Bars in Florence
The city of Florence is the seat of Florence County. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 20, and Interstate 95. Because of this, the city sees its fair share of travelers and people passing through. Over the years, the city of Florence has become a popular place for roadtrippers to stop, rest, and experience the surprisingly vibrant nightlife of the small southern city.
It may not seem obvious at first glance, but Florence actually has a rather fun and unique bar scene. There are tons of interesting and cozy places to stop by, get a drink, and meet some locals. Whether you are just passing through for a night, or plan on spending some time there, Florence has no shortage of venues to grab a beer or cocktail. Here are the some of the best bars in Florence.
Beyond Therapy
Beyond Therapy is the perfect spot to relax, and unwind after a long day at work. It is an easily recognizable hometown dive style bar with a pleasant staff and delicious bar fare style eats. They have a nice selection of ice cold beers to help you unwind from your stressful day, in addition to plenty of TVs to watch your favorite sporting event.
Beyond Therapy is also a great place to engage in some friendly competition with friends and locals in a game of pool. This bar doubles as a cozy newly remodeled pool hall with events and raffles to get involved in. Beyond Therapy is a quaint little pub to enjoy a nice local atmosphere and enjoy a little bit of after work ‘therapy’.
Straw Hat Distillery
While not strictly a ‘bar’, Straw Hat Distillery gets included because it is simply too unique of a place to pass up. Open to the public only once a week (Saturdays from 9am – 5pm) this locally owned distillery is truly one of a kind. They offer guests the chance to taste their homemade whiskeys, and see their distilling process through the guided tours.
Everything at Straw Hat Distillery is locally sourced as well. All of their ingredients come from local farmers and growers and are hand picked to ensure the highest quality of their whiskeys. If you are looking for a fun early-afternoon event with your friends, stop by Straw Hat Distillery to taste some whiskey and meet some cool locals.
The Swamp Sports Bar & Grill
The Swamp Sports Bar & Grill is one of the most popular local dives in the entire area of Florence County. It is a permanent fixture in the community and is widely loved by locals, and travelers alike. Plenty of reviewers online report how The Swamp is their favorite place to stop by whenever they are passing through Florence. This is in large part due to their friendly staff, great food, and amazingly cheap prices.
The Swamp Sports Bar & Grill encapsulates the feeling of a friendly local pub, that makes everyone feel like they are a regular; no matter if it is your first time there, your hundredth – everyone is a ‘regular’ at The Swamp.
The Dispensary
I know what you’re thinking, and no, this isn’t a ‘dispensary’. However, it is one of the most scenic bars in all of Florence. This rooftop terrace bar offers some of the most amazing sights, and atmosphere in the entire city. The rustic motif and overhanging lights on a clear South Carolina night really sets the mood for a nice evening out on the town with friends.
The Dispensary offers a wide range of cocktails and beers for you to choose from. Most of their drinks are craft, even their cocktails, and are relatively exclusive to The Dispensary alone. If you are looking for a cozy atmosphere that feels rustic and unique, The Dispensary is one of the coolest places in town for it.
Town Hall
Town Hall offers guests a real ‘farm fresh’ atmosphere with their direct from farm to table menu, and antique country decor. Everything about Town Hall Restaurant & Bar glows ‘back home on the farm’. It has plenty of southern charm, and offers a nice relaxing and friendly environment to enjoy a drink and meet some locals.
The food here is absolutely stunning as well! Made fresh with fresh ingredients, you are sure to get something delicious to help pair with your weekend cocktails or beer. Town Hall is one of the most charming and welcoming bar experiences in all of Florence!
Level
Level is for those who are looking to add a bit of excitement and dance to their evening. This bumping nightclub has become one of the hottest spots in the city ever since opening in 2017. With live DJs, delicious cocktails, and great prices on beer, you can dance your night away at Level for sure.
While not exactly meant for a relaxing evening out, Level lets you blow off steam on the dance floor. The lights, the sounds, and the atmosphere are perfectly combined for anyone looking to have a night to remember while staying in Florence! There’s always an event and party going on at Level.
Southern Hops Brewing Company
The Southern Hops Brewing Company has some of the best local craft beer in the region. Their dedication to top quality ingredients and meticulous brewing methods makes almost every single one of their craft beers a homerun. So when it comes to local bars in the area, you can’t really go wrong having a cold one at Southern Hops Brewing Company.
In addition to their wonderful house beers, they also have a lovely outback beer garden for you to enjoy. The cozy and spacious garden area behind the bar offers guests the chance to enjoy their craft beers in the wonderful South Carolina weather. They also make sure that their weeks are jam packed with events, live performances, and specials year round!
Apple Annie's Deli & Pub
Apple Annie’s Deli & Pub has been a fixture in the Florence area since 1984. They are a cozy sports bar style pub that serves finger licking eats, with tons of options for beer and drinks. While not the fanciest place around, it is perfect for those who love a ‘hometown sports bar’ vibe, but a slight step above.
The beauty of Apple Annie’s Deli & Pub is in the simplicity. They don’t try to be overly fancy or anything other than what they are. A comfortable sports bar with amazing food, friendly staff, and tons of beers and drinks to choose from while you enjoy some live entertainment or the ballgame. Apple Annie’s is a great place to be if you’re looking for all of the above.
Local Motive Brewing
Florence is strikingly rich in delicious local craft brewing companies. Local Motive is another prominent member in the Florence micro brewery family. Local Motive Brewing is a young and fresh take on micro brewing. They use small batch methods with limited barrels to ensure that each brew is unique every time. They have 12 different home brew options at any given time, in addition to some other local brews to choose from.
Local Motive Brewing is perfect for those who really love to taste and experience the pure local beer experience when they visit a new area. If you really want to taste what truly local Florence beer tastes like, Local Motive Brewing is one of the best places to do it. Not to mention, they have great happy hour specials! So, there is always a reason to stop by and try a locally made beer any time of day.
Red Bone Alley
Red Bone Alley is a bar experience unlike any you have likely ever seen. The entire interior of the bar itself is a 2-story recreation of an old antique Charleston neighborhood. Complete with gas lamps, trees, iron fencing, and colonial housing motif, Red Bone Alley simulates the experience of eating outside on a summer night in Charleston, while you are inside in Florence.
In addition to their really cool interior decoration, Red Bone Alley has tons of drink specials, happy hours, and live performances to entertain and attract guests. If you are ever in Florence, Red Bone Alley is a place you have to experience at least once.
