Pearlz Oyster Bar

Pearlz is the gold standard for oyster bars in Charleston. Period. The oysters were fresh and briny, the cocktails were perfectly balanced, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. The place has that perfect mix of classy and casual—dim lighting, a buzzing bar, and staff who actually know their seafood. Now, for the unforgettable part of the night… As I’m enjoying my oysters, a guest a couple seats down—full of energy and clearly having a great time—goes in on her fries with a bottle of ketchup. What happened next felt like a slow-motion movie scene: the ketchup bottle let out a surge, and a red streak of sauce shot across the bar like a Fourth of July firework. It hit the bar, splashed on menus, even the wall got a little love. People were stunned for a second, then the whole section burst into laughter—including her. She owned the moment like a champ, laughing along with everyone else. It was the kind of spontaneous chaos that turns dinner into a memory. Bottom line: come for the oysters, stay for the atmosphere—and maybe keep an eye on the ketchup.

Nice ambiance, nice staff. Got the FISH & CHIPS ($19.95) and the NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL ($29.95). The FISH & CHIPS had good fresh tasting cod. The NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER ROLL had a few good chunks of lobster, but was in a disappointingly small bun (as seen in picture). Also, had some inedible green seaweed on plate as a garnish (another space filler, but inedible) Plate wasn’t worth $30 in my opinion and would not order again. The chips (French fries) were plain pretty plain, no special taste or texture. Not bad, but just felt like necessary filler for the plate. I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately because of the portion size for the price wouldn’t recommend it.

We stopped in for some oysters, apps, and rinks. I didn’t order a drink this time around but my friends did. They have a full bar, beer on tap, wine, and spirits. It’s very casual, with bar, booths, and table top seating. We tried a few different oysters of the day. our favorite were the gay boy and pink moon oysters. The fish dip with smoked salmon was incredible, we wanted more after it was gone and talked about it later that day. Overall, great casual place. Prices are reasonable.

Few great dishes, most were solid. The best were crab dip and the clams, delicious. The shrimp were a bit flabby. The oysters were good. The octopus dish was not quite cohesive, but cooked well. Great service.

Looooove this place. The prices were good and the vibe was very comforting. A nice home feeling. The food is extremely fresh and I also loved their happy hour drinks. Side note, the oysters here? Top tier. Some of the best I’ve ever had. Sooooo good.

Mabry did such an amazing job with explaining the menu, giving recommendations, & making this a memorable meal! We tried the crab dip, char-broiled oysters, & ceviche. Everything was great, will be coming back 💕

Had a great time at Pearlz! Our server was very nice and attentive. I got the Pool Party cocktail which was delicious and came with a very cute flamingo floatie. I also had a dozen varietal oysters on the half shell (awesome to taste the different oysters) and the NY strip was delicious. My partner got the clam chowder which he loved, as well as the burger which he didn’t love as much since it was a little over what he usually likes but he still enjoyed it. Overall great experience!

My best friend and I popped into Pearlz on East Bay for happy hour, and let me tell you—this place seriously shucks. In the best way. We grabbed two seats at the bar (prime real estate during oyster hour), and were immediately welcomed by the kind of bartender who actually wants to talk to you—fun, attentive, and full of solid recommendations. The oysters? Fresh as the sea breeze outside, and briny in all the right ways. We tried a mix—local and Gulf—and every slurp was a win. Happy hour pricing made us even happier. Cocktails were creative and strong enough to encourage some quality, unfiltered conversation. Think: just the right buzz for a barstool heart-to-heart. Atmosphere? Lively but not too loud, cozy but not cramped. You can hear each other, laugh a little too loud, and maybe even flirt with the idea of ordering “just one more round.” 10/10 would return for oysters, drinks, and good vibes. Pearlz made our ordinary weekday feel like a mini celebration.