If you're looking for a sweet treat or boozy dessert cocktail, then you have to stop by Carmella's. My husband and I make it a point to always pop in whenever we're in town. This time, we ordered the caramel mudslide shake, which is always fantastic. It's strong but also super tasty! We also tried out the Capetown Cold Brew, which was a miss unfortunately. We were not a fan. It mostly just tasted like bad iced coffee and you couldn't even tell there was alcohol in it. For food, we got the carrot cake and the fudge cake. Both were phenomenal! Parking - there is a parking deck right down the street from Carmella's that is $1 every 20 mins. You can park on the street but it can be difficult to find a spot if you're visiting during peak hours or on the weekend. read more

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I couldn't believe how good it was. The terrific location on busy East Bay Street made me expect a tourist trap, but we crushed the mango sorbetto, and my latte was excellent - not oily, not sour, not bitter or burned. Even during the lunchtime press, the staff kept the line moving. Tables did get sparse around 2p on a Friday, but we were there 30 minutes earlier and had no trouble finding seating. The menu is colossal: sorbettos, gelato, sandwiches, pizza, a burger, lots of pastries... a good place to bring your picky children and get them something they'll eat. read more

Carmella's - Iced 16 oz latte - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Nice, small cafe located in the heart of Charleston on East Bay Street. There were about 10 people in front of us and it took about 25 minutes to order and receive items. Once you order, the cakes come out fast. The carrot cake was moist and flavorful! read more

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My hubby wanted dessert after dinner so we found Carmella's. They had so many yummy options it was hard to choose! I decided on blackberry and lemoncello Gelato and he had chocolate and lemoncello. They had some amazing looking cakes and cookies too. We also had an iced coffee, which hit the spot. I wish we were in town longer so we could come back to try everything else! There is seating inside and out and had a great vibe. Perfect for the whole family or date night! read more

Carmella's - Blackberry and lemoncello Gelato. - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I have never had a bad drink or dessert here. I love the seating area and bringing a whole mini cake home to share, but I especially love the boozy milkshakes! Just one is enough. So rich and inviting. read more

Carmella's - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We kept walking by this cafe in Charleston, and I had to stop by since my name is so similar. We got the pumpkin cheesecake. It was SO good. It had a rich flavor but wasn't too sweet. The cafe is very cute and has a wide range on the menu. they have cute seats and booths or a bar. read more

Carmella's - Pumpkin cheesecake - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Stopped in randomly to get some lunch and was pleasantly surprised! They have a bar and lots of tables. It's a sandwich shop, dessert bar and a cocktail place at night. I got an Italian sandwich and it was amazing. The bread was crunch and the flavors were great! I didn't try any desserts but those also looked good. They have a spot where you can get still or sparkling water which is also neat. I would frequent this spot! read more

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Flavor | openness | options Flavor: The flavor is pretty incredible. I had lavender coffee, and Monica had Mint Chocolate Gelato. The flavors were rich. Typically, flavors overpower the substance, but here, the flavor of the gelato and the coffee only enhanced the drink. It had a distinct taste that very much resembled the flavors they were supposed to, which was very impressive. Openness: The space is very open and has tons of natural light. They have a garage-style opening of doors in a very open bar, so when it's a nice sunny day, this is the ideal spot to sit down and get a coffee or get a drink or get a pastry and hang out with friends and chat Options: Their menu is pretty vast in terms of tease coffees, pastries, drinks, and ice creams. You definitely are not short of options when you're there, so make sure you do a little bit of research for your show or be ready to wait for about 510 minutes as you're making your selection. Pro tip: there is not a lot of parking, so at 10-15 minutes to your commute time or walk if you are staying anywhere downtown. Pro tip: get the gelato. It's pretty amazing. read more

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The place was packed on a Saturday late afternoon. You order your food at the counter and pick it up when called. It was a bit difficult to do that because of the crowd. Also difficult to find a table but we did. Service was friendly and quick. The sandwiches were absolutely delicious. My friend had the turkey asiago and loved the fig jam. I had the caprese which was a warm sandwich. I hadn't expected that but it was a pleasant surprise. The focaccia was fantastic! Crispy and fluffy! The cannoli cake was moist and the perfect mix of cake and filling. They have a great bar with a lot of drink options. read more

Perfectly balanced chocolate peanut butter cake and chocolate martini. 10/10 not too sweet but still delicious. Open early morning and late night, awesome environment and nice people. read more

