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Libby Wiersema lived in California and Alabama before settling in South Carolina 38 years ago,
where she's covered the state's best culinary offerings and tells the stories behind the food.
Hit the brakes! If you’re skirting around Greenville to get to someplace else, it’s time for a new travel plan. This is especially true if you’re a culinary tourist or serious foodie. When it comes to acclaimed eats and sips, this Upstate city’s dining scene is crushing it.
With more than 200 restaurants (and counting!) in Downtown alone, Greenville is 100% ripe for exploration. So, park and embark on a delicious odyssey and discover you have already arrived at your favorite dining destination.
Check out this sampling of some of Greenville’s restaurant superstars:
Scoundrel
18 N Main Street
Enjoy French-inspired dishes like steak with duck fat frites and sauce au poivre at Scoundrel.
Approach: Expertly executed classic French cuisine offered at a range of price points so everybody can indulge.
Claim to fame: Scoundrel was not only named one of Esquire Magazine’s “50 Best New Restaurants in America, 2023,” but it was also a semifinalist in the 2024 James Beard Foundation’s Awards Best New Restaurant category.
Soby’s
207 S Main Street
Soby's shrimp and grits is considered a "must" for anyone visiting Greenville.
Approach: New Southern cuisine served in a fine dining atmosphere.
Claim to fame: Visitors to Greenville flock to Soby’s for a taste of their shrimp and grits, which was cited by Southern Living in 2024 as “Best Local Treasure” in South Carolina.
STAX Omega Diner
74 Orchard Park Drive
STAX has a reputation for sumptuous breakfasts and savory Southern meals.
Approach: A Greenville standard-bearer for timeless Southern classics, delicious breakfasts and fresh bakery goods.
Claim to fame: STAX has been recognized as one of the South’s best diners by AAA, Southern Living, Food Network and Travel + Leisure
CAMP
2 E Broad Street
CAMP was named one of the South’s best new restaurants in 2023 by Southern Living.
Approach: Comfort food with global flair offering rooftop, patio and indoor dining options with a modern vibe.
Claim to fame: CAMP has been cited as a Greenville dining hotspot by US News, Forbes, House Beautiful, Eating Well, Travel + Leisure and Men’s Journal, and was named one of the South’s best new restaurants in 2023 by Southern Living.
Comal 864
City View: 1112 Woodside Avenue Midtown: 219 W Antrim Drive
Locally made Mexican telera bread adds an authentic touch to the tortas at Comal 864.
Approach: Authentic Rio Grande/Southwestern cuisine
Claim to fame: Comal 864’s Chef Dayna Lee-Márquez was a semi-finalist for James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast Award in 2023.
Indaco
40 W Broad Street
Indaco has captivated Greenville with its house-made pasta dishes and inventive wood-fired pizza.
Approach: Sophisticated but casual Italian-influenced dining (house-made pasta, woodfired pizza), Indaco offers outdoor and indoor seating.
Claim to fame: Indaco made Southern Living’s 2024 list of 15 Best Restaurants in Greenville and Eater Carolinas’ roster of the 10 Hottest Restaurants in Greenville.
Fork and Plough
1629 E North Street
Fork and Plough sources veggies and more from the owners' Greenbrier Farms.
Approach: Fork and Plough is a farm-to-table restaurant with a strong local/regional lean and seasonal menu that changes twice daily for the freshest options.
Claim to fame: Recommended by Forbes and Southern Living as one of Greenville’s 15 best restaurants.
GATHER
126 Augusta Street
GATHER embodies the concept of “options” with everything from fried chicken to sushi to lobster rolls.
Approach: A colorful assembly of shipping containers with a communal outdoor area for dining and socializing, GATHER embodies the concept of “options” with everything from fried chicken to sushi to lobster rolls.
Claim to fame: Named a top 10 food hall by readers of USA Today.
Carmella’s
355 S Main Street
End your Greenville dining adventure with something decadent from Carmella's.
Approach: Inviting European-style dessert/coffee/cocktail bar and café Claim to fame: Gorgeous cakes, pastries and other treats from Carmella’s flagship Charleston location snagged the attention of HGTV, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Bravo and Travel Channel and are now being raved about by an adoring Greenville crowd.
Libby Wiersema lived in California and Alabama before settling in South Carolina 38 years ago,
where she's covered the state's best culinary offerings and tells the stories behind the food.
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