Bar: The Griffon

Location: 18 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401

Score: 8.7/10

Located in Charleston’s French Quarter, The Griffon is regarded as one of the best bars in the city. It has received multiple nominations for being one of the better bars in the South. Going into the Griffon, my expectations were sky-high. It was the one bar in Charleston that was a “must-go-to” for my visit. While the bar has only been around since the mid-90s it feels like it has been a part of the city forever. When you walk in you get an old English-style pub-type atmosphere. The outside of the building is a gorgeous, aged brick, while the inside is filled with dark aged wood. If you ask me, high-quality dark-aged wood should be standard for any good pub. The bar itself is very spacious and offers a large amount of seating for plenty of patrons to sit at.

Now, the most unique factor of this bar is the money. At WeRateBars we have written about multiple bars that incorporate having money on the ceilings. Whether it is the Chart Room in Nola or the Bait House in Clearwater, money seems to be a popular décor item. Here is the thing though, the Griffon takes this to the next level. When I say the walls are completely covered with money, I mean completely covered. The only areas not covered are the few bar signs and neon signs that are almost hidden within the forest of money. Seriously, this has to be one of the coolest things I have seen in a bar. If I had to guess there is over $100K along the walls. At the time of my visit, one of the walls was being repaired from a hurricane that recently hit the bar, and a small portion was being repaired. This area was no more than 5ft x 8ft and I asked the bartender how much money was in that spot. He guessed that roughly $2k was taken off in that area alone. This seems hard to believe until you see it in person.

Beyond the décor and great atmosphere at the Griffon, the beer selection is incredible. The beers are priced fairly from what I can recall, and they have a wide selection of beers from domestics to crafts, IPAs, and everything under the sun. While I only need a Miller Lite, it is good to have options.

Décor: Show me the money. Money everywhere, very neat design.  

Prices: Very affordable for a rather expensive area.

Service: Great service for a bar that is typically packed with locals and tourists alike.

Atmosphere: Tons of people were at the bar, all seemed to be having a nice time.

Cleanliness: Spotless.

Bonus Points: No bonus points.