Real Local: Amy Beth Franks

From restaurants to arts to sports, Amy Beth Franks knows and loves Columbia SC.

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As the owner of this truly delightful café and shop, there may be some bias in this recommendation, but anyone who has dined here can vouch for The Gourmet Shop. Settle into a booth and enjoy soups and sandwiches for lunch or grab a spot outside for prime people watching alongside a mimosa kit. After you've had your fill, peruse the extensive wine selection and kitchen wares.

Insider Tip: The Rhubarb Raspberry Preserves are good on pretty much everything, and you can take a jar home for a delicious souvenir.

Hey there! I'm Amy Beth Franks and I own The Gourmet Shop down in Five Points. It's a great spot to start the day, but there's so much more to see around Columbia.

Cheering on the Gamecock baseball team at Founders Park is one of the great joys of springtime in Columbia. With local food trucks and an energetic crowd, visitors and locals alike are sure to enjoy.

Elevate the whole dinner and a movie date night by catching a show at The Nick, South Carolina’s only independent art cinema. Located right on Main Street, just steps away from many welcoming bars and restaurants, you can catch big name shows and smaller indie films.

Speaking of Main Street restaurants, Hendrix shouldn’t be missed. Start with a Hendrix Spritz on the rooftop, where you’ll enjoy the Main Street views before securing a table downstairs, where chef Frank Bradley cooks up South Carolina grown food - the way only a born and raised local knows how.

Grab your travel crew and start building your perfect Columbia SC itinerary. From your first sip of coffee to crashing into your pillow at the end of a full day, a trip to the heart of SC is one you'll want to make again and again.