Bluffton’s Best Outdoor Drinking Spots

Bluffton, South Carolina is home to many nearby beaches, more than enough sunshine, and plenty of local drinking spots to enjoy. If you’re in town visiting family or you just want to take some time off work to party responsibly, then there’s no better way to do it than to enjoy a cold drink outdoors. There’s certainly no shortage of indoor bars, but what if you want some fresh air while you let loose? Not every outdoor drinking patio is created equal, so we’re highlighting the five best outdoor drinking spots that Bluffton has to offer.

Old Town Dispensary

First on our list is Old Town Dispensary. As boasted by the owners, this is “the place to be in Bluffton” and we couldn’t agree more. Located right in the heart of the historic downtown, this little treasure is an excellent place to enjoy a cold drink after a day of work. You see, this isn’t just a bar, it’s a community hot spot and local gathering place for everyone to relax and enjoy. You can come here during the day after visiting the farmer’s market or you can stop by in the late afternoon and enjoy a comfortable atmosphere with your friends. During your time, enjoy live music from upcoming local artists while you let your worries melt away.

Everything on Old Town Dispensary’s menu is handmade and chef-inspired. No matter what you’re in the mood for, there’s always something that hits the spot because the menu is so vast and caters to everyone’s favorite tastes. Their outdoor seating is large and makes you feel like you’re drinking in the middle of an old-fashioned town. Their ambience is not only great for reminiscing over past memories, but for creating new ones as well. Visit with a large group of people or with a few buddies and you’re guaranteed to be in for a good time. Be sure to check out their calendar because Old Town Dispensary is always hosting events that bring the community together.

“Our Favorite Trait: We love to visit because they have one of the most unique outdoor patios of any bar. There’s plenty of space, making you feel like you’re in the middle of a town square!”

Old Town Dispensary
15 Captains Cove Rd
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 837-1893
http://www.otdbluffton.com/

Okatie Ale House

Okatie Ale House has been a local favorite for 8 years and counting. Their outdoor patio overlooks a gorgeous waterfront that compliments fine weather like no other. Even on the harshest and hottest days, there’s plenty of covered seating and cold drinks to help you cool off. The best times to visit are definitely Wednesday through Saturdays from 5:30pm to 9:30pm so you can enjoy live acoustic music on the patio (weather permitting). With a full menu, bar, and hearty portions of food to complement their lively atmosphere, you’re in for a unique experience that’s hard to compete with.

For all you sports fans and athletic fanatics, this is the place for you! Okatie Ale House hosts many events for people of all ages including 5k runs, golf tournaments, Superbowl parties, and more! Their patio is even pet friendly so you don’t have to worry about leaving your furry friend at home and miss out on meeting a welcoming crowd. If you can’t decide on how to spend your weekend, be sure to stop by Okatie Ale House because there’s always a good time in store for everyone.

“Our Favorite Item: Along with many from the local crowd, we pick their Seafood Pot Pie as our favorite! With shrimp, lobster, scallops, and crab meat all featured in one dish, Okatie Ale House’s Seafood Pot Pie satisfies our seafood cravings every time.”

Okatie Ale House
25 William Pope Dr.
Bluffton, SC 29909
(843) 706-2537
Visit Website

One Hot Mama’s

No outdoor drinking is complete without great food and boy, does One Hot Mama’s deliver on all fronts! This fan favorite bar and restaurant wouldn’t be the hot spot it is today without the dedicated Chef Orchid. As a child of immigrants, Chef Orchid learned the ways of Filipino cooking from her family and worked her way up through the restaurant business to fulfill her own vision of the ‘American Dream’. Now, all of her hard work has paid off since opening One Hot Mama’s in 2007. Ever since then, she’s combined the timeless taste of great southern cooking with her own style inspired by home recipes along with a wide selection of cold drinks to wash it all down. If you’re looking for mouth watering barbeque or tender, slow-cooked meats, then One Hot Mama’s should be on your must visit list.

