Explore some of the best restaurants and cafés in the South Carolina mountain region. Indulge in local, hidden favorites throughout Greenville, Spartanburg, Easley, Pendleton, and other sought after areas. We’ve picked 20 places for you to choose from during your travels.
SUM BAR
Greenville
If you’re craving dim sum in Greenville, this is the spot to visit. Menu standouts are the pork belly rice bowl; sambal lettuce wraps with shrimp, romaine, and coconut; and siu mai, a shrimp and pork dumpling with roe. And don’t miss the daily dessert with seasonal fruits.
ISLAS ON THE SQUARE
Spartanburg
The clam linguine with fresh littleneck clams and the artichoke grilled swordfish will hit the spot at Islas. Creative cocktails like the El Chupacabra with mezcal, passionfruit liqueur, balsamic blackberry shrub, lime, and a red wine floater are fun to pair with a plate of oysters.
MON AMIE MORNING CAFÉ
Spartanburg
Stop by this petite café for brunch and try decadent dishes like pommes frites with melted brie, the blueberry crepe filled with Meyer lemon creme, and the French burger with brie, caramelized onions, and a fleur de sel butter spread. Grab a seat at the bar to watch the chefs make crepes.
GERHARD’S CAFÉ
Spartanburg
For more than 30 years, Gerhard’s Café has served classic German and Austrian cuisine to happy diners. Standouts are the beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes and The “Wurst” Pizza in Spartanburg with mustard, swiss cheese, knackwurst, bratwurst, and sauerkraut.
SCOUNDREL
Greenville
Bring a date to this swanky French restaurant led by James Beard semifinalist chef Joe Cash and try menu items like the deviled blue crab served artistically in the crab shell, the Dirty Rotten Scoundrel burger with melty cheddar and Scoundrel sauce, and duck fat frites.
Award-winning Beverage Program
Greenville, South Carolina
Soby’s, recent recipient of Wine Spectator’s 2025 Grand Award, offers a celebrated wine program complete with the state’s largest temperature- controlled wine cellar beneath the restaurant. Grower Champagne and red burgundy are standout pours; craft cocktails, local beers, and excellent Southern chophouse fare are also strong selling points.
TRAPPE DOOR
Greenville
Make reservations at this beloved Belgian restaurant in downtown Greenville. You’re missing out if you don’t order the braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts and the steak frites with au poivre sauce to share.
ENTRE NOUS
Greenville
Head to Maestro’s Bistro and ask for the code to Entres Nous, a well-hidden speakeasy in downtown Greenville. Enter through a sliding bookshelf and find yourself in a stylish lounge with live music, award-winning cocktails from mixologist Adam Kirwin, and chef-curated plates.
DACUSVILLE PIZZA STOP
Easley
Attached to a gas station on the side of the highway, Dacusville Pizza has fed locals (and lucky travelers) hot, heavenly pizza for almost 30 years. And you couldn’t ask for nicer owners. Get the super deluxe pie with the works and a drink from the new-ish coffee bar.
THE PINT STATION
Easley
Stop in for a pint with seasonal beers on tap like the Blood Orange Gose, Aloha Beaches, and the Post Shift Pilsner. Pair with bites like crispy fried pickles and the BOB, bratwurst with beer-soaked caramelized onions on a pretzel roll. Come on Thursday for trivia night.
MAC SMITH’S COUNTRY STORE
Pendleton
Mac Smith’s is a casual, Southern-style diner where the shelves are lined with nostalgic photos and trinkets and guests happily dig into delicious old-fashioned burgers and hot dogs for cheap.
Noteworthy New Concept
Taylor, South Carolina
This ongoing pop-up concept by chef Conner Hinderks operates out of Junto Coffee from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday and serves an artful, surprising brunch packed with Southeast Asian flavors, with rotating dishes like lemongrass mochi pancakes, curried eggs shakshuka, and Szechuan pepper-cured pork belly.
THE SMOKIN’ PIG
Pendleton
Visit the OG location of this slow-smoked barbecue joint in Pendleton for tender brisket and classic sides like fried okra, seasonal cobbler, mac and cheese, and banana pudding. Stick around after you eat and play putt putt and bocce for free.
SUNNYSIDE CAFÉ
Clemson
Breakfast and lunch are served all day at this “farmhouse chic” café just outside Clemson. Come hungry for the pecan praline mascarpone and apple butter-stuffed french toast and the Appalachian plate loaded with all the classics, from eggs to biscuits with gravy.
TUK TUK THAI AND VIETNAMESE KITCHEN
Taylors
The menu at Tuk Tuk offers colorful and flavorful meals of everything from pho to Thai curry to stir-fry, inspired by Bill Lam and Nattha Wiyawut’s Thai and Vietnamese backgrounds. Dishes from both cultures are served distinctly, as opposed to fusion.
TANDEM CREPERIE AND COFFEEHOUSE
Travelers Rest
Find sweet and savory crepes galore, like the Grazing Goat with goat cheese, blueberry compote, and walnuts, or the lemon sugar with lemon zest and juice topped with whipped cream. They also offer waffles and maple pecan granola, made in-house.
UPCOUNTRY PROVISIONS
Travelers Rest
Sit on the patio at Upcountry Provisions and dig into handhelds like The Upcountry, Up-A-Letta, and Swamp Rabbit, then shop the grocery for items like cranberry chutney, horsey sauce, chipotle mayo, and take-n-bake cinnamon rolls (these tend to sell out, so go early).
Best Culinary Hotel
Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Hotel Domestique’s Restaurant 17, led by 2022 South Carolina Chef Ambassador Haydn Shaak, combines European flavors with the area’s sea- sonal produce from local partners like GrowFood Carolina in Charleston, Ashe Acre Farms in Travelers Rest, and Table Rock Tea Company in Pickens.
L’INCANTO
Greer
The romantic, unrushed dining experience at L’Incanto will whisk you away to Northern Italy for the evening. Curated by chef Carlos Echeverri, the menu includes rich dishes like lumache (helix snails) in butter sauce and bone marrow Bolognese.
THE GALLEY
Anderson
This lakeside restaurant offers seafood classics, steak, and a sushi bar. Menu standouts include the hand-battered fried Gulf shrimp, the pecan crusted Carolina mountain trout with a lemon butter sauce, and the strawberry cake made from scratch daily and topped with fresh berries.
PAPA’S & BEER MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Anderson
This regional chain with outposts across the Carolinas is known for their tableside guacamole made to order with fresh avocados and jalapeños to your spice preference. Sip on a couple cervezas and chow down on giant burritos filled with beans, pico de gallo, and cheese.
SOUTHERN GROWL
Greer
Stop in for lunch in the garden at Southern Growl and dig into classic handhelds like the crispy chicken sandwich with pickles and Duke’s Mayo. Pair your meal with beers like the Left Dog Lager and the Tropical Sauce Fruited Sour, both available to go.
PAESANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Seneca
Since 1992, Paesano’s Italian Restaurant has been serving Sicilian-inspired dishes to the Seneca community. Order Sicilian-style pizza, seafood pasta, and wine for the table, and keep an eye out for specials. Add lump blue crab to your pasta for extra oomph.
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