Excellent cocktails and service. Max was awesome and knowledgeable and made a great smoked old fashioned...which is rare. Berrytini and espresso martini were both fabulous. We will be back read more

We had a great time here. Mary the bartender was such a great host so sweet. When they say there is something about Mary they were talking about her. read more

Shockingly good bar food. I had the earl grey martini which was wonderful. It was garnished with a sprig of torched rosemary. We ordered the pretzels . I was thinking it would be a hard, brown, and salted bar pretzel. These are soft, fluffy, buttery pretzel sticks that remind me of the auntie Ann's mall pretzels. Delicious. The honey butter was out of this world! The bartender said it was made in-house. I could've licked it out of the cup. The burger was simple and executed perfectly: toasted bun, pickles, and cheese. We shared a HUGE order of fries for $5. I've never seen fries cut in that way. They are cut into thin, twisty crescents- maximum surface area for crisp and creamy, soft in the middle. They were some of the best fries I've ever had. No lie. I recommend saving some beer cheese from the pretzels to dip your fries into. This spot is a short walk to the market street candy store, which is a little touristy, but their praline ice cream is epic. Def worth a stop after the bar! read more

Awesome service, presentation, taste, and atmosphere. We stumbled across this location on our last night of vacation and it couldn't of ended any better. Corey and team were amazing and the food ... it's unexplainable how wonderful It is. You cannot go wrong. read more

Big John's Tavern - bacon - Dive Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

My daughter, a friend and I went to Big John's yesterday (5/19/24). Let me begin by saying our drinks were excellent, and our waitress was superb. However, after our drinks arrived, we were approached by a young man who referred to himself as an assistant manager. He began to chat, primarily with my daughter. At one point, he asked me to remove my glasses so he could try them on. He put them on, looked at my friend and said "You still look like an ***hole". Seriously!!! My daughter and I were mortified and of course, our friend was terribly offended. She had done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to warrant that comment. When we called him out, he tried to cover it up by saying he was trying to be "funny". On what planet is calling a woman who is trying to peacefully enjoy a drink an ***hole funny?? And how did this jerk ever land a managerial position? We asked for our check so we could leave. Our poor waitress was apologizing profusely, even though she had nothing to apologize for. As we were getting ready to leave it began to pour rain. If it hadn't been for that imbecile, we would have stayed and ordered another round or two. Of course we tipped our waitress, but if we had been able to stay longer without being insulted, she would had received a bigger tip based on the additional amount we spent. So this fool not only insulted paying customers, but caused our waitress to lose money. Because of this small little man's insensitive, insulting comment Big John's has lost three customers for life. And I would like to point out that my friend and my daughter were frequent patrons of this establishment. read more

For the many times I sauntered in to Big John's and sometimes stumbled out, each time I was there, I had a blast. The bartenders are some of the best in the city, although it has a very locals only feel (Citadel/our Guides) you are greeted at the bar in a very friendly manner. Actually, I do not think I can recall a more diverse crowd in all of the downtown bars. They have coolers of beers iced and ready to go, I do like PBR and they have plenty available for about $2.50 ,d they are really icey/chilly, perfect for the hot Charleston summers. The pool table is a little roughed up, sit back and look around (and up) at all of the items hanging from the rafters, bra's included. Big John's place is loaded with soul, The food is bar typical, but the fries are good to my recollection and fairly priced. read more

I hadn't been in here since the remodel and I must say it looks pretty good. They kept the dive bar factor prevalent but cleaned things up a bit too. Green door got evicted and has been replace with pool tables galore. Big Johns seems to be back to their old ways. The bar feels a little more intentionaly divey instead of just being unkempt. Reminds me a bit of a dive bar in The Mission of San Fran. Not only did they clean up the place physically, they cleaned up the menu too. When they first re-opened, I know they had Chef Brannon Florie (Menu creator at The Rarebit and Owner of The Granary) create the simple but unique bar menu. The bartender mentioned things were changing a bit as they recently brought in a guy from Cru Cafe. Either way, I ordered the burger and fries. It was recently rated as one of SC's favorite burgers by Garden & Gun magazine so I figured it was worth a try. I wanted to upgrade my fries to those of the duck fat nature but, for some reason that wasn't possible. The meal hit the spot and would definitely be a reliable cheap eats for future reference. Drinks are still cheap and they are offering a more impressive craft selection including some unique cans and bottles as well. As I mentioned in my past review... Big John's isn't for everyone but, I like it that way. read more

The friendliest bartenders in downtown CHS! Will and Andres took such great care of us all night. If you're in town, or even a local, MUST visit! read more

food was over the top excellent! service with a warm and inviting smile, ambiance like an old speak easy well done.

