If you’re looking for great food, several Hot Springs restaurants will exceed your expectations in the best of ways.
I’m sharing more about the local restaurants that are the best places to eat in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Thanks again to Visit Hot Springs and Geiger PR for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
Lunch at McClard’s BAR-B-Q
505 Albert Pike Rd, Hot Springs National Park, AR
Not much has changed with this family business that has been serving up incredible barbecue since 1928.
McClard’s BAR-B-Q is a Hot Springs staple now operating under its 4th generation of family members.
This is the perfect place to start your culinary adventures in Hot Springs, with friendly service that makes you instantly feel at home.
McClard’s BAR-B-Q is one of the favorite casual restaurants for locals and tourists alike.
Fun fact: Bill and Hilary Clinton ate in the same booth for their honeymoon where we dined during our visit.
They haven’t strayed from their great-grandfather’s philosophy: “Use the best ingredients you can get, buy the best quality cuts you can get, and don’t skimp on any portions.”
I can verify that they don’t skimp on the portions or the quality! I recommend trying a few types of meat, including ribs, pork, and smoked sausage.
Speaking of portions, you definitely won’t leave this restaurant hungry!
They make the side dishes daily onsite using the great-grandfather’s recipes, including delicious coleslaw.
I realize coleslaw is typically either really good or really bad. Their coleslaw is chopped very fine with some sweetness and LOTS of pepper…and it’s SO GOOD!
A unique menu item to try is their tamale spread. The spread was originally created to be a resourceful dish to reduce waste.
A “Whole Spread” is served with two tamales, Fritos, beans, chopped beef, cheese, and onions.
Save room for the carrot cake made by Dave’s Carrot Cakery.
Enjoy a Taste of Coastal Italian Cuisine at J&S Italian Villa
4332 Central Ave B, Hot Springs, AR
This Italian restaurant offers a fine dining experience, serving high-quality food with excellent service and a great selection of wines.
We tried so many delicious foods that evening that it was hard to pick a favorite.
We started with the Large Charcuterie Board that serves 6 people.
The “Large Charcuterie Board” is filled with the Chef’s selection of specialty meat & cheeses, olives, pickled vegetables, toasted nuts, fig jam, and honeycomb.
The tasting portion of Butternut Squash Soup (Crema di Zucca) was delicious and wasn’t the typical type of dish I’m drawn to.
The combination of flavors and textures had me wishing for a few more bites…but I had to save room for what was to come.
Our table strategy was to order several different menu items so that we could try a little bit of everything for the win!
Each dish was beautiful in presentation and even better to taste. The seasonal menus at the restaurant were created by 2-Michelin Star Chef Sascia Marchesi and Chef Wil Wright.
The menu offers seafood, steak, and house pasta served with vegetables and other items sourced as locally as possible.
The lasagna on the menu is a family recipe of the chef’s grandmother.
Make sure you save some room for dessert… or at least commit to sharing dessert.
The Tiramisu and Vanilla bean crème Brulee are great options.
There’s a bar in addition to the dining area, and you can reserve The Red Room for a more intimate setting for a special occasion.
Enjoy a Meal and Craft Beer at Superior Bathhouse Brewery
329 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR
Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the first and only brewery in the world to use thermal spring water as the main ingredient for its beer.
It’s also the only brewery in a United States National Park.
Located on Bathhouse Row, Superior Bathhouse Brewery resides inside a historic building dating back to 1916 that was formerly a bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park.
The bathhouse closed in 1983 and was vacant for 30 years.
Thankfully, Rose Schweikhart reimagined the space as a brewery with a LOT of creativity and perseverance to pioneer something that had never been done before.
Rose shared that she was a tubist who had the opportunity to travel around the world and, along the way, fell in love with beer.
She had the foresight to see the need for a craft brewery in Hot Springs, and we’re so glad she did!
She persevered through the intimidating amount of forms, documentation, and building codes to sign a lease for the building with the Department of the Interior. She kept going when others would have given up.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery has been brewing beer since 2014.
Check out some of the pictures of the renovation process, which includes showing how the brewery equipment was transported through the front windows on the North side.
This unique dining experience is the perfect addition to a traditional bath at Buckstaff Bathhouse or a dip in a giant thermal hot tub at Quapaw Bathhouse, both within walking distance of the brewery.
Hot spring water flows into the brewery. The 47 springs in the National Park are closely monitored by park staff with regular testing before distribution to the area’s bathhouses, jug fountains, and brewery.
We happened to be there during a routine check of the water samples being taken from the hot spring by National Park staff.
The beer is brewed inside the former men’s bath hall. Their beer flavors are approachable for everyone, and they don’t can or bottle, so they can be more creative with their flavors.
I also want to note that their extremely friendly staff added to our experience that day.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery offers a wide variety of craft beer styles. For craft beer, I typically prefer sours over traditional beer.
