Charleston cocktail bar to open downtown Columbia location

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The team behind Prohibition Charleston will expand to the capital city later this year with a bar and restaurant specializing in craft cocktails and Southern cuisine.

The opening comes as the team celebrates 10 years since James Walsh and Jim McCourt debuted on King Street in Charleston in 2013, according to a news release.

Located in downtown Columbia at 1556 Main St., Prohibition Columbia operators are looking to a late fall opening date. 

Behind the bar, Beverage Director Jim McCourt aims to deliver a cutting edge cocktail program that infuses his expertise, as well as a little science, into specialty drinks. McCourt plans a menu of specialty cocktails that explores a variety of spirits and flavor profiles, while also paying respect to the classics and their contributions to the industry, the news release said. The bar will be equipped with taps that pour select beers, wines and cocktails. 

In the kitchen, Chefs Greg Garrison and Analisa LaPietre promise to bring the same attention to the cuisine that has received national recognition from Food & Wine Magazine, Garden & Gun, and Forbes to the Charleston location.

They call their menu “Southern-inspired cuisine that features fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. The menu will include some of Prohibition’s signature dishes — including crispy Brussels sprouts with chili-lime sauce, shrimp and grits made with heirloom grits and red curry butter, and whipped ricotta toast with roasted broccoli and hot honey — while also introducing new dishes available exclusive to the new location.

Prohibition Columbia will serve lunch and dinner daily. Construction is underway now.

Inside, the space has been redesigned to match the aesthetic of the original location, which touts exposed brick and ironwork alongside weathered wood to create a rustic vibe. A spacious, full-service bar runs the length of the dining room leading to an elevated stage for almost nightly live music.

Near the stage, a lounge area allows for relaxed couch seating. Overhead, a private mezzanine area overlooks the space, giving an unobstructed view of the stage, which will also be available for private events and larger parties.