Hot Springs, Arkansas was recently named one of the top ten small destinations on the 2017 U.S. Tourism Quality Index, and after my first visit I can attest that recognition is well deserved. I expected to enjoy Hot Springs, but I didn’t expect to fall for the town’s food scene, historic architecture, thermal baths and compact National Park. I spent most of my time walking downtown and sampling the local restaurants, and this guide — Hot Springs, AR: Where to Eat and Other Travel Recommendations, Part 2 — focuses on dinner options, nightlife, the National Park, Garvan Woodland Gardens and hot spring treatments. If you missed Part 1, check that for breakfast and lunch recommendations.
Where to Eat Dinner in Hot Springs, AR
Many of the downtown spots open for lunch also serve dinner, including Angel’s in the Park, The Ohio Club, Rolando’s, Copper Penny Pub and Kollective. Below are a few additional dinner choices and notes to help plan your evening meals.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery
Superior Bathhouse Brewery transformed an old bathhouse into the first brewery located on U.S. National Park property and the first in the world to brew with thermal spring water as a principal ingredient. It’s a great stop for a local beer and a full menu. Note: because the building sits on National Park land, alcohol service may require guests to be seated, so plan your arrival accordingly. I enjoyed a lighter beer with a salmon entrée — a satisfying meal after a day of exploring.
Angels in the Park
Chef Rosario’s seasonal menu impressed me repeatedly — his Chicken Rosario was a favorite and the restaurant’s fresh-made bread is dangerously good. Everything is prepared from scratch, so allow time for your meal. The setting is historic and intimate: dim candlelight indoors, or a pleasant patio when the weather is warm. It’s a romantic, relaxed spot with attentive service and a thoughtful wine list.
Rolando’s
Rolando’s offers a lively, eclectic menu with Latin influences. Lunch and dinner share the same offerings, with smaller portions for midday. Standouts include Pollo Chuchaqui and options featuring goat cheese, tamales, shrimp and pork preparations. Portions can be generous, so consider sharing or taking leftovers back to your hotel.
The Ohio Club
The Ohio Club is a historic downtown tavern known for its atmosphere and live jazz on weekday evenings. If you can time dinner to coincide with the music, it’s one of the highlights of a visit.
Luna Bella
Reservations are recommended at this popular neighborhood restaurant. I enjoyed a peach salad with arugula, almonds and goat cheese, and a Going Green pasta with shrimp — spinach fettuccine in a tomato-saffron broth with vegetables. The menu is creative, the service friendly and the bar can be a good spot for solo diners when the dining room is full.
Other spots to consider
On future visits I plan to try Steinbaus Keller German Restaurant and Biergarten and The Avenue. The downtown dining scene has a range of options, from casual pubs to refined bistros.
Where to Have a Drink in Hot Springs, AR
For beer and live music, try The Ohio Club (jazz nights during the week), Copper Penny Pub and Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Other places worth checking out on a following trip include Steinbaus Keller, Craft Beer Cellar, The Avenue and The Arlington. If you prefer wine and a quiet atmosphere, Angels in the Park is a comfortable option.
Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is the smallest U.S. national park but rich in history. Congress set the area aside as the Hot Springs Reservation in 1832 to protect its thermal waters; it became a National Park in 1921. The city grew around the springs as a spa destination, and Bathhouse Row reflects that gilded-age heritage.
The park has 47 springs emerging from Hot Springs Mountain at an average temperature around 143°F. The National Park Service manages the springs and makes the water available to the public in its natural state — public filling stations let visitors take water home for personal use (resale is prohibited). There are no entrance fees for the park or the visitor center museum.
The park is generally divided into Hot Springs Mountain, adjacent to downtown and home to the Grand Promenade, thermal springs and the Water Tower, and West Mountain, which offers a scenic drive and additional hiking trails. The Grand Promenade is a brick, accessible walkway above the historic bathhouses with benches, active springs and trail connections to the tower and viewpoints.
I walked the Promenade each morning, climbed to the Mountain Tower and drove the scenic roads on West Mountain. The park has roughly 26 miles of trails to explore on future visits.
Bathhouse Row
Bathhouse Row is the historic heart of Hot Springs where several preserved bathhouses line the hillside. The district is a National Historic Landmark with stunning architecture. Today, Buckstaff and Quapaw continue as bathhouse operations: Quapaw has a large communal bathing pool and private tubs, while Buckstaff focuses on private thermal baths and modern spa treatments. The Fordyce Bathhouse operates as the National Park Visitor Center with restored rooms that show how the original bathhouses looked.
Several downtown hotels also offer spa services and private tubs filled with park water, including The Arlington Hotel, the Austin Hotel and The Springs Hotel & Spa. I treated myself to a private hot spring bath and massage at The Arlington and found the full-immersion experience restorative. If you want a traditional soak, Quapaw’s communal pool is a more casual option, while Buckstaff offers a quieter, service-focused experience.
Garvan Woodland Gardens
A short drive from downtown, Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical garden set along a wooded shoreline. It’s open daily with ticket sales ending about 30 minutes before closing. I visited late in the day and wished I’d arrived earlier — it’s a lovely place to wander among plantings, water features and a picturesque chapel commonly used for weddings.
Admission (noted here as of October 2017) was roughly $15 for adults, $5 for children and free for toddlers; one leashed dog per person was allowed for a small fee. Memberships can be a good value if you plan multiple visits.
Wednesday Night Poetry Night at Kollective Coffee+Tea
Kollective hosts a long-running Wednesday poetry night that has met weekly since 1989. The evening features a guest reader and an open mic where anyone may share original work or readings they admire. It’s a warm, communal event and a wonderful way to connect with local arts and perspectives. There’s no charge, and arriving early to order coffee, soup or a pastry is a good idea.
Where to Stay
I stayed at the downtown Park Hotel for its affordable rates and unbeatable location across from the National Park. The lobby is historic and charming, although rooms show their age and could use updates. The hotel is clean, pet-friendly, and centrally located so most attractions and restaurants are within walking distance. For visitors who want to be in the heart of downtown, many of the local hotels emphasize history and proximity over modern luxury.
Other downtown hotels share a similar character: historic lobbies, compact rooms and easy access to the park, shops and dining.
A Word About Traveling Solo
I’ve traveled alone many times, but this trip was different: no business, no family visits, just work from my laptop and free time to explore. I walked, ate and attended events on my own and found the experience surprisingly rewarding. Solo travel gives an opportunity for unhurried observation, reflection and chance encounters. If you’ve wanted to try traveling alone, start small — a day trip or nearby weekend — and see how it feels. It can open up new ways of noticing people, places and the small details that often get overlooked when we travel with others.