Best Late-Night Hangout Spots in Myrtle Beach: 5 Places Worth Staying Out For

I spend a fair amount of time checking out where locals actually go after the sun drops in Myrtle Beach. Not the tourist trap stuff or the loud mega-clubs, but the kind of places where the food is real, the drinks are poured right, and the vibe does not feel like it was engineered by a marketing team. So I put in some time across the Grand Strand and put together this list of the best late-night hangout spots in Myrtle Beach for anyone who wants something with a little more soul.

Some of these I visited more than once. A few of them, locals I spoke to kept bringing up on their own. One of them is the kind of place where you walk in for dinner and end up staying until close without even realising it.

Let me walk you through what I found.

1. 44 & King: The Best Late-Night Hangout Spot in Myrtle Beach for Lowcountry Comfort

This is the one I keep coming back to. 44 & King has been open since 2019 and is rooted at Magnolia Row on 44th Avenue North, right where Kings Highway meets the residential stretch of the city. It does not sit on the boardwalk, which is exactly why locals have claimed it as their own.

When I stopped by on a Friday evening, the courtyard was already filling up by 5 PM. It is described by people who frequent it as a locals' establishment first, a place to chill rather than grab food and go. The screened-in patio, the retro-rustic bar, and the adjoining lawn area all contribute to that feeling. Nobody here seems to be in a hurry. That alone sets it apart from most of the King's Highway strip.

The food is what genuinely surprised me on my first visit. 44 & King runs an elevated Southern comfort menu that covers things like shrimp and heirloom tomatoes over sweet potato grits, buttermilk fried chicken with white pepper gravy, and seared salmon over creamy red pepper-parmesan risotto. These are not bar snacks dressed up. They are proper dinner plates, and the kitchen takes them seriously.

I tried the shrimp and grits and the house smoked wings, and both were the kind of food you tell people about later. The charcuterie board, which a few regulars pointed me toward, came with fresh fruit, cured meats, and artisan cheeses that felt a long way from anything you would expect in a pub setting.

The interior itself is worth noting. Industrial dome lighting hangs from terracotta-coloured ceilings with punches of peacock blue. A mural runs along the white brick wall. The design has a layered craftsmanship to it that makes the space feel thought through. For a neighbourhood pub, it earns the word interesting.

What kept coming up from people I spoke to around the area is the live music. Multiple regulars mentioned going specifically for Wednesday nights. The music is not always quiet, but on most visits it fits the mood rather than overpowering the conversation. On weekends, the outdoor courtyard especially becomes a draw.

The bar carries locally brewed draft beers, bottled beers, draft and bottled wines, cocktails, and local spirits. The drink selection is genuinely local in a way that the national chain spots around town cannot match. When I checked this place out myself, I had a craft cocktail that used a South Carolina spirit I had not tried before. That kind of detail matters.

If you are looking for a best late-night hangout spots in Myrtle Beach experience that actually feels like the community rather than tourism, 44 & King is the answer. Make a reservation on weekends. The place fills up, and the courtyard seats go fast.

For a closer look at what is on the plate before you go, the food menu at 44 & King runs through everything from starters to steaks, and it reflects a kitchen that changes with the seasons rather than one running the same tired list year after year.

2. The Bowery: A Living Piece of Myrtle Beach History

The Bowery has been operating since 1944 and is widely recognised as a legendary country-rock bar. It is the place where the band Alabama played before their rise to national prominence. That history is real, and you feel it when you walk in.

Live music fills the space every night, with local and touring musicians taking the stage. Drinks are affordable, the bartenders are friendly, and the crowd is a mix of people who have been coming for decades and newer visitors who stumbled in and stayed.

I checked this place out on a Thursday. The band was a local act doing Southern rock covers, and by 8 PM the room was at good capacity. It is not a sophisticated night out. It is a genuine, unpretentious bar that has earned its place in this city. That counts for something.

3. Tin Roof Myrtle Beach: Rooftop Views and Live Country Sets

Tin Roof has built a reputation as one of the most popular dance and live music venues in Myrtle Beach, regularly booking up-and-coming country artists and touring bands. The venue has two dance floors that keep things moving on weekend nights.

The rooftop element is the draw here. Ocean views at night with a cold drink and a live band on stage is a combination that the Grand Strand honestly does not have in abundance once you get past the gimmick spots. Tin Roof delivers on that without the cover charge feeling like a corporate extraction.

The food menu leans into what they call better-than-bar-food. Southern staples and pub bites, done properly enough that you can make a full evening out of it rather than just stopping in for drinks. Locals I spoke to mentioned the wings and the loaded fries as consistent.

4. House of Blues Myrtle Beach: When You Want a Proper Show Night

House of Blues sits inside Barefoot Landing and books artists across rock, blues, country, and more. The venue includes an indoor concert facility, an outdoor deck with a dedicated bar and stage, and a full on-site restaurant with Southern-inspired dishes including jambalaya and shrimp and grits.

