Best Dinner Places to Eat in Columbia

"Like many communities, visitors will find national food chains featuring subs, pizza, seafood, chicken, pasta, tacos, burgers and donuts. The true “taste” of Cayce-West Columbia, though, can found in our homegrown diners, cafes and restaurants serving country breakfasts, lunch and dinner, plus ethnic cuisine like Greek, Mexican, Chinese and Thai, among others. Always feel comfortable in asking our residents where they dine or if they’ll recommend a local favorite."

"If you’re on Main St on a week night or the weekend, you’re likely to see a huge crowd around Bourbon and for good reason!. This modern restaurant brings a unique scene to downtown with its craft cocktails and urban vibe. Don’t fear the community table either, you’ll probably meet someone new and have a great time."

"Forgot the bartenders name but he made an incredible Old Fashioned and was kind enough to teach us a little bit about all... (803) 403-1404Order online. Superb218 Reviews4.5"

"Set in a century-old building in the heart of the vibrant Five Points neighborhood, Saluda's Restaurant has been one of Columbia’s top dining destinations for more than 20 years. Boasting an antique mahogany bar and white linen tables, Saluda’s serves an innovative, seasonal menu of classic Southern fare with a continental twist. The creative food is accompanied by a curated selection of fine wines from around the world, signature cocktails made with imported spirits, and craft beers on tap and by the bottle."

"Over the last two decades, Saluda’s has become the backbone of Columbia’s culinary scene, serving as a flawless venue for exclusive fine dining. The restaurant is set in the gorgeously renovated Veterans of Foreign Wars Officers’ Club, with the most charming tables situated on the balcony. If places fill up outdoors, the elegant, crystal glass-decorated white-linen tables ensure a more-than-ideal indoor setting for this upscale dining experience."

"Chockablock with independent eateries, bars and boutiques, Five Points is infused with university students, professionals, families and empty nesters alike. Overlooking the lively neighborhood from their balcony, Saluda’s serves up American and Southern staples like filet mignon and shrimp + grits. A post shared by A L I 🌻 (@alisavage_) on Jul 5, 2016 at 8:09pm PDT"

"The restaurant was opened in 2006 by owner and award-winning chef Mike Davis, whose heart and passion for excellence show in everything he does. The venue is a slow-food paradise, receiving seasonal ingredients directly from local farms to ensure freshness and quality. The menu changes daily and follows the local supplies."

"Upscale and stylish, with exposed brick and a warm color palette, Terra has developed a following among local foodies who appreciate the cooking and the..."

"House-churned ice cream (we recommend the Makers Mark) paired with the cookie of the day + those legendary views from the Terra dining room."

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"If you want to learn more about the history, culture and nature of the state, no visit to town can ever be complete without stopping by the superb South Carolina State Museum. Set on the banks of the Congaree River, it has a huge array of interesting artifacts and interactive exhibits for you to peruse. First opened in 1894, it is now the largest museum in the state with its galleries containing around 70,000 objects in total."

"The South Carolina State Museum, located in Columbia is the largest museum in the Southeastern United States. Positioned on an old shipping canal on the Congaree River that dates back to pre-Civil War times, the museum is widely recognized as a resource for South Carolina history and lifestyle. The museum opened October 29, 1988 and is housed in what it calls its largest artifact, the former Columbia Mills Building."

"South Carolina State Museum is known for being the state’s largest history museum, containing four exhibitions and over 70,000 artifacts, this museum goes over a ton of the state’s history. This is a great museum to take the kids for them to have fun, learn and explore. This museum is the perfect museum to explore some history of the state with the whole family."

"South Carolina's historical records dating back to 1671 can be viewed in these extensive archives. A changing but always fascinating schedule of exhibits delves deeper into the state's rich past. Read more about South Carolina Department of Archives and History →"

"The largest and most active initial training center in the U.S. Army, reading 50% of its troops for service, Fort Jackson is a major player in midlands culture. The Fort house 3 public museums: The Basic Combat Training Museum, The Army Chaplain School and Museum, and the Adjutant General Corp and Finance Corp Museums."

"The United States Army-Fort Jackson museum focuses on the 200 years of South Carolina's military history. With more than 4,000 historic items, including weapons, uniforms and even vehicles, this is a fascinating glimpse at military life and development. Andrew Jackson – the fort's namesake – is featured prominently."

"The U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum is located at Fort Jackson, SC, and has been open since 1974. The museum provides an opportunity to learn about the evolution of basic combat training and gives an insight into the U.S. Army training procedures."

"The Woodrow Wilson Family Home is where the 28th president of the United States lived as a young boy.|© Historic Columbia Foundation. The only presidential landmark in South Carolina, the boyhood home of President Woodrow Wilson now houses the only museum in the country dedicated to the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. Wilson lived with his parents in this house as a teenager in the 1870s."

"If you’re looking for a more unique local museum, you need to check out the Woodrow Wilson Family Home Museum. The Woodrow Wilson Family Home is the United States’ 28th president’s childhood home built by Wilson’s parents. This museum features the history of the post-Civil War Reconstruction and is the nation’s only museum to dedicate to having this."

"The Woodrow Wilson Family Home is South Carolina’s only presidential site. It was the home in which Woodrow Wilson, America’s 28th president, spent much of his boyhood years. The home is a manse built in the style of an Italianate villa, standing out well from the backdrop of Columbia."

"One of the most visited tourist attractions in the state, the South Carolina Statehouse is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture that was in style during the pre-Civil War period in the South (construction started in 1851, but wasn't completed until after the war). The highly-regarded design work of John Niernsee, the capital towers 180 feet high with a patinaed copper dome. Visitors exploring the vast capitol grounds get a sense for the complex state history here, viewing the Revolutionary War Generals Monument, American-Mexican War Monument, the African-American History Monument, the Confederate Monument, and other statuary honoring George Washington, S.C. Senators, and fallen State Law Enforcement Officers."

"Back in the center of town is another of Columbia’s standout symbols and sights – the stunning South Carolina State House. Home to the state’s seat of government, it exhibits some absolutely exquisite Classical Revival-style architecture with lush grounds lying all around it. Built in 1855, the important and impressive building showcases a fantastic facade with a distinctive copper dome resting atop of its humongous portico."

"History and architecture lovers will enjoy a visit to the South Carolina State House, a refined 19th-century building established in 1851, and a structure that took over half a century to construct. Today it houses the state government of South Carolina, and until 1971 it was home to the Supreme Court of the USA. Originally designed by architect P."

"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."

"Arguably the most photogenic dessert in town, the Champagne Cake at Momma Rabbit's in Lexington is legendary. Generous portions and Instagram worthy, to boot. View this post on Instagram"