
Red's Ice House
A vibrant, no-frills waterfront spot on Shem Creek, offering fresh seafood, pub grub, live music, and breathtaking Charleston sunset views.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Red's Ice House

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A vibrant, no-frills waterfront spot on Shem Creek, offering fresh seafood, pub grub, live music, and breathtaking Charleston sunset views.
"This place is awesome! The food is delicious, service was amazing,and that view is on another level!"
Post-Beach/Boat Dining
Ideal for a relaxed experience after a day at the beach or on the boat. Great for groups!
Rooftop Sunset Views
Head to the 'tree house' rooftop for fantastic Charleston sunsets and scenic creek views.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Seafood & Pub Grub
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Waterfront Views & Ambiance
Enjoy casual dining with stunning waterfront views, perfect for watching dolphins, boats, and Charleston sunsets.

Live Music & Lively Atmosphere
Experience a vibrant, 'perpetual spring break' vibe with live music events and a lively crowd, especially on weekends.

Fresh Seafood Delights
Savor the freshest seafood, from classic BBQ and oysters to unique dishes like Tuna Poke Bowls and Bacon-Wrapped Scallops.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Post-Beach/Boat Dining
Ideal for a relaxed experience after a day at the beach or on the boat. Great for groups!
Rooftop Sunset Views
Head to the 'tree house' rooftop for fantastic Charleston sunsets and scenic creek views.
Group-Friendly Atmosphere
Bring a group to share buckets of beer and enjoy the lively party atmosphere.
Coconut Shrimp Recommendation
A refreshing choice, especially after sun-soaked activities.
Tips
from all over the internet
Post-Beach/Boat Dining
Ideal for a relaxed experience after a day at the beach or on the boat. Great for groups!
Rooftop Sunset Views
Head to the 'tree house' rooftop for fantastic Charleston sunsets and scenic creek views.
Group-Friendly Atmosphere
Bring a group to share buckets of beer and enjoy the lively party atmosphere.
Coconut Shrimp Recommendation
A refreshing choice, especially after sun-soaked activities.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Red's Ice House is praised for its fantastic waterfront views and lively atmosphere, making it a popular spot for drinks and casual dining on Shem Creek. While many enjoy the ambiance, music, and specific seafood dishes like roasted oysters and blackened grouper, some reviews mention issues with food quality inconsistency, watered-down drinks, and occasional poor service. The elevated rooftop bar is a particular highlight for sunset views.
"The place doesn't look like much but the roasted oysters were so good I had to order 6 more. My wife had grilled shrimp which were also good. We got there 5 minutes after opening at 11 am and they were half full already. In our 4 days in the Charleston area this place has the best roasted oysters."
Alan Haraldson
"Pros and cons for this restaurant. I am solo with a pet. I got there 10 minutes before they opened and let them know I was there. I then waited almost 20 minutes with no acknowledgement and eventually went to the bar asking to be seated. Once I was seated, the waitress was kind and attentive. She brought my pet a cup of ice cold water, but the water bowl outside where we waited was very dirty. The food was very good. My burger was a little pink and I realized I was never asked how I wanted it cooked. When the bill came for 2 daiquiris, a burger, fries and cucumber salad, it was $50!!!! I had seen the menu online where a daiquiri was $8 and is now apparently $13. The burger went up only a couple of dollars. The waitress stated that was an old menu but big increase either way. I didn't argue, I paid and tipped well because it's not the waitress' fault. The patio is covered with fans which is great for a pet because most outdoor seating is not covered and can get very hot. So...pros and cons but not sure I'll return."
Username unknown
"Waterfront dining, excellent service and great food! Reds is a true vacation feel! The house margarita was excellent and the crab cakes were wonderful! The low country boil could have used some seasoning but the portion sizes was perfect! Our server was friendly and energetic and prices were very reasonable too! The parking lot (paid) can get full due to the variety of restaurants around, however, we did a few circles and found a spot within a few minutes. Waterfront seating is first come first serve but the views were beautiful, especially during sunset. We loved Reds!"
Macy Hooper
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Red's Ice House is renowned for its lively waterfront atmosphere, fresh seafood, live music, and stunning sunset views over Shem Creek.
Yes, Red's Ice House often features live music, especially on weekends, contributing to its rowdy and fun atmosphere.
Visiting after a day at the beach or on the boat is recommended. Evenings are great for sunsets and live music, but can get crowded.
The menu primarily focuses on seafood and pub fare, with limited explicitly vegetarian dishes noted.
Yes, Red's Ice House is a popular spot for boaters to dock and enjoy drinks and food with fantastic views.
The elevated 'tree house' rooftop bar offers scenic views of Shem Creek, ideal for enjoying Charleston sunsets.
While it has a lively atmosphere, it can get rowdy, particularly on weekends with live music, making it more adult-oriented.
Popular items include roasted oysters, coconut shrimp, and blackened grouper sandwiches. Low country boil is also a common choice.
