Places to Eat In/Near the Village
- DeSoto Club - it’s right around the corner and has a large dining room, a bar, and patio seating
- Sunset Grill - it’s on Lake Balboa, and features amazing lake views and outdoor seating. The food is average, but the views make up for it.
- Home Plate - on Highway 7 and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options…we love the homemade kettle chips and the bakery attached always has fresh pies and other dessert options
- El Jimador - just across Lake DeSoto from the townhouse, and has a wonderful outdoor deck overlooking the lake - reliable Mexican food
- Amore Pizza - just outside the West gate - offers pizza by the slice or full pizzas, calzones, and strombolis - dine in or take out
- Clampits - it’s a meat market with pre-seasoned options if you want to cook in the unit, but offers plate BBQ for dine-in or take-out for lunch (https://clampitscountrykitchen.com/lunch)
- Kraemer Wisconsin Cheese - not a restaurant, but definitely worth visiting to load up on items for a homemade charcuterie board in the unit (some folks from WI have a house in the village and had so many requests from friends to bring cheese back with them when they’d come, they opened up a store!)
- The Shack - just up Highway 7 in Jessieville - they are open 11-3 Tuesday through Saturday and have the BEST fried catfish plates (and great burgers and shakes, too)
- Melinda's Cafe and Coffee - a great coffee shop and cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, with a boutique and Vintage Pearl Market attached. https://www.facebook.com/MelindasHSV/
- The Sandtrap - another bar just outside of the West Gate that offers restaurant seating and live music on the weekends
Places to Eat In/Near Hot Springs
- Cafe 1217 - delicious and fresh food options for everyone - our favorite lunch spot on the way to the gardens (see Garvan Woodland Gardens in things to do) https://www.cafe1217.net
- 501 Prime - we LOVE this spot for special occasions. There hasn’t been anything we didn’t like. There is also Bourbon Bar upstairs. Reservations recommended. https://www.501prime.com
- Fisherman’s Wharf - Laid-back seafood spot on a lake with grilled & fried fish, nautical decor & a spacious patio on Lake Hamilton https://www.hotsprings.org/places/restaurants/fishermans-wharf-steak-seafood/
- Luna Bella - Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you; Luna Bella is a true Italian-American culinary gem nestled just behind a strip mall in Lake Hamilton - https://lunabellahotsprings.com/
- Lost Creek Grill - great food and quality customer service https://www.facebook.com/lostcreekgrill/
- Pancake Shop - if you love breakfast, you don’t want to miss this spot. Will there be a line? Yes. Will it be worth the wait? Yes. Don’t miss the fresh orange juice with your delicious pancake. https://www.pancakeshop.com/
- Kilwins - I know you can get Kilwins in other cities, but really…the ice cream, chocolates, and dipped apples should not be passed up
- Ouachita Bar & Grill - From slow-smoked brisket and pulled pork BBQ to handcrafted burgers and Southern sides, this diamond in the rough is really delicious. And Sunday bingo brunch is so fun! https://www.obghotsprings.com/
- Bubba Brew's Sports Pub and Grill - another lakeside delight on beautiful Lake Hamilton, where you can enjoy tasty cold ones along with great food, music, pool tables, and outdoor games. The XL Pretzel with beer cheese is a must try - https://www.hotsprings.org/places/restaurants/bubba-brews-sports-pub-grill/
- Don’t forget the restaurants at the racetrack. Visit https://oaklawn.com/dining/ for a complete list. For a special evening, we recommend the OAK room & bar - an intimate, plush dining destination where refined service and elevated cuisine converge in a setting of intentional luxury.
Things to Do In/Near the Village
- Pickleball - you can rent rackets and reserve courts by calling the clubhouse https://hsvpickleball.com/
- Miniature Golf - the same clubhouse can rent you the mini-golf clubs https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ApA1UidxG/
- Golf - take your pick of the 8 courses! Contact our Central Tee Time office at 501-922-2858 for guest tee times. https://explorethevillage.com/web/pages/golf
- Estate sales on the weekend - it’s a fun way to explore the Village! Search zip code 71909 on EstateSales.net for current listings
- Grove Park Farmer's Market on Thursday mornings - 1105 DeSoto Boulevard
- Walking trails/spillway - there are SO many trails in the Village! Our favorite is the Balboa trail because of the fabulous spillway (if the water is running) https://explorethevillage.com/web/pages/trail-maps
- Kayaking - you can rent kayaks on Lake DeSoto for a peaceful adventure with herons, geese, the occasional bald eagle, and other wildlife sightings https://explorethevillage.com/web/pages/lakes
- Rent a boat and take a sunset cruise on Lake DeSoto or Lake Balboa (larger lake)
- Scenic overlook - put Lake Lago Overlook Google Plus Code into your maps and enjoy the view! Plus Code: M3M5+7G Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, or drive the Jarandilla loop until you see the brown "scenic overlook" sign in the curve
- Water sports and rentals on Lake Ouachita - Just up the road from the village is the largest lake completely in Arkansas. Lake Ouachita State Park Marina offers water sport rentals to explore this beautiful lake
- Crystal Mining - bring clothes you can throw away when you're done (the clay dirt stains beyond repair), but we have unearthed some AMAZING crystals. It's so fun! https://www.roncolemanmining.com/
Things to Do In/Near Hot Springs
- Fordyce Bathhouse - restored bathhouse free to tour and run by the National Park Service - don’t miss it! https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/historyculture/fordyce-bathhouse.htm
- Central Avenue/Bathhouse Row - visit all the shops, put your hand in the hot spring water at Arlington Park
- Garvan Woodland Gardens - GORGEOUS gardens with walking paths and flowers blooming year-round - https://www.garvangardens.org
- Arlington Hotel (historic lobby) - https://www.arlingtonhotel.com/history
- Spa day at one of the bathhouses - we’ve been to, and can recommend, the Quapaw and Buckstaff
- Rooftop Bar - perfect spot on a nice night https://thewatershs.com/amenities/the-rooftop-bar/
- The Ohio Club - Arkansas' oldest bar and has been a stop off place for many celebrities like Al Capone, Bugsy Segel, Bugs Moran, Lucky Luciano. So much history! We like the burgers and live music. https://theohioclub.com
- Hot Springs Mountain Tower - Elevate yourself 1,256 feet above sea level, overlooking 140 miles of beautiful Arkansas countryside, including Hot Springs National Park and the Ouachita Mountains. Located atop Hot Springs Mountain.
- Oaklawn Racetrack - Watch live top quality thoroughbred racing (January-April). There are many restaurants in this facility. (We haven't been to all of the restaurants, but The Oak Room is FABULOUS) https://oaklawn.com
- Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Water and Theme Park - one of our favorite things to do in the summer is attend live concerts included with your ticket. They have an outdoor ampitheater and a grassy lawn to spread out a blanket and enjoy! https://magicsprings.com
- Mid America Science Museum - our friends with children raved about this one. Arkansas’ largest hands-on science center and the state’s first Smithsonian Affiliate. https://www.midamericamuseum.org