I’m so excited to share today’s post with all of you. As some of you might know from my Instagram stories not long ago, Nathan and I were given the opportunity to visit Bentonville, Arkansas and we had the best time! We visited the city as part of a #TasteAndTravelBentonville Summit and we had so much fun exploring somewhere new together.🍂 I’ll be recapping our trip in today’s post, as well as talking about all things Bentonville, and everything you need-to-know before you book your trip! Including Where to Stay🛏 and What to Eat🍽, to Where to Shop🛍 and What to See👀. Our time in Arkansas was so much fun, and I’m so happy that Nathan and I were able to make the trip.
So, let’s go ahead and dive in!! I have so much to share with y’all!
We arrived in Bentonville on Wednesday November 7th, and stayed through Saturday, November 11th. It was so nice being able to have a few full days there so that we could fully explore and immerse ourselves in all of the local fun! We were part of a group of 20 other people that took part in a taste and travel summit with Visit Bentonville, and in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation. We got to see first-hand what life is like in this darling Arkansas town, were able to meet and chat with several of the locals, ate so much delicious food, and toured some of the favorite local spots and well-known haunts.
Okay, let’s start out with where to stay in Bentonville. Both hotels below are within 10 min of downtown Bentonville, and conveniently located near several restaurants, as well as 8th Street Market, and Crystal Bridges. They are great locations to be in, and give you easy access to so many of the local attractions.
WHERE TO STAY:
DoubleTree Bentonville
Four Points
Nathan and I stayed at Four Points, and we really enjoyed it. The staff was very friendly, and helpful with any questions we had.
Downtown Bentonville is the heart of the city❤️, and home to some amazing local shops, restaurants, and landmark spots like the adorable Walmart Museum. For those of you that might not now, Bentonville, Arkansas is known for being the birthplace of Walmart! You’ll see little reminders scattered around the town to show how great of an impact the Walton family has had on this thriving city. One thing that I loved most about Bentonville is that the city truly supports and nurtures small business. There are so many amazing spots popping up all over the city constantly, and people love supporting local.
WHERE TO SHOP:
Label Boutique
Denim & Essentials
This ultra cool menswear store😎 houses some really amazing brands from VINE and Saturdays NYC to Rag & Bone and Billy Reid. Needless to say, Nathan was in heaven!
Remedy Road
If you want to do as the locals do, you won’t want to miss the spots listed below! Bentonville is full of great watering holes🥃, but these were two of our favorites. Plus, I finally got to play Nathan at shuffleboard at The Holler!
WHERE TO GO FOR DRINKS:
The Holler
The Holler is Bentonville’s local hangout, and for good reason. It’s sooo much fun! From shuffleboard, to delicious cocktails, this spot is serving up lots of laughs and good times.
Undercroft
This speakeasy style cocktail bar is hidden underneath The Preacher’s Son!! Perfect for a date-night or drinks with friends.🍸
The Culinary Scene👩🏻🍳 in Bentonville is HUGE, and the food is absolutely delicious. I was so excited to see that similar to Austin, there are also lots of new restaurants popping up all over the city of Bentonville. You’ll DEFINITELY want to stop by some of the restaurants listed below when you go!
WHAT TO EAT:
Fred’s Hickory Inn
The Hive
The Preacher’s Son
One of my favorite panel discussions that we listened to during the trip took place at Brightwater and included a group of chefs that are currently making waves in the culinary scene in Bentonville. One of the speakers that stood out to me was Chef Matthew Cooper 👨🏼🍳of The Preacher’s Son. His gluten free restaurant (housed in an old cathedral) is something that I’ve never seen done before. It’s absolutely stunning, and serves up delicious plates. His vision for the restaurant, and excitement towards what it has to offer Bentonville was contagious.
Eleven at Crystal Bridges
Oven & Tap
Table Mesa Bistro
Tusk & Trotter
WHERE TO BRUNCH:
Pressroom
Everything on the menu… this place is amazing!!
Yeyos Mexican Grill
Best huevos rancheros🍳 I’ve ever had. Trust me… I’ve had a lot of them.
COFFEE & SWEETS:
Onyx Coffee Lab
Airship Coffee
Markham & Fitz
What to order: the chocolate chip cookie & chocolate martini. Thank me later. 😉
The amazing thing about Bentonville, is that the city is surrounded by the beautiful Ozarks. The landscape is just gorgeous, and the stunning trees and hills that surround Bentonville are simply breathtaking. City officials are actually aiming to make Bentonville easily accessible through bike trails that will connect all areas of the city and make it a breeze for everyone to get around. They’re constantly tying in nature with the aesthetic and culinary setting within the city.
WHAT TO SEE:
Crystal Bridges
Crystal bridges was one of my favorite places that we visited in Bentonville. Apart from having amazing artwork to view like Rosie the Riveter and works from Andy Warhol, it’s also home to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes. This museum is incredible and a must stop spot for anyone visiting Bentonville.
Frank Lloyd Wright House
Peel Mansion Museum & Gardens
Brightwater Culinary School
Overall, our time in Bentonville was so wonderful. This adorable Arkansas town is pure southern hospitality at its finest. The locals are so proud of their city, and so eager to share everything that it has to offer. Nathan and I had a memorable experience. We both made new friends along the way, experienced and saw new things (Crystal Bridges & Frank Lloyd Wright House were my favorites!!), indulged in the gorgeous views, and enjoyed the perfect fall weather (we finally got our Fall kick for the year!). I lowkey was completely ready to move to Bentonville y’all, and telling Nathan we needed to buy a house there hahaha! I can’t wait to visit again. ❤️
Have you been to Bentonville? If not, you should go ASAP!
Thank you to Visit Bentonville and the Walton Family Foundation for sponsoring this post.
