Learn about South Carolina’s culinary scene from the people who know it best. Take a tour through some of the Palmetto State’s top restaurants and kitchens in the Upcountry. The South Carolina Chef Ambassador program seeks chefs who embody the best of South Carolina’s food scene.
We’ve created an Upcountry Chef Ambassadors Trail to experience and explore the chefs and restaurants that have been awarded in our area since 2015. Here’s a travel itinerary featuring great food and attractions as you visit the eight restaurants and chefs from our region.
DAY 1
Morning: Let’s explore downtown Greer, SC, the home of our 2024 SC Chef Ambassador. Join us for coffee and something to break the fast at Flying Fox Coffee or Barista Alley Cafe & Roastery. This area of downtown Greer is perfect for shopping at local stores, then walking down the street to enjoy Greer City Park. If shopping isn’t your style, drive to hit up a round of golf at nearby Greer Golf, a great public course where we’ll head for lunch.
Lunch: Welcome to White Wine & Butter (located inside the Greer Golf Country Club), headed by 2024 Chef Ambassador Chef Michael Sibert. New Orleans cuisine meets southern comfort food at this higher-end, country club restaurant (open to the public year-round). Chef Michael has won numerous awards, from being a Chopped Champion to making USA Today’s “2026 Best Restaurants of the Year” list. People rave about the sweet-tea-brined fried chicken and deviled eggs, among other creative dishes.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon with an alpaca wine experience at The Red Horse Inn in Landrum, SC, one of the most picturesque accommodation spots in the Upcountry. Enjoy wine tastings and getting up close to the alpacas that live onsite at the inn.
Dinner: For an amazing evening, we’re heading 15 minutes away from The Red Horse Inn to check out House 509 Bistro & Wine Bar with 2026 Chef Ambassador Guichard Ulysse. Their claim to fame is fusion-style appetizers and entrée flights, paired with specially chosen wines from around the world. Allergen-friendly folks will appreciate the menus here, with designations for gluten-free and dairy-free options.
Stay: The Red Horse Inn is a great spot to stay for the weekend, with frequent live music events at their wine bar overlooking the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s adults only for their stays and events, so it’s a relaxing getaway without the kids!
DAY 2
Morning: Wake up to drinking coffee under the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, soaking in the views at The Red Horse Inn. We’ll be heading to Greenville today for more culinary adventures.
Lunch: We’re spending lunch and the afternoon at Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery, featuring 2025 Chef Ambassador Jeanne Koenigsberg. This hyper-local grocery store and cafe combo is known for its stecca bread (Italian for “stick” bread, similar in length and crustiness to a baguette). Don’t miss fueling up on their sandwiches, soups, salads, allergen-friendly baked goods, and more!
Afternoon: For visitors with active lifestyles, consider renting bikes to explore the nearby Swamp Rabbit Trail. For great views with slightly less activity, visit Falls Park in downtown Greenville and window-shop at some of the great local merchants in the area.
Evening/Stay: We’re heading back to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to stay at Hotel Domestique and enjoy the pool and views. Dinner is right down the hall at the not-to-miss Restaurant 17, headed by 2022’s SC Chef Ambassador Chef Hayden Shaak. This seasonal menu rotates throughout the year to reflect the best of SC produce and partnerships with local farms and purveyors.
DAY 3
Morning: This morning, let’s take a drive into downtown Greenville, with coffee and desserts from our next SC Chef Ambassador from 2016, Chef Teryi Youngblood of M. Judson Cafe and Camilla Kitchen. She focuses on lunch, baked goods, and elevated, heartfelt food.
Lunch: We won’t have to leave downtown for some fabulous lunch spots after exploring the area! Don’t miss the lunch menu at Hall’s Chophouse, or amazing drinks paired with French favorites at Passerelle Bistro while overlooking Reedy River Falls.
Afternoon: Save room for dessert as we check out the sweets from our 2019 SC Chef Ambassador, Chef Tania Harris. We’ll stop at local Carmella’s to sample the famous chocolate fudge cake, butterscotch budíno (Italian pudding), and raspberry cheesecake, which she bakes up fresh on their menu. Chef Harris also owns her own catering business, Azucar Skull, which offers both sweet and savory items, food events, and customized orders. She also teaches “Cake Decorating” and “Plated Desserts” at the SC Culinary School for the Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate in Applied Science.
Evening: We’ll head back to Spartanburg for a Chef Cribb special at The Kennedy, right outside of downtown. This menu is French fusion, with hits like Steak Frites, locally sourced Pimento Hoop Cheese, short rib ragu, and more!
Stay: Check into The Clevedale Historic Inn & Gardens for our nightly accommodations and drinks in the garden. Pontheolla and Paul, a retired radio newscaster and an Episcopal priest, run this wildly popular inn, which was once a thriving 440-acre farm. It boasts lush English gardens and Southern-inspired breakfast fare, with no shortage of relaxing views, activities, or hospitality.
DAY 4
Morning: Spartanburg is known for its fantastic, locally owned breakfast places, and it’s the perfect way to start our trip. Want an old-school, diner breakfast? Check out The Skillet, serving Spartanburg for over 79 years! If it’s crepes or pancakes you want, look no further than Mon Amie Cafe.
Lunch: Let’s head to lunch with our local 2018 SC Chef Ambassador on this trip, Chef McClure from Southside Smokehouse in nearby Landrum, SC. She’s carrying on the legacy of the restaurant her parents started. Southside Smokehouse specializes in Southern-American comfort food with a twist, from North Carolina-style barbecue to Cajun and Creole dishes. As a SC Certified “Fresh on the Menu” restaurant, don’t miss their locally sourced seasonal sides and weekly rotating specials.
Afternoon: Landrum boasts a bevy of antique stores and locally owned shops. Founded in 1880, it is nestled against the backdrop of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. Park the car and stroll the flower-lined streets as you shop for new treasures.
Dinner: For dinner, fusion food is on the menu as we head to Cribbs Kitchen with the 2017 SC Chef Ambassador Chef William Cribb in downtown Spartanburg, SC. Don’t miss the smoked wings, creative sandwich and burger options, and extensive dessert menu featuring local fruits and produce.
Stay: Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park. This 247-room, full-service hotel is within walking distance of entertainment, quaint shops, colleges, and historic walking tours.
Don’t forget to tag #UpcountrySC on your visit to the eight SC Chef Ambassadors’ restaurants from our region, along with your other adventures of shopping and sightseeing.
By: Jessica Charles-Ulysse and Sarah (Moore) Gross, Contributing Author
