Have you visited Magnetic South Brewery before? Better known for their Anderson location, Magnetic South also has a location in Judson Mills in Greenville. This location is the perfect spot for a casual date night out or a place to meet up with friends. It’s also a kid-friendly place where the whole family can have some fun playing pool, pinball, and other arcade games.
The Magnetic South Greenville location is in a bit of an off-the-beaten-path spot, located on the interior corner of Judson Mill beside The Foundry music venue. They have some outside space in front of the brewery for hanging out or playing corn hole. Inside you’ll find a large and open space with lots of seating.
Order both your beverages and your food at the bar. They’ll text you when your food is ready, so you’re free to enjoy the space instead of waiting in line!
Magnetic South Beer and Ciders
You’ll find a rotating draft menu board at Magnetic South. If you’re really particular about your beer choices you can always see what’s on tap today at the Magnetic South beer menu online.
We enjoyed the Red Carpet red ale, the Ale Earndardt rye beer, and a slightly sweet pineapple cider. They were all delicious. My personal favorite was the red ale, as it had a full flavor without being heavy.
Food at Magnetic South
The Greenville menu at Magnetic South offers Cuban-inspired flavors, including rice bowls, burritos, tacos, salads and snacks like nachos, chips & queso, and even street corn. We found the menu to be quite affordable, with menu items ranging from $6 to $13.
Food portions are not huge, but they are the perfect companion to a beverage or two where you don’t want to be too full anyway.
And, at those prices, you can definitely order a couple of items if you’re extra hungry. If you’re bringing the family, you could definitely order a few snacks to share to accompany your meal choice so everyone gets to try a few things.
I enjoyed the Mojo bowl, which was Cuban rice with marinated pork, black beans, corn, and tomatoes. It came with my choice of sauce and the curry mustard that I picked was so delicious. I would order it again in a heartbeat.
There are other bowl choices including one with grilled chicken and one where you can build your own by selecting a protein and toppings.
My husband enjoyed the Cuban Pork Burrito which was actually quite similar to my bowl, except in burrito form.
We are pretty terrible at pool. Like 97.5% of the balls I actually got in the pockets were accidental. But that’s ok. We had a great time doing it!
The two pool tables at Magnetic South, as well as the arcade games, are coin-operated. There is an ATM machine and a coin machine beside the games, and that worked perfectly for us.
A game of pool is just $1.25. I had a $5 bill on me, we turned it into quarters at the change machine and played several games of pool.
The other games like skee ball and pinball were both a dollar, also taking quarters. Another $5 bill had me losing a couple of games of skee ball to my husband. You know, these things happen. But it was really fun.
I loved that while there were several game options, the overall atmosphere wasn’t the loud, flashing lights, chiming bells, and sometimes overwhelming environment you might think of when you imagine an arcade. Magnetic South is not an arcade, they have just one corner of the space with games and they aren’t exceptionally loud. It’s really the perfect blend.
At the end of the day, it was a really affordable date night, with good food in a super fun place. We definitely will be back, and I wouldn’t hesitate to bring the kids sometimes, either.
Did you know that you could take free Salsa dancing lessons in Greenville, SC. Local mom Kristina shares her favorite places to Salsa dance in Greenville, the perfect romantic date night. You can even dance under the stars!
Salsa dancing is quite close to my heart and it’s pretty awesome we can do it in Greenville, SC! Despite my current last name, I have zero Latin blood in me but rather I’m the typical American mix of European ancestry, ones that arguably aren’t known for their superb dancing styles.
So when I had the chance to take salsa dancing lessons back when I lived near Washington, DC, I jumped at opportunity. I had seen a beautiful couple at the bar/restaurant where the lessons occurred twirling, laughing, and swaying their hips with the Latin beats. I wanted to be that girl and I wanted to learn how to dance like that.
And I did.
This was before marriage and kids so I had time to go several times a week to lessons and dancing. But I got more out of it than I ever expected. I met my husband during one of those early classes. He had been taking lessons for a few months and easily impressed me. We went dancing together for nearly three years before we started dating and then got married.
We don’t go as often as we’d like to now but when I heard about dancing salsa in the plaza at the Peace Center last summer, I got a babysitter and made plans to go. After all, when does the chance come up to dance under the stars? Not often enough.
