Northwest Arkansas Travel Guide: Bentonville
Christmas is right around the corner, and I have been getting into the holiday spirit by playing Christmas music, decorating the house, and shopping for loved ones. When it comes to gift giving, I love shopping at local shops as much as possible. This past weekend I even had a shopping day around town with a friend. While we went to multiple areas to find the perfect book or local brewed teas, the majority of stores we gravitated towards were in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Bentonville is a growing town in Northwest Arkansas that was put on the map by the Walton Family. The first Wal-Mart opened up in this area, and its headquarters has only expanded over the past few years. Over the past decade this area has boomed, bringing in families from all over the country. With these families has come a thriving downtown and many delicious food options. The list of places to go to in Bentonville could be a mile long, but I tried to stick to some of my favorites.
Where to Dress Up for Date Night
The Preacher’s Son
This restaurant inside a renovated church is the perfect place for an anniversary or birthday celebration. Not only is the interior beautiful to look at, but I’ve never had a bad meal from their rotating menu. I will note this is a pretty high end restaurant, so it might be for special celebrations only. If you aren’t looking to dine, there are two great options for bars both above and below the restaurant. The rooftop bar is perfect for those summer nights, but around this time of year the Undercroft is the perfect place for a drink reservation. Located in the basement of the building, this bar has recently been converted to a Christmas themed wonderland. Drew and I recently met up with a friend there and tried festive holiday drinks like boozy eggnog and mulled wine. I would recommend going all out on the drinks, but save your appetite for the restaurant upstairs.
Blu Fish House
I am personally a big fan of sushi, and occasionally I will get a craving for Blu Fish House in Bentonville. Known for flying in fresh fish every day, this restaurant will satisfy any seafood lover. I personally love getting the Flaming Blu roll that the server sets on fire at your table. If you aren’t the biggest sushi fan, there are multiple options on the menu like pasta and sandwiches.
We loved trying the themed drinks at the Undercroft’s Christmas pop up bar.
Where to Gab Over a Glass of Wine
Oven and Tap
One of my favorite casual spots off downtown Bentonville is Oven and Tap. The wood fired pizza just hits the spot with a glass of wine. I also enjoy their appetizers like the rosemary lemon edamame, fried mozzarella bites, and salt and vinegar potatoes. We have sat both on the patio and at the bar and enjoyed taking friends there whenever they come to town.
Tavola Trattoria
Tavlola has become a well known spot between me and one of my good friends, Olivia. Whenever we are having a hard week or in desperate need of some girl time, we end up texting each other to meet for a glass of wine and the salmon at Tavola. While I’ve tried many other things on the menu, there is just something about the salmon, grilled asparagus, and creamy risotto that is the perfect entree to fuel us for a yap session.
Where to Become an Art Connoisseur
Crystal Bridges
Since corporate Wal-Mart is just around the corner, sometimes Bentonville gets the perks of corporate money. Crystal Bridges is a free art gallery surrounded by plenty of gardens and trails. This is one of the places I take friends that are visiting Northwest Arkansas for the first time. They are consistently impressed by the collection of Normal Rockwell and Andy Warhol masterpieces. In the future, I hope to make it up there to see some of their traveling exhibits. I will note those exhibits come with a small price tag, but may be worth it depending on the time of year.
When my friend Cara came to town, of course I had to take her on a tour around Crystal Bridges!
Where to Treat Yourself
Two Friends Books
Overall, I love the group of shops over at 8th Street Market in Bentonville, but I especially love Two Friends Books. Y’all know I am the biggest fan of independent bookstores, and this place checks all of the boxes. Not only are there adorable nooks to sit down to take a peek in a new book, but there is also a cafe and adorable children’s section. If you find yourself looking for community, there are also several book club options including a Romance Readers book club. If I weren’t already in three book clubs you would find me there almost every week.
Markham and Fitz Chocolates
Not only has my friend Olivia addicted me to the salmon at Tavola, but she also introduced me to Markham and Fitz. I am automatically a fan of any store that gives free samples, but I was honestly very impressed by their unique flavors and quality of chocolates. If you are looking to give someone a special treat, their truffle box is absolutely divine. I look forward to trying their drinking chocolate in the future.
Where to Get Some Fresh Air
Airship at Coler Bike Reserve
Another place I love to take friends to visit is the Airship Coffee Shop on the Coler Bike Reserve. This unique coffee shop is open air and is a perfect excuse to have a walk in the woods. My favorite time of year to go is in the fall, but honestly the area is great any time of year as long as you have a hot beverage in your hand.
The drinks at Onyx always hit the spot.
Where to Satisfy a Hankerin’
Thai Basil
One of the first things Drew and I did when coming to Northwest Arkansas is try and find our go-to Thai restaurant. Thai food is my ultimate comfort food, and we had a place in Knoxville that we still hold near and dear to our hearts. Fortunately, Thai Basil was only the second restaurant we visited. As soon as Drew took a singular bite of his drunken noodles he stated “I’m satisfied”. If that isn’t a good enough review, then I don’t know what is.
Onyx Downtown
I can’t talk about places to visit in Bentonville without mentioning Onyx coffee. Seriously, this coffee shop is on the next level. Known for their baristas winning international coffee awards, this coffee lab’s flavors still manage to surprise me. Their chocolate chai they came out with this fall had to be one of the best chais I have ever tasted. I can not wait to try out their winter menu. Nothing beats grabbing an Onyx downtown then hitting up the farmers market on a Saturday morning.
If this hasn’t enticed you enough to want to check out one of the biggest biking capitals in America, then the curated small town southern charm might convince you to spend a little time in Bentonville, Arkansas. I still have a long list in my notes app of places to visit in Bentonville and hopefully in 2025 I can report back soon.