Two weeks ago my husband, Shane, surprised me with a trip to Greenville for my birthday. We spent a long weekend here with friends eating and drinking our way (safely) through this cute South Carolina city. If this is your first time visiting my blog, we live in Columbia, SC and this was the perfect weekend destination for an easy getaway. Shane knows I love exploring a city through its culinary scene and we had great experiences with Greenville’s restaurants. The city is charming, but with plenty to do and see. We stayed at a perfect pet friendly VRBO just 5 minutes from downtown, if you’re looking for a place to stay.
Having never been to Greenville, my foodie heart wanted to try every restaurant in town. While we couldn’t try it all, we knocked quite a bit off our recommendation list. One of my favorite meals was at Trappe Door, an underground Belgian gastropub full of surprises. Just looking online, the place doesn’t look like much, but we were pleasantly surprised with an incredible dinner and their unique vibe. My other favorite experience was brunch at Passerelle Bistro. Not only was the food amazing, but the views and ambiance on the patio took it over the top.
Downtown Greenville Restaurants to Try
- The Trappe Door | Belgian | $$ | Reservations | A very unique dining experience that we loved. Order the mushroom vol au vout, fried oysters, and steak frites or mussels.
- Soby’s | Southern | $$ | Reservations | This was by far the most recommended place in town. We really enjoyed the fried green tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, and crab cakes. I would definitely return and would love to try their brunch menu too!
- Passerelle Bistro | French | $$ | Reservations | Great for Brunch & patio views of Falls Park. Get the crab cake Benny, Croque Madame, and don’t forget a side of croquettes!
- Cozbah | Tapas & Wine Bar | $$ | Reservations | The food and drinks here were great, but the atmosphere was missing something for me. What felt like an elegant space was tarnished by heavy rock n roll being played at the bar. (could have been an off night) The shrimp & grits, Beef Wellington and beignets were all very good.
- The Anchorage | Farm to Table | $$ | Reservations |Daily Chef’s menu
- Maple Street Biscuit Co | Breakfast/Brunch| $ | Huge southern biscuits with whatever toppings you can imagine
- Nose Dive | Gastropub | $$ | Reservations | Great spot on Main Street for burgers, salads, and sandwiches. For apps, skip the chicken skins and get the Mac & Cheese instead!
- Biscuit Head | Breakfast/Brunch| $ | Similar concept to Maple Street Biscuit Co. Their fried chicken wasn’t as good, but the pimento cheese grits are amazing.
- Gather GVL | Food Trucks | $ | Gather is a really cool venue to spend the afternoon with friends. There are multiple vendor offerings from a wine bar, sushi, local beers, burgers, and more. Come hungry!
- Up on the Roof | Rooftop Bar | $$ | Reservations | If you are visiting around the holidays, this spot is a must. They go above and beyond with Christmas lights and they have heaters & fire pits throughout the entire space.
- Yeehaw Brewery | Beers & Bites | $ | One of the few breweries in town located downtown and worth the visit. Games, fire pits, flights, and a huge TV screen light up the venue for a fun afternoon with friends. I don’t recommend having a full meal here, but they have some bar bites.
- Jianna | Italian| $$ | Reservations | A highly recommended Greenville restaurant for oysters and Italian, but we didn’t have a chance to try.
Beignets & Empanada at Cozbah Beef Wellington at Cozbah Biscuit Head 
Biscuit Head Passerelle Bistro 
Crab Cake Benedict at Passerelle 
Maple Street Biscuit Co Nose Dive Up on the Roof (Inside) Gather GVL 
Crab Cakes at Soby’s 
Fried Green Tomatoes & Brussel Sprouts at Soby’s Duck & Steak Fites at Trappe Door Mushroom Vol Au Vout at Trappe Door
Looking to bus to Greenville from Atlanta on a budget? Check out Wanderu.
Things to Do in Greenville
- Falls Park
- Eat at local Greenville independent restaurants
- Go Ice Skating on Main Street (be sure to book in advance)
- Shop locally
- Visit a rooftop bar
- Visit a brewery
- Spent the afternoon at Gather GVL
- Go for a hike
- Bike the Swamp Rabbit Trail
If you’re only in town for the weekend, here is a brief itinerary and which Greenville restaurants to visit based on our experience:
Friday– travel in, drinks at Up on the Roof Rooftop (a must at Christmas time), dinner at Trappe Door
Saturday– brunch at Passerelle Bistro, walk around Falls Park & the suspension bridge, spend the afternoon at a brewery or outdoors, dinner at Soby’s
Sunday– breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Co or Biscuit Head before heading out of town
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