Salsa at Sunset
On Fridays June 16, July 28, and August 25, 2023, Upstate International hosts the amazing Salsa at Sunset event at Camperdown Plaza in downtown Greenville. It’s a free outdoor event that features free group salsa lessons, a live band that plays salsa, merengue, and bachata (other Latin dance styles) and a beer and wine cash bar.
The event is family-friendly as well. We saw lots of kids there getting their groove on. There were dancers of every age and ability.
All of the events are from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. and include free dance lessons and lots of dancing.
In my experience of Latin dancing, it really doesn’t matter your age or ability or anything else you’re nervous about and that may be holding you back. Everyone just wants to have fun.
Dancing is a great equalizer. Most dancers are patient and eager to teach and learn. Dancing is a wonderful activity to let your body take over and move with the music and give your brain a break from doing any thinking. It’s relaxing and a great date activity.
Other places to go dancing
Greenville has an active little salsa dancing community.
Every Thursday night at Brass on Congaree Road plays host to Pasion Thursdays. The DJ plays a mix of Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata.
Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. and run for an hour. It’s a $7/person cover per person (nights with live bands are $10/person) and you must be 21.
For women, a shoe with a smooth bottom and a heel not more than two inches is preferable (tennis shows aren’t the best because they stick to the floor but I’ve seen women wear them and do fine). I’ve usually gotten my shoes at this website, which is so fun, but I’ve also danced in regular shoes I’ve bought at some big box discount store. At Salsa at Sunset, I usually just use sneakers and it’s fine.
Dresses are enjoyable to wear but just be sure they either don’t fly all the way up when you spin or wear shorts underneath. Be comfortable because you’ll be moving around a lot.
For men, shoes with smooth bottoms are ideal as well. And just dress comfortably.
You don’t need a partner for lessons. You rotate around and get to dance with everyone there so it’s not necessary to come with anyone.
Thinking about a couples day trip somewhere near Greenville, SC? If you want to plan a dreamy day trip with your significant other this summer, we have a great list of day trip ideas for couples. We have put together a whole list of romantic day trip ideas! Whether you want to do something romantic, visit a new town, or have some adventure our list will help you plan the perfect day trip.
When the temperatures heat up in the summer or drop to freezing in the winter, you can still have a really fun date night indoors in Greenville, SC. We’ve got the best ideas for indoor dates, from axe throwing to seeing a play to dancing and rock climbing.
If the idea of feeling sweat drip down your back while on a date outdoors this summer doesn’t sound romantic, we can sympathize. Summers, while fun in South Carolina, can be brutally hot, and planning a fun date together where you aren’t melting may take some creativity – and that’s where we can help you out. And on cold winter nights, you can stay warm indoors while having fun together, too!
Fortunately, there are lots of fantastic places in the Upstate to have a memorable and cool date night in the AC besides the standard dinner and a movie. No matter your interests, we think you’ll find something on this list where you can plan a great summer or winter date night together.
Best Indoor Date Nights for Playing
Group Therapy Pub & Playground
Located in Camperdown Plaza in downtown Greenville, Group Therapy has an 18-hole mini-golf course, axe throwing, curling, ping pong, and tons more plus an extensive bar and food menu. You must make reservations to play the games.
Throw it back to the 90s with an awesome arcade that has more than a dozen pinball machines but old school games like Nintendo, Paper Boy, and Pac-Man. It’s $10/person for all-day play. Vaughn’s Warehouse is right next door where you can grab dinner together.
Double Stamp Brewery
Play Nintendo together at the bar while enjoying delicious craft beer or sodas made right in house at Double Stamp Brewery in Greenville.
Pinky’s Revenge
Get some 80s square pizza and play lots of fun arcade games together at Pinky’s Revenge.
Best Indoor Date Nights for Busting Stress
Break some stuff
Take a bat to some glass, an old car, or windows at Mad Smash Rage Room in Taylors Mill.
Relax in the planetarium at Roper Mountain Science Center and gaze up at the stars and learn about our magnificent solar system at Friday Starry Nights. They also offer the Laser Days of Summer shows that feature rock music and lasers. You must buy tickets online ahead of time.
