Top 5 Espresso Martinis in Downtown Charleston
5. By the Way
By the Way is a relatively new spot brought to us by Austen and Craig from Southern Charm and the Uptown Restaurant group. The vibes are really fun with great staff, a cool ambiance, and great music (I just wish they would get more comfortable bar stools lol)
One of their signature drinks on the menu is none other than their espresso martini, however early on customers discovered that it is even better when you switch out the vodka for peanut butter tequila. Sounds weird, but trust me it is so so good, which is why it has made its way up to #5 on my list pretty quickly!
4. High Cotton
High Cotton itself is such a classic Charleston staple restaurant IMO. Owned by the Hall family, their espresso martini is literally listed on their menu as “world famous espresso martini”, and for good reason. They rim the glass with cacao powder and the actual drink has some chocolate hues to it to make it so delicious.
3. Lowland
I’ve only made it to Lowland one time since they opened and it did not disappoint. The second I saw this espresso martini I knew I would not be disappointed, so much so that it is now #3 on my list! It is so rich and you can just tell they use high quality espresso and ingredients. The foam layer on top is perfection and tastes as good as it looks.
2. Felix
I feel like the Felix espresso martini needs no introduction. This is widely known as one of the best espresso martinis in Charleston thanks to the nespresso pods freshly brewed at the bar for each and every drink. It’s definitely more of a lighter, not as rich espresso martini, which I personally love. They also do a pumpkin spice espresso martini in the fall which is so delicious.
1. Costa
Anddd to no one’s surprise, my all time favorite place, Costa takes the cake for the best espresso martini in Charleston. Their signature tiramisu espresso martini is just so good every time. They use rum instead of traditional vodka in it as well as a homemade flavoring to give it the tiramisu taste, which makes it unique and so good!
