congaree vista

I mark my calendar every year in November for the evening Vista Lights event. It is so much fun with free food, samples, lighting of the Christmas Tree by Blue Marlin, singers, dancers and even a fire barrel in middle of road for free s'mores ! Gervais St is closed and blocked off for traffic at 6:00 pm so you can walk all the shops and restaurants and enjoy the atmosphere. Would recommend going early to find free parking or you can pay $5 at the parking lots.

So much to do. Restaurants and so much more. Tsunami is a wonderful sushi spot and even if you don't like sushi you can still get hibachi.

Over the past four decades, the Congaree Vista has been transformed from a seedy warehouse-transportion-industrial district into a vibrant urban neighborhood with a good mix of restaurants, bars and clubs, retail shops, hotels, convention and trade show facilities, a major sports arena and concert venue, a baseball stadium, University buildings, museums, parks and walkways, live theater, arts and crafts galleries and studios, professional offices, a supermarket, apartment buildings and lofts, and other facilities, services, and attractions. The Vista has become the principal dining and nightlife/entertainment district of Columbia’s urban core, not least because it offers greater variety, more parking, and fewer security concerns than its chief competitor, Five Points. The Vista is also less oriented to college students and more oriented to professionals, visitors, and families. I feel comfortable in the Vista and would not hesitate to take out-of-town guests there for lunch, dinner, a visit to the State Museum or EdVenture Museum, a play at Trustus Theatre, a walk on the Three Rivers Greenway, a University of South Carolina baseball game at Carolina Stadium, or other fun things to see and do.

We had so much fun just walking around this area and finding restaurants and shopping. Near the river with a nice breeze even on the hottest of summer days

Not ADA friendly because of parking. I don't feel safe going alone from parking garages on back streets. If you cannot afford an expensive dinner or want alcohol, there's nor much there for you. CPD does not keep the public safe.

Great place to bar hop. Lots of nice places to eat. Well lit. Most have happy hour specials and some have live music.

The Vista is in the heart of Columbia. If you stay in a hotel there, you can walk to historic sites, the riverfront, the State Museum, lots of great bars and restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, etc. Many of the restaurants are amazing! Try it out!

The Vista encompasses a fairly large swath of the downtown region. Basically it is described at the area heading west from Assembly St to the river. The north end is probably about Elmwood and the southern edge would be Blossom or even a few blocks north of there. Highlights of the vista for us include Finley Park which we absolutely love. Finley is a great place that offers free concerts on Saturday nights in the summer. We also enjoy several of the eating establishments right in the heart of the vista (on or near Gervais St.). The only challenge with the central vista is that parking can be a bit of a challenge in the evenings. We have found a good solution to this is to park in the public parking garage just north of Gervais and walk the block or two to the place we will be dining that night. The South Carolina State Museum, The Children's Museum and the River Walk are all in the vista as well. The Vista merchants association regularly holds special events that are fun to visit.Overall the vista has a hip fun feel, a fun part of Columbia.The Central Vista area is a great place to stroll, stop for a bite, have a drink or coffee. The central Vista area is safe and a great place to walk. I don't know if I would want to do much walking after dark in areas of the vista further away from the center

I attended school in Columbia and this would have been my hangout if this was around back then. Its a party environment with everything a young person would enjoy. I'm in my 40's so I did feel a little out of place but I could hang for a little while. Wet Willes karaoke is very amusing and entertaining.

Very modern, nice building,good seats, easy parking,reasonable prices and great shows. A nice evening out whether a resident or visitor.

There are multiple restaurants and bars in the Vista area but we had a difficult time finding any place that catered to adults who wanted a nice, slightly sophisticated place to have a drink. Too many tacky bars with rap and club music blasting out. Motor Supply Company is a definite highlight but the pickings are slim after that.

Columbia, has pinned its hopes and dreams on the vista, because its main street is little more than a festering open wound, filled with the homeless. The Vista is nothing more than extremely over priced restaurants and night clubs that cater to the tragically hip and the well to do.There is nothing close to a family restaurant with in 5 miles of the place.

The vista is a great place to hang out or meet new people. It has a diverse setting which includes clubs, bars, restaurants, and more.

If you're in Columbia, don't miss 5 Points and the Vista. Two distinct neighborhoods, both with great restaurants, bars, and fun crowds.

very trendy part of city with modern clubs and a solid selection of restaurants. Art galleries and shops also are in the Vista. Great place to take a date and have fun.