Carmella's Cafe and Dessert Bar

This is a must stop spot in Charleston. From the sorbet, to the many amazing treats of interesting flavor profiles, to the focaccia bread pizza, sandwiches, many alcoholic beverages made with ice cream.. everyone will find something to drool over. Quaint little place where your belly up to the cashier just passed all the meticulously made with love treats, this place has a long history of its founders.

Had heard great things about Carmellas from friends. We had walked around the historic neighborhoods south of Broad and along the Battery and wanted some coffee and dessert to take to-go. Warning: Carmella's is not cheap. I got the Turtle Cheesecake and Tiramisu and a Macchiato for $30+. My friends got the Carrot Cake and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake. When we got home and had the desserts we had purchased, you can definitely share the desserts with 2-3 people. They are all so rich and amazing. Totally WORTH it!!!! They have a full service bar as well. The bartenders/employees were super friendly and helpful.

The Sorbet is so delicious, you must mix the flavors of lemon & peach! We also tried the Carrot. Peach, Cannoli, & Chocolate Peanut Butter cakes. They were all delctable! The customer service was great, the line was a little long however, we were able to get in out. Now we know why the line was so long😀Trust me it's worth the wait! Can't wait to try them out again when I'm back in Charleston, SC.

It's the best carrot cake I've sampled. It packs so much flavor but doesn't saturate your senses with sugar. It was soft, creamy, crunchy, airy, you name it. The portion was more than enough for two people. Pair it with the Butter Pecan gelato, and I was in heaven. The gelato was just thick enough with a smooth taste. The coffee gelato was a little too strong for my liking, but still good.

It was so good we had to return the next day—another round of carrot cake and butter pecan gelato. I can't wait to try other samples when I revisit the area.

The desserts here are very very good. We had cheesecake last trip and this time key lime pie with cappuccino. I highly recommend but be prepared for a wait.

THIS PLACE!!! It's a solid 5 🌟! Everything about this place is good. Great location, large open doors, plenty of fresh air, alright music, free water/free sparkling water, line moves, and fast friendly employees.

The baked goods, carrot cake, chocolate peanut cake, banana pudding, affogato, raspberry tea, and ice coffee were all exceptional good.

The downside is that if it's even a downside , this place is busy because it's soooo good..

Took a day trip with the ladies in the family down to Charleston. We simply chose Carmella’s due to her atmosphere and- well I’m a millennial who enjoys a ‘hipster’ vibe.
The pizza, the sandwiches, the coffee, and adult beverages were top notch. Sadly we were too full to try a dessert. There were only two tenders working at the time and both of the gentlemen were very attentive.
I absolutely cannot wait for the Greenville location to open.

My first time in! I’ve always loved their outdoor dining and just passing by, but today I had some time and friend recommended I sit in there to get some coffee and sweet treat to sit and edit. The barista was so kind and helpful. Love the water filling station. Their seating is so pretty and they have lots of space. It was pretty chill when I first got there and then picked up within the hour. But everyone was nice and it was a great spot to be downtown. The cold brew was ridiculously good and the cookie was soooo delish. Thank you!

I had tried Carmella’s in Greenville last month & it was amazing. I live in CHS & had wanted to go, but the line is usually out the door. Caught it on Saturday just after 4 & the wait wasn’t bad. Had the cannoli cake & fruit tart. Both delicious! Service at the counter was excellent. Will go back for sure!

So like all good tourists we had to stop by Carmella's and get one of their famous cakes. It was 630 on a Friday night and the place was busy and the line was moving. It's rather small and for a small social gathering and an evening of dessert and drinks you'll love it. If you just want your dessert and to peace out their system is set up for just that. You can even order online and skip the line if you're really looking to get in and out.

Most importantly the chocolate peanut butter cake we had and shared only needed 1 to 2 more people to share it with. That sucker was delicious and dense! So do I recommend it, yes absolutely, but if you want to try more than 1 plan on having it for the next week or so or bringing an army to share them all together. Enjoy!

Very busy place even on the weekdays, but VERY GOOD drinks (cocktails) and snack foods. They need more people to help out the current employees so everything flows smoother because they work so hard and are just running around. Still doesn't mess with the quality, but maybe it will improve even better when the people working are not stressed to give good service. Good job Iris and the bartender.

We love the service and food at Carmella’s! We visited once and have become customers for life. The ambiance is fun, romantic and so entertaining! Cakes and sweet treats are our favorite but don’t miss out on their drunken milkshakes! To die for!!! Best cannoli cake I have ever had. Must visit in Charleston. We have celebrated every anniversary here. I bring all of my family and friends here when the visit. Highly recommend!!

Wonderful cakes in a lovely atmosphere. We are on vacation in Charleston, and started our day here to celebrate my daughters birthday. This was a great choice, they have birthday standard cakes, and gave me candles for our celebration 🎉.

Best red velvet cake I’ve ever had!!! It was so fresh and moist! The serving size was perfect for two. The whole concept of this place is awesome. Highly recommend if you ever visit Charleston!

If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, you absolutely MUST visit Carmella’s! They have a wide variety of options for food and drinks, and I couldn’t recommend them enough! My fiancé and I both got gelato and it was delicious!

A very popular café located on East Bay Street and Cumberland is a very open and bright spot with indoor and even some outdoor seats (the morning sun shines brightly on their particular corner). Beyond the traditional coffees, teas and the like, it is definitely worth a visit to Carmella's to sample some of their amazing baked goods that look just divine (see the video to get a sense of what's available). As always, the cafe is full of friendly and smiling staff. Don't be put off by any lines as it generally moves quite quickly. Enjoy!

Very cool spot in historic downtown Charleston! I would recommend stopping here for a nightcap anytime! A nice variety of dessert, coffee, and alcohol options, I chose a double chocolate mousse tart paired with a Latte and was not disappointed. Always a decent trendy crowd when I go by and the atmosphere is fast paced but cozy. Overall my wife and I really enjoyed the place and will most likely make it a regular stop on our downtown date nights.

Amazing desserts and delectable espresso martinis! Very good place to treat yourself to a sweet treat! Great place for an end of the night to a date or celebrating a special day. Carrot cake was delicious and the chocolate peanut butter cake is one of my favorites!

I love love love Carmella’s!! My go to place for a cake any time of the year. Usually have the cannoli but switched it up this year for my birthday and got the chocolate peanut butter. So yummy!! Can’t wait till I get my next cake.

There is always a line, but it moves very quickly. The service is friendly at the front and helpful to give suggestions ordered a cake and a boozy shake; both were delicious. Best dessert in town & the cake was giant! A bonus is that there is free water and soda water... help yourself! While there are lots of people, it is usually easy to find a spot to sit since the seats flip quickly.