Carmella's - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Carmella's is such a fun little place in Charleston to stop in for a coffee, specialty sweet adult beverage, including adult, milkshakes or desserts never had their sandwiches because I've only stopped in for sweet treats. I've been many times and never am disappointed this time. I snapped in for a chocolate martini and it was very good. Great size. Great flavor in the place was packed but service was fast you order at the counter they call your name and you find a seat usually they have outdoor seating, but it seemed like that was not available because of construction on the road. Nothing beats their adult milkshakes after walking around downtown Charleston all day in the heat. I will definitely be back on my next journey to town. read more

Carmella's - Dessert case - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Cute little restaurant/dessert spot. We were there just for desserts. Had waffle gelato sundae - I thought I'm getting waffle cone but it is actually a Belgian waffle that's pretty tasty and comes warm with two scoops of gelato and whip cream. Pretty tasty altogether and very nice sweet treat. Also tried lemon pistachio cake which whipped cream icing - delicious little cake, fluffy and not too sweet with a hint of lemon. Ladies at the counter are quick in taking your order and friendly. read more

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This is our second visit to Carmella's in as many years. I recall our last visit being mediocre and tonight was worse than that. My wife insisted and had to try the Lemon Olive Oil Pistachios cake. We should have known when we saw this beautiful mass cake perfectly iced and lined up in the display case that it was probably best for, display. It was horrible, even when you pealed the quarter inch layer of icing to dig into the heart of the offering. Just bad. For the price you pay and for the hustling vibe, long line and stream of headlights on the road that we chose poorly. Yelp Nation, this is a disappointment, my coffee, although good was a one inch weak poor for $3. Service was nice at the counter. This was a waste of money for us, hope your experience is better. read more

Carmella's - Lemon Pistachio Olive Oil Cake - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

PET FRIENDLY- but not inside. If you have never been here you are missing out. They service gelato, bakery items, sandwiches, coffees (things like that). I am going to say 9 times out of 10 when we are in charleston we will stop at Carmellas for something to drink or eat. They have some shady spots outside to sit which is great for Luna. You can also get some water from the station they have indoors (we almost always bring her dog bowl, but if you forget it you can grab a plastic cup and use that to give your pet some water. My husband is absolutely hooked on their key lime pie gelato--it's the perfect mix of tart and sweet, with just the right amount of creaminess. I can never resist the mango sorbet--it's light, refreshing, and tastes like pure sunshine in a scoop. We usually pop in after a warm day of exploring downtown Charleston, and it always feels like stepping into a little oasis. The space has a bright, inviting atmosphere with plenty of shaded seating outside, making it a great spot to cool down and people-watch along East Bay Street. Between the endless selection of gelato, sorbet, and decadent desserts, there's always something new to try, but these two flavors have quickly become our staples. Carmella's has turned into one of our go-to stops in the city--a sweet little tradition that makes every visit to Charleston feel special. read more

Really liked Carmella's and will be going back! We ordered the carrot cake and tiramisu. The carrot cake was 5/5 very moist, rich and just overall yummy. The tiramisu was good not the best I've had but definitely yummy. Overall, Will be returning! read more

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This place was pretty cool! Had quite the line when we walked past earlier in the day but by about 6 pm the line had thinned out quite a bit and we didn't wait long. I had the lemon crinkle cookie which was more like a cake consistency and I had a scoop of the vanilla and one amaretto gelato. Loved the gelato, the cookie was just okay. read more

Caught me by surprise. The prices were high, the desserts were mediocre, the wait was long, and the tables were full and messy. Not the experience I was expecting based on these reviews. read more

If you know you know. This is the hottest hangout for late night cocktails and the most decadent desserts you have ever tasted! Be prepared to be surrounded by people and take in the late night vibe. Tonight I had the butterscotch and an espresso martini. I am taking home the gooey sinful Chocolate Peanut Butter cake (a must pick!) to share with my wife. I'll be back again an again. The staff is friendly and happy so tip them well. read more

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We were hungry and headed to Carmella's. Seemed that it was the idea of quite a few others too. It was busy. Not stupid busy, but busy. The food was really good. The downsides, we couldn't get water because they didn't have anyone to fill the self service. The service was slow, there were dirty tables, frazzled workers, and frustrated customers. But that food was good. read more

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Delicious lavender latte. Saw a lot of people enjoying the tasty treats as well though I wasn't hungry enough to eat at the time. But I'd come back to try their food and get another lavender latte...it was exquisite! read more

Carmella's - Lavender latte - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

OMG amazing! We had been walking around all day and I needed a break off my feet and a snack. I had seen Carmella's the night before and it was busy then, so I figured it must be good. When we went in the afternoon, it was also busy but the line moved relatively quickly. Carmella's is a nice little dessert and wine or cocktail place. Perfect for after dinner dessert, or after dinner drinks, or a midday break. I had one of the coffee shakes and a black bottom coconut macaroon. So decadent! I really wanted to order one of the chocolate peanut butter cakes as well but it is so big I would have to share and my husband, who is usually a sweet tooth, wasn't feeling it. The cakes all looked amazing. We should have bought one to bring back to the hotel. Do yourself a favor and stop here for a treat. read more

