Making Waves

The Bounty Bar opens on Folly welcoming “seafarers, misfits, and sirens”
from Staff Reports

After much anticipation, the Bounty Bar has opened its doors. From top to bottom, it’s a fairly steep departure from the high-concept Hawaiian-themed Wiki-Wiki Sandbar, which had relied heavily on kitsch and style. The Bounty Bar is more dive-bar-meets-beach-bar and it fits in quite well on a spit of land formerly known as Coffin Island. Where Wiki-Wiki, which closed at the end of last year, went big with flair and flash, Bounty Bar is keeping it real with a atmosphere that is far more in line with its downtown Charleston sister bar, The Royal American. That’s not to say the Bounty Bar lacks flair, not at all. Like the Royal American, every detail seems to have been purposely crafted to feel like it hasn’t been perfectly crafted, giving it a laid-back vibe. Dozens of colorful, vintage glass fish floats hang from the ceiling, helping create a nautical theme, but not quite a pirate-theme. The Bounty Bar feels far more welcoming than its predecessor, even its sign says “welcoming seafarers, misfits, and sirens.”

The drinks and food are also more approachable. With a menu of elevated bar food, a thoughtful cocktail list, and a respectable roster of bottled and canned beer, the Bounty Bar seems poised to thrive with both locals and tourists alike. Where Wiki-Wiki seemed to struggle to create an “authentic” experience, Bounty Bar skips the pretention but keeps the cool. Ahoy.