The Perfect Charleston Spritz Crawl, According to a Local Expert

Over 10,000 followers watch TikTok influencer Emileigh Paige talk about the Charleston, South Carolina, food scene. Paige moved to the Lowcountry from Washington, D.C., five years ago and hasn’t stopped exploring all the newest restaurants and bars around town. Ahead of the 2026 Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, November 13-15, she put together a spritz crawl for visitors. “There are so many iterations of a spritz available that everyone can enjoy it,” she says.

Even though it’s fall, spritz season continues in Charleston thanks to the temperate weather and an abundance of outdoor dining options. With a 3:2:1 ratio (three parts Prosecco, two parts aperitivo, and one part soda water), the cocktail is refreshing without being so boozy that it’ll put you down for a nap before dinner.

From a rooftop bar to an old-school Italian restaurant, Paige selects her favorite spots to order the bubbly cocktail.

Cheeky

At Cheeky, a hip new seafood restaurant, the bar offers two spritzes: dirty (gin, bitter bianco, and olive cordial) and pink (strawberry, passionfruit, mango, and grapefruit). Pair either spritz with roasted oysters or snapper carpaccio. “The food at Cheeky is fantastic,” says Paige, “And it has such a fun, energetic atmosphere that makes it a great option for both lunch and dinner, so it would fit into any crawl planning.”

Related: If You Want to Eat Local Seafood, You Can’t Do Better Than Charleston

Babas

With three locations on the peninsula, there’s probably a Babas nearby to serve you a fizzy beverage. The cafe mixes espresso drinks during the day (try the Peanut Drink with peanut milk) and cocktails in the afternoon. The Babas Orange Spritz combines Contratto (a liqueur made with herbs, botanicals, and spices) and Campari aperitifs with Prosecco, soda water, and an orange slice. On Fridays and Saturdays, the cafe offers free aperitivo snacks (olives, chips, boquerones, focaccia, etc.) after 4 p.m. with the purchase of a boozy beverage. “Babas really brings a European aspect to Charleston, where it’s very easygoing and very laid back,” says Paige.

Rosemary Rose

The boutique hotel The Nickel offers two bars for guests: the clubhouse Bar Daniel and the rooftop spot Rosemary Rose. Beverages have a way of tasting better outdoors, so hop in the elevator to the fifth floor for downtown views while sipping a Hugo spritz made with St-Germain elderflower liqueur and topped with mint. “Sunset is the best time to visit,” says Paige. “I love the views of King Street and the bridge from Rosemary Rose.”

Melfi’s

Melfi’s is a white-tablecloth Italian restaurant with a Sinatra soundtrack. The bar gets creative with its spritz flavors, like the Spill the Tea with Southern amaro, lemon, mint, Prosecco, and club soda. “If you want a full sit-down dinner with the family that you will talk about in the future, it’s at Melfi’s,” says Paige.

Bar 167

Bar 167 is the sister restaurant to famed no-reservations seafood house 167 Raw. The Cedro spritz blends Italicus, a bergamot liqueur, and St. Elder, an elderflower liqueur. A splash of grapefruit juice adds extra acidity, and a sprig of charred rosemary adds a woodsy note. The menu leans Mediterranean with dishes like crispy octopus, kofta sliders, and a mezze platter. “This is a fun nightcap, and you get to have good seafood at the end of the crawl,” says Paige.

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