Carmella's - Black bottom macaroon and a wide awak shake - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Lots of rich flavor and lasted the whole vacation. The staff was great, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I'll definitely go back. read more

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So if you like cake and coffee, this is the place to be. It's packed though so either order online or be prepared to stand in line. The selection is pretty good. Something for everyone. The cakes are a little pricey but definitely worth it. We got the chocolate peanut butter cake to share and I had the shakerato. The cake was moist and just the right amount of sweet. My shakerato was really strong but they were nice enough to add some simple syrup to it to make it perfect. I strongly recommend this place. read more

Carmella's - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I LOVE Carmella's for so many reasons. Every food item, dessert and drink I've had has been 10/10. The cafe itself is charming and cozy and located right on East Bay. I love the outdoor seating it I highly recommend the death by chocolate boozy milkshake, red velvet cake and s'mores cookie. read more

They are doing things right here. There's a reason why it's always busy! The ambiance is fun, welcoming and lively! You order at the counter and they work quickly to get the lines moving. Even the staff seem to enjoy working there. There's plenty of seating indoor and outdoor and they have a water station which is nice. Top things we had here: Mascarpone milkshake is absolute divine and addicting! Since I'm not drinking caffeine I had a decaf Affogato, still delicious. Frozen watermelon Margarita with tahin rim? R you serious so refreshing and balanced. And of course you already know the coffee is gonna be good. Great place to visit during the day and even better place for a night cap after dinner. If you haven't been, you've gotta go! read more

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What a great place for sweets and drinks! My husband and I stopped in for an after dinner treat and got lucky to grab a place at the bar! All the severs were great answering questions and giving ideas. We decided on the Peanut Chocolate cake a Dubliner for my husband and hot tea for me as that what must be drank with dessert. How beautiful and delish everything was!! We visit Charleston quite often and this will now be a must stop!! Loved it! read more

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Visiting Charleston for the first time. We stopped by Carmella's hoping to get two cakes. Unfortunately, they didn't have the sprinkle one, so we just walked away with vanilla gelato and a carrot cake. While the gelato flavoring was good, I was hoping the texture would be more similar to the gelato I've had in Italy. The carrot cake, however, is hands down the best carrot cake I have ever had. We may go back before we leave just for another carrot cake. The frosting is VERY cream cheesey! Amazing. read more

Even though the line was to the door we ordered quickly and got our desserts quickly. My husband got the Keylime cake and I got the waffle sundae. They were both delicious. The waffle sundae was my favorite. read more

Carmella's - Waffle Sundae - chocolate and white chocolate cherry with chocolate sauce - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Super busy at night on the weekends. You can order ahead and pick up at the bar. The cookie was amazing but it was also $8. We also ordered the small Reese's chocolate cake. It was very good but I wouldn't say amazing. However; they do not have much competition for a late night dessert to go or eat at the bar. I'm not counting the ice cream shops. read more

Carmella's is a fun, vibrant late-night drinks and desserts bar located in the heart of Charleston. I happened upon it on the eve of my birthday, which allowed me to treat myself to a mini berry cake and an orange creamsicle cocktail. Both were delightful. I stupidly left the cake out on the counter in our hotel room rather than putting it in the fridge, however, and the fruit on it (obviously) molded. No worries though, it just gave us a reason to go back and buy another cake, which we did the night before heading home. That time, I made sure to actually refrigerate it, and it held up nicely. The folks working were nice and efficient, and you can order online if you don't want to stand in the very long line. They have savory items too, but we didn't try those. read more

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So good that we visited twice during our visit to Charleston. Our first visit we tried a couple of the cookies both of which were delicious. We were enticed by the small cakes but with walking around the city we didn't think it would be wise to get one on a warm day. We visited another day for dessert and really liked the carrot cake. The staff were warm and welcoming. During the day it felt like a coffee shop but when we came back later on a different day it was packed and felt very trendy with cocktails and sumptuous desserts. A great aesthetic. read more

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Amazing desert spot and a must visit during your trip to Charleston. Order on line and pick up to avoid the line or window shop in the glass case full of cakes and pastries. We stopped in the afternoon to burn off the calories on the walk back! read more

