Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Columbia

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chophouse of Chapin

4.7

4.7 (1124)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Chapin

About the restaurant

Chophouse of Chapin is an upscale steakhouse located in Chapin Commons - featuring aged steaks, delicious desserts, a large selection of spirits & an in-house wine sommelier

An in-house Tallow aged steak - a Chef selected ribeye encased in rendered steak trimmings, then aged for 60 days and handcut to perfection. The Chophouse has a full bar with a wide variety of spirits hand selected by our award-winning bar staff. And an on-premise Wine Sommelier that will help pair your menu selection with the best wine from our extensive menu to please your palate.

Top review

steve

Dined 2 days ago

Every time we have been here the service is excellent! Drinks are great and the food is exceptional. Their burger is phenomenal. This is a Chapin Gem!

Coa Agaveria y Cocina

4.7

4.7 (10)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Columbia

About the restaurant

Escape to Coa Agaveria y Cocina, Columbia's upscale Mexican haven. Savor our family recipes, crafted with bold flavors from across Mexico. Indulge in small plates, exquisite tequila and mezcal cocktails, and specialty dishes that tantalize your taste buds. Our cozy ambiance creates the perfect setting for a delightful dining experience. Join us for a culinary journey that transports you to the heart of Mexico.

We accept limited reservations Monday – Saturday

Standard Tables: Parties of 2 to 12 guests
High Top Tables: Parties of 4 to 12 guests
Patio Tables: Parties of 2 to 12 guests

If not available smaller parties are served on a first-come, first served basis, and larger parties over 12 must call for a reservation.

Our private dining room can accommodate up to 24 guests. Please call 803-851-5965 or email privatedining@coaagaveria.com to reserve.

Top review

Mary

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent service, drinks and food but really noisy Even though it wasn't fully packed and we were at the end of the dining area.

Kao Thai Cuisine

4.6

4.6 (451)

$31 to $50

Thai

Columbia

About the restaurant

Our menu offers modern Thai eats that are commonly found on the streets of Bangkok as well as a mix of creative pan-Asian and Asian-American fusion dishes that are fresh and exciting. With a rotating menu of specials, we hope to continuously bring new flavors and dishes to the Main Street District!

Top review

Elena

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Thai Kao is a gem. We love coming here. The food is lovely, the wait staff is attentive and the place have a just the right ambiance for us.

Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (180)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Lexington

About the restaurant

Join us at Cork and Cleaver Steakhouse, where we pride ourselves on our unique offerings and commitment to quality. Our House Dry Aged Steaks are a true labor of love--aged for 30 days in our own Dry Age cooler, hand-cut to perfection, and featuring show-stopping Tomahawks that will leave you speechless. Pair your meal with a selection of over 140 rare bottles and a curated wine list of 60 hand-selected varieties. And for seafood lovers, our menu delights with Crabcakes, Seared Ahi Tuna, and Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

Brunch on weekends features indulgent options like Eggs Benedicts and savory delights like Shrimp and Grits. Wash it down with mimosas for the perfect brunch experience!

During Happy Hour, enjoy half off our wine selection and Buffalo Trace specials. Explore our upgraded spirits collection, including the sought-after Weller collection, for a truly elevated experience.

Join us and savor the flavors that will leave you craving more!

Top review

Robert

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

One of the best places to get a great steak. Also the Japanese chicken appetizers are best!

Tupelo Honey - Columbia

4.6

4.6 (220)

$30 and under

Southern

Columbia

About the restaurant

Tupelo Honey is a revival of Southern food and traditions rooted in the Carolina Mountains we call home. We craft brunches, lunches and suppers that bring family and friends around the table and allow for conversations and cocktails to linger longer than usual. Always scratch-made, always responsibly-soured, and always Southern.

If you do not see your desired party size or time available please see our website for additional reservation availability. https://tupelohoneycafe.com/location/frisco/reservations/

Top review

Doug

Dined 4 days ago

Good overall and I’d go back. The fried green tomatoes were great.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Columbiana Station

4.4

4.4 (250)

$30 and under

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Bernadette

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

We had a large party of 8. Service was excellent and food was too. All orders were correct. We Will be back.

Prohibition - Columbia

4.4

4.4 (183)

$31 to $50

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Prohibition Columbia opened in the spring of 2024 and is brought to you by the same team behind Prohibition Charleston, which opened in 2014, and Repeal 33 in historic Savannah, Georgia. While many of the food and drink items can be found at all three locations, special considerations have been made to tailor a unique experience in each city.

As part of the ever-growing Main Street District, Prohibition brings innovative cocktails, eclectic cuisine, and live music to the heart of Soda City.

Top review

Ron

Dined on Jun 2, 2025

Absolutely delicious from start to finish. Our waitress made great menu suggestions and was very helpful.

Blue Fin - Columbia

4.2

4.2 (689)

$30 and under

Low Country

Columbia

About the restaurant

Blue Fin brings the taste of Charleston to Columbia with a Metropolitan flair. With an upscale casual atmosphere, Blue Fin can accommodate any occasion from the everyday to special nights out.

Top review

John

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Enjoyed the meal- had 2 with catfish, one trout and one shrimp and grits. Great meals for all-enjoyed the sides with each meal. Wished they would have included the side salads with the meal. Room was very warm for two of our guests.

Boku- Columbia

4.2

4.2 (303)

$30 and under

Asian

Columbia

About the restaurant

At Boku Kitchen and Saloon, you can be sure you are receiving only the highest-quality meals with the freshest ingredients possible. We pride ourselves on not serving our customer's pre-made food. We make everything from scratch, including our noodles, salads, crab rangoon, calamari, soups, cocktails, and more! All our food is made-to-order. You won’t be able to find quality like this elsewhere!

We want to make your time at our restaurant as enjoyable as possible. Therefore, at Boku Kitchen and Saloon, you can trust that we will provide you with a made-from-scratch meal paired with the best cocktails, sake, wine, and craft beer you will find in Columbia, SC.

Our team is excited to serve you, your family, and your friends' delicious meals and beverages. See you soon!

Top review

Adriane

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Friendly knowledgeable staff, with good customer service. The food was enjoyable but not portioned for the price.

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Iron Hill Brewery - Columbia, SC

4.2

4.2 (470)

$30 and under

American

Columbia

About the restaurant

Welcome to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, where you'll find fine handcrafted beers, creative yet informal cuisine, and friendly, attentive service in a casual, upscale atmosphere.

Top review

Maria

Dined 2 days ago

The food is fresh and very good. I like the ambiance and the convenience of parking in downtown when meeting Someone for lunch.

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