For my flight, I opted for the following:
- “Basic Peaches” – Peach sour
- “Spicy Ride” – Jalapeño ale
- “Hot Girl Sour” – Pickle habanero sour
- “The Beez Kneez”- Fresh Basil
The peach sour and the pickle and haberno sour were my favorites.
You’ll also want to try their “World Famous Root Beer,” made with thermal spring water and real honey.
For their food and beer, they locally source ingredients whenever possible for menu items that appeal to a range of foodies with traditional and elevated options.
You can’t go wrong with the Bavarian soft pretzel or beer cheese dip as a starter.
I enjoyed the Bahn Mi pork sandwich, made with Gochujang pork, cilantro, cucumber, ginger-chili mayo, and Namasu and served on French bread.
For my side, I LOVED their fried plantains. The plantains were thick and sweet, served warm, and the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Superior Bathhouse Brewing has indoor seating, or you can enjoy outdoor dining on a beautiful day. The outdoor patio has great views of Arlington Lawn nearby.
If you’re traveling with a pet, well-behaved dogs on a leash with up-to-date shots are allowed on the patio.
Elevated Breakfast Classics With a Twist at Best Cafe & Bar
632 Ouachita Ave, Hot Springs, AR
Best Cafe & Bar offers classic American breakfast dishes with a twist in a building that dates back to 1933.
This popular restaurant is also open for lunch and is known as one of the best spots for Sunday brunch.
Best Cafe & Bar is adjacent to Best Court Cottages, and it’s been serving overnight travelers since 1933. There is even a rumor that Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe stayed in their corner suite.
Best Court Cottages still keep the 1930s charm with modern conveniences.
The dining space at Best Cafe & Bar is cozy and thoughtfully curated with vintage pictures and dining chairs.
The delicious breakfasts also come with excellent customer service from the staff.
I’m amused easily, and their color-changing coffee mug was a fun start to my breakfast experience.
There are hand-crafted cocktails available in addition to traditional breakfast beverages.
The “It Don’t Mean a Thing” is the perfect option if you prefer a Bloody Mary. It’s made with a house-made Bloody Mary mix and Effen cucumber vodka.
If you prefer variety, try a Mimosa flight with your four flavors of choice.
If you love French toast, you’ll want to try the Crème brûlée toast.
The dish has salted dulce de leche butter, grilled pineapple, and your choice of house-made sausage patties, applewood smoked bacon, duck bacon, or Nueskes bacon.
If you’re in the mood for a more savory dish, I recommend trying the “Fried Chicken Benny.”
The dish has an in-house chive biscuit, fried chicken biscuit, two poached eggs, hollandaise, spicy buffalo sauce, and home fries.
Their “Crispy Brussels” is another savory menu option. The Brussels sprouts are served with a sweet & spicy glaze, poached egg, coconut carrot puree, and Togarashi Spice.
Caffeinate at Kollective Coffee + Tea
110 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR
Kollective Coffee + Tea is a local artisan tea and coffeehouse/ cafe specializing in high-quality local and organic products paired with beautiful presentation.
They are passionate about high-quality coffee and tea, and it shows!
Coffee is both a science and an art form at this cafe.
The menu has a wide variety of loose-leaf teas and coffee-style preferences.
They also have packages with coffee and tea for sale if you want to take some home.
You’ll be happy to discover their fresh food doesn’t have GMOs, preservatives, or harmful pesticides.
I opted for the “grown-up grilled cheese panini.”
The delicious sandwich is made with slices of fresh Havarti, Gouda, and brie cheese with tomato slices on rustic sourdough bread. I chose a side salad to help balance my sandwich choice.
My friends were a bit more self-disciplined with their menu choices…but I did have some salad.
One chose the Quinoa salad with cucumber, tomato, feta, and fried egg pictured above.
The other chose the detox salad made with a baby spring mix, berries, walnuts, white cheddar, and seasonal Evil O’s balsamic vinaigrette.
The walls of the building, dating back to the late 1800s, display rotating pieces from artists.
Kollective Coffee + Tea hosts several weekly special events, including Wednesday Night Poetry.
The open mic poetry night at Kollective is the longest-running, consecutive weekly open mic series in the United States.
Dinner at Deluca’s Pizzeria
831 Central Ave, Hot Springs National Park, AR
For an Italian restaurant with great food and service, you’ll LOVE Deluca’s Pizzeria.
We discovered that the menu of this New York-style pizza joint expands well beyond a great pie.
I’d recommend grabbing a group of friends to explore and sample a range of menu items family-style.
And yes, we’re all wearing bibs. When the owner supplies you with a bib before your feast, you don’t question it.
Owner Anthony Valinoti hasn’t forgotten his Brooklyn roots or his Italian heritage. He named the restaurant after his grandfather, Pat Deluca.
