Amazing cakes! Went here twice and got the lemon blueberry both times. Also tried the carrot cake and the chocolate. You really can't go wrong They move the line quick but sometimes you can catch it at the right time and walk right through read more

Carmella's - Lemon and blueberry cake - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Did not have any of the pastries but heard lemon blueberry cheesecake was good. The toffee cookie is delicious and almost perfect, it would be perfect served warm. I got the iced matcha latte with strawberry syrup. As you can tell by the color it tastes like strawberry milk....barely any matcha kinda gross. The mascarpone gelato was VERY cheesy and had an icy texture...with chunks of what tasted like Parmesan cheese. Not creamy, dairy rich flavor you'd expect. And also icy. I mean it wasn't horrible but I couldn't finish it Bec it started to taste kind of gross but others may like it. Service was decent, place seemed clean, free water cups which is cool. A little loud though. Music choice was poor and too loud. Strawberry gelato was very sweet with an artificial strawberry flavor. So if you're into that go for it. Final takeaway: Toffee cookie is delicious and would've been perfect served warm, do not leave without getting it Matcha was too light, avoid it unless you want a glass of milk Mascarpone gelato was just weird Strawberry Italian ice was alright All three starts were for the cookie omg it was so good read more

Carmella's - Mascarpone Gelato Matcha Latte - Desserts Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Long line but it moved fast. We tried multiple different cakes and all were scrumptious. Ambience was loud at 9-10 pm m

Carmella's was such a vibe. I love that there is a late night spot for dessert with good music and service. It was crowded on a Friday night, but we managed to get two seats at the bar after ordering at the to-go counter (you can also place an online order). We ordered the peanut butter cake and coffees to just stay and vibe. They also serve alcohol, so then we turned to that! The cake was very good and rich, so I was able to eat on it for the next 2 days. I would definitely return. read more

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The wife is the biggest connoisseur of sweets in the world, so if she says this place is amazing you can take her word. We went to Carmella on the advice of a waiter from our dinner restaurant and we were all happy we did. The establishment is on the small side, and very crowded, so instead of ordering and eating there, we ordered and took it home. If the line is long, you can skip it by ordering online, but that kind of takes the fun out of seeing what lies behind the glass cases. While Carmella is famously known for their desserts, and is what we came for, it isn't all they have. There are breakfast items, Sandwiches, Cocktails, Alcoholic Milkshakes, Beer as well as wine. The size of the cakes are a bit odd, as they are massive if considered for an individual, and small if you consider an entire cake, but that really isn't the point here. The point is regardless the size, the cakes are fantastic. So based on the size we decided we would split 2 cakes between the three of us, and it was clearly more than enough. I am a big fan of Cannoli's so there was no doubt what I would get when we saw the Cannoli Cake. This is a vanilla and chocolate cake with Cannoli cream filling and frosting. And to make it even better it is topped with an actual Cannoli. Just YUMM!!!! The daughter spotted the Hummingbird Cake and quickly claimed that is her favorite. Interesting enough as many sweets as the wife has consumed over the years, she has never had a Hummingbird. Although Coconut cake has always been her favorite, she now claims the new favorite is a Hummingbird. Hard to say if that is because this was a good representation of all Hummingbird cakes, or that Carmella's Hummingbird cake is just that good. My guess it is a little of both. So, if you are out for dinner near east bay, do yourself a favor and skip the restaurant dessert and head on over to Carmella for the best treat. read more

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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Trip with my partners family 2026 in Charleston for 4 days, we have began and ended our trip at this Cafe, and it was an amazing experience! The atmosphere is very inviting, and the service is top tier. Heather greeted us with an amazing spirit and we are so glad to have had her begin our trip on an amazing note. She had great recommendations and knew the product thoroughly, which was all great as well! Thank you all, service alone is a reason to come back! read more

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

The sandwiches we had were so good!! Tasted very fresh and home made bread it seems? The cookie was soft and delicious too. read more

The chocolate cheesecake was absolutely amazing -- rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Unfortunately, the lemon blueberry cake was very dry and crumbled apart with every bite, making it difficult to enjoy. The flavor was good, but the texture definitely missed the mark. read more

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

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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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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Cakes are overrated and overpriced. The staff is also rude. I would not recommend Carmella's. My experience was horrible here.

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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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

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

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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Marco, Michelle, and Jonathan are always on point! Great service every time with a smile!

We were recommended to stop by Carmella's for dessert and to try their Thin Mint Martini. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful experience! Marco was fantastic, gave us great recommendations! We loved the vibe of the place, the desserts were fantastic and the drinks by Marco are worth coming back for! read more

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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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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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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