A HISTORIC TRADITION

The term “Blind Tiger” was coined in the late 1800’s to describe the illicit drinking and gambling establishments opening their doors as temperance legislation swept across the country. The first “Blind Tigers” in South Carolina sprung up in the Holy City in 1893 as a defiant rebuttal to the “Dispensary” laws mandated by the infamous Governor Ben “Pitchfork” Tillman.

Local lore suggests Broad Street was home to many houses of "ill repute" throughout the years. In 1992, ninety-nine years after the first "Blind Tigers" appeared, the "Blind Tiger Pub" opened in its current location, paying homage to a historic tradition.

Despite changing hands several times throughout the years, the Blind Tiger Pub has always remained a fixture of Charleston society. In 2016, after painstaking restoration, the "Blind Tiger Pub" was reborn. Striving to continue to honor the legacy of its previous caretakers, we invite you to join us in celebrating this Charleston institution.
If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the often whispered, seldom seen, and NEVER tamed "blind tiger" rumored to be wandering within these historic walls.