Anthony spent time in Naples, Italy, learning from an older woman named Anna, who previously taught cooking at the University of Naples.
She taught him the art of pizza making, that food is a series of thoughtful gestures. You’re expressing your emotions through your food.
I’ve never put much thought into the emotional connection while you are making the food. It made sense, especially when my emotions aren’t typically inspired when I make dinner…I prefer to leave it to the pros.
We started with a few sharable items, including Anthony Bourdain’s Blue Cheese Iceberg Wedge with Bacon.
After that, we progressed to homemade meatballs and different types of homemade pasta dishes.
A surprising item on the menu was “The Deluca’s Steak Burger.” Anthony also prides himself on having one of the best burgers in town.
The burger is made with an exclusive proprietary blend of aged beef served on Martin’s potato roll with homemade pickles and American cheese.
This is a pizzeria, after all, so we can’t skip mentioning the pizza.
Deluca’s Pizza was included in the list of 101 Best Pizzas in America by The Daily Mail.
The 18-inch New York-style pizzas are cooked in a 725-degree brick oven with an intentional amount of charring.
The dough for the delicious pizza is made by hand daily using fresh ingredients.
We tried a few different pizzas, including their fresh mozzarella pizza, “Franky’s Flatbush,” and “The Patsy Searcy Pie.”
Franky’s Flatbush is their “plain” cheese pizza made with exceptional cheeses, homemade tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil.
My favorite was “The Patsy Searcy Pie” made with spicy sopresatta, calabrian chili oil, peppadews & honey.
You can’t go wrong with their tiramisu if you still have room in your stomach.
Order the olive oil cake for a unique dessert. This cake is made with a slice of Anthony’s traditional pound cake and a hint of citrus, drizzled with Amarena cherries.
You may notice the black and white portraits of the beautiful women on the restaurant walls.
I was, so I had to ask.
The beautiful women pictured on the wall are women that Anthony respects in the community and who’ve supported him over the years.
Enjoy Drinks at The Ohio Club
336 Central Ave., Hot Springs National Park, AR
The Ohio Club has bragging rights as Arkansas’s oldest continuous bar, dating back to 1905, that was originally a bar and casino.
If walls could talk, this historic downtown building would have a LOT of stories to tell!
The Ohio Club was a popular spot for gangsters and Major League baseball players during spring training in the early 1900s.
Famous previous guests of The Ohio Club include:
- Al Capone
- Babe Ruth
- Lucky Luciano
- Bugs Moran
- Bugsy Siegel
Check out the vintage photographs on the wall and the casino chips on the first floor near the bar.
You can still enjoy live music at The Ohio Club each week on select nights. Over the years, many jazz and blues performers have played here, including Mae West and Al Jolson.
Check the band schedule for upcoming shows at the Ohio Club.
We had a great time enjoying drinks while listening to the live band.
Scenic Views of Downtown Hot Springs From The Rooftop Bar at The Waters Hotel
The Rooftop Bar at The Waters Hotel is a great place to enjoy a drink and beautiful views of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains and historic buildings in downtown Hot Springs.
This is one of the best places to enjoy watching the sunset.
The rooftop bar has a lot of seating for guests and heaters for cooler nights.
Drink With the Locals at Copper Penny Pub
711 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR
The Copper Penny Pub is a local favorite spot to grab a drink. Guests can expect a traditional Irish pub experience with a full bar and a pub menu that includes traditional Irish fare.
Copper Penny Pub has a variety of live music from Thursday to Sunday. If you prefer to watch one of the big games in a laid-back atmosphere, the restaurant has 8 big screen TVs.
Additional Hot Springs Restaurant Recommendations
Unfortunately, I ran out of time before trying any of the local ice cream shops. Mamoo’s Paradise Ice Cream is on my list to try next time. They serve the only homemade ice cream in downtown Hot Springs.
The following restaurants also came highly recommended and are on my list for next time:
- The Pancake Shop
- Taco Mama
- Luna Bella
- Rolando’s Restaurante
- Wok Express
- Steinhaus Keller
- Colorado Grill
- Venetian Dining Room at the Arlington Hotel
- Diablo’s Taco & Mezcaleria
- Brick House Grill
Which Hot Springs Restaurant Do You Want to Try First?
Hungry yet? I’ve given you a lot of great options. The hardest part will be narrowing down which Hot Springs restaurant you want to try first.
What’s the closest Airport to Hot Springs, Arkansas?
Hot Springs National Park is less than an hour from the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Each of these places looks very beautiful. Your article informed me. Thanks.
I’ll have to check it out the next time that I visit.
A great lunch spot in Hot Springs is Cafe 1217. They have some amazing salads and sandwiches. I love going here with friends or for something fresh on my lunch break.