Greenville, South Carolina, is no stranger to good food, and this city is a fantastic place for anyone with a passion for food and drink. From coffee shops and bakeries to steak houses and breweries, you can find almost any cuisine you crave in Greenville. With lots of places to dine, we know finding the best is quite the challenge, right? That's why we've curated a list of the 21 Best Places to Eat and Drink in Greenville, South Carolina.
We try many of the eateries on this list in the video!
We're going to start with our favorite food spot in Greenville: Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery. This spot is 1/2 grocery store and 1/2 cafe with ample outdoor, dog friendly seating with umbrellas and even a large playground for kids. The grocery store offers lots of local products as well as made-in-house backed good and more. Order a sandwich and coffee (or really anything on their menu is wonderful!), then sit on the patio and hangout with friends. Because the cafe is located right on Greenville's Swamp Rabbit Trail, you could even bike, run, or walk before or after your meal. This is the perfect place to enjoy a bike ride to on a beautiful Saturday morning! We love this place partially because the food was delicious, but also because their prices were great and the environment was casual and fun.
Checkout Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery menu
Getting there: 205 Cedar Lane Rd, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Located in downtown Greenville, Smoke on the Water is a Texas-inspired smokehouse that offers a wide range of bbq dishes and beers on tap. The restaurant specializes in brisket, and its flavorful smoke-cooked brisket tacos or brisket nachos are a must-try. The restaurant's rustic décor and wooden interior, combined with the smell of smoked meats, make for an enjoyable dining experience.
Note: Smoke on the Water is closed on Mondays.
Checkout Smoke on the Water menu
Getting there: 1 Augusta St #202, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
If you're a biscuit lover, Biscuit Head is a must-visit spot in Greenville. This southern breakfast hotspot serves giant cathead biscuits (named because they're the size of a cathead) and biscuits sandwiches with a wide selection of toppings like bacon, egg, cheese, and even fried green tomatoes. Don't forget to try their famous "bonuts", a perfect blend of a biscuit and a donut.
Checkout Biscuit Heads menu
Getting there: 823 S Church St unit c, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Jianna is an Italian restaurant with a four-season rooftop patio that offers excellent views of Falls Park. Customers come to Jianna for its homemade pasta and seafood dishes. The restaurant is perfect for special occasions or for a romantic night out. Don’t forget to try their limoncello dessert, which is homemade. If you can, book a reservation at sunset for the best views!
Checkout Jianna's menu
Getting there: 600 S Main St #2, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Located at Hampton Station, Due South Coffee Roasters roasts their beans in house. With a variety of single origin coffees to choose from, Due South serves up wonderful espresso and coffee drinks in their airy shop. Grab a table inside or head out to the grassy area out front to lounge in the sun on a pretty day. We highly recommend their iced lattes!
Getting there: 1320 Hampton Ave #4B, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
GB&D which stands for Golden Brown and Delicious, is the perfect hangout spot for anyone looking for a casual dining experience serving locally sourced dishes. They offer a small, but varied menu of burgers, sandwiches, and even a couple of Asian dishes. They're best known for their fried chicken and burgers, which is perfect with their hand-cut fries and served with spicy aioli. GB&D is located inside The Commons right on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Getting there: 147 Welborn St Suite B1, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Located in the historic West End of downtown Greenville, where Main Street meets the Reedy River, The Lazy Goat offers Mediterranean cuisine with a southern twist. The restaurant features an extensive wine list that compliments the authentic Mediterranean dishes including lamb, hand made pasta, paella, Italian flatbreads, and roasted octopus patatas.
Checkout The Lazy Goat menu
Getting there: 170 Riverplace, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Willy Taco is a lively restaurant in Greenville that specializes in Tex Mex cuisine. It’s perfect for those of us that love a good margarita and tacos. Don’t miss out on the funky vibe and the delicious Cali Fish Tacos. Do note that their Greenville Feed & Seed location is close on Mondays.
Checkout Willy Taco menu
Getting there: 217 Laurens Rd, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Clare's Creamery is a family owned ice cream shop in Greenville, South Carolina. Clare herself makes the ice cream and her husband and other family and friends work in the storefront helping make the shop its fun and friendly environment. Their honey lavender ice cream is delicious, but we also tried their cookies and cream flavor which was a wonderful take on a classic favorite. The shop is beautiful and has indoor and outdoor seating.
Checkout Clare's Creamery menu
Getting there: 1635 E North St, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Passerelle Bistro is a Parisian-inspired restaurant located above the Reedy River waterfall in Falls Park. The restaurant offers brunch, lunch, and dinner menus with stunning views of the park. We recommend combining a visit to Passerelle Bistro with a visit to Falls Park for a relaxing day. Their patio is one of the best dog friendly spots in Greenville making it the perfect choice on a nice weathered day.
