Discover Writer
If you're looking for the ultimate guys' weekend getaway, look no further than Greenville, South Carolina. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this vibrant city sets the stage for an epic weekend, offering an enticing blend of gastronomic delights and outdoor adventures. Whether you're teeing off on a golf course, savoring utterly delicious barbecue or revving up BMWs at the Performance Center, Greenville is the perfect home base for your next guys’ weekend.
Accommodations
Downtown Greenville offers a range of accommodations, from the luxurious to the affordable. If you're into history, the Westin Poinsett, near Greenville's West End, offers a blend of modern amenities with a historic vibe. Their Lobby Lounge serves a selection of beer, wine and liquor along with a full menu of bar snacks, and their award-winning restaurant, Spoonbread, is popular with guests.
Just steps away from Greenville’s iconic Falls Park on the Reedy, the Hyatt Place Greenville offers spacious rooms with separate sleeping and living areas. Head to their rooftop restaurant, Juniper, for killer views of Downtown Greenville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dine al fresco at Paloma, a Spanish-American fusion restaurant, or grab some burgers and brews at Perfect Buns, a convenient walk-up window that specializes in tasty goodness.
Channeling the rugged ambiance of a hunting lodge mixed with the laid-back vibes of a mountain ski chalet, the Grand Bohemian Lodge offers a unique way to experience Falls Park. Take in the majestic views from the balcony of the Lobby Bar or head over to Spirit & Bower for an extensive selection of rare bourbons and whiskeys. Between the Trees, their on-site restaurant, serves robust, seasonally influenced dishes against a backdrop of awe-inspiring views.
Dining, Nightlife and Rooftop Revelry
Once you’ve settled in, it’s time to start enjoying Greenville’s dynamic culinary scene and vibrant nightlife. If you’ve decided to head out for dinner and are looking for a local favorite, try Bucky’s Bar-B-Q. A staple of Greenville’s dining scene, their barbecue is so good it earned a place on the South Carolina Barbecue Association’s list of barbecue worth driving 100 miles to eat. The menu features a selection of pork, chicken and rib dishes with southern fixings like mac and cheese, coleslaw and potato salad.
If steak is what you’re craving, head to Chophouse 47 for delicious, caramelized cuts of USDA Prime aged at least 28 days and an extensive selection of scotch.
Greenville’s walkable downtown features an array of restaurants, laid-back breweries, no-frills dive bars with live music, rooftop bars offering panoramic views and sprawling nightclubs for late-night revelers. Try The Trappe Door, a dark basement bar under Barley’s with the city’s best selection of Belgian and Belgian-style beers, check out local jazz musicians at Blue Boulevard Jazz or head to Blu Nightclub for some late-night dancing.
Elevate your evening at Up on the Roof. Perched atop Greenville's skyline, this rooftop bar offers breathtaking 360-degree views of downtown. With firepits, fans, diverse seating options and indoor/outdoor bars, it's the ultimate spot to witness the sunset over Greenville's celebrated Main Street district.
No matter where you’re staying, no trip to Greenville would be complete without a visit to Falls Park, a natural oasis in the heart of downtown that was ranked 10th on TripAdvisor's 25 Top Parks in the US list. Visitors can get an aerial view of the 28-foot double falls from the Liberty Bridge, a one-of-a-kind, cantilevered footbridge that is as much an attraction as the falls themselves.
Gear Up for a Wild Ride
Head to the BMW Performance Center for an adrenaline-pumping experience that combines luxury with full-on speed. Whether you're a car enthusiast or just craving some friendly competition, the BMW Performance Center has you covered. With a variety of vehicles and driving experiences to choose from, you and your buddies can immerse yourselves in the world of BMW.
For those who crave the off-road thrill, the two-hour driving experience lets you take the wheel of various BMW models, tackling both off-road and on-road courses. Feel the power of the car as it drifts and accelerates around the track, concluding with a heart-pounding "hot lap" alongside a BMW instructor.
Take control of a BMW X vehicle on the Performance Drive Experience and navigate through a challenging off-road course before hitting the track for a test of speed and precision. Cap it all off with a hot lap, experiencing the rush of drifting just like the pros.
After an action-packed morning, it's time to switch gears and try your hand at a different adrenaline-pumping sport—axe throwing. Channel your inner lumberjack at Craft Axe Throwing in Greenville. With 16 targeted lanes, there's ample space for some friendly competition. Whether you're aiming for the bullseye or just letting off steam, axe throwing is sure to be a thrilling and memorable experience.
After a day filled with speed and precision, wind down with a tour of Greenville's growing craft beer scene. The Brewery Experience makes stops at some of the city's best craft breweries, including Thomas Creek, Liability Brewing Co. and Swamp Rabbit Brewery. It’s the perfect way to relax with your buddies while getting a taste of Greenville’s diverse craft beer offerings.
Love BMWs and golf? Plan your trip around the BMW Charity Pro-Am Presented By Synnex Corporation, a three-day better-ball competition that pairs amateurs and celebrities with Tour professionals.
Golf, Gather and Gifts
Gear up for the day’s golf adventure. With more than 360 courses sprawled across the state, there's no shortage of options for every kind of golfer. Whether you're craving challenging designs with jaw-dropping views or prefer laid-back layouts with wide-open fairways, your next epic round is just a drive away.
Some of the state’s most stunning golf courses can be found in the picturesque valleys of the Upstate. Just minutes from downtown Greenville, Cherokee Valley Golf Club offers a masterfully designed layout with dramatic drops and rises. Crafted by P.B. Dye, the son of the renowned course architect Pete Dye, Cherokee Valley Golf Club stands apart with its championship greens, winding fairways and a mesmerizing waterfall at the iconic 14th hole.
Designed by J.P. Traynham, a renowned golf leader in the Upstate who built several of the region’s top courses, Paris Mountain Country Club promises a memorable round in a picturesque setting.
Looking for a challenge? Test your game at Boscobel Golf & Country Club in Pendleton, a course so challenging that the nationally ranked Clemson men’s golf team practices there in preparation for tournaments.
After a morning of golf, refuel and relax at Gather GVL, a vibrant food hall designed to bring people together. Located in a colorful collection of shipping containers, Gather GVL houses over 10 food and beverage vendors, creating a feast fit for kings. Whether you're in the mood for sushi, burgers or indulging in lobster rolls, this outdoor space has it all.
If you haven’t already grabbed some swag from local breweries, like a Thomas Creek flight glass, take a moment to pick up some gifts to remind you of this epic weekend before saying goodbye to Greenville. It’s never a bad idea to bring something home for that special someone who stayed behind this weekend. Pamper your significant other with gifts from Nourish, or stop by We Took to the Woods for hand-poured bark collection candles offering subtle scents that capture the essence of the region.
Greenville’s busy sports calendar includes baseball games at Fluor Field, a mini-Fenway park complete with its own “Green Monster;” the Swamp Rabbits, the Greenville hockey team; and college football games at Furman and Clemson universities.
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