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An inside look at the newest restaurants around Charleston and the Lowcountry

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Being located near the ocean does not guarantee a quality sushi scene, seeing as a lot of sushi-grade fish is flown in from Japan. But with a new restaurant opening every single week in Charleston, I continue to be amazed by how few of them focus on raw fish.

Many late afternoon happy hour specials disappeared during the pandemic as restaurants struggled to stay open. Some have returned, though the cost savings are still limited — the other day, I walked by a restaurant on East Bay Street promoting $11 glasses of wine for a few hours in the late afternoon.

Speakeasies have been trending in cities across the country for a few years now. The popularity of bars in hard-to-find locations has recently extended to South Carolina.

Bar Tab

A column that highlights a locally made or sold adult beverage around the Charleston region.

Kultura, the Filipino comfort food locale run by Chef Nikko Cagalanan at 73 Spring St., is serving up fantastic cocktails despite not having a liquor license. Instead of using the traditional spread of liquors like vodka, tequila, bourbon and gin, beverage manager Jessica Ford is mixing her drinks with sake, wine and vermouth, arriving at some lower-ABV but still delightful concoctions. 

For those braving the traffic to head out to one of Charleston's most popular beaches, the fun doesn't stop on the sand at Folly. After soaking up some rays and taking a dip, you can wander up the pier, along the main strip and even off the beaten path to discover some great places for cooling off with a refreshing beverage. Here are 12 Folly Beach bars to visit. 

Pop-Up Picks

A column exploring upcoming pop-ups around the Charleston area and the work of the chefs behind them.