This was a great place to grab a drink before dinner. We made our way up tot the rooftop which had great views and great drinks.
We were able to easily get a table and relax while waiting for a later dinner reservation down the street. The place wasn't crowded  at all, but still lively. It was almost like a hidden gem that a lot of people didn't know about. We were able to watch the sunset and sip cocktails, great night if you ask me.
I had the pear cocktail which was just ok, a little sweeter than I expected. I also had the Mango mojito, which was delicious. Very subtle mango flavor, but still the great taste of a classic mojito.
I will definitely make this a place to revisit next time I am in Charleston.
I only drank here, did not order any food so this review is strictly for the atmosphere and drink quality.
This place was a nice and relaxing place to kill a few hours on a funny Friday afternoon while visiting Charleston from New York. Â My girlfriend ordered a few different variations of martinis and I ordered a couple of margaritas and then switched over to a Delirium Tremens. Â Just the fact that they serve Delirium Tremens is enough to add a full start to this review because that is one of my favorite beers.
The food is really not good here. It's all about the views.
My sister's french dip looked so bad that I gave her half my pulled pork which was decent.
I would still go back to enjoy a drink here any day. The views are great. The open air bar with a louvred roof and ceiling fans can't be beat. There are little seating nooks and built in benches around the perimeter. It's a happy place to be.
They should improve their food offerings.
beautiful rooftop bar in charleston. was a perfect place to spend a few hours drinking some sparkling wine in the sunshine.
comfortable cushioned benches and some nice semi private sunken sitting areas for medium sized group. service was good and attentive. food looked good and was reasonably priced but we didnt eat anything. drinks were a little pricey and no happy hour specials but such is the price for views and location.
The Roof Top Bar Offers AMAZING views . I haven't seen anything yet that matches the 360 degree view. The drinks where just ok nothing to brag about and the service was a little slow. but Its the perfect location for an afternoon lunch with friends especially if you love the low country and the beautiful scenery.
Review Source:Come for the drinks and view, Â do not stay for the food.
We really enjoyed the atmosphere of the Rooftop. Drinks were reasonable, Â live music was great, Â and view was fantastic.
However, the food was straight up bad. I had the lobster roll and it was bland. My wife's sushi was terrible. Â Supermarket sushi is much better. Â So 4 stars for drinks, Â 1 star for food. Average is 2.5. Side note: our credit card was charged $4 more than the bill. Waiter said it was a mistake and corrected it but it seemed a little fishy to me.
This review will be in two parts because my wife and I actually had two totally different experiences even though the Executive Chef is the same for both restaurants. Â
Rooftop Bar: (4 Stars)
We absolutely loved this bar; great live music each night and beautiful views all around. Â The drink specials were great and the bar menu was also very nice. Â We ordered the Lobster Cocktail and enjoyed it so much that we ordered another one and the next day several more! Â Great value, taste and presentation. Â Comes in a martini glass with large chunks of lobster and a very light Mao dressing. Â The shrimp cocktail was also very good. Â We had the tomato and fresh mozzarella salad, which was outstanding and finally closed out with the wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. Â The sandwiches all looked good along with great service; this place gets 4 stars. Â
The Library Restaurant: (3 Stars)
We were very disappointed with the food at the Library. Â Maybe the chef had a bad day or was out sick, who knows but we were not impressed at all. Â We were told that this restaurant was one of Charleston's finest. Â Maybe some bias there coming from the the hotel employees? Â The service was excellent but the food was either, way too salty or extremely bland. Â We started out with our appetizers; fruit gazpacho, which was very bland and baked escargot, also bland and slightly over cooked. Â Next course was the Butter Poached Lobster Salad. Â Lobster was cooked perfectly and we both had a very generous portion. Â However, the dressing was very bland...it needed a little more salt or maybe a touch of Dijon mustard to give it a little kick. Â Our final course was Pan Seared Scallops which were cooked nicely but swimming in a very salty broth with a tasteless polenta topped off with bacon, which further made this dish extremely salty. Â My wife had the Pan Seared Grouper, which was overlooked and also extremely salty. Â Charleston is blessed with outstanding restaurants within walking distance of the Vendue Inn and I just can't rate the Library Restaurant that high.
