Rooftops and Cocktails

Amanda atop Vendue rooftop sippin on a Marg

Night two in Charleston was phenomenal. After a long day of walking around the city and a nap it was time to try a place a friend had recommended called Vendue Rooftop Bar. This bar was located on the roof of an old inn in downtown historic Charleston.  The views were great and the weather made this place instantly one of our favorites (we have lot in Charleston now).  We arrived and were happy to find margaritas were on special for $5. After two margaritas atop the airy bar it was time to bid farewell and move on to dinner. We made reservations at a seafood restaurant named Blossom. This place was recommended from a retired couple we met while having cocktails the night before at High Cotton. What a recommendation it was! For an app we ordered the buttermilk fried oysters.  This chef knows what he is doing with buttermilk because the oysters were lightly fried and crispy which just enhanced the oysters delicate taste instead of overpowering them. Then I ordered the small plate of Scallops which for the price was a steal considering it was a very generous portion. Tender scallops atop a creamy sauce of Yukon potatoes, leeks and corn chowder. All I can say is it was a party in my mouth. Whitaker ordered the shrimp and grits which were more spicy than usual but just as creamy and delicious as the scallops. I also let him order a side of the collards just for kicks which proved to be a wonderful decision. 

The remnants of dinner at Blossom

After dinner we didn't want to go home, so I suggested we visit one of the college bars the B&B innkeeper recommended named "Closed for Business." (Sidenote: college bars in Charleston are nothing like the grimy places Whit and I frequented in Gainesville, in fact they are nicer than many of the "grown up" bars I frequent in Richmond.) This bar turned out to be a supplier of hundreds of beers from around the US and in the local area. We both sampled some delicious ales and mingled with the locals (which we found to be the best source for recommendations), one of whom led us to the gem of Charleston bars, The Cocktail Club. The Cocktail Club is like something straight out of a Frank Sinatra song or a Mad Men rerun. The bartenders wear tuxedo-esque tops and mix up some of the most creative cocktails I have ever tasted or seen. As we walked in I recognized the bartender instantly.  Earlier that afternoon I was reading the Charleston magazine and noticed an article on the best bartenders in the region.  Jasmine of Cocktail Club was featured as one of the best in the area and man did she prove that article right! When we walked in I immediately recognized her and mentioned I had seen the article about her. We were instant friends! On the suggestion of our award winning bartenderess I ordered a ginger drink with some kind of fresh lime juice, which was very refreshing and clean on the palate. Later I got the "antipasto" drink which was reminiscent of a bloody Mary meets your moms spaghetti sauce with Vodka! We enjoyed the next few hours feeling like we had been transported back in time to the Frank Sinatra era while we sipped on our unique cocktails in the dimly lit Cocktail Club. By far this was our best night in Charleston.