was the waffle fries. Think chick fil a but better- I was stuffed but couldn't stop eating them!!!

Excellent find on Folly. Nice outdoor seating are that was properly socially distanced. The staff was super friendly and prompt. Best Fried Chicken Sandwich ever!! Carla had to take half of it home for later - the portion was SO big!! Beer was ice cold. We will be back!!

Very cool place, nice vibes, decent prices, good food. I would like to see some more salads added but won't really complain. Friendly staff and bomb cheese and chips!

I was here a few days ago with my husband and I had one of the worst experiences ever. All of the bartenders were wasted which left us waiting for at least 30 minutes for a drink that tasted like sink water. The initial vibe of the place seemed fine but during our wait we noticed that you only got service if you were friends with the staff and a lot of people especially females seemed underage, so if you're a 16 year old girl i would recommend this place to you. I got the ceaser salad and my husband got the burger, the chicken in my salad tasted like fish and my husband was sick all night after he ate the burger. 0/10 Don't come here if you're on folly.

Had a great time at this laid back bar. Alex was the bartender and he was super chill. Get the Eric Estrada pina colada--game changer! Waffle fries, with old bay seasoning, is another win. The portions are hardy. My friend and I learned we could have easily shared. Although a great time, the loud construction next door requires a one star ding.