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Plan your summer with the best dining, activities, and events Greenville has to offer STORY BY MIKE HEMBREE • PHOTOS BY WILL CROOKS
Hot town. Summer in the city. When the folk-rock band The Lovin’ Spoonful released that song (to great acclaim) in 1966, Greenville was a hot town only when measured by thermometer. Downtown was showing decay and would get worse in the 1970s. Decades later, the tune fits across a wider spectrum. Culturally, aesthetically, and commercially, Greenville and its immediate environs are celebrated nationally as one of the best towns of its size in the country. Nationally respected magazines practically demand that people retire here, and the restaurant and craft brewery scene attracts visitors from states away. Finally, it IS a hot town. On the doorsteps of a three-month period when many locals detour to the Carolinas mountains or beaches, Greenville can make claim to its own list of reasons to hang around for summer in the city. That list would start on Main Street, from the venerable Northgate Soda Shop, churning out burgers and floats for seven decades, to the now-vibrant West End, where unique shops, a treasured baseball field, and a once-forgotten river are calling. “With countless annual festivals and events, some of the most accessible natural attractions in the Southeast nearby, and endless boutiques and galleries, not to mention one of the most buzzed-about food scenes in the South, Greenville is the perfect summer ‘staycation’ where there is literally always something going on,” said Taryn Scher, public relations representative for VisitGreenvilleSC.
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food & drinks From hot dogs and pizza to smoked salmon and the finest filet, restaurants on and along Greenville’s downtown offer tastes for every taste.
UP on the Roof
Take in spectacular views of downtown while sipping a refreshing craft cocktail or an artisanal wine. UP on the Roof, located atop the Embassy Suites at RiverPlace, is known their delectable small plates that are perfect for sharing. Try the Kobe beef dog, the Korean tacos or Pig n’ biscuits.
MUST EAT Honey soy fried chicken lettuce wraps with goat cheese-herb ranch
Papi's Tacos
If you’re spending the day at Falls Park or shopping on Main Street, Papi’s Tacos on River Street is the perfect pit stop for lunch. The menu is simple, authentic Mexican street food with plenty of tacos to choose. For something a little different, try a torta, which is a traditional Mexican sandwich.
MUST EAT Fried fish taco (tilapia, guacamole spread, coleslaw, cucumber salad)
Northgate Soda Shop
This Greenville staple since 1947 serves up classics like a pimento cheese sandwich, burgers and Rib Eye sandwiches. Your nostalgic dining experience wouldn’t be complete without a housemade sundae or ice cream float. While you’re there, check out the old photos, soda bottles, and model boats lining the walls.
MUST EAT Pimento
cheeseburger with a side of onion rings