Skyscanner names Columbia, South Carolina a Hidden Culinary Gem for 2025

Skyscanner has named Columbia one of its Hidden Culinary Gems for 2025, placing the city among the top food destinations to watch this year. Columbia earned this spot through its distinctive local dishes, its rising national visibility and the quality of its dining scene.

One reason Columbia stood out is the strength of its everyday food culture. Columbia’s selection began with the foods that define daily eating in the city. Pimento cheese, mustard-based barbecue with hash and rice, fried chicken, shrimp and grits and meat-and-three plates continue to anchor local menus. Spots such as Lizard’s Thicket show how these dishes remain part of daily life rather than a tourist attraction.

Skyscanner also looked at cities showing recent momentum, and Columbia has seen a clear rise in national attention. Lula Drake Wine Parlour earned a James Beard Award in 2024 after years of steady local support. City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia has been highlighted by major publications and reviewers. Together, these achievements signaled that Columbia’s food scene is gaining attention well beyond the state.

The team also considered the range of food available. Decker Boulevard stood out as a good example of the city’s variety, with Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican and Indian restaurants alongside its long-running markets and bakeries. This mix showed how different communities have shaped the way people eat across Columbia.

Skyscanner focused on cities where the food scene has grown steadily and reflects local life. Columbia fits that pattern. Established institutions sit next to younger chef-led restaurants, creating a balanced mix that helped place the city among this year’s strongest selections in the national group.

Skyscanner’s Hidden Culinary Gems campaign highlights U.S. cities with strong, distinctive food cultures that often receive less national attention. The 2025 list includes Columbia, South Carolina, Tucson, Arizona, Portland, Maine, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Each city was chosen for its regional character, local influence and overall quality of dining.

View the full campaign here: https://www.skyscanner.com/tips-and-inspiration/hidden-culinary-gems-underrated-food-cities-across-the-us