10 Best Breweries and Beer Places in Columbia

"More than just a place for great beer, River Rat is also one of our go-to spots for wings. The brewery is putting the finishing touches on a rooftop bar + lounge that is sure to impress. Take in the skyline and Williams-Brice Stadium from your perch."

"More than just great beer in a brewery, you won’t find a food truck or small bites at our facility, we are a full-scale American Restaurant with some of the best grub in town..."

"Enjoy a local craft brew and the sight of Williams Brice Stadium beckoning in the distance from River Rat Brewery."

"Savor every moment of your morning with ooey-gooey bacon and brie croissants, fluffy Belgian waffles covered in pools of butter and all the bubbles your heart desires at The Gourmet Shop in Five Points. One of the most beloved brunch spots in Columbia, the Gourmet Shop doubles as a specialty foods market—where you can buy freshly baked bread, locally sourced preserves and honey + to-go containers of the shop’s famous chicken salad and pimento cheese. Artisan cheeses, fine wines, quality confections and professional cookware line the market shelves, so you can get some shopping done while you anticipate your mimosa kit."

"This place has it all.Wine shop, cafe, cooking store, and (my favorite) amazing purveyor of fine cheeses. Dennis and Linda Hiltner owned and operated this gem in the heart of Five Points for 40 years – until selling to current owner Amy Beth Franks in 2019. And you can’t call yourself a Soda Citizen unless you’ve at least tried their famous chicken salad."

"The Gourmet Shop in Columbia’s Five Points District is #BrunchGoals, #AestheticGoals—all the goals, really. The food is simple, yet elegant. The atmosphere is relaxed, yet welcoming."

"Sink your teeth into fried cauliflower, pub pretzels, 11 different types of wings, or five types of fries to get things started at Twisted Spur Brewing, where owner and Columbia native Chris Baldwin combines his love of home with all he learned while living on the West Coast. An elevated menu brings an air of elegance to the pub, with features like confit duck leg and mussels."

"This is a true local gem owned by a Cola native and USC grad. With it being a brewery as well, we skipped the mimosas and tried a few beers with brunch. The SC shaped beer flight was a nice surprise and only $8!"

"Columbia Craft Brewing Company offers award-winning brews like the Carolinian, an American-style blonde ale that won a Gold medal at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival, plus options for those who are open to edgier flavors, like Alien Hat, a watermelon sour ale. If you’ve got kids with you, they will appreciate the games here."

"With a name that exudes intrigue and a menu to match, this socially-conscious shop welcomes all and often has a running Community Card tab that’s funded by generous patrons for those who are struggling and need something to eat or drink. Come sip on superfood lattes, signature drinks like a Rose Coffee Tonic or Campfire Cold Brew, and add CBD to your beverage if you don’t want to get too wired. Top your coffee off with their featured “Whip of the Week,” with past flavors including Chocolate Hazelnut, Orange Cardamom and Maple Cinnamon, among others."

"Curiosity Coffee offers coffee all morning and afternoon, and treats from a variety of local bakeries.|© Curiosity Coffee. The Curiosity begins with its location, tucked into a craft beer and wine shop on North Main Street. Open daily, they offer hot beverages, specially-made cold brews, and pastries brought in from local bakeries to encourage people to hang out all day."

"The Hangar, located in the actual Curtiss-Wright Hangar, is an offshoot of Columbia’s original brewery, Hunter-Gatherer. House-brewed beers are the perfect complement to their elevated pub menu. Weekend brunches chase away the blues — the huevos rancheros breakfast pizza is a favorite."

"You can definitely tell you are getting ripped off with take out. The portion sizes are embarrassing, especially for the prices. Imagine your average tak..."

"Originally opened in 1859 as Sidney Park, this historic site experienced a rebirth in the early 1990s when it was given a complete overhaul and re-dubbed Finlay Park. The Vista district's green space features playgrounds, a lake, waterfalls, a fountain and playing fields, plus plenty of paved pathways for strolling and grassy areas for picnicking. The city hosts the free Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series here each year."

"This beautiful 18-acre city park has one of the most photographed views of downtown Columbia. Located in the Vista entertainment district, the park sits just a few blocks from the Capitol and across from the Governor's Mansion. From its highest point above the fountain you can see the skyline rising over the park's lush green landscape and signature lake."

"At the heart of Columbia, South Carolina sits Finlay Park, a huge verdant expanse that hosts most of the city's fairs, festivals and other large-scale outdoor gatherings. The park is open every day between sunrise and sunset, and many events held there last long into the night."

"Expansive and historic, Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park is so vast that you can spend an entire day and barely scratch the surface of this popular Columbia spot. Originally the city of Columbia’s waterworks, this 167-acre park contains popular and scenic jogging and walking trails that sport beautiful views of the river. Visitors can also explore the old parts of the now-defunct water plan."

"Tunnelvision was created by Blue Sky, an artist from South Carolina who is also responsible for a number of other famous modern artworks in Columbia; you’ll read about some of them in a little while!. He was inspired to create it based on a dream, and the result is a whimsical, almost otherworldly sort of masterpiece that looks like a portal to a different world. Located in downtown Columbia in an unassuming parking lot, Tunnelvision is painted across a large wall measuring 50 by 75 feet."

"Although it is located in a car park, the mind-boggling Tunnel Vision Mural is certainly well worth visiting if you are in the area. Painted on the side of a large blank wall, the arresting artwork and its amazing optical illusion make for some fantastic photos and lies just a short walk from downtown. Painted over the course of 1974 and 1975 by Blue Sky, arguably the city’s most famous artist, it depicts a road and tunnel leading to a glowing sun off in the distance."