Checkout Passerelle Bistro menu
Getting there: 601 S Main St, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Located in the village of the West Greenville community, The Anchorage is casual American restaurant with an inventive menu that features locally and regionally sourced ingredients. Their menu typically features seasonal, farm fresh ingredients that have been prepared with precision. Checkout The Anchorage menu
Getting there: The Village of, 586 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Methodical Coffee is a café that serves specialty coffees, pastries, and light bites. With three locations in town, each one has a little something different to offer. Personally we love the Methodical location with The Landmark Project that's 1/2 cafe and 1/2 shop, but we also love their location inside The Commons which is located right on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, perfect for a morning workout or walk before meeting up with friends for coffee at Methodical.
Getting there (Downtown): 101 N Main St, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Getting there (The Commons): 147 Welborn St b3, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Getting there (The Landmark Project): 207 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Ji-ROZ is a Greek restaurant that offers a delicious selection of gyros, kebabs, various lamb dishes and more. The restaurant is casual and pleasant with both indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for those warm, Greenville summer days.
Checkout Ji-ROZ menu
Getting there: 644 N Main St #100, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Looking for the best bbq in Greenville, South Carolina? SBH BBQ (which stands for "smoking butt heads") is the place to go. This unassuming looking bbq restaurant has won dozens of awards, including numerous Grand Championships and winning the 2020 World Invitational Championship. So not only is it the best BBQ in Greenville, it's some of the best BBQ in the country! We love that the restaurant is family owned and is casual and relaxing to dine in. SBH BBQ has indoor and outdoor seating (patio is dog friendly!), which you know we love. Brisket is what they're best known for, but their pulled pork and various sides were also amazing!
Checkout SBH BBQ menu
Getting there: 5021 Pelham Rd, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
If you're looking for a sweet treat or an excellent breakfast with a good cup of coffee, The Crêpe Factory is the perfect place to satisfy your cravings. They offer both sweet and savory crepes with the added bonus of gluten-free options. You can't go wrong with their Banana Nutella or their Chicken Pesto crepe. The restaurant offers a special weekend brunch menu which we'd recommend checking out.
Checkout The Crêpe Factory menu
Getting there: 12 S Main St, Inman, SC | Google Maps
Spill the Beans is a coffee shop and a craft ice cream parlor all in one. They offer ice cream, coffee, and desserts in their shop located next to Falls Park making it a wonderful place to grab a cool snack of ice cream on a hot summer day. We haven't actually been to Spill the Beans so I can't personally attest for what's it's like, but after visiting Greenville and hearing from more of the locals, this was one of the most recommended places that we missed.
Getting there: 531 S Main St, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
It's hard to pass up a good baked good, especially when it comes from the Bake Room, Greenville's cutest bakery located in The Commons. With a variety of baked goods, this is the perfect spot to grab a sweet treat for yourself in the morning, or to pickup pastries to take to work and be the office hero.
Note: Bake Room is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Getting there: 147 Welborn St, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
The Velo Fellow is a British-style pub in Greenville that offers a cozy, relaxed atmosphere with live music, shuffleboard, and pub food. You must try their fish and chips with a cold beer!
Getting there: 1 Augusta St #126, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Blue Ridge Brewing Company is a brewery that serves craft beer and comfort food in a rustic environment downtown. They have plenty of beer options as well as a full bar if you're in more of a cocktail mood. Their rooftop patio is one of the best parts of this brewery, so be sure to go on a nice day!
Getting there: 308 Trade St, Greer, SC | Google Maps
Gather GVL is Greenville's take on an outdoor food hall. Constructed of shipping containers with a large, shaded courtyard in the middle, this trendy food hall features 13 different food and beverage vendors. The downstairs patio is dog friendly (weekdays only). We tried Cocobowls acai bowl which was the perfect treat after an afternoon of hiking.
Checkout the different food and drink options at Gather GVL
Getting there: 126 Augusta St, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
Birds Fly South Ale Project is a brewery that offers a wide selection of their signature ales in an open-air style brewery. Birds Fly South is located at Greenville's Hampton Station which features a great grassy, outdoor yard for hanging out as well as other food establishments, plus escape room and ax throwing venues. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy great beer, play games, and enjoy the sunny weather.
Getting there: 1320 Hampton Ave, Greenville, SC | Google Maps
In conclusion, Greenville is a culinary treasure trove, and there are plenty of fantastic places to eat and drink. The restaurants and bars mentioned above are just some of the best finds in Greenville, and with each offering something unique, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, visit Greenville and enjoy some delicious southern hospitality along with a gastronomic experience you won't forget.
