Greenville, SC is one of my favorite southern cities and was my home for several years after college up until Zach and I got married. Conveniently located between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, Greenville is less than an hour from the mountains and just a couple hours from Charleston, SC. It is a vibrant and beautiful city in the foothills of the Carolinas with a breathtaking downtown and Southern culture at every turn.

I actually grew up not too far away and Greenville was where we shopped, celebrated birthdays and where I played club soccer. After a brief, and very fun, post-college stint in Charleston, SC I knew it was where I wanted to land a job and live. I still live about 30 minutes from downtown and while I’m not technically a resident, some days it feels like it. So many of our dear friends live in Greenville and it’s where we go to church, it’s where I delivered my girls and still go for haircuts, doctors appointments, shopping trips, coffee breaks, date nights and well, you get the picture.

I’ve taken account of all of my favorite spots as well as polled plenty of my girlfriends to create this Greenville, SC travel guide. If you’re planning a weekend visit soon, make sure to check out the weekend itinerary at the bottom of this post!

WHERE TO EAT

Breakfast & Brunch

Nose Dive
GB&D
Tandem Creperie
Biscuit Head
Maple Street Biscuit
Sully’s Steamers
Mary’s at Falls Cottage
Tupelo Honey

Lunch

Happy + Hale
Papi’s Tacos
Caviar & Bananas
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery
Southern Pressed Juicery
Kuka Juice
Sully’s Steamers
Rick’s Deli
Farm Fresh Fast

Dinner

White Duck Taco
Halls
Jianna
Cantina 76
Lemoncello
Sidewall Pizza
Sassafras Southern Bistro
El Thrify
Anchorage
Soby’s
Takosushi
Fairhouse
Ink N’ Ivy
Monkeywrench
Moe’s Original BBQBrick Street Cafe
Chicora Alley
Rick Erwins
Saffrons
The Green Room
The Lazy Goat
The Local Taco

Dessert

Nomadik Few
Spill the Beans
Donut Experiment
Brick Street
Chocolate Moose
Creme Shack
Luna Rosa

WHERE TO SIP

Happy Hour

13 Stripes Brewery
Jianna
Halls
Birds Fly South
Foxcroft Wine Bar
Oak & Honey
Yeehaw Brewing
Liability Brewing
Pour Taproom
Sip Whiskey & Wine Bar
Community Tap
Ink N Ivy
Crafted at Nose Dive
UP on the Roof
Nose Dive
Trappe Door
Smoke on the Water

Coffee

Village Grind
Junto Coffee
Methodical Coffee
Barista Alley
Due South Coffee
Coffee Underground
Grateful Brew

WHERE TO STAY

Embassy Suites
AC Marriott (once it opens!)
The Bohemian (once it opens!)
Hotel Domestique
Courtyard Downtown Greenville
Springhill Suites
Aloft
Hampton Inn Riverplace

WHERE TO SHOP

4Rooms
Anthropologie
Augusta Twenty
Copper Penny
Four Rooms
J. Britt
Monkee’s of the West End
Muse Shoe Studio
Roots
Savvy
Splash on Main
Twill
Vann and Liv
We Took to the Woods
Carolina Furniture & Interiors
Shinola
Gages

THINGS TO DO

Falls Park
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Greenville Zoo
Paris Mountain State Park
Reedy Rides
Saturday Farmer’s Market
Craft Axe Throwing
TopGolf
Peace Center
Greenville Drive at Fluor Field

THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS

• Swamp Rabbit Cafe
• Swamp Rabbit Trail
• Airplane Park
• Greenville Zoo
• The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
• Roper Mountain Science Center
• Spare Time
• Grab Ice cream from Spill the Beans and explore Falls Park
• Mice on Main Street Scavenger Hunt
• Saturday Farmer’s Market

Happy + Hale

Photo via Methodical Coffee

Interior of Augusta Twenty

Photo by Jennifer Cole Images via White Duck Taco

Photo via The Village Grind

The Perfect Weekend Itinerary

Friday

Plan to arrive in Greenville late Friday afternoon and check into your hotel. I’d recommend staying somewhere downtown, like Aloft or the new Springhill Suites! If you make it into town in time for a pre-dinner cocktail, check out Foxcroft Wine Bar or Oak & Honey (right under your hotel if you stay at the Springhill) for a quick app and a drink.

Fridays in downtown Greenville are busy and bustling, so I’d suggest making later dinner reservations somewhere yummy like Jianna (great for pasta + people watching!), or Soby’s (love their outdoor patio). If you’re looking for a special place to celebrate an occasion, Halls is the best steak house in town! I also love Cantina 76 and Takosushi for a more casual bite.

Then, venture to a rooftop bar like the one at UP on the Roof, grab a cocktail and enjoy the scenic views. OR, if you did dinner elsewhere, I love to go to Halls after dinner for for drinks, dessert and live music at the bar. Everything downtown is within walking distance from each other, so you really can’t go wrong with either!

Saturday

If you’re visiting between the months of May – October, you’ll want to venture out to the Saturday Farmer’s Market that runs right through the middle of Main Street downtown! Grab a coffee from Methodical while you’re at it, and stroll the streets of Greenville like you’re a local.

Next, grab brunch in the heart of the action at Nose Dive or Tupelo Honey. If you’re not in the mood for a heavy brunch, you can grab a quick and delicious lunch at Happy + Hale, Rick’s Deli or Caviar & Bananas!

If you’re looking to bop around a few shops in the afternoon, you’ll want to venture to the West End, which is walking distance from downtown. Be sure to stop into Monkee’s, Augusta Twenty, & Copper Penny while you’re there! Other notables that are a little farther outside of downtown (but worth the trip) are We Took to the Woods, Twill, & Muse Shoe Studio. If shopping isn’t your thing, you can always opt for a walk or bike ride through Falls Park, or a quick trip back to your hotel to freshen up for the evening.

For your evening activities, you could either venture out and take a trip out to Hampton Station, or stick around downtown! If you choose Hampton Station, you’ll want to grab a beer at Birds Fly South, or a margarita and some tacos from White Duck Taco. Then visit Craft Axe Throwing for some REAL fun (but be sure to reserve a lane in advance!).

If you’re sticking downtown, Sassafras Southern Bistro is one of my all time favorite spots for dinner. I also love The Lazy Goat for tapas and drinks (my go-to spot when I’m with my girlfriends!), or Takosushi for something more casual. And before you turn in for the night, be sure to snag a sweet treat from Spill the Beans or Chocolate Moose!

Sunday

There’s no better place for a Sunday brunch than GB&D in the Village of West Greenville! It’s only a short drive away, and the Village is one of my favorite areas in town. It’s home to some great restaurants, shops, and has a more artsy vibe. Be sure to check out the cutest plant store, Savereign, while you’re there. And if you’re due for another coffee fix, stop by The Village Grind (the most beautiful coffee shop around) for a lavender latte.