Bar167, a new downtown restaurant featuring Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, cocktails, and ambiance, officially opened its doors on Fulton Street this month. Located in the former Fulton Five building, Bar167 is the newest venture from 167 Hospitality, a restaurant group known for their popular concepts in both Charleston and Nantucket, Massachusetts.
“The original idea was to create an overflow bar for the King Street restaurant,” said Jesse Sandole, owner of 167 Hospitality. “However, as we began developing the space, Bar167 quickly took on a life of its own. In renovating this historic building that dates back to the 1850s, we discovered so many interesting elements of the space and made it our mission to honor its historic charm in the new build out. In addition to the original Fulton Five dining room that everyone knew and loved, we were able to rebuild the second floor and add a cocktail bar & lounge that previously never existed. In the kitchen we set out to develop a small, ingredient driven menu that easily pairs with our cocktails.”
Credit: Mike Ledford
As longtime regulars of the original 167 Raw Oyster Bar on East Bay Street (now the 167 Sushi Bar), the former owners of Fulton Five decided they would sell the building to Sandole after a prolonged closure due to COVID-19.
“After becoming friends over the years and getting to know each other, it was a very meaningful transaction,” Sandole said. “I was honored that Ray and Pam chose me to sell the building to after over 30 years of success as Fulton Five.”
Inspired by his European travels and Italian family roots, Sandole along with his operating partner Darren Harrison-Panes and Chef Mike Geib created a restaurant and lounge that celebrates the Mediterranean coast with local Carolina ingredients.
Credit: Mike Ledford
Bar167's menu features items like:
- Focaccia – made fresh daily in-house with rosemary, fennel pollen, and honey butter with the option to enhance with seasonal Stracciatella or culatello – a combination of cured pork and corn pudding
- Crudo
- Arroz con negro
- Rotating daily fish
- Bistro steak (pictured)
- Panna cotta
- Affogato
Credit: Mike Ledford
The drink menu features inspiration and input from 167 Hospitality's bartenders and managers. With tonics made in-house, the bar features two gin & tonics on draft that range in flavor profiles from fruity to earthy. With the intention to offer a selection of refreshing, lower ABV beverages, the “light cocktails” section of the menu features options like the Fulton Street Rickey with Rose Gin, Fino Sherry, and lime; the Pink Drink with gin, mezcal, lime, honey and strawberry; and the Jungle Bird with tequila, pineapple Campari, velvet falernum and ginger. Classic Italians favorites such as Negronis, spritzes, and sangrias will accompany the cocktail list as well.
The wine list includes options from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, France and Greece. Aperitifs like limoncello and orangecello, dessert drinks such as sherry coffee colada and the popular 167 Espresso Martini, as well as draft beer from Charles Towne Fermentory, round out the beverage offerings.
Reservations are available on Resy.
For more information, visit 167raw.com/charleston-167bar and/or follow Bar167 on Instagram at @Bar167_Charleston.
