A Guide to Exploring Downtown Greenville, South Carolina
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Downtown Greenville, South Carolina, a former textile community, is now a manufacturing powerhouse with companies like BMW, GE, & Boeing being drawn to the area. Not only is it one of the fastest growing cities in America, it is also quickly becoming one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Southeast. Every weekend, I overheard tourists visiting for the day from nearby cities like Columbia and Atlanta. It’s an easy daytrip and a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of these big congested cities.
I had the unique opportunity to live in the region for several years, relocating from Tucson. I went in knowing nothing about “The Upstate” as this region of the state is nicknamed. The old-fashioned Main Street impressed me the most. I love old school, walkable Main Streets where you can support local businesses. As the US becomes more suburban, it’s nice to just park once and have so many interesting local businesses at your fingertips. Greenville’s downtown is really hard to compete with in terms of scenic beauty, interesting ongoing events, and wonderful local businesses.
With a tree-lined Main Street, tranquil riverfront park & waterfall, several small museums & theaters, interesting boutique shops, and plenty of local restaurants, it is easily one of the best weekend destinations in the South. I never got bored walking around this beautiful city and enjoying all the great local food and events. And it is easily accessible from many major cities including Atlanta (3 hours), Charlotte (2 hours) and Asheville (1 hour).
“Yeah, THAT Greenville”
This city became known as “that” Greenville amongst many other cities with the same name due to a great marketing campaign and word of mouth. As more people spread the word about the city’s quaint downtown, beautiful waterfall, and foodie scene, others began to visit and spread the word themselves. Today, it is by far the most popular of 30+ Greenvilles. I’ve only heard of one other (in North Carolina) – how about you?
The #YeahTHATGreenville marketing slogan can be found just about everywhere today- on social media, in magazine advertisements, even on TV commercials. People love the city and are proud to share their travel stories via the popular hashtag. This rapidly growing area of the Upstate is becoming well-known for its’ diverse foodie scene and thriving downtown and the word is spreading fast. Anytime I was strolling Main St., I overheard tourists from Michigan to New Jersey talking about how much they loved the city. Everyone seemed excited by all the events and new businesses going up.
After living in the area, I have come up with a handy guide for exploring the city’s best asset, Main St.
Falls Park: The crown jewel
Greenville is surrounded by many gorgeous parks and preserves. The oasis is beautiful 32 acre Falls Park on the Reedy. This beautiful riverfront park is home to a waterfall, nature trails, and seasonal flower gardens. Tons of flowers and colorful trees are in bloom beginning in late spring. In autumn, the trees are alive & shimmering with the golden hues of the season. I just love this park and basically walked here almost every weekend when I was not traveling somewhere else. What a gem to have in the middle of a charming city.
This park really is a gem to visit during any season. This is a 4 season climate, unlike the rest of the state. Summer is obviously the longest season and the heat and humidity seems to go on just a bit too long. But, on the bright side, the higher altitude means it’s a bit cooler than neighboring cities. You will enjoy a bit of fall foliage and cooler temps and even a rare snowstorm (the city sees an average of about 7 inches) once winter rolls along. During my time living here, 4 inches in one day was the most we saw (which I am told is one of the bigger snowstorms in recent years).
Dining with a view: So many great alfresco options
I love the outdoor dining scene. So many local restaurants have beautiful outdoor patios where you can enjoy great food and even better people watching. Spring, fall, and summer mornings are the best time take your meal outdoors.
Passerelle, a quaint French bistro overlooks the falls, and is the perfect place for a light breakfast or lunch. This restaurant features a gorgeous patio which has earned it a place amongst the most romantic restaurants in the country (CNN, Feb. ’19). I like dining here for brunch as the pricing is much cheaper and the setting is much more tranquil.
Also located in the vicinity is a popular coffeehouse/gelato shop (Spill the Beans) with a cozy interior overlooking the falls. If you would rather enjoy a walk in the fresh Southern sunshine, grab a coffee-to-go to accompany you during your park stroll.
Spill the Beans – enjoy a cup of coffee along with a great view of the falls!
Summer is the prime time in terms of scenic beauty, although on the downside, also the busiest time of the year as tourists flock to the area to enjoy the park and alfresco dining. Temps can get quite hot, so it’s best to plan alfresco dining for breakfast and save any lunch/dinner destinations for the cooler spring and fall season.
The foodie scene
The city has been making headlines in recent years for its’ foodie scene. The small South Carolina charmer is being referred to as one of the best foodie cities in the South, joining the likes of Austin, Asheville, Nashville, New Orleans, and Charleston. For a small city, I was surprised by the diversity of options. I came from a great foodie city (Tucson) and although the food scene here is very different, it’s definitely been interesting enough to keep me busy. I haven’t resorted to many chains during my time here.
Various ethnic restaurants, from Greek, to Indian, to Italian, to Japanese can be found lining Main Street, and of course, there is more than enough Southern style BBQ and biscuits to go around. According to local news reports, more than 30 new restaurants opened in 2017 alone – a big accomplishment for a city of just over 60,000 residents. As a longtime vegetarian, my picks may differ from yours, although there is enough variety to satisfy everyone. You can check out my full dining guide for my list of the best.
Where to get breakfast
Sully’s Steamers: Unique steamed bagels available in all sorts of creative combinations, topped with vegetarian and/or carnivorous selections. Gluten-free and vegan selections also available. My personal favorite is the Green Vegas featuring veggie cream cheese, Swiss and Gouda cheese, avocado, lettuce, sprouts, and honey mustard. These are seriously messy (lots of napkins needed), but also seriously delicious. Definitely a unique twist on the standard bagel and cream cheese breakfast option (although they do offer basic bagels as well).
Biscuit Head: A very popular Asheville grown establishment known for its’ gigantic biscuits (“as big as a cat’s head” as their slogan goes) and creative jam and honey bar. This place is super popular with a line outside the door right at opening, and oftentimes, throughout the morning! This is where I take visiting family members because the food is so predictable good and everyone loves a great biscuit!
Get here early or be prepared to wait a long time. Do try the Biscuits with Gravy (they even offer a delicious vegan sweet potato and turkey based gravy). I usually go with the Half Breakfast which includes: 2 eggs, a side, and a delicious biscuit. On a side note, this cafe is very allergy friendly. They offer vegan gravy, and GF/vegan biscuits.
Tupelo Honey: A popular Southern breakfast chain featuring regional inspired fare including Sweet Potato pancakes and amazing homemade biscuits served with honey. This is one of the tourist favorites, so expect a busy setting most weekends.
Soby’s: Home to the best Sunday brunch buffet in town. The lineup includes a made-to-order omelet bar, various breakfast and lunch offerings, plus the most amazing selection of desserts in town! Update: The buffet is no longer offered, but you can still enjoy the menu a la carte. Highlights include Strawberry Rhubarb French Toast and a Veggie Frittata.