This one is less of a drop-in spot and more of a plan-your-evening destination. When a touring act is on the schedule, it is one of the better live music experiences available on this stretch of the Carolina coast. The restaurant side holds up on its own even on non-show nights, and the outdoor deck is a good place to land if the indoor show is sold out.

I would not come here looking for a local hangout feel. But if the goal is a proper concert night with food and drinks taken seriously, House of Blues delivers consistently.

5. Grand Strand Brewing Company: Community Anchor in the Arts District

Grand Strand Brewing Co. is located a few blocks from the ocean in the Arts and Innovation District. The taproom opens onto Nance Plaza, a public space with a stage, fountain, and a large mural that gives the brewery a genuine community anchor feeling.

They brew the Airbrush Hazy IPA and Beach Easy, described as the official beer of Myrtle Beach, both produced on-site by a team of longtime locals. The weekday happy hour brings in a crowd that is more neighbourhood than tourist. If you want a conversation starter about what Myrtle Beach actually feels like beyond the resort strip, this is a good place to have it.

Why 44 & King Stands Out Among the Best Late-Night Hangout Spots in Myrtle Beach

I have been to most of the places on this list more than once, and I keep returning to 44 & King for reasons that are hard to fake.

The first is the food. Most bars in this city use their kitchen as an afterthought. At 44 & King, the menu is the centrepiece. Slow-roasted chicken in cream sauce with puff pastry. Fried flounder, shrimp, and scallops. A house burger built from brisket, short rib, and ground chuck topped with pimento cheese and sweet tea collards. That is not pub food. That is a real dinner menu, and it happens to be available in a setting that also pours good drinks and books live music.

The second is the physical space. The courtyard and the indoor dining room are genuinely well-matched to each other, and the location at 44th Avenue North and King's Highway makes it accessible from the north or south end of the city without cutting through the tourist congestion.

The third is the crowd. This is a locals' spot, and you feel that in the energy. People are here to relax, not perform. When I stopped by on a Saturday, there were regulars at the bar who clearly knew the staff by name, and the whole room felt comfortable rather than loud or performative. That is a specific quality and it is not easy to manufacture.

If you are bringing out-of-town guests and want to show them what Myrtle Beach actually tastes like beyond the boardwalk, 44 & King is where I would take them.

FAQ: Best Late-Night Hangout Spots in Myrtle Beach

What are the best late-night hangout spots in Myrtle Beach for locals rather than tourists?

44 & King on 44th Avenue North consistently comes up when locals talk about where they actually go for an evening out. It sits away from the boardwalk, draws a neighbourhood crowd, and pairs serious Southern food with live music and local craft drinks. The Bowery and Grand Strand Brewing Company are also frequently mentioned by people who live here year-round.

What time do restaurants and bars in Myrtle Beach close on weekends?

It varies by venue. 44 & King runs until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 9 PM on weekdays and Sundays. Most of the larger entertainment venues along Broadway at the Beach and the boardwalk stay open later, some until midnight or beyond. If late-night dining past 10 PM is the priority, spots like RipTydz and 810 Billiards are known for extended kitchen hours.

Is there live music at the best hangout spots in Myrtle Beach on weeknights?

Yes. Several venues in Myrtle Beach book live music on weeknights, not just weekends. 44 & King hosts regular live performances, and Wednesday nights specifically have a following among regulars. The Bowery runs live music every night. House of Blues schedules both weekday and weekend shows depending on touring acts.

Does 44 & King take reservations?

Yes. Reservations are recommended, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings when the courtyard and dining room fill up quickly. Calling ahead is a good idea during summer months and local event weekends.

What kind of food does 44 & King serve for dinner?

44 & King focuses on Lowcountry comfort food with elevated preparation. The menu includes shrimp and grits, pot roast, pan-seared salmon, fried chicken, fresh mussels, and a selection of steaks topped with options like gorgonzola, chimichurri, or bourbon cream. Starters include a charcuterie board, buttermilk fried okra, and house-smoked wings. The kitchen sources locally where possible and updates the menu seasonally.

Closing Thoughts

Myrtle Beach has a nightlife scene that can go in a lot of directions. Some of it is worth your time. Some of it is built for first-timers who do not know any better yet. After spending time across the Grand Strand, the places that stood out were the ones with a clear identity, a kitchen that takes its role seriously, and a crowd that comes back because they want to, not because a hotel concierge sent them there.

44 & King landed at the top of this list for all three reasons. If you want one clear answer on where to start when exploring the best late-night hangout spots in Myrtle Beach, start there.

Found a gem near you? Share this with someone who needs to know.

---

44 & King 515 44th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 Phone: +1 843-626-5464 Hours: Mon–Thu 4–9 PM | Fri–Sat 4–10 PM | Sun 4–9 PM Website: 44andking.com View on Google Maps