We stopped in for dessert and ended up getting gelato. I opted for the salted caramel, my daughter had the limoncello, the boys got the mint chocolate chip. My daughter and I liked our gelato, we thought it was tasty. My son and hubs were indifferent to the mint chocolate chip. They said it has semi sweet chips thrown inside which threw it off for them. The cakes looked yummy but we didn't want a mini cake, it would be way too much. Unfortunately no cake slices and cheesecake was not my favorite so we didn't try any of the desserts. read more

Carmella's - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We came here on a Friday night and the place was very lively. Due to limited seating, we got a dessert to go. We ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. It's a mini cake which could easily serve 4. The cake was rich, decadent and fresh but not too sweet! My only wish is that they had cake slices or cake samplers so that we could try more than one cake without having to buy whole mini cakes. read more

Carmella's - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Strange concept alcohol bar and desserts. Dark inside. Ambiance more like a bar. Baked Desserts are in a small cooler to the side. Ice cream is not in a cooler to choice from in the front like usual. Everything is on the menu. Only dairy free option was sorbeto. Husband liked canoli and daughter liked sundae. Looked good wish I could have eaten it. They also have an espresso coffee bar as well. read more

INCREDIBLE! I'm not a cake person normally, but we ordered a cannoli cake to bring back to our rental. It was top five cakes I've ever had. It was moist, not overly sweet, and appropriately priced. We ordered ahead online and then walked over to the cafe. By the time we got there (about 10 min) it was ready to pickup behind the bar. Be forewarned that they don't take reservations and the line is out the door (especially after dinner). I would absolutely go back a million times over. I wish we lived closer!!! read more

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Every time I come here, I'm always impressed with the desserts I get. Even though it's pricey, it's definitely worth it. My favorite thing to get there is the cannoli cake which I highly recommend. I've gotten their drink drinks before too, and it wasn't as good as their dessert so I would stick with their desserts. read more

We came for coffee, spiked shake, and dessert. It is a very busy spot but you can order on-line to skip the wait. It is packed during the weekend and at night. Key lime pie was good and the tiramisu shake was sweet. This is not a zen place to chill with your coffee. Lots of people. read more

Came here late on a Friday evening with my mom and my sister after a lovely dinner. I have been DYING to try Carmella's, but have never been able to fit it into my Charleston trips. We spontaneously decided to come here around 10pm on a Friday night and it was packed! Carmella's serves a variety of stunning cakes and desserts, as well as pizza squares, sandwiches, and an extensive cocktail and coffee menu. The line was quite literally out the door when we arrived. Many people were there to order drinks and sit at the bar with their cakes. The cakes are definitely meant to be split amongst a group of 3+ people. They are are beautifully presented with a nice variety of flavors. I believe they do have seasonal cakes and do rotate some flavors throughout the year. However, they are most famous for their Cannoli Cake. The interior is welcoming and I appreciated the vibe of the eatery. It does get quite busy, so it could be hard to find a spot to eat at. I also really appreciated the bar at the back where guests could get water (or sparkling water) and cream/sugar for their coffees. We ultimately landed on the Cannoli Cake to split between the three of us! The service was great and did a nice job keeping the line moving. Ordering was simple and efficient too. Luckily, we were able to snag a seat to enjoy our cake there. The Cannoli Cake has layers of vanilla and chocolate cake filled and frosted with their gourmet cannoli cream and topped with chocolate ganache and a cannoli. This cake was stunning to say the least. The vanilla cake was not dry at all and had a great vanilla flavor. While the chocolate cake was rich, with a really smooth chocolate flavor, but it wasn't too overpowering. The cannoli cream frosting was to die for. So smooth, light, and very complimentary to the other flavors of the cake. And the cannoli on top was also amazing. This was a very well balanced cake and surprisingly not heavy at all. I was more than impressed with this cake, would HIGHLY recommend. Overall, Carmella's is a great establishment located in the heart of Charleston. They serve a variety of desserts, drinks, and savory items that will be sure to satisfy just about anyone. Their cakes are absolutely amazing, moist, fluffy, and presented so well. I loved the vibe of the dessert bar and thought the service was decent. A trip to Charleston would not be complete with out a trip here from now on. I cannot wait to try more of their cakes when I return to this city! read more

Carmella's - Bakery Case - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This is my go to spot for desserts in Charleston! On the weekends it is busy, the music is loud and it feels like a club. The desserts are exceptional and their team is on it. Their system of service is some of the best in Charleston. Although the line may seem long I've never waiting more than 15 min. The store itself is elegant and feels like family but in an elevated way. For someone who would rather have cookies, or ice cream. This place is the reason why I love cakes, and I don't even mind their carrot cake. That's a lot for me! This is my first dessert recommendation and it remains so to this day! You don't want to miss this spot! Just look at those layers in this pistachio lemon cake!!! read more

Carmella's - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina