New Favorites in Spartanburg

Bursting with charming downtowns and refreshing flavors, escape to Spartanburg, South Carolina and take time to discover new favorites.

Bourbon-themed bar and gastro smokehouse, Initial Q is one of downtown Spartanburg’s newest additions. Quickly becoming a local favorite, Initial Q puts an elegant spin on the typical smokehouse setting. Pair your go-to crafted cocktail with one of their smoked meats for an evening full of classic Southern BBQ flavors. If starting your weekends off with brunch is more your style, the IQ Brisket Benedict is an Instagram-worthy dish that tastes as good as it looks.

Spartanburg’s storied past as a textile town is on display when you visit Heirloom – A Milltown Eatery. Housed in the former Spartan Mills headquarters, Heirloom’s menu harkens back to those roots with milltown classic dishes served with a fresh twist. Start your meal off with an order of the Buttermilk Biscuit Twists or Hoppin’ John Hushpuppies before enjoying the Carolina Trout or Gentleman’s Cut Tenderloin. With no shortage of fresh, farm-to-fork flavors, discover a new favorite at Heirloom.

Kick your food tour up a notch with a trip to Flock Shop, just outside of downtown Spartanburg. Dishing out the cayenne-seasoned, oil-brushed fried chicken we’ve all come to know and love, Flock Shop’s hot chicken is worth the trip alone. Sitting in a renovated auto-shop, this joint combines the nostalgia of the 1950s with juicy, flavorful fried chicken. Make your plans to celebrate National Hot Chicken Day on March 30th in style at Flock Shop, or come whenever you feel comfortable traveling again.

Treat yourself to local craft brews and gorgeous views when you check out FR8yard in the heart of downtown Spartanburg. South Carolina’s first fully outdoor Biergarten pairs a selection of craft beers with a menu featuring their famous made-from-scratch sausages, marinated chicken-on-a-stick, or their new smash burgers. Their house-ground sausages, known as Yard Dogs, feature a toppings list full of exciting flavors such as kimchi and gochujang glaze or classic toppings like chili, cheese, slaw, and sauerkraut. With a wide range of flavors available, there’s room for your new favorites in Spartanburg, South Carolina.