This review is ONLY for the Rooftop Bar. Â I have not been to Library restaurant.
Great place to take out of town visitors. Â Unlike the Market Pavilion after 6 pm, this bar doesn't have a dress code (flip flops and shorts allowed). Â On Fri and Sat nights, attire will vary greatly. Â Some people will be dressed to the nines; others will be in normal tourist outfits.
The prices are the same as any bar. Â
Note: The Cherry Lemonade is refreshing! Â Ask for a Firefly and lemonade shot, really good!
This is a review for The Rooftop
The food is decent but the view is much better. Â If only most of the nearby buildings weren't blocking the view, I would've marked it one notch higher. Â
The service was good. Â I ordered the Turkey Club and there was plenty of turkey on it, it was just bland turkey. Â The drink special was a 007 and it was pretty good. Â While we were there, a nearby couple proposed so the area is definitely scenic and romantic enough for lovers.
Once a year my wife and I get together with an elementary school friend and his wife for dinner, and we try to go for upscale places. Â None of us had been to The Library before and were very favorably impressed. Â I had lamb (superb) and a brie soup (super). Â Service staff was low key, thoughtfully watchful, helpful and thoroughly professional. Â A deep wine list with some surprising options, particularly in the whites. Â A fairly small dining room--7 or 8 tables, as well as a room or two for individual parties. Â Quiet. Â A great dining experience, and I certainly would return the next time I'm in Charleston.
Review Source:When I started to write about Charleston restaurants I wanted to find a few "hidden gems" in the area. Â I believe that I've just found one...
We began our "Charleston Restaurant Week" adventure at The Library Restaurant at the Vendue Inn. Â We've not eaten here before and the menu looked intriguing. Â Not knowing much about the Inn we really didn't know what to expect.
When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by an upbeat hostess and immediately seated. Â The restaurant itself is tiny, seating barely 30 patrons, but it's without a question worth the trip.
We looked over both the regular and Restaurant Week menu and landed on the Restaurant Week choices. Â Not only did they look like a good deal but they were spot on for our palette!
For starters we were served a small demitasse cup of squash bisque. Â This was totally unexpected and simply delightful. Â This was then accompanied by a just-from-the-oven fresh, hot rosemary popover served with cinnamon butter. It was incredible.
For our first course we decided to each order a different menu selection and share them. Â Once they arrived however, there wasn't much sharing in the offing.
The Burratta, (homemade mozzarella stuffed with ricotta cheese) and artichoke salad was, like the other items we were about to receive, a nice surprise. Â Faux caviar consisting of balsamic and pomegranate gel dotted the cheese and both the presentation and taste were outstanding.
The Duck Confit in Chive Crepe was an interesting combo of culinary delights. Â The crepe was light, airy and incredibly flavorful. The duck itself... forget about it, it was great.
How was it that I had never heard of this place before? I have to admit that I was less than impressed with the ambiance of the restaurant itself and after being seated did not expect the many tasteful surprises we received. Â The chef himself delivered many of the dishes and if he didn't deliver your dish, he stopped the table to make sure everything was to your liking. Â What chef does this anymore?
Our dinner entrees arrived quickly and looked amazing. Â The Beef Cheek Bourguignon - Beef Cheeks braised in Red Wine, Root Vegetables, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, En Croute was stellar. Â The Beef Cheeks were incredibly tender and flavorful. Â The presentation of the "En Croute" was a small piece of lightly baked pastry that garnished the dish. Â The Gnocchi were enough to rave about. Â I could hardly wait to try my dish!