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Red’s Ice House is the epitome of a waterfront joint: nearly the entire restaurant is open-air and overlooking Shem Creek. If the weather is nice, you’ll likely enjoy watching people walk along the pier, kayakers & SUPers paddling out to the ocean, and even the occasional pack of dolphins playing in the wake of a boat. The food admittedly gets mixed reviews (standard fried seafood fare), but the atmosphere and happy hour are pretty much universal winners, and can be enjoyed from the patio or bird’s nest bar.
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Vibes: Perpetual spring break infused with the catchiest Luke Bryan song you can think of When to go: After a day at the beach or on the boat Who to bring: The bigger the group the bigger the party, and you will have someone to share buckets of beer with What to order: Buckets of beer, obviously. And coconut shrimp is just the ticket after a long day in the sun
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Red’s Ice House offers a laid-back and multi-level mix of indoor and outdoor space to enjoy cold beers and fresh local seafood, right on historic Shem Creek. The true gem here is the elevated, rustic and charming 'tree house' rooftop, which is a prime spot to watch the action on the creek and enjoy scenic Charleston sunsets. Serving everything you need when it comes to fresh local seafood, sandwiches, burgers and refreshing drinks, you can expect a fun-filled and happening atmosphere.
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On Shem Creek stands a laid-back beachfront restaurant with one of the best sunset views in Shem Creek. Red’s Ice House has a fascinating backstory. Lewis Hughes “Red” Simmons’s vision for the family’s old fish and ice house was to transform it into a public gathering place at the water’s edge where locals and visitors of all ages, wealth, and culture could come together to watch the boats go by and help celebrate, preserve, and protect Shem Creek’s rich and storied traditions.
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Red’s, across the harbor in Mt. Pleasant, is perfect if you’re looking for a friendly spot to enjoy a cold beer & fresh local seafood in a laid back setting. Located on historic Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, the original Red’s is the perfect spot for taking in Lowcountry wildlife and scenic Charleston sunsets. The food is not the draw here—rather cold beers and people watching is—but step out onto the deck overlooking Shem Creek and you’ll understand why it’s such a popular spot.
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Dock your boat at Red’s Ice House and enjoy the fantastic views, beverages from the dockside bar, and mouthwatering menu items. Located on Shem Creek, this restaurant is one of the number one places to stop for a drink while spending the day boating in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Guests are treated like family and served the finest fresh local seafood in a laid-back environment.
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Red’s Ice House: Known for its delicious seafood and waterfront views, Red’s Ice House is also a hotspot for live music. Located on Shem Creek, this casual venue offers a lively atmosphere and hosts a diverse range of local bands, solo artists, and cover bands. With its outdoor stage and waterfront seating, Red’s Ice House provides the perfect backdrop for a night of great music and fun.
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Unwinding after a tough day in the business-savvy streets of Mount Pleasant is simple, thanks to the picturesque views and refreshing cocktails at Red’s Icehouse on Shem Creek. Our readers can be found there regularly, mingling with their neighbors and watching the boats go by. Just don’t let your friends try to sneak onto a stranger’s boat after they’ve had a couple.
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I honestly don’t really head to Red’s Ice House but it is a pretty popular spot so I’m including it on this list. It can best be described as a busy, no-frills joint that overlooks the water on Shem Creek and serves up seafood & pub grub. On the weekends there is live music at night and it can get pretty rowdy (and kind of trashy) but that is part of the appeal.
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Situated in Mt. Pleasant, Red’s Ice House serves a wide assortment of seafood including shrimp, calamari, crab, oyster, scallops and more. With its casual ambience, the House is ideal for watching the sunset and the waters of Shem Creek. You can do all of this as you sit and sip on some cold beer at the regular bar, the waterfront bar, or even the outdoor patio.
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Red's Ice House Shem Creek is a dog-friendly restaurant in Mount Pleasant. Fido can join you at an outdoor table on their award-winning covered patio along the creek, watching for wildlife and gorgeous sunsets. Guests can enjoy fresh seafood dishes such as the signature crab dip, buffalo shrimp, oysters, lobster mac and cheese, Lowcountry boil, and snow crabs.
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Red’s Ice House on Shem Creek is one of Charleston’s most popular rooftop restaurants. Located on a pier overlooking the beautiful marshlands of the Lowcountry, Red’s offers stunning sunset views and a truly unique dining experience. The menu features traditional Lowcountry favorites like Grouper Sandwiches, Fried Shrimp, Fish and Chips, and Shrimp and Grits.
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Nothing beats the picturesque dining experience Red’s offers at either of its two locations: Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant and Seabrook Island, overlooking Bohicket Creek. The waterway views are just a bonus to the seafood, burgers and brew. Sit back and let the breeze bring you the tantalizing cuisine scents while you survey a sunset and maybe even a dolphin.
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Stop to Eat: While on that side of the river, we drove around a little and happened upon Red’s Ice House (right), on Shem Creek. It’s the sort of casual waterfront place where you drink beer and eat grilled shrimp and oyster po’boys out of little red plastic baskets lined with checked paper. The food was as tasty as the place was casual and kid-friendly.