If you love to dance – or want to learn – there are some great spots to do so. Check out country line dancing at the Blind Horse Saloon or Cowboy Up Greenville. The Spinning Jenny has swing dancing and sometimes offers dance classes. Landmark Hall in Greer has different dance nights so check their website.
Do you think you can beat the clock at Escape Artist Greenville SC? Several years ago, some friends were visiting from out of town and wanted to meet up. When we asked them what they would like to do, they suggested that we meet up at one of Greenville’s top escape rooms, Escape Artist Greenville. We are very glad that we said yes. In fact, we had such a great time we can’t stop recommending Escape Artist to all of our friends in Greenville.
Upon arriving, we were energized immediately by owners Will and Kim Rutherford’s enthusiasm. It was impossible to not catch the excitement about trying to test our group’s wits against one of their escape rooms.
After a short explanation of rules such as “don’t tear apart the ceiling” followed by a creepy story intro we handed over our iPhones and headed into “Dr. Fratelli’s cabin”. Inside the mad scientist’s cabin, we quickly got to work looking inside and under the many objects in order to start finding clues. These clues then led to puzzles that had to be solved in order to find the special locked exit and escape the room where Dr. Fratelli had trapped us. Of course, the primary entrance remained unlocked so we weren’t actually physically locked in. It is just a game!
We were given just one hour to escape the room, but we had the ability to ask for three clues during our hour. Will was watching us through his surveillance cameras and was quick to offer the exact help needed for each clue. The puzzles were challenging but still simple enough for a group to solve.
Did We Escape?
Of course, the first question everyone asks is “Did you escape?” Actually, Will told us that only 20-25% of the groups that try the room “get out”. We made it though with only a couple of minutes left to spare and we used all 3 hints.
Will greeted us after we finished and shared his own observations of how we solved the puzzle. We then were allowed to grab our phones again so that Kim could take a victory photo for us showcasing our time.
Photo Credit: Eli Warren, used by permission from Escape Artist Greenville
Is Escape Artist Greenville Worth the Money?
Escape Artist is a little bit more expensive than most of the attractions my husband and I visit, starting at around $30/person. It was worth every penny we spent. We had so much fun working together, laughing at our mistakes, and bragging about what we solved. The room was very well designed, all of the clues were clear and worked correctly, and Will & Kim executed everything wonderfully. It’s no wonder that they have received so many 5 star reviews.
Any hints?
Well, of course, I can’t give any hints on how to solve the puzzle because that would ruin the fun, but here are a couple tips to help you have the best chances of victory:
Don’t be afraid to ask for a clue when you are stuck. It’s better to use them up than not get out!
Get started quickly. Don’t be shy about looking around the room when you enter it. The sooner you find your first clues the better.
Don’t overthink your clues. None of the clues will require knowing weird facts and you won’t mess up your clues by touching or moving objects in the room.
Playing an escape room game on your tablet or phone ahead of time will help give you an idea of the types of puzzles you might encounter.
Have fun! Don’t get too stressed out. This activity is all about having a good time.
What About Kids?
I visited Escape Artist Greenville with 3 other adults and I thought that it was a great adult activity but older children and teens would definitely enjoy it as well. Children under 16 are allowed to attend with an adult, and Will told us that he had even recently hosted a party of 11-year-olds. Will did tell us that he adapts the clues as necessary for children and that the children who have come through really have enjoyed the puzzle. All of the content in the story and inside the room was appropriate for any age audience and there weren’t any thematic elements that would scare a child.
About Escape Artist: Greenville SC
Be sure to book your time ahead of time online. Due to the nature of the event, space is limited and 2 hours advanced reservation is required.
This attraction is completely unique to Greenville. While there are other “escape rooms” in Greenville and in other cities, Will & Kim specifically designed this room and story making it a one-of-a-kind adventure.
The attraction can fit 2-8 people at a time. Your group may get placed with another group if you don’t purchase the entire 8 tickets.
In addition to Dr. Fratelli’s Cabin, there are four other escape rooms including our current favorite Starlight Motel (a spooky, interactive room for adults). You can read about Starlight Motel in our review.
There is a second location of Escape Artist Greenville, located at Hampton Station. The Hampton Station location has fewer rooms (Help Wanted and Dark Lullaby), but the proximity to dining, breweries, and shopping makes it a great activity.
