There are meals, and then there are experiences so transcendent they seem to suspend time itself--this restaurant delivers the latter with breathtaking precision. From the moment you step inside, you are enveloped in an atmosphere that feels almost otherworldly. The lighting is soft yet intentional, casting a warm glow that dances across thoughtfully curated textures and finishes. Every detail, from the subtle fragrance in the air to the gentle cadence of the music, feels orchestrated to quiet the outside world and invite you into something rare. And then--the food. Each dish arrives not merely as a plate, but as a composition. Colors are layered like brushstrokes on canvas, aromas rise in delicate waves, and the first bite... the first bite is nothing short of revelatory. Flavors unfold with stunning complexity--bold yet balanced, indulgent yet refined. It is clear that every ingredient has been selected with care, every technique executed with mastery, and every pairing designed to evoke emotion. What sets this place apart, however, is not just technical excellence--it is intention. There is a story in every course, a quiet confidence in every presentation, and a sense that the kitchen is not just cooking, but creating. You don't simply eat here--you feel here. The service elevates the experience even further. Attentive without intrusion, knowledgeable without pretension, the staff moves with a grace that makes you feel both cared for and completely at ease. They anticipate needs before they arise and guide you through the evening with effortless sophistication. By the time the meal concludes, you realize something profound: this was not just dinner. It was a memory being crafted in real time--one that lingers long after the final bite, long after you've left your table, long after the night has ended. In a world saturated with good restaurants, this one dares to be extraordinary--and succeeds in a way that feels almost magical. read more

As many before me have stated. The Service! Much to be desired. Typical of today's generation, they hate the fact that they have to work and serve customers. At this establishment is the same. I watched our waitress, with us, the next table over and then with her co-workers. She was the same with both tables, we had to ask for refills, stop her for anything we might need, she was always in a rush to leave the table, no friendliness until it was time to check out and then she seemed a bit more pleasant. With her co-workers she was bubbly and smiling and laughing, went and hung out at the hostess stand every chance. So I would rate the service at a 2. The food I will rate at a 3. Got the queso. It was not that hot, tasted kinda like a cheese spread. It was so so. My husband got the chicken fajitas, which came in a skillet and was piping hot. It only came with black beans, no rice. Not sure if that's standard or the rice was left out. I got the street tacos Al Pastor, came with 3 and then also a side of rice. The tacos were not hot. They had a flavor I did not like, not terrible but not something I'd order again. The rice was good, came out hot, had a slightly smoky flavor. The salsa was good. The chips were on the greasy side. Overall, don't expect good service, food is decent. I would say kind of a bougie Mexican restaurant. read more

Matador - Side of rice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

Let me say that the only reason this restaurant is getting a 3 star review is because there were not menu options for someone like me that does not enjoy spicy food. Almost everything on the menu was spicy- I am very sensitive to "hot/spicy" food. BUT- with that being said, everyone I was with loved loved loved the food. The place is gorgeous inside and such a great feel. Staff was so nice and they tried to help me find something. I did eat and the few things I tried were really good. You could tell the food was amazing. The place was packed. read more

We were really surprised by how much we loved this place!! The (complimentary) salsa is super fresh and has some of the best flavor we've had at a restaurant. We decided to try happy hour options and both frozen margs were delicious! The steak and Baja tacos were also very good and were a great size! (We expected teeny tiny street tacos with barely anything on them and that's not we got at all!) The service was also friendly and great! We'll definitely be back!! read more

Matador - Happy Hour Specials - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

Nice restaurant good Mexican food and drinks , atmosphere , in downtown Greenville right across from Reedy

You walk into a restaurant that is a vibe in and of its own however we were left sadly expecting more. The service was slightly slower than expected but for a Thursday evening during a baseball game it was not busy at all. The food was just okay, and truthfully the best part of the meal was the French fries with the Chili garlic salt. Everything was just lackluster for what we hoped. read more

