Columbia, SC hotel suggestions
 

We are looking for nice hotels in the USC area close to campus. Any suggestions?

My favorite in Columbia is the Claussen's Inn, a nice smallish boutique hotel very near the campus, and close to Five Points as well.

http://www.theinnatclaussens.com/

The Courtyard by Marriott is close. It is well maintained, but I found it a bit noisy. (Compared with campus housing, however I imagine it is like a library.)

Eat at California Dreaming.

Thanks NeoPatrick for the suggestion. I had considered it after reading about it on TA. I am also interested in The 1425 Inn (upscale B&B) I plan to check both out at a different time. My daughter will be moving there after college graduation. (you've helped answer other questions I posted through the yrs, also thx)

This trip we picked the Holiday Inn Express mainly because of a really good rate I found. Supposedly, it's recently been renovated. We will be out scouting for apartment/house to rent, so if anyone has suggestions, let me know.

I'll put California Dreaming on our list. Thx! Ha ha on the library comparison.

i recently stayed at the columbia marriott and it was really nice

The Inn at USC is right on campus and is very nice. There's also Hampton Inn in the Vista area near campus and in the heart of the Vista, right down from the State House and near lots of restaurants.

Also,forgot to add, that while California Dreaming has really good food, I find it to be noisy and hard to carry on much of a conversation. In the Vista, there are several restaurants with good food and better atmosphere. Liberty Tap Room has good food and indoor as well as covered outdoor dining.

Gervais and Vine is open late afternoon to night and has good food and atmosphere also. Some others in the area include:

Motor Supply Co Bistro

SakiTumi Grill & Sushi Bar

Ristorante Divino

Carolina Ale House on Lady Street , (one street over)

Now that I've been to Columbia 3 times, I have a better perspective. I've now stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Taylor and Hugee, Inn at USC, and Springhill Marriott in the Vistas. The Inn was super convenient and very nice. The front desk staff was a little unprofessional and harried to help much. For the type of hotel they represent they didn't make us feel too welcome. The Springhill is only 2 yrs old; has a very hip jive decor and rooms are very spacious. Nice sofa area with good work desk. Has nice size frig and microwave. Last 2 mentioned have bar service downstairs in the evenings. All hotels had easy parking access/ no charge to park and free Wi FI in rooms.

Had great dinners at:
Motor Supply Co Vista area
Garibaldi's 5 Points
Mr. Friendly's 5 Points (don't let the name scare you, it's really is good)
Momo's on Devine

Love, love the Gourmet Shoppe in 5 Points for lunch.

Found a wonderful furniture store, Strobler on Forest Dr. Daughter bought a few pieces for her new house. Also, discovered an amazing day spa called OCCO off of Gervais.

If you need any other information, let me know. I feel like a local now!

AND if you stay at that Hampton Inn, go to the Adluh Mill behind it and get wonderful grits and yellow grits (polenta). Just go in the "office" door.
I posted on another thread about Columbia that when the mill sold the land for that Hampton Inn, when they did the excavation, they found numerous Union cannonballs that Sherman sent at the state capitol building that fell short.

PS. Adluh supplies gourmet chefs like Charlie Trotter and Emeril--as well as the SC school system. It is one of the few family owned mills left in the South.