In our opinion, The Baker, located in the burgeoning Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock, is one of the best places to stay in the Little Rock and North Little Rock area.
It was included on our list of great places to stay in Central Arkansas but we wanted to say more about it individually since it is such a unique destination.
(This is not a sponsored post and we have always paid for our stays at The Baker – we just really like it and want to share it with you!)
History of the Baker in North Little Rock
Located at 501 Main Street, The Baker is one of the few surviving Victorian houses in North Little Rock.
It is a beautiful L-shaped structure with a three-story round tower. The porch with its Victorian gingerbread is a delight and provides the perfect entrance to the home.
The house was originally 4156 square feet. Over the years several renovations including the addition of a cottage on the property have increased the size of the living space.
The home was purchased by the Baker family in 1916 and remained in the family until 1977.
At this point it was sold to Frederick Hampton Roy, Sr. He was a local ophthalmologist, a writer, historian, and an advocate for historic preservation. Roy restored the home and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Several years and a several owners later the home became a bed and breakfast. This business existed from 1997 to 2015.
Sadly, at this point the gorgeous home was becoming faded. It was dark, dingy, and in great need of just the right person to give it some care.
It remained vacant until from 2015 to 2018 until it was purchased by Stacy and Nathan Hamilton.
The Renovation of The Baker
The Hamilton’s began the renovation of the Baker House in 2018 and they opened the old home as a boutique inn in April 2019.
During the days when the home was a bed and breakfast its beauty could still be seen…but you had to look closely.
I remember visiting the bed and breakfast during this time. The home seemed a little…murky. They rooms were decorated with thick swag curtains, dark floral wallpapers and heavy spreads, blossomy rugs in dense colors and patterns. The walls were painted in dull shades.
It had so much potential but felt past its prime.
The Hamilton’s have done an excellent job of reviving, lightening, and brightening while still maintaining the beauty and integrity of the amazing old craftsmanship.
Highlight of the Woodwork at the Baker
Everything about the workmanship at the Baker is lovely. One thing that you will really want to notice is the rare curly heart pine.
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries when loggers would transport pine logs on the rivers logs would occasionally sink into the water.
These logs were left submerged and forgotten for many years. When builders began pulling the old growth logs out of the water it was discovered that their time in the river had caused the grain to form gorgeous swirling patterns.
You will see this curly heart pine through the main part of the house.
Staying at the Baker
We have both stayed at The Baker and attended events at the Baker.
This place has all the amenities that you might find in a hotel. These include full service housekeeping, complimentary minibars, great wifi, online registration, the ability to use a keypad to check into your room, and privacy.
However, it also gives you the personal touches of an Airbnb such as the ability to text and get a response about any request!
The Rooms at The Baker
There are 5 rooms in the main part of the hotel, each one unique.
They all have robes and a mini bar, but amazing bathrooms are one of the hallmarks of The Baker. The bathrooms are spacious and many of them have wonderful claw foot tubs.
*Do note that bathroom of the Main Street View Room is private, but detached from the room and only has a shower.
The Turret Suite is one of our favorite rooms. This is where Emily and her husband Daniel had their gender reveal.
Emily wanted a private reveal just for she and her husband. Her sister in law decorated the room so that they could have a little getaway and learn the gender of their baby together.
Check out their precious video of the event.
There is also a 2 story cottage on the property. It has a small kitchenette and a living room downstairs with a bedroom upstairs. You even get your own off street parking area when you stay in the cottage.
Check out the rooms, the cottage, and two additional houses that are located near The Baker on their website.
Events at The Baker
You can have small events at The Baker. Emily helped hostess a gender reveal for her sister in law at the Baker.
Yes, if you are counting, that is two gender reveals we have had there!
However, it is an even more gorgeous setting for a small outdoor wedding. They have a pretty lawn where you can set up chairs facing a nice gazebo. There is even a concrete pad that would be perfect for dancing. A kitchen, dining room, and a living area can be used indoors.
If you are planning an event you will definitely want to speak with someone to get all the details.
You could even reserve all the rooms for your out of town guests.
The Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock
The location of The Baker is simply perfect. It is in the fun and trendy Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock. This is an area that is home to great restaurants, galleries, performing arts venues, coffee shops, and bars.
Best of all? These things are all within walking distance of The Baker.
A wonderful Italian restaurant, Ristorante Capeo, is literally steps from the front door of this boutique hotel.
Want to take in a concert or an event? Simmons Bank Arena is about 1/2 mile away.
How about a baseball game? Dickey Stephens Ballpark is just down the road and around the corner.
In addition to all the amenities on the north side of the Arkansas river, the property is only a short jaunt to downtown Little Rock which has some of the best dining and entertainment options in town.
You can drive, walk across a pedestrian bridge, or hop on the streetcar to get to the River Market District and the downtown area of Little Rock.
I would suggest the River Rail Streetcar! It runs in front of The Baker with a stop just across the street. The street car is a great way to get a tour of the area.
I hope that you enjoy your stay at The Baker!
Here is a list of our favorite restaurants in Little Rock that you might find helpful for your visit.
And here is a list of some great breweries – a couple of which are very near The Baker!
Thanks for stopping by.