The Escape Artist Greenville: SC Has Two Locations!
Planning a date night and looking for summer date night ideas? Summer in Greenville makes date nights easy. If you are tired of going on the same old dates, use this list to spice things up this summer. Whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor date ideas, we’ve got you covered!
Summer is the perfect time to get back into date night with your significant other. There are so many more options for having fun together over the summer than other times of year because you can get outside. Although you totally don’t have to be outside – sometimes the air conditioning feels divine.
So get planning on that date night, or date day as we have those ideas as well. Can you try for three dates this summer – one for June, July and August? We have plenty of options for you, just pick a few!
Have you practiced your putt and drive at Topgolf? Greenville golfers love Topgolf for the combination of entertainment venue, sports bar, and practice area. Though we aren’t golfers by any stretch of the imagination, we had a blast and we know you will too! The facility is incredible and we learned a ton of cool stuff about it, which we are sharing here because seriously, we can’t keep all this to ourselves. Perfect for a date night, or a family outing, Topgolf Greenville is the place to go if you are a golf lover!
1- Topgolf is for the entire family
You can bring your whole family for a fun time at Topgolf to hit balls around, eat, and enjoy the facility. They even have clubs for kids and toddlers, which are as adorable as you are imagining. Parents are encouraged to hang out on the lower level when they bring their kids.
2- Line Dancing was part of the interview process
This made us wish we had interviewed just to have fun and line dance. We heard it was a three-hour interview process and prospective employees had to line dance.
3- There are five huge TV screens at the bar/restaurant
The screens actually span from floor to ceiling in a two-story bar and restaurant. That’s 28-feet of video wall along with over 200 HDTVs throughout the facility. It’s amazing and perfect for anyone who loves watching their favorite team. Probably better than seats right on the field.
4- The golf balls all have microchips
Topgolf spared no expense to make sure their guests have a cool experience and microchipped all the golf balls so you can see on a screen how far you hit the balls and other stats.
5- The employees are ridiculously happy
They all seemed genuinely happy to be working at Topgolf and the smiles they all sported were contagious. We left happier than when we came. The Topgolf Greenville location is regularly hiring. Learn more about their careers at their site.
6- You don’t have to know how to play golf to enjoy Topgolf
They have instructors on-site if you want to learn how to play but the staff there can also give you a couple of pointers before you start whacking the balls. In fact, 51% of Topgolf guests aren’t golfers at all. Our editor, Bethany, can attest to this as her golf game is pretty terrible but she had fun!
7- Topgolf has other games you can play
They have an outside turf area where corn hole can be set up and they also have indoor foosball on every level of their bar/restaurant space.
8- Topgolf is an all-weather facility
It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny, raining, or snowing because you are sheltered when you play and they have heaters and fans to keep you comfortable.
9- There are 72 bays so a lot of people can play/eat
A bay is basically a separate place where up to eight people can hang out at a table and six people can golf. There is a turf launching pad and golf clubs at each bay and a hostess takes care of each bay so you can order drinks and food while playing.
10- The driving range is 215 yards long
Don’t worry, you’re not going to be hitting cars along I-85 with the huge driving range and enormous nets. And your car in the parking lot will be safe too.
11- There are more than 9 games at each bay
Scores are tallied through a touch screen at each bay and kept track of through membership cards (a one-time $5 cost for each golfer). Games can be played by anyone, novice to expert, and include 20 balls each.
12- You pay per hour for each bay, not per person
Pricing for Topgolfis done by the hour per bay, not per game or per person, and depends on the time of day. Before Noon daily, the cost is $30- $35/bay per hour, from Noon – 5 pm, it’s $40-$45/bay per hour, and after 5 pm, it is $50-$55/bay per hour. Friday – Sunday are always the higher of the price range, and Tuesdays offer half-price bay/hr deals all day!
13- Topgolf has summer camps for kids
Send your kid, ages 6-12, to summer camp at Topgolf for a week where they can learn how to play, or at least learn a respectable swing. It’s Monday-Friday from 9 am – Noon and costs $225/child.
14- Birthday parties are all the rage at Topgolf
You’ll probably be Parent of the Year if you have your kid’s birthday party at Top Golf.
