By Downtown Greensboro packs a surprising amount of culinary range into a few walkable blocks of South Elm Street and the surrounding cross streets. You can eat farm-to-table Southern food off a white tablecloth, chase it with house-brewed lager at a brewpub, then grab a craft taco the next afternoon, all within a short stroll. Whether you are visiting for First Friday and a show at the Carolina Theatre or you live here and want a reliable Saturday-night plan, this guide rounds up the best restaurants in the heart of the city.
Fine Dining and Special Occasions
When downtown Greensboro wants to dress up, these are the rooms it heads to. All three lean on local farms and seasonal menus, so the dishes below are illustrative rather than fixed.
Undercurrent Restaurant
Open since 1998, Undercurrent is the elder statesman of elegant dining downtown. The menu is locally sourced New American, served in a refined but unstuffy white-tablecloth setting, and the kitchen is just as confident at a Tuesday lunch as it is on a Saturday night. The Sunday brunch is a longtime local favorite.
- Address: 327 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 370-1266
- Hours: Lunch Tuesday to Friday 11:30am to 2pm; dinner Tuesday to Thursday 5pm to 9pm and Friday to Saturday 5pm to 9:30pm; Sunday brunch 10:30am to 1:30pm; closed Monday
- Good to know: Reservations are not required but are strongly recommended, especially on weekends. Visit undercurrentrestaurant.com.
‘cille and ‘scoe
Pronounced “Sill and Sco,” this South Elm Street spot serves elevated Southern food inspired by the owner’s grandparents and their farming roots. Think killer comfort food that arrives looking modern and a little fancy, in a natural, upscale room. It is one of the better date-night picks downtown, and the weekend brunch draws a steady crowd.
- Address: 312 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 522-6592
- Hours: Dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm; brunch Friday and Saturday 11am to 2pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm
- Good to know: Reservations are smart for dinner and brunch. Details at cilleandscoe.com.
Machete
Just off the main drag near Undercurrent, Machete is the place for adventurous eaters. The seasonal small-plates menu blends Southern ingredients with global flavors and changes often, so it rewards repeat visits. The cocktail program is strong, vegetarians are well looked after, and the vibe is upscale but relaxed. It is built for sharing, so come with a group and order widely.
- Address: 600 C Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 265-8859
- Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5pm to 9pm; Friday and Saturday 5pm to 10pm; closed Sunday and Monday
- Good to know: A reservation is wise on weekends. See machetegso.com.
Southern, Cajun and Creole Favorites
Blue Denim
This tiny, exposed-brick room on South Elm punches far above its size. Blue Denim is a family-owned restaurant putting a chef-driven spin on Southern, Cajun and Creole cooking, with gumbo, crawfish etouffee and cornmeal-breaded fried catfish among the perennial favorites. The intimate scale and short hours mean it fills up fast, so plan ahead.
- Address: 217 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 676-5689
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 5:30pm to 9pm, with last seating around 8:30pm
- Good to know: The dining room is small, so reservations are highly recommended. More at bluedenimgso.com.
Brewpubs and Craft Beer with Real Food
Natty Greene’s Pub and Brewing Co.
A downtown institution since the mid-2000s, Natty Greene’s is the default gathering spot on South Elm: a rotating lineup of house-brewed craft beers paired with a crowd-pleasing pub menu. It works equally well for a quick business lunch, a game on the TVs, or the start of a night out. The patio is a prime spot to people-watch on a warm evening.
- Address: 345 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 274-1373
- Hours: Generally Monday to Wednesday 11am to 11pm, Thursday to Saturday 11am to midnight, and Sunday 11am to 10pm; confirm before a late visit
- Good to know: Walk-in friendly. Check nattygreenes.com for current hours and the beer list.
Lewis and Elm
Down in the Southend stretch of South Elm, Lewis and Elm is a wine, cheese and beer bar with European-inspired small plates. It is less a full dinner and more a graze-and-sip evening: inspired cheese boards, seasonal salads and shareable bites with flavor combinations usually reserved for fine dining. It is a relaxed, grown-up spot for a glass of wine before or after a meal nearby.
- Address: 600 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27406
- Hours: Tuesday 4pm to 9pm; Wednesday and Thursday 4pm to 10pm; Friday 4pm to 11pm; Saturday noon to 11pm; Sunday 3pm to 8pm
- Good to know: Best for cheese, wine and light fare rather than a big entree. Details at lewisandelm.com.
Casual and Quick
Crafted – The Art of the Taco
For an easy, affordable lunch or a low-key dinner, Crafted turns out made-to-order tacos from ingredients prepped fresh daily, with plenty of vegetarian options. It is a downtown staple for groups with mixed tastes and budgets, and it stays busy from midday straight through the evening.
- Address: 219-A South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
- Phone: (336) 273-0030
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30am, closing around 9pm (later on Friday and Saturday); closed Monday
- Good to know: Walk-in friendly and great for casual outings. Menus at eatatcrafted.com.
How to Build a Downtown Food Crawl
The best thing about eating downtown is that almost everything sits within a few blocks of South Elm Street, so you can park once and walk. A simple plan: start with cocktails and small plates, move to a sit-down dinner, then finish with dessert or a nightcap. Because several of the standout rooms (Blue Denim and ‘cille and ‘scoe in particular) are small and keep limited hours, book ahead whenever you can.
- Time your visit: Many of the best kitchens are closed Sunday and Monday, so weekends fill quickly. Tuesday through Thursday is the sweet spot for walking in.
- Pair it with an event: First Friday and shows at the nearby Carolina Theatre and Tanger Center mean restaurants book up early on those nights.
- Explore further: The downtown business district maintains a full, current directory of restaurants, breweries and bars at Downtown Greensboro Dining and Drinks, and the visitor bureau highlights more options at Visit Greensboro.
Where to Stay Downtown
If you are making a weekend of it, staying downtown means you can leave the car parked and walk to dinner. Look for Expedia-bookable options in or near the central business district, including the O. Henry Hotel and the boutique Proximity Hotel (both a short drive from Elm Street and consistently among the area’s top-rated stays), or full-service downtown hotels close to the Tanger Center and the Greensboro Coliseum complex. For the latest rates, dates and availability, compare downtown Greensboro hotels and inns on Expedia and book the one that puts you closest to the restaurants on your list.
Planning tip: Hours at independent restaurants change with the seasons and holidays, so call ahead or check the restaurant’s own site before you go, and reserve as early as you can for any Friday or Saturday dinner.