Where to begin??? Visiting friends in Greenville, they brought me to The Matador because I love tacos and great Mexican food in general. First walking in it's moody and a little dark, I like it! We were greeted everyone was nice. It took a few minutes to notice the skulls in the fire pit... great touch! We sat our server, Gabriel was quick with the drinks and free chips & salsa. He was also very knowledgeable with the menu and ok with all of my annoying questions since I can never make up my mind. We shared most everything he recommended, the dip trio, Mexican street corn, fish tacos, carnitas tacos, carne asada steak dinner oh, and a Ceasar salad. Everything was delicious! I'm definitely coming back for those fresh fish tacos I love that they use real fish, Mahi so yum! Carnitas steak was delicious totally shareable portion. Street corn was messy good fun, as it should be. Next time I want to have the watermelon salad, but since we were sharing I didn't get to choose that. They have a ton of tequila but I'm a tequila fan but I did taste the watermelon margarita, it was good. Next time I'll get something other than beer. Come early beat the crowds, I'm not sure if they reservations but will check next time as it was packed when we left about 6:30. I was told this is a new restaurant I just wanted to leave a review to support it and say great job to the team who set it up! Sorry I was too busy visiting and forgot to take photos, I'll get some and post them! read more

amazing diner experience!! Natalie and Jonathan were super friendly and nice, i had the Carnitas tacos and to be honest the only place that may be better is in Michoacan Mexico, really good but the one thing that jost got me crazy was the tequila, i found Fortaleza!! super hard to find it anywere, i am telling you; this place is awesome!!! read more

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When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, Matador was always my go-to when I went to Tacoma, which was monthly. I always looked forward to it so when I found out they were adding locations in the Carolinas I was ecstatic. I intentionally scheduled a day to head up to Greenville specifically to eat there. It's the same great food and same great experience as the Washington locations! Amazing food, excellent service and awesome atmosphere. The Carne Asada is my go to. I was hoping I would not be disappointed. I wasn't. It's the best I have had on the East Coast. I added the garlic shrimp, which is worth it. The beans, rice and corn were excellent too. I suggest the corn tortillas. Matador is known for its cocktails. Though they are pricey, you will not be disappointed when you order them. Plenty of non-alcoholic options too. Matador is a great place that's casual but classy. It's great for date nights, hanging out with friends or even solo, which I was that night. They have a community table with a fire pit in the bar side. Obviously I will be back. read more

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The Matador has potential, but our experience left something to be desired. The food started off strong. The chips and salsa were excellent, especially with the flavorful trio of dips that really set the tone. The Carne Asada was well-seasoned and flavorful, but unfortunately, the meat itself was tough and hard to enjoy. The Birria tacos were close to being great but lacked the depth of flavor we were hoping for. Just a bit too bland even with the classic birria dipping sauce. Where things really fell short was the reservation process. We called ahead earlier in the day and made a reservation, only to arrive on time and be told we couldn't be seated because we had someone under 21 in our group. Apparently, only certain tables are available for parties with guests under 21, but no one asked us about our party makeup when we booked, and there was no mention of this policy on the phone. We weren't the only ones frustrated. The party ahead of us was facing the exact same issue. This is something that really needs to be addressed by management. If your seating policy depends on age, it's on the restaurant to clearly communicate that, and not leave it to the customer to guess. With some fine-tuning in the kitchen and proper staff training when it comes to reservations, The Matador could be a real standout. As it stands now, it's a spot with decent vibes, but the execution needs work from top to bottom. read more

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Matador had a great vibe, they play great music, and the bar and upstairs pace is cool. I ate in the dining room on 2/1/26 and found the found the food lackluster. I ordered the Azteca Chicken Wrap and found it filled with little chicken or anything. My Mom ordered the Taco Salad with a steak and it had at least 2 inches of black beans and little steak. The service was good and our serve was very friendly. Overall a 3 out of 5 stars. read more

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Drinks here are good. Parking can be a pain but expected for this area. Inside is really beautiful especially the patio area upstairs. I didn't try much of the food but when I did it tasted pretty good. I need to come back and sit down and try a meal here next time. read more

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Ambiance- 10/10 whomever designed the space did there thing. The vibes start downstairs where the main restaurant is but there is a limited bar upstairs with a rooftop bar. We spent limited time downstairs as the front desk ladies immediately sat us on a busy and full Saturday dinner time. We went upstairs in the bar and ordered from their menu. You know there's a cohesive design with two menus and oh the bathrooms- ladies. Treat yourself. Well done even down to the purse and coat hooks in the stalls. Happy hour Cadillac margarita- 07/10. I wanted more flavor for the margarita than what I got but it was fine. Yes to a yummy salt rim. Dip flight- 06/10. The queso was warm but wasn't the consistency was what I expected but had great flavor. The guacamole was smooth but didn't have the flavor I expected in comparison to the salsa. Salsa 10/10- hands down we love a restaurant that offers chips and salsa. What a gift. Taco flight 10/10- yes and amen for the fullness of a taco. I ate all three and the pork was the best but let's be honest, I did eat all 3. Great toppings and flavor. Joel was amazing as a server and so diligent with keeping up with 4 large tables. He kept the drinks going and checked in on us. Someone give him a bonus and a shoutout at the next staff meeting. read more