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Red’s Ice House is the best restaurant along Shem Creek to cheer on your favorite sports team with a burger and a beer. They feature over seven different burgers that you can mix and match with tons of toppings. Whether you eat downstairs on the huge outdoor patio or sit atop the two-story-tall deck, Red’s is a fantastic place for food and drinks.
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Red’s Ice House features live music on the deck five times a week, along with weekly specials like all-you-can-eat crab legs and a Sunday Bloody Mary bar. With beautiful views of Shem Creek, it’s the perfect place to kick back with a cold beer, dig into a bucket of steamed oysters, and listen to one of the Lowcountry’s many talented artists.
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The atmosphere of drinking and eating on the water while boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and even dolphins pass by is the best. The outdoor area is nice and usually, you will see about 5-10 dogs there enjoying their time waiting for some great food to fall on the ground. Have a great relaxing after with your pups next to the water.
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Located on Shem Creek, Red’s Ice House is a beloved destination that has stood the test of time. Originally established in the 1950s, it transformed into the iconic Red’s we know today during the 1990s. Once a humble ice house catering to local fishermen, Red’s has evolved into a vibrant and entertaining bar and restaurant.
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While you enjoy a bucket of ice-cold Coronas, your dog can enjoy her own bucket of ice water on Red's patio, which overlooks Shem Creek. Though dogs always are allowed outside of the waterfront bar, every Wednesday is “Yappy Hour,” when four-legged friends and their owners can hang out and get to know each other.
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Red’s Ice House may seem like a bit of a dive, but it’s where countless locals go to drink and enjoy pub fare year-round. The no-frills atmosphere gives it a unique allure, and you’ll love the energy the crowds bring. The menu consists of fresh seafood and bar eats– if you don’t like seafood, don’t worry!
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* Stop by Red’s Ice House for a cold beer, great food, and a supreme vantage point to take in the Charleston sunsets. This rollicking waterfront bar and restaurant includes seafood favorites like Red’s rockin’ crab dip and “killer” shrimp, along with special weekday happy hour specials.
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Red’s Ice House is a popular hotspot for the 20-30 somethings. With an open-air, laid-back, rustic setting and nighttime bands, their motto — “Inside is Boring” — pretty much sums it up. They are well known for their fried seafood, cold beer, and great views.
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Red’s Ice House features excellent dining, views of the creek, and live music in the season. Their menu includes Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip, Smoked Wings, and Jalapeño Hush Puppies. Entrees include Lobster Mac and Cheese, Low Country Boil, and Fish and Chips.
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Sometimes all you’re craving is a beer and good hearty food. When we have those days, then Red’s Ice House is where we go. They serve good-sized burgers here, lots of delicious locally caught seafood, and many Southern comfort-food classics.
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We have been to Red’s Ice House before and loved it so we thought we would go back again. It is a perfect spot to grab a quick lunch and if you get there in time, you can grab a seat right by the water. Which is what we did.
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On Shem Creek, Red’s Ice House is a favorite for locals and visitors alike, offering a lively atmosphere with stunning water views. It’s the place to enjoy cold drinks, fresh seafood, and possibly a dolphin sighting or two.
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Red’s Ice House: My friend and I sat on their back deck along the water for lunch on a warm day. The food wasn’t anything to write home about, but the atmosphere was fun and laid back, and we saw dolphins swimming by!
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Red’s is one of the best rooftop bars in Charleston’s well-known Shem Creek. It’s a dive bar, but don’t let that statement turn you away. It’s a super fun dive bar with one of the nicest views of the creek / marina.
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Red’s Ice House – Famous for its fried fish and upstairs patio, this place has one of the best views of Charleston Harbor. It’s also become the it spot of the summer, so arrive early if you want to secure a table!
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Red’s has a separate gluten-free menu (rare for the Charleston area). You can find multiple seafood options, salads, and many dips can be made gluten-free. I recently split the crab legs, and shrimp with Kyle.
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Hit the doors early since it fills up fast, pack your bucket of beers up to the Crow’s Nest and stare at the ships slipping down the river. If you don’t like country music – son, you’re in for an education.
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Red's Ice House is a casual waterfront restaurant on Shem Creek, known for its seafood dishes and lively atmosphere. It’s an ideal place for families to dine while enjoying views of the creek.
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Ice House, formerly known as the Pure Ice Company, is unique to this list because the owners encourage patrons to smash their empty beer bottles against a brick wall beneath the loading dock.
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Red’s Ice House’s motto is “Keep it simple.” While the décor is rustic, the food is still darn good. Menu items include peel and eat shrimp, bacon-wrapped scallops and fried green tomatoes.
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Stop in to Reds on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant for a variety of seafood specials, great drink specials while sitting and watching sea life on shem creek. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
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Average Cost: $$98 Church St, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464(843) 388-0003. Image credit: Red’s Ice House. The top doggy destination on our list is Red’s Ice House.
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The main and second-floor decks at Red’s Ice House get you a waterside view to go with your bucket of beer and, usually, some laid-back live music.
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If you’re looking for a friendly spot to enjoy fresh seafood in a laid back setting, you’re going to love Red’s.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit