Y’all, Charleston is a hot spot, and Republic Garden & Lounge is that girl.
As a Las Vegas resident, I’m delusional that we are the only nightlife destination. Charleston … Republic, in particular, proved me wrong. There were oodles of bridal parties and destination celebrations creating an intense buzz around the city.
General info about Republic:
All of the Southern Charm/Southern Hospitality hotspots are within walking distance. Zach’s Daiqs and Republic are next door to one another, while Sewing Down South is across the street.
It’s a five-ten minute walk to Bourbon ‘N Bubbles, Mesu and Lamar’s Sporting Club from Republic.
Republic is open 7 days. From Wednesday to Sunday, they operate from noon to 2 am. On Monday and Tuesday, they open from 4 pm – 2 am. There is a full food menu for diners before the establishment transitions into a nightclub.
We arrived at Republic at 9:30 pm for our reservation. Here’s a breakdown of our experience.
Republic Reign:
The vibe was on point from the moment we approached the club.
Imani and I were greeted by Michols and Lake (from season three of SoHo) outside Republic. We were quickly checked in by and shown to our table by Lake. Michols was dapper AF in his suit while Lake and the ladies hosting wore pink Hervé Léger inspired dresses. Tres chic.
We were seated in a VIP area with lots of space to dance and sofas for lounging. If it’s financially doable for you, we highly recommend splurging on a VIP table, especially if you’re not a person who likes crowds, i.e., us.
In my clubbing days (25 years ago lol), I loved a sweaty dance floor. There were a lot of young people who didn’t seem to mind how crowded the club was, but for my 45-year-old ass, I need a seat and room to breathe. VIP was the right move for us for an optimal experience.
We went to Republic on a Friday night and highly recommend you make a reservation in advance. There were no tables available for walk-in patrons.
The club is long and narrow. This isn’t a Republic thing, it’s a Charleston thing. Architecturally, the city is designed to fit on a peninsula. Also, the floor plan optimizes air flow, which is necessary in CHS.
There is an indoor area (where the DJ is located) and a patio. Again, the floor plan is rectangular. This worked for the college kids, but it was too crowded for our taste. Getting to the bathroom was a feat in itself with the number of people inside.
Drinks:
Beer prices range from $5-$8, canned cocktails are priced $7-$12, and wines by the glass are sold for $11, $12, and $13.
Cocktails and frozen drinks cost between $12 and $16.
There are two specialty mocktails eponymous to Southern Hospitality’s stars Maddi Reese and Joe Bradley. Maddi’s Mule and Joe’s Cut Off cost $8 each.
The VIP menu was backlit, which my middle-aged eyes appreciated.
We channeled our inner Fancy Pants and ordered champs! A bottle was perfect for the two of us!
Music:
We were manifesting that Maddi was DJing, but it’s not a perfect world. With that said, the DJ got the job done.
There was a mix of old-school club hits mixed with a bunch of music I’ve never heard before, but I don’t go to nightclubs often. There was something for everyone as the DJ seamlessly mixed genres.
Some of the artists I recognized were Ciara, Lil John, Britney Spears, will.i.am, and Beyonce. I tried to Shazam the songs that I didn’t know to give credit to the DJ’s range, but the crowd was too loud to pick up the music … further proof that the DJ was clocked in.
Southern Hospitality cast sightings:
Michols and Lake were stationed in front of the club all night. We saw Bradley working when we got there.
Joe Bradley was on the clock and was seen charming the Republic patrons. Maddi wasn’t working, but we saw her hanging out and talking with guests.
Emmy Sharrertt was there and presented us with the iconic Republic VIP bottle service sign. We legit love Emmy and hit it off with her immediately.
Oh, and her engagement ring is GORG! Well done, Will.
Republic is the Queen of King Street:
Leva Bonaparte did the thing.
The former Southern Charm star owns four super successful in the heart of Charleston.
Imani and I did a ‘Vanderpump Rules bar crawl’ last summer through West Hollywood. Like Lisa Vanderpump on the West Coast, Leva’s restaurant group offers a similar experience on the East Coast.
You can get the full SoHo experience very easily, as everything is located so close. Bar hopping seems to be what the Southerners do, and we approve!
Aesthetics were on point, the staff was fantastic, and the vibes were immaculate.
If you’re a big Southern Charm/Southern Hospitality fan, this is the trip for you. Make sure to tell them Taste of Reality sent you!
