Snapshot: Spartanburg | Listen

Settle into Sparkle City

What was once known as “Hub City” for the rays of railroads that transported textiles from the manufacturing hotspot is now recognized as a hub for arts, dining, and adventure—so much so that it has a new nickname: Sparkle City. With its revitalized downtown and its proximity to—and views of—the Carolina’s treasured stretch of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Spartanburg is on the rise. In 2025, the city will welcome a Minor League Baseball team, The Hub City Spartanburgers, as well as a new stadium, all part of an area known as the Grain District. A new planetarium is also under construction, and there are delicious bites and good times to be found at Fretwell, a gathering space set in a former industrial area—all of which means now is the time to start planning your next visit. 

Kick Things Off

See all of Spartanburg and beyond from a room at the AC Hotel downtown. Retreat to the rooftop for happy hour or to the pool deck for some of Spartanburg’s 225 days a year of sunshine before experiencing the hotel’s signature restaurant, Level Ten, a steakhouse set on the top floor.

Get the lay of the land with a first stop at Papa’s Breakfast Nook, a (mostly) 24-hour diner that puts out hearty comfort food around the clock. The red-roofed space is usually filled with regulars who come for the omelets, waffles, and wraps.

If you’re looking for caffeine, you’re in luck: In Spartanburg, the only thing that outnumbers the railroad tracks are the coffeehouses. Craft coffee can be found at The Pharmacy Coffee, an early 20th-century storefront that nods to its past as a pharmacy and soda shop. You can also find similar house-baked goods and brews at their mother location, Little River Coffee Bar on Main Street, and at their flagship and roasting facilities now located at Fretwell.

To cool off, dip into Hub City Scoops for ice cream with a local spin. With more than 50 rotating flavors, it’s impossible to try them all in one go, but one step in that direction is their ice cream flight board, complete with waffle cone chips.

Don’t be fooled by the name: Smallcakes’ softball-sized cupcakes are a whole meal. Although they do offer “minis,” we recommend reaching for the half dozen to sample as many of the classic flavors as possible.

Where to Wander

Spartanburg boasts plenty of green spaces, like the nearby Croft State Park, whichis home to more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trails. Once a bustling textile mill, the transformed Glendale Shoals Preserve sits across Lawson’s Fork Creek and provides views of the waterway. Stroll down the shaded Cottonwood Trail that parallels the creek for a reprieve from the sun or a try at the rope swing.

Learn about the rich past of Spartanburg from early exploration to the Revolutionary War and up through the textile boom at the Spartanburg Regional History Museum. Also in the lineup of the Spartanburg County Historical Association’s protected properties are sites such as The Seay House and Walnut Grove Plantation, both of which story different eras of the locale’s history.

Home to multiple galleries and a burgeoning arts scene, Spartanburg’s The Johnson Collection Gallery features pieces from a collection that focuses on the evolution of the American South. For the performing arts, look only a couple of blocks away to the Chapman Cultural Center, which is home to the Spartanburg Little Theatre. Check their schedule to see what Broadway show or hit play they’re bringing to the stage.

Take Time to Refuel

There are plenty of places to kick back for a midafternoon drink downtown. Ciclops Cyderi & Brewery is a good place to start. With 30 taps ranging from bourbon barrel-aged stouts to IPAs, there’s a pour for everyone. For live music, head to FR8 Yard—a once-vacant lot in the heart of downtown that’s been converted into an open-air hangout. The beer garden is complete with a big screen, firepits, and their popular yard dogs for munching.

Elevated American fare can be found at Spartanburg’s The Kennedy—an Art Deco-inspired space with a seasonal menu that’s meant to be shared. From crawfish and dumplings to grain bowls and large plates, the menu rotates depending on what’s available that month.

For a taste of low-frills, laid-back dining, head to the trippy, 1990s pizzeria, Venus Pie, for exaggerated slices of New York-style thin-crust pizza, and beer from local favorites. The newer, equally popular Willy Taco—a chef-driven twist on Mexican fusion—hones new wave Tex-Mex with inventive plates like the cauliflower power taco or the Southern Tide with crispy shrimp, bacon, pimento cheese, and chipotle ranch. 

And at Blue Moon Specialty Foods, there’s agourmet menu of hot and cold foods served at their eat-in marketplace filled with artisan pantry items, like their signature Yep! Seasoning or a selection of goods from Altman Farm and Mill. At the newly opened second location, Blue Moon Bodega, you’ll find a sandwich counter and spacious patio where live music pops up on the weekends.

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