Your votes are in. Congratulations to our COLAtoday’s Best winners, who rose to the top as your favorite places to work, live, play, and eat:
Best brewery + distillery: Savage Craft Ale Works | A specialty beer menu, delicious chicken sandwiches, and outside, kid-friendly tables make this a No. 1 brewery in Soda City.
Best fine dining: Saluda’s Restaurant | You’ll find everything that’s elegant at Saluda’s, from the white linen tablecloths to the lobster mac and cheese.
Best brunch: Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar | This brunch favorite serves up classic Southern dishes with friendly service in a warm atmosphere.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar was your No. 1 pick for brunch.
Photo by COLAtoday team
Best dentist: 32 Dental | Your smile is in good hands at this dedicated dental practice offering cleanings, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontic treatment.
Best bookstore: All Good Books | Grab your new favorite paperback, sip on coffee and wine, or attend a community literary event at this iconic local destination.
Best music venue: Township Auditorium | The shows began in 1930, and they haven’t stopped dazzling the community since.
Township Auditorium is your No. 1 pick in local music venues.
Photo by COLAtoday team
Best spa + salon: Rest & Replenish Bodywork | This local spa’s massages go the extra mile, providing an unforgettable, comprehensive healing experience.
The 2026 Winter Olympics begin in just 60 days. Soon, athletes from across the globe will head to the picturesque slopes of Northern Italy to compete for the highest accolades in Alpine athletics. Here in the Midlands, a visit to these ski spots will help get you in the spirit of the Games.
Mansion Monday
This Lake Murray home checks all the boxes: 7 bedrooms, a billiards-ready basement, and a saltwater pool for peak summer. There’s even a hot tub and a rebuilt dock for when guests cruise in on the lake.
Ranked
Craving a slice of ‘za? Chowhound just named its top hole-in-the-wall pizza spot in SC, and a pizzeria in Charleston claimed the title. We think they’re sleeping on Columbia’s pizza scene — peruse our pizza guide to find your new favorite slice.
Trending
Meet the latest holiday trend taking over the internet: “Tacky Christmas.” The look leans into nostalgic kitsch — think rainbow lights, sparkly tinsel, and mismatched ornaments. Want to join in? Columbia’s thrift shops are a great place to start. (House Beautiful)
Travel
$45. That’s the fee you’ll owe at TSA checkpoints starting in February if you show up without a REAL ID and still want to fly. Save yourself the cash (and the hassle) by securing your REAL ID in Columbia ahead of travel time.
Watch
“The Pitt,” “Severance,” and “Pluribus” are among Time Magazine’s top 10 TV shows of 2025. With the cost of streaming services going up and up, we’re planning to watch them on the couch this winter with a local lunch deal in hand.
Number
27,400+. That’s how many active job listings you can find on our Job Board. Explore openings in manufacturing, sales, marketing, and beyond. Roles for all experience levels are hiring now. Find a new gig for 2026.
Number
$0. That’s how much 94% of patients pay to see a licensed dietitian with Nourish. Find a dietitian covered by insurance and build a personalized nutrition plan — a structured, supportive way to map out your 2026 wellness goals now.*
Editor’s Pick
The CMA is bringing out the fine China for the 75th anniversary celebration. | Photo provided by Columbia Museum of Art
Marking its 75th anniversary, the Columbia Museum of Art is celebrating with a major gift: nearly 200 pieces of New Hall porcelain from board trustee Joseph Bruce. The donation forms the largest museum collection of New Hall in the US and will anchor a new British gallery opening in January.
New Hall, founded in 1781, pioneered a new type of porcelain that was whiter, stronger, and more translucent than anything made in England at the time.
“This extraordinary gift transforms how we can present the story of British decorative arts,” says CMA Senior Curator Michael Neumeister.
Bruce, who spent more than 40 years assembling the collection, hopes it “sparks curiosity and inspires scholarship” in its new home.
Healthy eating, going for walks, and gardening. Those are three things that a group of centenarians credit for their long life in a new UnitedHealthcare survey of 100-year-olds. Another common factor was strength training, so it’s never too late to go to the gym.
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