Such a fun spot for drinks and live music! The bartenders here were very friendly and gave great local recommendations on things to do in Charleston. read more

Stopped in for a quick dinner on a Sunday evening. We had Surf and Turf wrap, Turkey Burger, and some fries along with a couple of drafts. Food and atmosphere were good and the servers/bar tenders were friendly and responsive. We passed by several times while walking in the area of our hotel. Folks always looked like they were enjoying. read more

had a great time at big john, my man Ricky was AMAZING and he took care of us in the most promiscuous way, I think

best service! great food! fun people! local! A must for locals and visitors! please leave a space for me read more

Nostalgic post... came here and broke a handful of rules pinning a name tag on the ceiling of a cramped back room back in 2005. Fast forward to 2022 where a couple good old boys made sure they kept the true "feeling" of a dive bar alive while injecting a sophisticated aspect. Andres and Stephan can pour a beer or give you a historical tour of any wine or liquor on their regular or secret menus. 12/10 would recommend this team to have an amazing night at big John's!! Thanks! read more

Will and andres provided the best service in Charleston! So welcoming and the craft cocktails are so unique. Big John's is a must and make sure to check out the speak easy!! read more

Love this place! Brought my friends from out of town. Such great drinks and food! Eddie makes the best espresso martini

Best drinks in town ask for Eddie Kneski for the best espresso martini of your life!! We love BJ's!

Such a great place to start off the night with a couple exquisite cocktails. The bartender, Eddie, has fantastic recommendations and is a great mixologist! Super fun atmosphere and great live music as well. Highly recommend read more

I LOVE this bar. great vibe, better drinks. bartender Eddie can make anything you want and is very knowledgeable about everything whiskey!

Great bar with incredible selections. Don't sleep on the food. Everything was fantastic, but I specifically loved the steak tartare.

Great reopening after years of being closed! Nice bar selection, food is great and staff is very friendly. Check it out!

service was great, deviled egg appetizer was different but still tasty, chicken dip was great, all around great place for a quick bite and draft list was local and good read more

Big John's is one of the best places in town! The food is great and the cocktails are even better. There is always live music, and the staff are always so friendly. Eddie behind the bar is always helping guide you in the right direction if you can't choose, and makes a great drink!! Thanks BJ's! read more

Their cowboy brunch is the most fun I've had at a brunch in a long time! The whole staff dresses accordingly and it's so much fun! If you're lucky enough to get Heath as your bartender then it'll elevate the experience that much more. He's always quick with a cocktail suggestion and everything was delicious, he's good vibes. He and the rest of the staff definitely make this spot a must! read more

Great ambiance, great food, and exceptional service. Would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a nice bar to grab a bite to eat and have some drinks. Cocktails are also amazing! read more

Divey spot with divey accommodations. Cheap draft beers, pool, and a local crowd. Especially worth noting- the Budweiser "chandelier" over the bar, the vintage chromed beer tap, and the always convenient trough-style urinal. Centrally located to the downtown tourist district and plenty of big booths for large groups. read more

This joint really really.....sucks. Was trying to have an afternoon cocktail only to be met by exceedingly rude/moronic staff. I got up and left in disgust. Stay clear of this rat hole.. read more

Solid dive with some great beers. Grabbed a Holy City porter while waiting for our reservations around the corner at Cru Cafe. Bras on the ceiling and Citadel name plates on the walls next to the pinball machine makes for a natural venue for people watching and a great place to grab a brew. read more