The Veal Braciola is one of my all time, favorite entrees. Â I rarely see it offered and jumped at the chance to order it. Â Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
The Braciola itself was overdone and not really edible. Â The House Made Pepper Pasta was starchy, sticky and salty. The Wild Mushroom Bolognese may have been missing, since the pasta was served plain. Â
To the chef's credit he did stop by when our dishes were served and asked if everything was to our liking. Â Since I hadn't tried my entre by then it was actually too soon to respond, so we didn't have a chance to say anything, or ask for something else.
Although our food was really very good (with the exception of my veal), our service was spotty at best. Â There was a very large table of about 18 people in the bar area that kept the two servers for the dining room very busy. Â Our server came to check on us after my husband had finished his meal and mine remained almost untouched. We mentioned that the chef might want to know about our situation for the next round of customers, but I remained a tad hungry.
I am happy to say that our meal closed with a bang. Â The Brulee Du Jour was a pistachio brulee that was quickly consumed and appreciated. Â The Jelly Donuts with Strawberry Champagne Jelly were light and rolled in just the right amount of sugar. Â The champagne jelly was a tad overpowering, so we stuck to the Beignets and were happy we did.
Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to try new places and find your own hidden gem. Â We're glad that we did! Â On to our next adventure this evening at Lana!
PS. Â The Library Restaurant is offering a wine pairing to accompany each course for an additional $25.00 and the wine pours are generous.
There wasn't anything decidedly interesting about this bar, aside from it's amazing rooftop bar (if you can get over the scary elevator ride) and sightline of Charleston from above. So, I assume that's the draw for visitors.
Something about this place provoked a response high on the "ick" rating scale. Based on the atmosphere, Â I was not brave enough to order any food (clutter everywhere near the bar and kitchen window areas; just didn't "feel" clean). We hung out for a single drink, mostly because of a seemingly "young" and boisterous crowding of people near the outside bar (on a Tuesday). Beer list was meh. And the bartender didn't offer a glass with my brew either, which turned me off (especially tasting something glue-like at the top of my bottle).
I guess it's a local thing that I don't understand... with a knack for attracting loud, drunk tourists.
Cool rooftop bar here! Â I was there during the lunchtime hour but I can totally see this place being very popular after hours. Â Comfy outdoor sofa's and lounge area really does the trick for me. Â The food was legit and not too shabby and the price point reasonable for any other lunch spot local to Charleston. Â Couple drink specials and strong pours also make this boy happy and the Rooftop Bar didn't disappoint me in this arena either :)
Review Source:Love the Library! Â I have been here at night and in the day and it is super. Â Recently here for lunch I had the crap dip and the lobster roll. Â YUM, reasonably priced food and great service. Â The view is super and if it is raining you can sit at the inner bar and watch tv. Â The little birdies will come and steal chips off your palte so be careful! Â Love you Library!
Review Source:Another must stop for us when in Chucktown. We generally hit up the rooftop bar pre-dinner at Magnolia's due to it's proximity and great views. By this time (5pm or so), the sun isn't beating down on you and there's a bit of a breeze, so it's much more pleasant than mid-day.
If you have a small group and prefer the shade, sidle up to the bar. We've found the bar tenders to be much more friendly than the servers and are all over making sure your beverage remains full. If at a table out on the deck, be sure to order another drink (because who has just one when on vacay?) about mid-way through your current in order to alleviate any chance of becoming parched.
I've tried multiple specialty drinks here, including the Pear of the Dog, Bloody Mary, Mango Mojito, Pomegranate Martini, and Cherry Lemonade. All were very good, but the Cherry Lemonade is most refreshing on a hot summer's day, and you could never go wrong with ordering a Bloody Mary here. The beer is known to be a bit warm, so you may want to go ahead and just order a cocktail.
Since we try not to be in a hurry and assume we'll have to pay a bit more for drinks when there is such a wonderful view, the rooftop bar continues to be one of our favorite places to grab a few cold ones. See you soon, rooftop. See you soon.
