5. Soby’s Brunch Buffet

Best for: Weekend Brunch goers

Soby's in downtown Greenville, South Carolina

Highlights: Wonderful Sunday brunch, beautiful ambiance, shady outdoor patio, excellent service, the most delicious desserts

Soby’s is the place to go for Sunday brunch, hands down. No other restaurant in town can match the elegance, number of brunch offerings, and quality offered at this popular weekend buffet. First off, there is a made-to-order omelet station. Second, there are more than enough breakfast and lunch offerings. And most important, the dessert display is incredible.

Soby’s serves the best omelets in town next to Stax’s Omega. Croissants, fresh fruit, grits, and French toast are just a few of the breakfast offerings. Salmon, various salads, breakfast meats and more are on the lineup! I’ve always loved buffets because you can mix and match all sorts of entrees to see which you like.

Brunch buffet at Soby's in Greenville, SC

Wow what a desert spread! Fortunately, the portions are super small so you can mix and match to your heart’s desire!

Dessert buffet at Soby's in Greenville, South Carolina

The ambiance is perfect for a family gathering or upscale date. Soby’s interior features gorgeous decor. Or, you can opt to enjoy the patio during the nicer seasons. At a price tag of $19 per person, Soby’s is the best bang-for-your-buck brunch experience in my opinion considering the upscale ambiance, service, and food presentation. Unfortunately, mimosas and other specialty drinks are not included, although the excellent coffee takes out the hassle of visiting a separate coffeeshop.

  • Location: 207 S. Main Street
  • Brunch Hours: 11am-2pm (Saturday), 10am-2pm (Sunday)

Update: Soby’s no longers offers their brunch buffet. However, you can still order many delicious entrees a la cart including Challah French Toast and Fried Green Tomato Benedict.

6. Passerelle Bistro

Best for: Nature lovers. Check out that view!

Breakfast with a view at Passerelle Bistro in downtown Greenville, South Carolina i

Highlights: Prime location next to Falls Park, beautiful patio, great coffee, tasty French fare

Passerelle is a charming French bistro with a prime location right next to Falls Park, the oasis of this charming city. You really cannot miss this one due to its’ attractive location overlooking Reedy River Falls. Fortunately, the food offerings here are just as great as the view. I like visiting at brunch because 1. It’s less crowded. 2. The menu is cheaper. 3. The temps are much cooler during the hot and humid summer season.

During brunch hours, you will find a number of attractive entrees, all reasonably priced, considering the magnificent views. From a Quiche, to a Croque Monsieur, to a Crab Benedict, there are enough interesting options on the lineup to please just about anyone. However, more-often-than-not the simplest options are best. Consider the Passerelle breakfast, featuring 2 eggs, potato croquettes, and a toasted croissant.

Passerelle Bistro breakfast in Greenville, South Carolina
The Passerelle Breakfast is my go-to choice

Desserts vary, but we really enjoyed this dessert sampler. Really, it was way too much and I had leftovers for days. I am not complaining!

Dessert sampler at Passerelle Bistro in downtown Greenville, South Carolina

Service could definitely be improved (we encountered surly service on 2 occasions), but the food is great and view even better. Make a reservation early in the morning and be sure to request a seat facing in the falls. This would be my top pick for a brunch date destination.

  • Location: 601 S. Main Street
  • Brunch hours: 10am-3pm, Saturday & Sunday

7. Roost

Best for: Anyone staying at the Hyatt Regency downtown, a quiet ambiance, farm-to-table fare

Brunch buffet at Roost in Greenville, South Carolina

Highlights: Farm-to-table food, excellent buffet, gorgeous setting, beautiful patio, walking distance to many shops

Roost is a gorgeous farm-to-table restaurant located inside the beautiful Hyatt Regency. This hotel is located on Main Street, within walking distance to pretty much everything of interest. The swanky setting and organic offerings make it a popular choice with foodies. The ambiance here is usually pretty quiet as tourists head towards the trendier options in town. Thus, I recommend Roost if you want to avoid crowds.

Outdoor patio at Roost in Greenville, South Carolina
I love people watching on the gorgeous patio. I love that it is covered too as it can get pretty sunny and hot here!

A full breakfast buffet is offered Monday-Saturday. Not a bad value considering it includes local coffee and made-to-order omelets and waffles. Nothing too out of the ordinary here, although you will find all the standard breakfast favorites such as scrambled eggs, fruit, potatoes, yogurt, and biscuits and gravy on the lineup. They work with a lot of local companies and use fresher ingredients so it’s a good pick for health conscious diners.

Waffle and coffee at Roost in Greenville, South Carolina

If you are heading out for a long bike ride or hike, breakfast at Roost will definitely leave you full and satisfied with plenty of energy to take on any adventures in the beautiful Upstate.

  • Location: 220 N. Main Street
  • Breakfast hours: Breakfast menu & buffet served Mon-Sat from 7am-10am. A more extensive brunch buffet is offered from 10am-2pm on Sunday.

Fun in and around The Upstate & elsewhere

For more detailed guides on Greenville and The Upstate, as well as some Charleston, Savannah, and beach daytrips, check out my South Carolina Travel Guide. After living in the area for 2 years, I can say that this state is underrated if you love history and nature.