Best Breakfast and Brunch Places in Columbia

"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."

"Uber Eats users in Columbia seem to love the Breakfast And Brunch delivery from Kaminsky’s Dessert Cafe in Gervais Street Corridor, Indah Coffee in Belleview, Curiosity Coffee Bar in Elmwood, Ray’s Diner in Foxhall, and Eggs Up Grill."

"Historic Columbia is a non-profit organization aiming to protect the city’s extensive cultural and social past, which it does by preserving a number of historical buildings and landmarks around the city. The Historic House Museum is one of these buildings, a site consisting of four different properties, all with fascinating and intriguing backstories. The Woodrow Wilson Family Home here, for example, was once the home of the USA’s 28th president, who lived in the mansion in 1871."

"This elegant Classical Revival townhouse Robert Mills designed in 1823 for Ainsley Hall, a wealthy Columbia merchan, and his wife Sarah, was one of the very few private homes this prominent American architect designed. He was much more famous for his public buildings such as the Washington Monument. The house originally served as a seminary and a bible college until 1961 when it was meticulously restored and opened as a historic house museum."

"The Robert Mills House and Gardens are truly amazing spots for sightseeing, especially if you see lots of fun in architecture and arts. The home building is the creation of the titular Robert Mills, and it’s a townhouse in the style of Classical Revival elegance. It was made in 1823 for a wealthy merchant of Columbia named Ainsley Hall and his wife."

"One Eared Cow Glass is a gallery that presents pieces of art from glass. All models of vases, bowls, paperweights and bottles are hand made by glass sculptors and can be admired by people. The masters use some old techniques that date back thousands of years."

"Dutch collector Wim Roefs came to the US to study journalism, although he had started collecting art while still living in his homeland and after he settled in Columbia, he rekindled his passion and began collecting across South Carolina. One thing led to another, and after a couple of shows that he hosted in his own house, Roefs eventually decided to take the next step and opened his own gallery – If Art Gallery– in 2006. The gallery now represents more than 30 cutting ­edge contemporary artists, who mostly work in the mediums of painting and sculpture."

"The Aristocrat is a stylish gastropub that serves innovative café-style fare and a robust wine list. Inspired by the region’s rich southern heritage, the bistro invites guests to savor the time-honored tradition of wining and dining with a creative menu of New American fare in a casual, relaxed setting. Boasting southern accents, tastes, and flavors, the menu features signature dishes such as Chicken and Waffles, Grilled Green Beans, Baked Ravioli, Firecracker Meatballs, and Bacon Mac ‘N Cheese Bites."

"The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium is a more than noticeable beer bar with a large selection of your favorite drinks. This bar is one of the large chains on the Vista strip with an impressive menu and great seating arrangements."

"A dessert and coffee restaurant, Nonnah’s is an awesome Columbia dessert spot located in the Vista. In addition to ice cream, Nonnah’s has delicious cakes, brownies, and cupcakes, as well as a selection of gluten free desserts. I can sit there for hours lingering over coffee and a brownie à la mode."

"DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE JUST ONE. Seriously, though - picking a favorite cake at Nonnah's is like picking a favorite child. We love the Chocolate Temptation and the Chocolate Chocolate Cake and the Strawberry Amaretto and the Strawberry Dream Cake and....."

"A post shared by Nonnah's (@nonnahs_vista) on Sep 5, 2018 at 5:51am PDT. Nonnah’s is popular in Columbia for its fine desserts. But now, they also serve lunch and dinner."

"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."

"Columbia’s cultural center has matured rapidly in the 20 years since it moved to Main Street. With 22,000 square feet of gallery space, the CMA has a custom-made Chihuly chandelier hanging at its main entrance and has hosted impressive traveling exhibits, including ones by Henri Matisse, Imogen Cunningham, and Salvador Dali. The permanent collection shows a timeline of American and European history from antiquity to modern times."

"Abundant with immaculate paintings and sculptures, a museum date through Columbia Museum of Art is always guaranteed success. Founded in 1950, Columbia Museum of Art is home to internationally renowned art pieces, some of which come from ancient Meditteranean times and showcases early Greek culture. Recently, the museum also opened galleries that feature modern artists such as Andy Warhol and Van Gogh."

"What it commemorates: The first museum dedicated to the Palmetto State's military tradition opened in 1981, thanks to the vision of South Carolina National Guard Col. Hugh McLaurin III. It originally was located in Sumter in a small space. By 2007, the location was moved to Columbia and into a much larger area for displays. A second building was christened June 7, 2014, making this museum the largest land-based, military museum in South Carolina and one of the premier U.S."

"This collection focuses on Civil War artifacts but also exhibits an overview of regional history from colonial years up through the modern era. See military garb, weapons, and portraits and learn about military figures like Robert E. Lee, Francis Marion and Wade Hampton. Books and records allow visitors to look up any ancestors that served in the military."

"Military Museums301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201MoreLess Info. Founded in 1896, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum is the third oldest museum in the state. The collection focuses on the military history of South Carolina with emphasis on the Civil War period."