Here are some of the best things to do in Greenville when not watching Gamecocks in SEC tournament
In case you want to mix up a little sightseeing and eat something other than arena food while attending the SEC women’s basketball tournament this week, here are some suggestions of what to do in Greenville.
The tournament begins Wednesday but South Carolina at No. 1 seed does not play until noon Friday. Opponent to be determined by games on Wednesday and Thursday.
Since Greenville has become known for food with more than 200 restaurants — more per capita than most any city — eating out might be a priority.
Not all are within walking distance of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena — known familiarly as The Well — since other areas around downtown have been growing but there are some tried and true places easily accessible.
Visit Greenville offers these suggestions: Ristorante Bergamo on Coffee Street, known for cuisine of Italy’s Lombardy region, Society Sandwich Bar & Social Club, also on Coffee Street, Cantina 76 or tacos and margaritas and Tupelo Honey and its fried chicken, waffles and biscuits.
There’s Nose Dive, a sister restaurant to the one that started it all, Soby’s, founded well before Greenville became THE Greenville by Carl Sobocinski, whose Soby’s is still serving dinners from what was once Cancellation Shoe store. The company has grown to include several other restaurants.
Consider Grill Marks for burgers and for adults spiked “ShakeTails.”
Indaco and O-Ku Sushi are relatively new to downtown, “satellites of the original restaurants in Charleston,” Visit Greenville said.
The Camperdown project featuring the AC Hotel by Marriott has a number of restaurants as well. The development was built on the site of the former Greenville News building and CAMP, Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar, Insomnia Cookies, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Juniper and Larkin’s Restaurant.
Farther afield is a Tex-Mex restaurant owned by a Brownsville, Texas, chef that was included in USA Today’s list of 2025 Restaurants of the Year.
Comal 864 started as a pop-up spot in various breweries and then navigated to a spot in City View, just outside downtown Greenville, in 2021. Chef Dayna Lee-Marquez has since opened another location in Midtown, east of downtown.
Cited by national magazines are the second location of Charleston’s Lewis Barbecue, Mr. Crisp for seafood, Keipi for Georgian khachapuri and ancient wines; Aryana for Afghani, Califas for Mexican birria tacos, and Kitchen Sync for farm-to-table food.
If you’re looking for a place to stretch your legs, Greenville has two large public parks — Falls Park on the Reedy, which includes Reedy River Falls in the Historic West End and the more expansive Unity Park, covering 60 acres and also on the Reedy..
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, which extends some 20 miles from downtown Greenville to Travelers Rest, is another suggestion.
Also downtown are the iconic Mast General Store known for general merchandise and outdoor gear and M. Judson, an eclectic independent bookstore owned by author Ashley Warlick and her business partners. This week’s event include 7:30 p.m. Thursday books over drinks with Dawn Tripp, author of a novel on the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and story time on the steps for kids at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.