Wet Willie's

Visitors to Historic Downtown Charleston who want to cool down from the low country heat should head to Wet Willie’s, a bar that serves up 19 different frozen mixed drinks.

As soon as you walk in the door you know that Wet Willie’s isn’t your typical establishment with a few blenders behind the bar. Wet Willie’s instead features permanent frozen drink machines installed in a line behind the bar in rainbow of colors mixing up the bright drinks. It’s like 19 giant Slurpee machines, except these machine are geared for adults only.

And even though the bar serves up colorful and fruity drinks, Willie’s does not shy away from making a strong mixture. Several of their homemade recipes include 190-proof grain alcohol or 153-proof Bacardi Rum like the “Attitude Improvement” or the “Shock Treatment.” Several other drinks have interesting ingredients with unique names, and the concoctions are thoroughly explained on the bar’s interactive Web site but are nowhere to be found at the bar.

You can play it safe by ordering a more traditional frozen drink like a Strawberry Daiquiri or a Pina Colada. For those who want to live more adventurously, you will most likely have to call a cab to drive you home — especially if you are ordering Wet Willie’s strongest drink, “The Call-a-Cab.”

Drinks run $4 - $6 depending on the size, and there is a happy hour Monday – Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm that has $1.50 beers and $2.75 mixed drinks. The bar also serves up burgers, sandwiches and quesadillas for those who want more than sugary drinks in their stomach.

HelloCharleston Tip: A back room called “The Penguin” is a private lounge that can be rented out. It features leather chairs and a 120-inch projection screen.

- by Mike D'Avria, Charleston Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Mike D'Avria

Mike D'Avria graduated with a Journalism Degree from Indiana University in 2003.

He worked for the daily newspaper, The Athens Banner-Herald in Athens, Ga. before turning to freelance writing and video production.

Mike is the Executive Editor of CampLeadership.org, and has lived in Charlotte for four years.