Matador - Taco Flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

I had been hearing so many things about Matador, and decided to stop in to check it out for myself. I must say, it lives up to the hype. I stopped in for happy hour, which has great food and drink specials. I opted for the nachos, which were amazing! Also had a spice mezcal margarita, which was great! The ambiance and service are also top tier. I will definitely be back. read more

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The service, food and drink were 100%. Tati was our server and was so welcoming and fun. We were visiting Greenville and she brought us different appetizers to try and a small dessert to finish our perfect meal. Can't wait to bring my family back on my next visit. read more

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Wowwww. Food was amazing here. We had the guac to start and my Dad and I literally scraped the bowl clean. That good. They brought out a side of sour cream bc my Dad asked for it w the chips, and it didn't necessarily taste like sour cream but whatever it was was delish. Maybe a dill flavor? And for entrees, my dad had the chicken fajitas, I had the coconut shrimp tacos (omg), and my mom had a chicken and cheese burrito. This was so good. My shrimp tacos were incredible and I'd def order again, same w the guacamole. Service was fine!! Vibes inside incredible. read more

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The place looked nice on the inside. Service was good and quick to bring our food. The food was not the best tho. The queso itself felt like it came from a jar or can. It had this weird texture that I would not consider to be queso. The habanero chicken saved this visit for me. My girlfriend got steak tacos and was not pleased. We were not happy with the Mexican rice either. Overall, I do not plan to come back at all. read more

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Date night before the Drive game, we decided to have dinner here. Our first time at Matador. The tamarind-ginger margarita was wonderful! The chicken tortillas soup cup that we shared was very good too. Husband got the carnitas, absolutely fantastic and I ordered the shrimp & chorizo paella which unfortunately was so spicy, that after 4 bites, I could not eat any more. I don't recall it saying it was spicy on the menu. But, next time, I'll be sure to ask about spicy level of food that I order. read more

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Excellent place we came for lunch , our attendant Megan was very professional. The food was outstanding and so is the prices. This place is a total gem , Anyone that come to this town in South Carolina should come and eat here the place is also very beautiful with very pleasant Mexican decoration, kudos to management read more

Matador - Decoration at the entrance around the bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

CHARGE into Matador for some amazing food and drink! The garlic shrimp appetizer is well worth the wait. I'd recommend the dip flight, as well as the chips and salsa. I judge my Mexican restaurants by their salsa- this one didn't disappoint! It had just the right amount of heat and texture Check out the second floor for a quieter dining experience( note: the menu is smaller and more limited). The service was a bit slow but the atmosphere and food made up for it. The food here is the real deal- no bull $'iting (PUN totally intended;) read more

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Happy hour 2x per day is amazing especially for the late bloomers 10pm is great! Atmosphere was perfect, service was prompt. The food has so much flavor, the drinks were great! We will return again and again! read more

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Came here this evening. We used to go to the late night happy hours when we lived in Redmond, Washington. We were so excited to see one in Greenville. We ordered the verde carnitas enchiladas--sooo good! Perfect amount of sweet and spicy. We will be back to attend the happy hour sometime soon. Glad to see yall in Greenville--What a treat ! read more

Matador - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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I loved our experience at the Matador. The food was really good. I had an amazing pork dish and my wife got a fajita. Despite the busy restaurant, the food came out perfectly cooked and on time without being rushed. Our server was knowledgeable and was able to guide us through any issues with our gluten allergies. The drinks were inexpensive for high quality bourbons. read more

The food, customer service, and the prices are all good. Next time we plan to try a cocktail. If you're thinking about it, check it out. I think you'll enjoy it! read more

Have come in here probably 15 or more times but the last couple of times this place is not what it was was. Always understaffed takes forever to get drinks food etc. Will not be coming back to this restaurant. Plenty of other great choices in this area if you can't service your patrons then perhaps don't be open for lunch read more

Great atmosphere! There is a whiskey bar upstairs and rooftop dining. We only had an appetizer and it was good-not great. Drinks were great! Service was excellent. read more