With their Bluffton location sharing the same plaza as the local theater, there’s nothing like seeing a new movie and then walking over to enjoy refreshing drinks on their outdoor patio. With a view of the plaza’s fountain, there’s a calming mood that suits every occasion. For us, visiting One Hot Mama’s after a movie has become a little tradition of ours. Who needs to buy expensive movie snacks when you can just save your appetite for drinks and good ol’ southern barbeque? Trust us, the anticipation of stopping by is worth it every time, no matter when you visit. Brunch, lunch, late night drinks, you name it! One Hot Mama’s has it all!

“Our Favorite Item: With so many great options, it was hard to make a decision but our favorite item is their ‘Award Winning Brisket’. With a perfect, tender, and juicy finish every time, it’s hard to go wrong with one of the finest barbeque items in the Lowcountry.”

One Hot Mama’s – Bluffton
104 Buckwalter Pkwy
Suite 1A
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 815-6262
Website

R Bar Bluffton

If you want a neighborhood bar without any pretensions, then R Bar is the place to be. This humble little location is all about bringing people together for a memorable, laid back experience every time. R Bar is a great place to share your love of sports and everything that comes with it. Wings, nachos, sandwiches, appetizers on appetizers, comfort food, you name it. Whatever your stomach is yearning for, R Bar will leave you coming back for more. We love this spot because they have every NFL game on stream and many other professional games so we never have to worry about missing our favorite teams.

R Bar’s exterior features a large screened in area so you can step outside for fresh air and enjoy a chat over the coldest beer in town. Or if you’re like us, the outdoor patio is the perfect place to step out when it gets hard to cheer for your favorite team. Along with great food and friendly service that goes above and beyond, R Bar features a selection of very reasonably priced drinks. Be sure to visit during their happy hours every weekday from 4pm-7pm for $2 domestic bottles or $2.50 mixed drinks!

“Our Favorite Item: It wouldn’t be a proper visit without trying their staple ‘Beef on WECK’ sandwich. Their Kimmelweck roll is homemade with a side of au jus dip that complements their slow roasted beef perfectly.”

R Bar & Grill
70 Pennington Dr.
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 757-7264
Visit Website

Fat Patties

No mention of outdoor drinking in Bluffton would be complete without mentioning Fat Patties. If you want a place that does a burger right not just the first time but every time, then you can’t miss out on this Bluffton gem. Whether you want to build your own burger or choose from their gourmet creations, you can never go wrong. Fat Patties is partnered with Southern Swiss Dairy Farm so not only do you get premium grass fed beef, but you can satisfy your sweet tooth with their fresh batches of house-made ice cream! There’s no greater joy in the world than enjoying fresh ice cream on their outdoor patio or around their fire pit. For all you vegetarians out there, they also boast a black bean burger so you won’t miss out on the fun!

Okay we’ve mentioned enough about the food, but we’d be doing everyone a disservice if we didn’t mention their awesome selection of craft beer! Fat Patties has one of the largest selections of craft beer on tap in Bluffton and holds at least 10 spots for local breweries from Charleston all the way out to Atlanta. Their collection changes frequently so there’s always something new to look forward to! Luckily, their bartenders are more than happy to let you sample their selection if you can’t decide on a drink. Everyone here is a true professional so if you’ve never visited, the new decade is the perfect time to change that.“

Our Favorite Drink: Make sure to order their Marsh Grass when you stop by. It’s locally brewed by Salt Marsh and features a floral and citrus hop aroma. For newcomers to american craft beer, this is an easy drinker!”

Fat Patties – Old Town Bluffton
207 Bluffton Rd.
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 815-6300
Visit Website

Best Outdoor Drinking Patios in Bluffton, South Carolina

With beautiful weather almost year round in the Lowcountry, it would be a wasted day if you spent it indoors or couldn’t cool down with a cold drink outside. If you’ve been looking for the best place to enjoy a drink outside in Bluffton, our list is a great place to start. Whether you’re passing through or want to get out and socialize, our guide will help you make the most out of your time here. We’re fortunate that over the past several years, Bluffton has grown from an early to bed town to one with some up and coming popular nightlife spots.