Phrase is that Greenville, South Carolina, is a sizzling vacation spot. Level in level: Condé Nast Traveler It was lately named one of many prime 5 small cities in America. With a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it has greater than 100 miles of difficult biking trails which have earned it the nickname “Bikeville.” Its downtown alone claims 200 eating places, prompts Journey + Leisure It may be referred to as one of many prime 10 meals cities within the nation. And its in style annual festivals draw crowds of 1000’s.
Right here, we sit down with three acquainted Greenville residents to find the town by their eyes. From hotspots to hidden gems, they share locations that no customer to their hometown ought to miss.
Joe Money, Proprietor and Founding Chef, Scoundrel-Un Esquire Finest new restaurant
“Most of my household is right here or within the subsequent city over,” says chef Joe Money, who was born and raised in Greenville. He fell in love with working in eating places as a young person and is now incomes his diploma on the Culinary Institute of the Carolinas.
He went on to jobs in Charleston and New York Metropolis, making a reputation for himself in top-tier kitchens, together with chef Thomas Keller’s 3-Michelin star restaurant, Per Se. He then moved to Copenhagen to work at René Resdjp’s Noma, which has been named the world’s greatest restaurant for a number of years operating.
After a dozen years away, he felt the pull to return dwelling, needing extra space for his rising household And A brand new problem. “There’s a big culinary scene; Individuals love the meals,” Money says. “I needed to return right here, push the boundaries a bit bit and push it ahead.” He completed that aim when he opened Scoundrel on Foremost Road in Greenville in 2022. The restaurant’s French bistro fare shortly gained nationwide buzz: Esquire referred to as it “considered one of America’s greatest new eating places” and acquired a 2024 James Beard Award nomination within the Finest New Restaurant class. The kitchen is thought for its crave-worthy breads made with Carolina-milled wheat, tableside steak tartare, creamy deviled crab and tomahawk ribeye with duck fats fries.
Money mentioned he likes to place down roots within the metropolis the place he grew up, particularly now that he and his spouse Jocelyn have two kids. “Greenville is simply stunning,” he says. “It has a mixture of every part – you may have a little bit of the town and a little bit of the outside.” You may discover her household exploring the Swamp Rabbit Path, a 28-mile path alongside a historic railway hall that connects Greenville to the Vacationers Relaxation, and cheering on the town’s professional hockey group, also referred to as the Swamp Rabbits, on the Bon Secours Wellness Area.
For Money, there’s one thing nostalgic about returning downtown as each a resident and a enterprise proprietor. “Rising up right here, there was all the time one thing cool occurring downtown,” he mentioned, citing huge occasions like Fall for Greenville and Downtown Alive. “Coming again, I needed to do one thing huge and daring, so Foremost Road was the one place I regarded for restaurant house. It is nice to see it develop a lot during the last 30-plus years and to now be part of it.”
Joe Money’s Greenville Peaks
T Time: “i play Pebble Creek Nation Membership Loads with some pals. I am not excellent at golf, nevertheless it’s a pleasant, straightforward course.”
Dinner-Mite: “My household likes to eat watchWhich was a drive in. It is an old-school place for burgers and sizzling canine.”
In fashion: “APB Downtown has actually cool manufacturers like Characterize and Comme des Garçons, together with fashion-forward sneakers and streetwear.”
Corridor go: “Accumulate Greenville The meals corridor is nice for something you need. Fried hen sandwich. . . You identify it. Go have lunch and chat. They all the time have issues for the children to do, so it is a blast.”
candy spot: “Clare Creamery There’s wonderful ice cream. Their lavender-honey taste is offensive.”
Watering gap: “Swordfish Cocktail Membership A hidden gem. Their bartenders could make you something you need. Every thing is fastidiously crafted and served in stunning glasses. They’ve a killer grilled cheese sandwich on the late evening menu.”
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Ashley Garrett, Fox Carolina Information anchor
Going to stations across the nation is par for the course in broadcasting, however Orlando-born Fox Carolina Information morning present Co-anchor Ashley Garrett has discovered a house in Greenville since transferring right here three years in the past. “It is a actually stunning metropolis,” she says. “It has enjoyable and pleasure but in addition a relaxed and peaceable vibe,” she says “You get one of the best of each worlds.”
In her position as one of many faces of native information, Garrett has made group engagement her enterprise, masking tales from historic preservation efforts to new enterprise openings. It gave him a more in-depth have a look at what makes Greenville particular. “From my vantage level, I used to be capable of see the town’s efforts to protect our inexperienced areas. The world is really breathtaking,” she says. He cites spots like Unity Park, which has 5 distinct strolling trails, and Falls Park, with its cantilevered 345-foot Liberty Bridge spanning the falls created by the Reedy River. Each are inside metropolis limits and simply accessible.
Walkability is one other huge motive Garrett fell in love with this rising metropolis. “Individuals can park their automobile as soon as and be out all day,” she says. “They’ll seize a drink right here, eat a meal there, do some buying there. . . The choices for leisure facilities are really limitless,” he mentioned. He urged a present on the Peace Middle, which hosts every part from comedy to Broadway productions to concert events.