As a lover of dive bars, I always try to Yelp the best spots when I'm going to a new city, and this one stood out to me based on review. Not being familiar with the city, it wasn't on my absolute "to do" list -- but when we went to dinner at Amen and walked right past this place, it was obviously fate that my hubby and I were to stop in here. After dinner, we walked back and it was still early enough to grab seats at the bar (this being on a weekend night in the summer). The band was setting up, and we were right in front of where they were going to play. It's a really small place, the bar and few tables pretty much fill the whole joint up, leaving just enough room for a band and teeny-tiny dancing area. Once the band started, there was instantaneous dancing and shots (most of them terrible) and beers and it was FUN. The kind of place where you take off your heels and leave them on the floor by your bar stool -- which gets taken by someone else cuz you're dancing -- but you still leave all your stuff there and put on your flip flops to enjoy the dancing (yep, that was me). I might've just gotten lucky with the awesome atmosphere the night I was here, but regardless, it left me wanting to return if I am back in Charleston anytime soon. read more

I brought my family to Big Johns while they visited me and it was quite literally the best experience of my life. Our bartender Ed made us the best drinks off the menu, and even some of his own craft cocktails. Ed and the other bartender, Heath made our experience one we will tell everyone about and will heavily recommend! From the food (Mac and cheese and the clothespin bacon) to the drinks, everything was amazing. Insanely high service with a family attitude, 10/10 recommend. read more

Great burger, pulled pork was awesome, and chowder was on point. dont forget the pretzels and beer cheese.

Newly re-opened.. the infamous Big John's is back. And slightly different though it has kept some of its charm. There are far less bras hanging from the ceiling... but they did manage to keep one. The light up Santa is still in his place. Overall, it looks the same just with a larger, newer bar (yes, the actual wooden bar). We had a few drinks, a few laughs and enjoyed our re-visit. read more

Stopped in on a whim, expecting just another bar, was pleasantly surprised. Exceptionally friendly staff, great menu, even better food. The chef personally checked on our satisfaction with our lunch. Got a few "tourist" tips from our helpful waitress, Fern. Highly recommended. read more

It's total basics at Big John's. Decent drink specials, always a pretty mellow crowd, and bras hanging from the ceiling (wait, what?!?). Pool tables, a few regular screen televisions, Big Buck Hunter, and a few other bar-type games. The drinks aren't overpriced, and they don't laugh at you for ordering a sissy drink (vodka & soda with extra limes). read more

I enjoyed Charleston for it's old world charm, cobblestone streets and fantastic dining & shopping. I really enjoyed some fun restaurants, which included eating at the bar (at every place I went to eat) with my friend (who was also visiting from out of town). But when it came time to get serious about drinking, we consulted Yelp and searched for a nearby dive bar: and Voila! Big John's Tavern was just around the corner from 'the scene' of where the tourists hang in old historic Charleston. Big John's tavern is a dive bar. It's an awesome dive bar. There is absolutely no yuppiness at all within the confines of Big John's. Drinking with the bartenders is totally acceptable (and often expected), and taking a piss in the trough in the men's room is an awesome experience. When's the last time you had a "sword fight" with your best buddies? You can accomplish this at Big John's Tavern! This alone should compel you to come to Big John's Tavern. Drinks are strong and cheap, there's live music on weekends and the crowd is happy and energetic and unpretentious. Have some fun and let your hair down and when 2:00 A.M. rolls around, see if you can score some sexy times with one of the patrons! read more

I honestly hadn't been back to Big John's in 10 years, since I graduated (wow....). Good to see that some things never change, although they need to hurry up and get the bras back upon the ceiling! $2 mystery beer was Red Hare, awesome. read more

The remodel is great! Although I enjoyed the atmosphere/environment years ago, it is still the same old Big Johns! The hamburger is amazing and the fries were the icing on the cake! Thankfully they kept the pool tables and darts (who doesn't like pool and darts)! The staff offers great help on beer selection and I was pumped to see they had their own draft! I look forward to continuing visiting this establishment! read more

I like how the redid the place. It's pretty much your typical dive bar, but updated. There are pool tables and a limited bar menu. It's quite a bit cleaner now. read more

"Charleston's best dive since '55" is also one of the best dives in the country. Friendly staff. Diverse crowd. Pool. Cheap drinks ($2 Fat Tire drafts? Yes please!). Stumbling distance to many of the hotels in central Chucktown. Put simply: If you're a fan of no-nonsense drinking establishments (like me), you will love Big John's. If you don't, you won't. read more

if you haven't already tried their smash burger you're missing out!! Great food great service and sometimes they have live music!! Bartenders are great! read more