Things to do in Greenville: Main Street Restaurants and Shopping
If you are looking to explore a city with so much character and one with the coolest atmosphere, then Greenville is your place. Whether it’s a stroll on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, grabbing a bite to eat, or going to a Greenville Drive Baseball game, there is something for everyone. One of the best things in my opinion is that everything is on one strip, Main Street!
I would describe downtown Greenville as split into 2 sections. There is the main “main street” area where the Mast General Store is located as well as well-known restaurants such as Cantina 76. This is also where the farmers market is on Saturday mornings. Down further is the other section of the main street, South to West End, where the Reedy River flows through. There are art galleries and higher-end restaurants in the South End. On the very end of West End is the Greenville Drive Baseball Stadium, Flour Field.
Parking can be a hassle if you come on the weekends, but there are parking garages all around. If you are coming from out of town, try to stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel located right on the Reedy River. The inside of this hotel feels like you are in the mountains and it is the most gorgeous hotel I’ve ever seen.
Shopping on Greenville’s Main Street
There truly are so many unique shops found on Greenville’s Main Street, if I could write about all of them I would. From vintage clothing shops like Old Skool Outfitters to high-end furniture and decor stores like Ballard Designs, Greenville has it all.
Starting strong with the Mast General Store, it is one of my FAVORITES! Located on the starting end of North Main Street, this store is one-of-a-kind. Mast General has a great selection of outdoor gear, gift ideas, and a candy store!
If you love the atmosphere of the Mast General Store, then you will love Vintage and Modern. This shop is on the opposite side of Main Street on the West End near Fluor Field. Vintage and Modern has a similar atmosphere to The Tannery in Seneca offering antiques, vintage, home decor, and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for DIY furniture distressing. We are currently renovating our home, so this may come in handy if we want to get crafty one day.
Across the street is Ballard Designs, a very high-end furniture and decor store. It’s way too expensive for an everyday shopping trip but it’s fun to window shop.
Moving on to more boutique stores, there are so many including a few of my favorites: Anthropology, Madewell, Lou Lou, and Dressed Up are some classics for women’s clothing. All of these boutique stores are found on the North End of Main Street.
Last but DEFINITELY not least, one that I can’t forget about is the M. Judson Bookseller’s Bookshop. It’s a unique bookstore that has a carefully curated selection of the best books. What makes this place so unique is they have handwritten reviews of the books as well as Children’s Storytelling on Saturdays at 10:00 am. There is a coffee shop inside and if you aren’t a big reader or have too many books on your shelf to read, it’s fun to browse around.
Restaurants on Greenville’s Main Street: Best Restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina
If I could write about all the best restaurants in Greenville it would be pages and pages long…so here are a few that I think are great options.
A classic that is also a fan favorite: is Cantina 76. This is perfect for Taco Tuesday as they have specials on margaritas. It’s also perfect for a lunch date with the girls or a Friday night dinner. The tacos are great, while the trio appetizer (queso, guac, and salsa) is my all-time favorite.
In South End Main Street is Indaco. Indaco has a great outdoor area with cornhole. This is where they have the outdoor ice skating rink in the winter (Ice on Main). They serve Italian Cuisine perfect for a special occasion as it is on the pricier side (but trust me it’s amazing).
Located 8 floors above Greenville’s Main Street is Juniper, a restaurant that is currently trending on social media for its beautiful decor. The atmosphere is stunning and is a must-see spot. Reservations are required and fill up fast so make sure to reserve a week in advance.
My Favorite Spots in Downtown Greenville Main Street
After eating at the infamous Juniper, head on over to Group Therapy in Camperdown Plaza. Group Therapy is described as a “pub and playground” offering wacky mini golf, ice curling, ping-pong, axe throwing, and more! They close off for 18+ after 10:00 pm and turn into a great place for adults to have fun. They have karaoke on Friday nights and a great selection of food and drinks.
If you are with a group and can’t decide what type of food you want to eat, head over to Gather GLV. Gather GVl is on the West End of Main Street and is one of my all-time favorite spots to grab a bite to eat. It’s an outdoor area with multiple food vendors such as Mexican, BBQ, Pizza, Acai Bowls and so much more. The best part…dogs are welcome!
To end your night, watch a baseball game at Fluor Field. Baseball isn’t my favorite sport but tickets to the games are very affordable ($10-20 each) and the stadium has great deals on food and drinks. There are outdoor breweries all around Fluor Field as well as some fun curated shops to enhance the whole experience.
Fun Things to Do in Greenville for Free: Downtown Main Street
There is so much to do in Greenville that is way beyond spending money. Greenville is such a pretty city that sits on the Reedy River with art galleries along the river before you get to the main street, probably a 5-minute walk to Main Street. The Swamp Rabbit Trail also runs through downtown Greenville up to Travelers Rest (28 miles long).
One weekend activity that is free and so fun is the farmers market on Saturday mornings. From May-October Main Street blocks off cars and vendors from all over come to sell produce, art, and knick-knacks. Grab a coffee and stroll around…bring your dog!
Just walking around the downtown area is a perfect day in itself. There is so much to see and the vibe of the city is amazing. If you are around Upstate, SC you don’t want to miss checking out Greenville.