Oh Library Rooftop Bar, how I missed thee. The beautiful views, tasty cocktails and overall good times. Expect the shell out a bit too much cash, as the regularly priced drinks and apps are slightly overpriced. But hey, I expect nothing less.
Drinks that I have enjoyed here: Mango Mojito (it would be exponentially better with muddled mango), Pear of the Dog (odd but refreshing) and the Cherry Lemonade (a juicebox for grown ups).
Service can be a bit lackluster but considering these folks are dealing with drunkards on a frequent basis, I'll give 'em a pass. See you next year, Library.
This place is pretty cool, especially at night. Â You can go all the way to the top and be on the roof, which overlooks the entire city. Â It has a beautiful view! Â The bar was busy and loud, which is to be expected for a bar. Â I learned quickly that smoking in restaurants is allowed in SC, which was a surprise to me. Â So, be aware that there might some smoke flying in your face while you are there.
The drinks seemed reasonably priced. Â This place would be really amazing in the warmer weather. Â We were a bit cold when we went to the top of the roof.
Our hotel suggested this restaurant for our first anniversary celebration dinner. Â
We were disappointed from the minute we walked in the door. Â It's tiny and all the tables are on top of each other. Â You might as well be sitting at the same table with the people next to you. Â While we did enjoy the chef's taste at the beginning of our meal the food overall was terrible. Â My husband and I both ordered shrimp and grits and there were about 3 shrimps for each entree that were not fully cooked in my opinion. Â Then they topped the meal with orange marmalede? ICK! ruined the taste. Â I really should have sent it back.
Not to mention -- the meal we didn't really enjoy ended up costing us a $100. Â I'm no opposed to spending good money on good food but this was not the case here. Â
Go somewhere else.
Don't want to ditch this place too bad.
Heard a lot about this place. Â When I went there, I though it was good not great.
They really don't have a great view of anything. Â And the whole atmosphere to me was a bar on top of a building. Â There was no cumulative experience where you go "Woah That was great."
Unlike the library the rooftop bar is more sandwiches, salads and light fare you go there for the view and it is dressy/casual, to people watch and to drink margaritas, mojitos and other fruity cocktails, wine . Â The Emerald Martini I had was okay but, some fruity drink the bartender made me (forgot the name) was really good- the prices here are pretty cheap and the drinks aren't expensive either. Â This would be a good spot to catch up with friends or take your s/o or date here..beautiful harbour view at night and they have live music on the weekend.
Review Source:ok, i was informed this morning that the rooftop actually MUST close at 11:00 p.m. due to a relatively new zoning ordinance (a: i can't believe people actually read my tripe; b: booo charleston for effin' up an otherwise fine establishment) so i am constrained to review my . . . review.
i hoped my original review conveyed that this was actually a great venue with just a few problems, the closing time being one of them. Â i'll bump them a star since this is not by choice.
still going with 4 stars (i don't give 5 easily), but knocking one off for the p.i.t.a. elevator access.
Also on location: The Bar on the Roof.
This place is p.a.c.k.e.d. on weekends, but it's and awesome spot for a weeknight drink.
Personally, I'd stay away from their martinis. I tasted several and none of them were good (either too strong or too watered down. Where's the golden mean?). Their mint juleps are to die for, though! And the Charleston Sweet Tea is also pretty good.
Food wise, the bar can hold it's own. Their smoked salmon was a favorite of mine. :)
I was a cocktail waitress here during college. Â Go in through the Library Restaurant entrance (and avoid that restaurant in general- WAY too costly for what it is) and take the elevator to the top floor.
This bar used to have the greatest view in Charleston, being up high and offering views of the water, James Island, Fort Sumter, and the "Holy City," but some new condos built in the past few years have eliminated some of that. Â Nevertheless, it's still got a good view, beers are decently priced, and they have a good variety of liquors and beers.
Weekend lunch is also a good time to hit up this place- they have a good, varied menu, and staff to accomodate a busy brunch crowd.
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