Columbia has three primary downtown districts: Downtown (i.e., Main Street), the Vista and Five Points. Each area has its own distinct feel.
Downtown is where you’ll find the State House, City Hall and lots of bankers and lawyers — but also a burgeoning culinary scene and arts culture, downtown living options and nearby historic homes. In the Vista, you’ll find dozens of restaurants, retail spots and galleries, along with Trustus Theatre, rock clubs and more. In Five Points, there’s a college-village vibe, with coffee shops, vintage clothing spots and a hip record store, but also upscale clothing boutiques and a sidewalk café.
Beyond these three districts, you’ll find Lexington, Lake Murray, Harbison/Irmo and the Northeast, among other areas, each with its own distinct characteristics. From shopping and dining to sightseeing and recreation, the city’s districts have a lot to offer.
Coming soon: an entirely new residential, retail and entertainment hub at Bull Street Common, a 180-acre site downtown that will also be home to the Columbia Fireflies, a minor league baseball team that begins to play in a brand new stadium this spring.
1. Downtown - Main Street is the historic heart of downtown Columbia and the traditional stomping ground of the city’s power elite. These days, it’s also home to new restaurants, the weekly Soda City Market, the Nickelodeon Theatre, Mast General Store, residential options and the annual city-sponsored Famously Hot New Year party. Plus, the Columbia Museum of Art — which moved downtown in 1998 — has a steady stream of excellent exhibitions and events. As the street develops, property is becoming harder to come by: 2015 saw both rents and occupancy rates increasing. Bottom line: There’s a lot of action on Main Street these days.
2. The Vista - Once marked by textile mills and rail lines, the area between the State House and the Congaree River is now a premier dining, shopping, nightlife and cultural district. It is home to the city’s leading progressive theater company (Trustus Theatre); stylish clothing retailer Urban Outfitters; several hotels; and some of the city’s key clubs and bars, including the Music Farm. Just beyond the Vista’s core are several of the city’s primary attractions: the S.C. State Museum, Colonial Life Arena and EdVenture Children’s Museum. The area also has an increasing number of residential options and hosts popular annual events including the holiday-kickoff Vista Lights each November and the arts showcase Artista Vista each spring.
3. Five Points / Devine Street / Shandon - From its genesis in 1915, Five Points has grown into an eclectic district brimming with the energy generated by a steady stream of visitors from the nearby University of South Carolina and surrounding neighborhoods. In the daytime, college students, shoppers and professionals occupy the area’s mix of coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants. At night, the area’s bars and clubs get busy. Five Points is also close to the tree-lined streets and bungalows of Shandon, whose residents help support the area’s many boutiques. Of particular note on Devine Street: Craft & Draft, a craft beer retailer with a small bar; Pout, a key destination for luxury beauty products and skin services; and Bohemian Home, which features stylish contemporary home furnishings.
4. Lexington - Situated just west of the City of Columbia, Lexington County has transformed over the past few decades from a rural area dotted with small communities into a region bustling with growth. Though it retains small-town values compared to its more cosmopolitan neighbor, the area has a growing number of dining and retail options, including a charming shopping district in the Town of Lexington. Plus, the basics here are solid — with good schools, reasonably priced housing and a strong economy that all keep residents coming. Lexington County also boasts excellent sports facilities, including the Cayce Fitness and Tennis Center, and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, which makes the area a gateway to the whole Columbia region.
5. Lake Murray - Anyone who lives on Lake Murray, sometimes called the Jewel of South Carolina, will tell you it’s more than just a lake: It’s a state of mind, a haven away from the city offering its own bucolic worldview. The Lake Murray area consists of parts of Lexington, Chapin, Newberry and Saluda. With roughly 500 miles of shoreline, Lake Murray is South Carolina’s largest man-made lake and offers seasonal recreation, a huge July 4 fireworks display, major fishing tournaments, and camping and picnic sites at Dreher Island State Park. Public access is limited, though, so it helps to own a boat or befriend someone who has one.
6. Harbison / Irmo / Dutch Fork - The Columbiana Centre shopping mall and big-name retailers like Target, Nordstrom Rack and hhgregg make this area a regular stop for residents from all areas of town. Along with extensive shopping options, there are also a couple of amenities you might not expect in a generally suburban area: Saluda Shoals Park, the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College and the Harbison State Forest, which offers more than 16 miles of roads and trails weaving through a pine and hardwood forest.