As a self-described foodie, one other of Garrett’s favourite issues about Greenville is the breadth of eating locations. “The choices are limitless; it is a meals metropolis,” she says. “You may by no means go hungry within the metropolis of Greenville.” From macaroni-stuffed waffles topped with fried hen at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar to Surf and Turf with cocktails at Corridor’s Chophouse, pleasure fills her voice as she talks about her favourite downtown spots and eats. “My favourite locations have such good service,” she provides. “You need to have that good southern hospitality.”
Greenville Peaks by Ashley Garrett
Potted Heaven: “Plant Stella A four-in-one retailer opened final 12 months within the coronary heart of the town. Not solely do they promote stunning crops, in addition they promote essentially the most scrumptious boba tea. Upstairs is a stupendous clothes boutique with the prettiest colours and many completely different types, and the outside deck and occasion house has a relaxed environment. You might be able to see a dwell efficiency. The proprietor Kate is tremendous candy too. He’ll care for you.”
Downtown Digs: “I’d advocate AC Resort by Marriott Greenville at Camperdown Plaza. It is vitally stunning. It is within the coronary heart of the town, so there’s numerous good consuming, buying and surroundings.”
Key details: “Give CCNB Amphitheater a stupendous place It’s massive and fantastically landscaped. They actually know how you can host you and supply an awesome expertise.”
Night time Out: “work Has a very intimate date-night vibe with scrumptious small plates. I really like the ‘Day by day Bread’ Grilled Bitter Bowl and the Free-Vary Rooster Enchiladas.”
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George Hincapie, former professional bike owner and co-owner, Resort Home
Throughout his profession as an expert highway bike owner, George Hincapie was drawn to the South, searching for hotter climates that will permit him to coach open air year-round. Greenville, with its mountain climbs and winding valley roads, had a lot in frequent with the European terrain he navigated throughout his 17 Tour de France. Past its pure assets, he fell in love with Greenville’s eating places, plentiful parks, and family-friendly vibe. And so, 20? Years in the past, he determined to make it dwelling.
In 2012, Hincapie and his brother Wealthy opened Resort Home within the foothills of Vacationers Relaxation, about 20 minutes exterior of Greenville, remodeling it right into a luxurious resort with facilities paying homage to his time in Europe. “Equestrian, I all the time thought it might be good to renovate the resort and go once more,” he says. “I needed to make it an awesome vacation spot for everybody and a world-class biking vacation spot.” Equally, the identify is a double entender: it’s each French for “servant”. And The position Hincapie performs in biking groups is to place the group’s lead bike owner in a successful place.
The sprawling boutique property options 13 rooms and suites, all named for main biking spots in France (“Aspin,” “Chartres”). Critical cyclists will discover every part they want for an pleasing keep, together with an on-site bike mechanic, in-room massagers and torque for constructing robust muscular tissues, and a wellness room with NordicTrack gear and a chilly plunge. Company trying to merely calm down or discover the world will admire facilities such because the saltwater pool, sizzling tub, infrared sauna and pantry with complimentary snacks. The resort’s on-site restaurant, Restaurant 17, has turn into an area vacation spot for European-inspired delicacies created by current South Carolina Chef Ambassador Chef Hayden Shuck. Guests with out bikes can lease one pre-loaded with navigation on Hincapie’s favourite native coaching routes.
Whereas operating the resort and main Gran Fondo Hincapie biking occasions across the nation preserve Hincapie busy, he says he loves spending time in Greenville together with his spouse, Melanie, and three kids. “It is simply this quiet, walkable little city individuals fall in love with,” he mentioned. “There are eating places in all places, and also you’re simply steps away from Reedy River Falls Park.”
Over the previous 20 years, Hincapie has seen the group develop, however its important sights—nice climate, pleasant locals, and picturesque landscapes—stay. “It is getting a bit busier, nevertheless it’s nonetheless comparatively quiet,” he says. “If you understand the place to go, it is an awesome place to trip.”
Greenville Peaks by George Hincapie
Morning pick-me-up: “There is a cool meals corridor referred to as Swamp Rabbit Path Commons. There are additionally a few wonderful eating places [locally roasted] Systematic espresso. There egg sandwiches can go to me.”
Baby Centered: “I’m going Unity Park It’s a must-see for youths with 4 playgrounds always. Falls Park Additionally actually pretty.”
Plate-a-pasta: “I actually prefer it GiannaWhich is an Italian place proper within the metropolis middle. It’s near the river and the falls could be seen from the pedestrian bridge throughout the highway. I normally order the pasta particular of the day—particularly if it is lasagna.”
Good Artwork: “Artwork Crossing Galleries are an awesome place to take a look at native artwork. My buddy Jared Emerson is a good artist who has studio house there. I’ve a bunch of her.”
This text appeared within the Summer season 2024 problem of Southbound.
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