15- Topgolf is three stories so you can see for miles when you’re golfing
Being up on the third level is pretty cool. You can see for miles on a clear day and it’s just a fun experience.
16- It costs nothing to rent golf clubs
Most of us non-golfers don’t have a full set of clubs in our garage. Thankfully all Topgolf bays have clubs you can use for free. You can bring your own though if you have them!
17- You don’t need to dress like a golfer to come to Topgolf
As long as you’re not dressed like you’re going to the beach, you’ll be fine. Bethany and I were both wearing cute dresses and we did just fine.
18- There’s an app for that
Topgolf has its own app, where you can track your score, reserve a bay, and even control what you watch in your bay (each one has its own TV).
Looking for more golfing adventures with your family?3’s Greenville offers a 12-hole golf course, perfect for younger kids to dip their toes into golfing! Thinking mini golf may be a better route? Check out Takeoff Mini Golf, located right beside the Greenville Downtown Airport!
An awesome arcade that has the best games from the 80s and 90s is located in Simpsonville, SC and we just had to try it out! Thanks to the Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum for having us come by to do this review.
When I see an old-school Pac-Man machine, I immediately think of my mom and how much fun we used to have to play it (and constantly getting eaten by ghosts). Super Mario Brothers bring back memories I had of my friends and me playing it together in middle school. Yes, I’m dating myself but I don’t even care because there’s a place in Simpsonville where I can now go and play all these retro games and share my own great memories with my kids and make new ones as well.
Trying to plan a date night that will allow you to bring the baby along without any fuss? Date nights might seem like a thing of the past once you have a baby, so we are coming to the rescue with this list by Lindy Wilson. We have some great date ideas with a baby for parents in Greenville, SC that are perfect for when you need your tiny human to tag along.
Are you looking for places to enjoy live music in Greenville? Here you will find several spots where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy music. We can thank our contributor Andrea Beam for this great list of places in Greenville and nearby communities that offer live music while you dine!
One of my favorite things to do is to enjoy live music… it doesn’t matter if I’m eating out or shopping, the whole experience is made better with live music in the background. And when the temperatures pick back up, there’s nothing quite like enjoying local, live music outside. Here’s a list of my favorite local places to sip on a drink and eat delicious food while listening to live music. Take out your pen and pad: You’ll want to write these down!
Thomas Creek offers both indoor and outdoor seating spaces with a wide variety of brews on tap, plus a few wine and cider options as well. They have live music on select dates in the brewery. The dates and times will vary, but follow Thomas Creek on Facebook to see what’s happening and when. Then head to the brewery to enjoy some wings and small plate bites with locally-crafted beer with a side of live music.
Fireforge Crafted Beer
Located in downtown Greenville, Fireforge Crafted Beer’s events calendar features live music on Friday and Saturday nights, usually starting around 7 pm. They occasionally have live music during the week as well! Grab a bite to eat and enjoy their locally-brewed beer while tapping your toes!
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack
You can enjoy delicious Nashville-style hot chicken along with acoustic musical performances at Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack The shop is located at 420 Laurens Road in Greenville, and will have music this spring and summer with their Wings and Strings series. Music will be each Wednesday night from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. You can find a full list of upcoming musical performances on the Rocky’s Wings and Strings website.
Gather GVL
Located near Fluor Field, Gather GVL is an outdoor food hall built out of shipping containers. The food and beverage vendors at Gather GVL promise something yummy for everyone. At the heart of this colorful and kid-friendly outdoor space is a stage on which you can regularly find a local troubadour doing their thing. Their event calendar regularly features live music, especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Be sure to read our review of Gather GVL before you pop over there.
One of Greenville’s favorite brunch spots, Southern Culture Kitchen is a great venue for a filling meal and some good jams. Check out their Instagram or Facebook to stay abreast of their entertainment schedule, which includes brunch and dinner shows.
Wandering Bard Meadery
One of the newest tenants at Hampton Station is Wandering Bard Meadery. Wandering Bard serves up a variety of their own award-winning meads (think “honey wine”) and also offers a menu of snacks, soups, charcuterie, paninis, and some kid-friendly foods. In addition to mead, they also serve a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Check out their event calendar to see who’s hitting the stage.