7. Northeast / Clemson Road / Blythewood - Once a rural area — and a bombing range for Fort Jackson — the Northeast is an expansive region of reasonably priced homes, good schools, national retailers and restaurants extending out to the Town of Blythewood, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the state. Home to the 1,419-acre Sesquicentennial State Park, the popular planned community Lake Carolina and the Village at Sandhill retail complex, the Northeast also boasts some major employers, including Providence Northeast. Also sports unique local restaurants such as Solstice Kitchen and Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, the popular Sandhill Farmers Market and the annual Sparkleberry Country Fair.
8. Fort Jackson - Where do half of the Army’s soldiers do their basic training? At Fort Jackson, that’s where. Fort Jackson is huge, encompassing more than 52,000 acres, 1,160 buildings and employing about 3,500 active-duty soldiers and an equal number of civilians. Opened in 1917, about 36,000 soldiers come through for basic training each year and 8,000 more come for advanced training. The fort is also home to several museums and a water park, plus it hosts an annual fireworks display. Be aware, though, that base access is limited for civilians — so make sure to call ahead for details.
9. Rosewood - Anchored by two excellent elementary schools and a Publix grocery store, Rosewood is a great place for young professionals and families who want to be downtown but don’t want to pay Shandon-sized prices. Home to the urban farm City Roots, the area has become a focal point for food events, including themed dinners and the annual Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival. Rosewood also hosts the super-popular Rosewood Crawfish Festival each spring and has a slowly burgeoning restaurant scene, including The Kraken Gastropub and the small but popular Cock ‘n’ Bull Pub. Other draws: Gamecock football at Williams-Brice Stadium, and soccer fields, a skate park and disc golf at Owens Field.
10. Olympia - With the Olympia & Granby Mills, the Lofts at USC and Aspyre providing residential anchors — and the beautiful, historic 701 Whaley hosting events and contemporary art — Olympia’s cachet is on the rise. Add in riverfront development, Carolina Stadium and a university tech incubator coming in, and you’ve got an area on the move.
11. Forest Acres - Nestled on the eastern edge of the City of Columbia, Forest Acres is home to major national retailers and grocery stores including J. Crew, Anthropologie, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and more. Housing options abound in the tree-filled neighborhoods of this city within a city (yes, it has its own mayor and city council), which is close to downtown and to Fort Jackson. Morning people also know the area for its breakfast food at The Original Pancake House.
12. North Columbia - There’s a longstanding psychological divide in Columbia that’s located at Elmwood Avenue; downtown types tend to think there’s nothing going on north of this divide. They’re wrong, though: Neighborhoods like Elmwood Park, Cottontown, Eau Claire (which was its own town until 1955), Earlewood and Keenan Terrace have made this an up-and-coming part of town, with more young people moving in all the time and a slowly growing base of businesses — including Lamb’s Bread Café, Vino Garage and The War Mouth — to support their presence. And with minor league baseball coming to the Bull Street Common development this spring, the south end of North Columbia could get a big boost.
13. State Street / West Columbia / Cayce - Just across the Gervais Street bridge sits an eclectic mix of restaurants, nightspots, galleries and gift shops — among them Terra, @116 and Café Strudel on State Street and, just a few minutes away in Triangle City, the incredible True BBQ. Gallery West is a high-quality art and gift spot on State Street, and Frame of Mind sells eyewear — but also hosts frequent art events. Of particular note to music fans: the long-running rock club New Brookland Tavern and Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin Parlor, the home of local bluegrass. Neighborhoods along the Avenues and Sunset Boulevard are popular with city-minded people who don’t want to pay downtown prices.
14. St. Andrews / Broad and Bush River Roads - Don’t let the gritty sprawl fool you: If you look closely, there are hidden gems in this area — especially if you like ethnic foods. Among the treats: Zorba's Greek Restaurant, 2Gingers, Delhi Palace (Indian); and Inakaya (sushi and Japanese). It’s not all food, either: Manifest Discs, Firefly Toys & Games and Sims Music also call this area home.
15. USC / South Main - The University of South Carolina campus dominates the landscape south of the State House, and many of the businesses on nearby streets cater to a university crowd. Whether it’s coffee, bagels, Mediterranean food, locally brewed beer or frozen yogurt, students in this area can do a lot of things without need of a car. But there’s plenty of room for their professors too, as well as legislators, state government workers and business people — just check out Thirsty Fellow, Immaculate Consumption or California Dreaming at lunchtime. If you like the area enough, set your sights on an apartment at 650 Lincoln or a luxury condo at Adesso.
* Information courtesy of Free Times
