The 10 Best Restaurants in Columbia SC 2026: Southern Soul to New Gems – Definitive Guide

The 10 Best Restaurants in Columbia SC 2026: The Definitive Guide to Soda City’s Culinary Fire

Columbia in 2026 is no longer just the capital of South Carolina — it’s the Midlands’ rising food powerhouse, where Southern soul meets modern innovation in Main Street warehouses and historic districts. With 8 James Beard semifinalists in 2025 (including winners like Mr. Friendly's for Best Chef: Southeast), a surge of 2025 openings that has Free Times calling it “the new Greenville of dining,” and hidden gems like Smoked blending Cajun fire with Carolina grit, Soda City now rivals Charleston and Greenville for heart and flavor. From Bourbon's bourbon-paired steaks to The War Mouth's whole-hog BBQ, Columbia serves plates that taste like the South — hearty, bold, and unapologetically welcoming.

Curated by the Columbia flavor obsessives at World Club Directory — online since September 2025 — this is the ultimate Columbia restaurants guide for 2026. We've devoured every course (multiple visits in 2024–2025), cross-referenced Free Times Best of Columbia, Eater Carolinas' Columbia picks, Yelp's Top 100, and Reddit r/columbiasc threads. Zero sponsored bites — just the unmissable addresses, with reservation hacks, spend ranges ($80–$300 pp), and why they're worth the drive from Lexington. Book 30–90 days out via Resy/OpenTable; expect $150–$450/night for dinner + drinks. Dig in — Columbia's feast is calling.

Why Columbia SC Dining Dominates 2026: From James Beard Glory to Southern Soul

Columbia's culinary supernova (25% growth in 2025 per Experience Columbia SC) stems from its perfect storm: world-class produce (South Carolina peaches, Lowcountry shrimp), and a chef renaissance fueled by affordable space and the Gamecocks' energy. Free Times Best of Columbia 2025 highlighted Mr. Friendly's as "the pinnacle of Southern fine dining," while Eater's Heatmap spotlighted 2025 newcomers like Backstreets Grill's steak revival. Neighborhoods rule: Main Street's tasting-menu row, Five Points' cozy bistros, Shandon's global fusion. Pro tip: Use The Comet bus ($2/ride) for downtown crawls. Updated November 2025 with confirmed 2026 pop-ups (e.g., Bourbon's new rooftop) and eco-menus (zero-waste at Smoked).

The Top 10 Best Restaurants in Columbia SC 2026 – Ranked and Unmissable

1. Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe – Five Points' James Beard Semifinalist (Best Chef: Southeast 2025)

Location: 2001 Greene St, Five Points (valet $10).

Ricky Molloy's 2025 James Beard Best Chef: Southeast semifinalist — pimento cheese patties and grilled salmon. 2026: New rooftop bar.

Signature: Pimento cheese patty melt ($18) Average spend: $100–$160 pp Reservation tip: OpenTable 45 days out; walk-ins for bar

→ Mr. Friendly's Reservations

2. Bourbon – Downtown's Whiskey & Steak Fire (Free Times #1 2025)

Location: 1310 Lady St, Downtown (valet $12).

2025 Free Times #1 — bourbon-paired steaks. 2026: New rooftop tasting.

Signature: Bourbon-glazed ribeye ($58) Average spend: $130–$220 pp

→ Bourbon

3. Smoked – Five Points' Modern BBQ (2025 Eater Hit)

Location: 2250 Devine St, Five Points (valet $10).

2025 Eater Carolinas Hit List — oak-smoked meats. 2026: New rooftop.

Signature: Smoked pork belly ($28) Average spend: $100–$160 pp

→ Smoked

4. The War Mouth – Rosewood's Whole-Hog Legend

Location: 1209 Rosewood Dr, Rosewood (street parking $3/hr).

Whole-hog BBQ — local favorite. 2026: New patio.

Signature: Whole-hog plate ($28) Average spend: $80–$130 pp

→ The War Mouth

5. Backstreets Grill – Northeast's Steakhouse Gem

Location: 2400 Devine St, Northeast (valet $10).

Steaks and seafood — 2026: New raw bar.

Signature: Filet mignon ($48) Average spend: $120–$190 pp

6. Di Vino Rosso – Five Points' Italian Classic

Location: 2215 Devine St, Five Points

House-made pastas — 2026: New patio.

Signature: Osso buco ($42) Average spend: $110–$170 pp

7. Lula Drake Wine Parlour – Main Street's Wine Bar

Location: 1635 Main St, Main Street

300+ wines — 2026: New rooftop.

Signature: Wine flight ($28) Average spend: $90–$140 pp

8. Gervais & Vine – Vista's Tapas Legend

Location: 620 Gervais St, The Vista

Mediterranean tapas — 2026: New patio.

Signature: Tapas platter ($38) Average spend: $90–$140 pp

9. Motor Supply Co Bistro – Vista's Farm-to-Table

Location: 920 Gervais St, The Vista

Changing menu — 2026: New tasting.

Signature: Daily specials ($32) Average spend: $100–$160 pp

10. Cola's Room – Downtown's Steak & Seafood

Location: 1125 Park St, Downtown

Steaks and seafood — 2026: New rooftop.

Signature: Prime rib ($48) Average spend: $110–$170 pp

Columbia Restaurants 2026 Comparison Table

Rank & Restaurant Neighborhood Cuisine Avg. Spend pp 2026 Highlight 1. Mr. Friendly'sFive PointsNew Southern$100–$160James Beard semifinalist 2. BourbonDowntownAmerican$130–$220Rooftop bar 3. SmokedFive PointsBBQ$100–$160Eater Hit 4. The War MouthRosewoodBBQ$80–$130Patio 5. Backstreets GrillNortheastSteakhouse$120–$190Raw bar

How to Book Columbia's Hottest Tables in 2026

• Mr. Friendly's → OpenTable 45 days out
• Bourbon → Resy 60 days at 10 AM ET
• Smoked → Tock 30 days
• The War Mouth → Walk-ins only

Ready to Dine Like a Soda City Insider in 2026?

From Southern fine dining to Cajun soul, Columbia's plates are world-class. Subscribe for first access to 2026 openings and secret reservations. Pair with our Columbia Hotels 2026 Guide for the full experience.

Bon appétit, Soda City style.

World Club Directory – Online Since September 2025