The Rooftop at the Vendue is Charleston's original rooftop bar, and it's the one people mean when they say they want to watch the sunset over the harbor. It sits on top of the Vendue Hotel at 19 Vendue Range, right on the edge of the historic district, and the views sweep across Waterfront Park, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and the whole downtown skyline. It's two-tiered - a covered outdoor balcony on one level and a true rooftop above it - and the room is enlivened by playful pop-art installations that keep the whole thing from feeling like a generic upscale bar. It's open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and the weekend energy is a different animal entirely, with locals and visitors converging for a lively evening of socializing.
The food is light fare - the kind of thing you order to keep the cocktails coming - with excellent spicing and a cocktail list that's handcrafted rather than standard. It's one of the premier sunset destinations in the city, and the crowd skews toward people who came specifically for the view, so it's a little more polished than the neighborhood bars. The price reflects the location, but the view and the atmosphere are the things you're really paying for, and on a clear evening they're worth it.