13 Stripes Brewery
Located at the Taylors Mill, 13 Stripes Brewery always has something fun going on. The brewery regularly has live music, and even has a special Hymns & Hops series on select Sundays. Check out their Facebook to see special live music events.
Chicora Alley
Chicora Alley has delicious food, and often pairs the meal with live music. Musicians that frequent Chicora offer funk, rock, acoustic, jam band, jazz, Caribbean fusion, and just excellent music that you can dance to! Chicora has two locations, one in Downtown Greenville near Falls Park, and one in Travelers Rest.
The Velo Fellow
If you are looking for a unique selection of music, while enjoying brunch, lunch, or dinner, then The Velo Fellow is where to go! With funk fusion, progressive funk, party punk, swamp rock, and tons of eclectic genres taking over the back room, The Velo Fellow has it all. You can follow their event page for updates on upcoming live music in Greenville.
The Radio Room
The Radio Room may be known to many as a small, local music venue, but they also have a pretty delicious menu full of yummy sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, appetizers, and signature drinks. The venue is an excellent choice is you’re looking to see live music, but also maybe need a little bite to eat during the concert. Their event calendar is loaded with live music coming to Greenville in addition to special events and trivia nights.
Live Music in Spartanburg, SC
Ciclops Cideri and Brewery
Ciclops Cyderi and Brewery in the heart of Spartanburg regularly features live music and trivia. Plus they’ve got their tasty signature brews and bites!
Fr8yard
Also in downtown Spartanburg, Fr8yard is an outdoor biergarten built from repurposed shipping containers. They regularly welcome regional acts to their stage. Bonus: Their menu sounds like the perfect pairing to live music and tasty beverages!
New Groove Artisan Brewery
Just 30 minutes from Greenville, Boiling Spring’s New Groove Artisan Brewery serves pub fare and includes a menu “for the groovy kids.” Beverages include their beer, as well as specialty crafted sodas. To keep up with their live music schedule, follow their Facebook or Instagram pages.
Live Music in Fountain Inn, SC
Fountain Inn has expanded quickly! With that growth comes a lot of great restaurants and breweries, many of which offer special events and live music. Check out some of the best places to enjoy live music in Fountain Inn.
Fountain Inn Taproom
The Fountain Inn Taproom offers a variety of events throughout the year, including live music. They have a wide selection of beer and wine to go along with your food, which include snacking items like paninis, bratwurst, pretzels, and nachos.
Live Music in Travelers Rest, SC
You guys know I have an undying love for the growing town of Greenville, but Travelers Rest continues to impress me. My son and I spent an entire afternoon walking the streets. I felt like we were on the set of Gilmore Girls. Who knew peace and tranquility was only a seven minute drive from my house. These Travelers Rest venues offer live music, I encourage you to keep your eyes on their event calendars to find out when live music returns to these neat spots.
The Whistle Stop
It’s no secret The Whistle Stop at The American Cafe is is one of my favorite destinations, but what’s even better than their menu is the rooftop dining area. Yes, you heard that right – eating dinner on the roof! Throw in a live band and you have the perfect spring evening. Check their web site and/or Facebook page to see who is hitting the stage!
Chicora Alley Firehouse
Chicora Alley Firehouse, the restaurants second location, is an excellent way to grab a delicious meal while listening to live music. They regularly offer a musical mixture of acoustic, funk, Caribbean Fusion, jam band, and various genres to enjoy. The location is open Tuesday through Sunday.
Upcountry Provisions
Upcountry Provisions will often serenade you on a Friday night. Check their website for a calendar of events. UP is open each week Monday through Saturday from 7:30 am – 7 pm. Mmmm, you really need to try their baked goodies! If you’re like me and trying NOT to give in to your sweet tooth, they serve up a yummy lunch and dinner menu as well.
With the continued growth of the restaurant, bar, and brewery scene in the Upstate, I’ve brushed the surface of places around town to enjoy live music while grabbing a bite to eat or perusing the stacks. However, my son would probably like to eat dinner so I had to stop at some point. As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have anything to add.
It looks like I’ve planned quite a few weekends for you!
You can thank me later.
What live music venue would you like to add to our list?
This article was originally written by Andrea Beam and has been updated by the Kidding Around Team.