Over priced, hard to get the attention of a bartender unless you're best buddy's with them. Got a margarita with a Gran Manier to top off. They must have used an eye dropper to dispense it. Obviously under strict guidance to serve the least. Probably should just use food coloring, no difference. Good happy hour appetizers and reasonable pricing; however, it only goes to six pm and many of us that live close, time you drop your stuff off, and if you get there one minute late, totally no flexibility. So, people buy from people! To bar staff, quit dessguessing your cell phone stuff, I promise it can wait until you take care of your customer. Just an observation. When you have few customers, the newness where's off. I'll say, give it 18 months unless something big changes. read more

Me and my boyfriend came here for a small lunch. We got the dip trio. I loved the queso and the guac, but the bean dip was kind of weird. We also split the cheese chicken quesadilla, which was delicious. I loved it. The ambience is nice and the decorations are fun. read more

A little salty on one entree. A little hot on another. Ambiance great. Service pretty good. Beer selection average. We will try again soon but Monday night was not prime form. read more

Very rustic, authentic old Spanish atmosphere! The service was superb! Food was excellent. The happy hour is one of the BEST in Greenville! What a fantastic addition to downtown Greenville's late-night eats scene! read more

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Great new spot in downtown Greenville. Their drinks are top notch, and their food is even better. Amazing atmosphere. The waiters, and bartenders are sooooo friendly and helpful. Ignore the negative reviews and try this spot ASAP! read more

The food is outstanding and when they first opened the service was as well, but know, the service is horrible. I live in the west end and walk there so it's so disappointing because I love the food so much. All of my friends that live in my complex agree completely. I hope it gets better because, like I said, the food is so good. , read more

Gabriel was fantastic! He recommended some of his favorite dishes, and they didn't disappoint. Donny, our bartender, was excellent! He made us laugh. The service, food, and ambiance were delightful. We were highly impressed and plan to return. The hostess was lovely. Chef's kiss! read more

Donny made the best Chatham Artillery Punch I have had since being in Savannah. Highly recommend!!

First time in Greenville and my GPS was taking me down a street with many restaurants, but the activity at the Matador, folks going in, called my attention to to Matador! The sign in the door said "tequila bar", so I knew I was in the right place. Walked into this beautiful, brick walked, wrought iron, polished wood, unique, lighting, and decor restaurant with a lower level bar, large front windows for a view of the pass advise who had other plans. Tatiana greeted me like a returning customer, and waited on me like I was the only person at the bar and brought me sample of a special beverage, and a sweet dessert of fried ice cream and whipped cream. That was the best I've ever had. Intoxicated by ambience and the attention to detail and everything they do here. A simple agave chicken wrap with perfectly cooked french fries, a flight of Mezcal and I was planning my next return visit. If you're even close and you love, great food and amazing service this is a stop you must make. Thank you all for making my first trip to Greenville retreat and a plan for a return soon. read more

Matador - View from the bar towards the entrance. My personal favorite seat close to the action. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

We are upstairs at the bar area - wasn't initially aware that the menu upstairs is different but the food was still great! read more

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I don't know what's up with the haters but this place is absolutely amazing; it's a beautiful, cool space offering a sophisticated takes on Mexican food. I highly recommend the tuna tostadas and their take on surf and turf but everything our table had was great. And if you like tequila and mezcal - or want to learn more about them - this is your place. The bar is super cool. We enjoyed a delicious round of the DG margs made with Danny McBride's new Don Gato tequila that I'd also highly recommend. Our service was also great; this place rocks! read more

Matador - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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The place is absolutely beautiful inside. That is about the nicest thing I can say. It all went downhill for me when I asked for a straw and the waiter returned with it; throwing it to me; while he gave all his attention to the table next to me! The food was tasteless and the margarita was a taste I can't explain; and not in a good way. I will not be returning. read more

While the staff is great, friendly, smiling, kind... the food is well... not good. The jalapeño poppers were OK but the burritos, dips, salsa were candidly not to par. It is quite disappointing given the location, wait time, and price that the food is massively underwhelming. No textural interest, under seasoned, poor plating and presentation. Maybe one day, this location can live up to times of old... We have been looking forward to trying Matador out for a while, but we would've been better off going to Papa's & Beer or La Parilla and saving the money... read more

The food was great and reasonably priced. Be sure and try one of their cocktails. Great decor and friendly staff. read more

Matador - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Greenville, South Carolina

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