How will you spend your time between sessions?
We asked the people who know it best how visitors can best spend their time in the Spa City; they suggested visiting these attractions during your downtime:
Day 1
7 a.m. | Start the day with a cup of coffee at one of Hot Springs’ cafes. Robo World offers a very unique, robot-themed experience, with automaton-assisted baristas. Espresso Yourselfie also has a modern atmosphere, with a gift shop and plenty of photo opportunities for those who want an aesthetic experience. The Coffee House of Hot Springs touts its iced lattes and also offers specialty drinks and baked goods. Kollective Coffee + Tea is a third-wave coffeehouse specializing in organic and local offerings, with breakfast and lunch also available.
8 a.m.-noon | Meeting time
Noon | Hit the 420 Eats Food Court and select from a variety of rotating food trucks offering everything from Mexican and Southern soul food to hibachi and Thai. With picnic tables, outdoor games and restroom and changing room facilities, this is a family-friendly lunch stop.
1-5 p.m. | Meeting time
5-6:30 p.m. | Turn in at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, the largest hotel in Arkansas, historically preserved from the current building’s original 1924 construction (the first Arlington was actually built in 1875, before relocating to a larger lot in 1893; that building burned down in 1923). With a number of suite options, along with specialty rooms like The Babe Ruth, named for the famed pitcher who frequented the hotel, or The Capone, a room that was previously rented by the mobster Al Capone — this hotel can accommodate groups or individuals.
6:30 p.m. | Grab a slice your way at one of Hot Springs’ local pizzerias. Rocky’s Corner, since 1975, has served classic Chicago-style pizza with a homemade taste that promises to “knock you out.” Similarly, Rod’s Pizza Cellar, also a staple for the last 50 years, offers specialty pizzas, pasta and other Italian staples. Grateful Head Pizza Oven, owned and operated by a pair of Deadhead brothers, offers Grateful Dead-themed specialty pizzas and beer. The Little Italy Italian Bistro serves authentic, signature Italian cuisine, and includes a full bar.
8:30 p.m. | Head to the Bridge St. Live! Entertainment District for weekly outdoor entertainment in close proximity to local shopping and dining. Or visit the historic Vapors Live, where the likes of Tony Bennett and Liberace have performed.
Day 2
7 a.m. | Get a cup of Onyx coffee or Savoy tea at Greenway Outfitters before renting an eBike and hitting the Hot Springs Greenway, a 3.6 mile walking and biking trail just off the downtown area.
8 a.m.-noon | Meeting time
Noon | Try some international cuisine: Via Roma and J&S Italian Villa both dish up authentic Italian. The GOAT Mediterranean Grill has traditional Greek fare and craft cocktails. The Pho House serves Vietnamese. Try Jamaican food at 10Fiyahside Island Grill, or give Hawaii Express Poke & Grill a try.
2 p.m. | Treat yourself at Quapaw Baths and Spa, where guests are invited to soak in thermal mineral baths before or after traditional spa services, including massages, skin treatments and more, all in a historic bathhouse setting.
5 p.m. | Sit down for quality cuisine at 501 Prime, one of Hot Springs’ newest steakhouses, with top-tier wine, whiskey and bourbon selections. Or visit the Vault, anchoring a historic, 19th-century bank downtown, an award-winning restaurant with locally sourced ingredients. And after dinner, head upstairs to the Heist, an attached bar and lounge. The Porterhouse is another favorite of steak-lovers.
7:30 p.m. | Enjoy a show at Oaklawn Resort & Casino, which offers two performance stages for visiting artists. Or hit the smoke-free gaming floor for standard casino amenities.
10 p.m. | Have a nightcap at The Ohio Club, a historic venue once famous for its criminal clientele — like Capone and Lucky Luciano — that now hosts regular live music while maintaining its speakeasy atmosphere.
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