Inside: I had 3 hours to show my friend the best of Downtown Greenville, SC. Here’s an itinerary: 3 hours + 1 Out-of-Town Guest in Downtown Greenville, SC.
Borrow Our Itinerary: 3 Hours + 1 Out-of-Town Guest in Downtown Greenville
Our friend Katy from Indy with Kids was in town for just one evening—and she had never seen Greenville before! We wanted to show off the charm of our city (and hopefully convince her to come back for a longer visit). With only a few hours and so much to do, here’s how we gave her a small taste of our beautiful downtown.
🍽️ Dinner at Soby’s
📍 207 S Main Street, Greenville, SC
🔗 Soby’s Website
Katy had one request: authentic Southern shrimp and grits. We knew exactly where to take her. Soby’s is a Greenville staple for elevated Southern cuisine—and it never disappoints.
Pro tip: Ask your server about the off-menu combo of shrimp & grits + crab cakes. That’s what I ordered–and it’s perfect if you are indecisive when ordering like me.
📅 Reservations are a really good idea here—we booked two days ahead and got right in.
📸 Iconic Main Street Stroll
📍 130 S Main Street, Greenville, SC
🔗 M. Judson Booksellers
After dinner, we took a walk down Main Street and grabbed the must-have photo with the historic clock tower in the background.
If we’d had more time, we would’ve popped into M. Judson Booksellers for some local reads or browsed the charming shops nearby.
🎨 Greenville Mural at Camperdown Plaza
📍 20 E Broad St, Greenville, SC
🔗 Camperdown Plaza
On the way to Falls Park, we detoured into Camperdown Plaza for a quick pic at the bright and cheerful Greenville mural—a must-snap moment for visitors.
Bonus: Group Therapy Pub & Playground is right here, too! We peeked in (so fun!) and if we had more time, a round of mini golf or a creative cocktail would’ve been perfect.
🔥 Peek into the Grand Bohemian
📍 44 E Camperdown Way, Greenville, SC
🔗 Grand Bohemian Hotel
Even if you’re not staying there, the Grand Bohemian lobby is worth a visit. With its towering stone fireplace and over-the-top decor, the Grand Bohemian lobby feels like you’ve stepped into a magazine spread—pure eye candy.
We wandered through pretending we were bougie enough to afford a $400 night stay—and maybe a piece of designer decor.
🌉 Liberty Bridge at Falls Park
📍 206 S Main Street, Greenville, SC
No first-time Greenville visit is complete without a photo on the Liberty Bridge. The view of the Reedy River Falls is stunning at sunset.
⏱ Got a little more time? Take the trail from the bridge down to the Medusa Tree—it’s a whimsical stop nestled right along the water on Furman College Way.
🍰 Dessert at Carmella’s Cafe & Dessert Bar
📍 355 S Main Street Suite 100, Greenville, SC
🔗 Kidding Around Review of Carmella’s
We wrapped up our evening with dessert at Carmella’s, which we had never tried before. The long line gave us hope—and it totally delivered.
We split the most decadent mini peanut butter chocolate cake ($15 and totally shareable). We sat by the fire pits outside and savored every bite.
🚗 Easy Parking Tip
We parked at Falls Street Garage, and it couldn’t have been easier. It’s tucked away behind the action, but it’s centrally located and gave us quick access to every spot on our itinerary.
Want to Recreate Our Night?
Here’s the quick hit list:
- ✅ Dinner at Soby’s (get that combo!)
- ✅ Iconic photos on Main Street
- ✅ Quick pic at the Camperdown mural
- ✅ Peek into the Grand Bohemian
- ✅ Photo (and maybe a stroll) at Liberty Bridge
- ✅ Dessert at Carmella’s
- ✅ Park at Falls Street Garage
It was just the right taste of Greenville to leave Katy completely charmed—and definitely planning a return trip!
Want more? Greenville is full of fun things to do! FUN DAYS START HERE: Things to Do in Greenville, SC
