Hot Springs in one of the most touristed places in Arkansas because it is home to one of the countries national parks. It is also a bustling town with many nearby lakes and other attractions. Because of this there are many more delicious restaurants in Hot Springs, Arkansas than you might expect!
This is not an exhaustive list of the restaurants in Hot Springs, Arkansas…just some of our favorites!
Our Favorite Restaurants in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Rolando’s Restaurante
Rolando’s is definitely one of our favorite restaurants in Hot Springs! It is right downtown and has a gorgeous patio. If the weather is good you will absolutely want to sit outside.
Rolando himself is from Ecuador and the food at his restaurant is Latin American. The service is always so friendly and the food is unique and delicious. I haven’t ever had anything here that I didn’t like. You won’t go wrong with any of their dishes.
I will tell you that the mojito I had at Rolando’s was the best I’ve ever had!
Ohio Club
Looking for a side of history with your meal? The Ohio Club is the place for you. It happens to be Hot Springs oldest bar. It started in 1905 as a bar and casino and was a favorite of many celebrities who came through Hot Springs.
Many of the gangsters like, Al Capone, Bugsy Segel, Bugs Moran, and Lucky Luciano liked to hangout here as well.
You will find live music here on certain nights as well as a great bar. The drinks are perfection.
The food served here is bar food, but it is delicious bar food. They are known for having a great Reuben and we agree with the masses. Also try the fried green beans. So yummy!
The Pancake Shop
If you want a hearty breakfast then The Pancake Shop is the place to go.
I’ll let you in on a secret. There are two pancake places in town and they are very near one another. In our opinion, this one is the best. Yes, there is sometimes a line or a wait to get into The Pancake Shop but it is worth it.
Of course you’ll have a pancake if you go here but I will mention that the omelets are also very good!
Luna Bella
This is a smaller restaurant and you might want to make reservations. They have a fun martini menu and a good wine list. The bread that they serve is made fresh daily and is oh so good.
I have been to Italy a few times and one of my favorite Italian dishes is arancini. I thought the arancini appetizer at Luna Bella was as good as any I’ve ever had in Italy! I also love the shrimp and shrimp risotto.
It is fairly pricy but you can’t go wrong at this restaurant.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery
The Superior Bathhouse Brewery is such a fun place. You really must go here when you are in town – especially if you like beer!
This happens to be the first brewery in a US National Park and also the first brewery in the WORLD to use thermal spring water as their main ingredient.
It is always fun to taste a variety of beers at a good brewery. You can get a flight to sample 4 beers or take a beer bath and sample all 18 beers that they have on tap!
The food is really great at the Superior Bathhouse as well. It is such a pleasant experience to sit at one of their windows enjoying a meal and a beer and watching the world go by.
Cafe 1217
Cafe 1217 is a great little lunch place and a wonderful change of pace from heavy foods. Everything at Cafe 1217 is super fresh and delicious. All of their items are made from scratch with the best ingredients.
This is an upbeat, fun, and casual Hot Springs restaurant with friendly service. You can also get take out if you are looking for something to go.
Delucas Pizza
Delucas Pizzeria is one of those places that people tend to feel really, really strongly about one way or another. I happen to fall into the “love it” camp.
It is a quirky place and I will tell you that their pizza is cooked in a super hot oven and the crust can come out a bit charred looking. I think it tastes delicious but some people claim that it is burned.
Personally, I like the crunch and the brick oven taste.
The toppings and sauce and all ingredients are very fresh, including the pizza dough which is made daily and when they run out…no more pizzas. The salads and appetizers are also good.
McClard’s Barbecue
McClard’s is another of the old-time restaurants in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was established in 1928 and has a very interesting history that you should check out on their website!
This is a barbecue and tamale place. Both are delicious! Their barbecue is both crusty and tender just the way a good barbecue should be.
If you try what they call a “spread” on the menu you get both barbecue and tamales in the same dish! If you enjoy the sweet and slightly spicy barbecue sauce you can buy it bottled.
Mr. Whiskers
I’m not exaggerating when I say that Mr. Whiskers serves some of the best catfish in the state. The breading is light and not greasy and in just the right proportion. Everything here is fresh and high quality. The shrimp is also excellent.
They also have chicken and pulled pork on the menu, but you are really here for the catfish!
Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcake Shoppe
Not only do they have a great name, but Fat Bottomed Girls serves up some of the best cupcakes around!
The choices are numerous and can be overwhelming. They are famous for their Lavender Lemon but I like the sea salt caramel. There are so many amazing flavors to choose from!
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf Steak and Seafood is one of the lake goers favorite restaurants in Hot Springs.
It is situated right on Lake Hamilton with great views and tons of covered, open air seating. It is a casual place where you won’t feel odd wearing shorts and flip flops and coming straight from the lake.
The menu is pretty extensive with plenty of shrimp and seafood as well as some steak and chicken options for the non-seafood people. It is a fun place to bring a group.
I recommend the grouper oscar!
Kollective Coffee and Tea
Kollective is a cool coffee shop. They specialize in organic and local products and everything is extremely high quality. They also do more than coffee.
Their breakfast and lunch options are light, fresh, and delicious. The is also the perfect place for the vegan or vegetarian diner to grab a bite to eat.
Hope you enjoyed this list of some of our favorite restaurants in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
If there is someplace you think we ought to try be sure and let us know in the comments!
