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 capital city; they suggested visiting these attractions during your downtime:
Day 1
7 a.m. | Grab a cup of coffee in the River Market District at one of the unique local roasteries: Nexus Coffee & Creative has a whimsical, inspiring atmosphere, while Fidel&Co. offers a relaxed sophistication.
8 a.m.-noon | Meeting time
Noon | Stop by The Food Truck Stop at Station 801 in downtown Little Rock, a food truck park with a variety of offerings from multiple food trucks each weekday. Guests have access to on-site parking and indoor seating for a quick, comfortable lunch.
1-5 p.m. | Meeting time
5-6:30 p.m. | Settle in at The Capital Hotel, “Little Rock’s front porch.” For more than a century, the hotel has hosted dignified guests including presidents, celebrities and business magnates. It’s a hallmark of downtown Little Rock, complete with two fine dining restaurants, black car service for guests and 94 rooms and suites.
6:30 p.m. | Hit one of downtown Little Rock’s local pizzerias, like Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom in SOMA, Iriana’s Pizza in the River Market, the historic Vino’s Brew Pub or the upscale Bruno’s Little Italy. Or head over to the Heights to visit ZAZA Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co., offering Neapolitan-style pizza and Italian-style gelato, or The Pizzeria for wood-oven pizza and craft cocktails.
8:30 p.m. | Soak up the sound at one of Little Rock’s downtown music venues, like Vino’s, the Revolution Music Room, Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken Shack, Willy D’s Piano Bar or the Little Rock Hall. Or head down to the Capital View/Stifft Station neighborhood to visit the White Water Tavern.
Day 2
6:30 a.m. | Sit down for breakfast in SOMA, where you can find sweet and savory options near the downtown business district. Community Bakery and Boulevard Bread Co. both offer standard cafe and bakery fare. The Root is a farm-to-table concept with breakfast and lunch options, while The Spot at SOMA has signature waffles and sandwiches.
8 a.m.-noon | Meeting time
Noon | Try international and fusion cuisine across the city for lunch. From Italian to Indian, the city has it all: Star of India in West Little Rock (recently named Little Rock Regional Chamber’s Minority Business of the Year), Cafe Bossa Nova offering Brazilian food in Hillcrest; Kemuri, a sushi spot in Hillcrest; Kontiki on South University offering African food; Layla’s Gyros & Pizzeria for halal fare in West Little Rock; Mike’s Cafe, a Vietnamese restaurant near the University of Arkansas Little Rock; or Heights Taco & Tamale Co., among many others.
2 p.m. | Learn about Little Rock’s place in history with a visit to the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, the Old Statehouse Museum chronicling the state’s history or the Historic Arkansas Museum, where guests can reflect on 19th-century ways of life. For science whizzes, the Museum of Discovery offers family-friendly, interactive exhibits. The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts sits in historic MacArthur Park and was in 2023 renovated and expanded.
5 p.m. | Head out to West Little Rock to try some of the impressive restaurants in this more newly developed side of town: Petit & Keet, offering unique culinary experiences with each meal; Mt. Fuji Japanese Restaurant, the city’s oldest sushi spot, which recently relocated; and more.
7:30 p.m. | Take a trip over the Broadway Bridge to Dickey Stephens Arena in North Little Rock for an Arkansas Travelers game in the summer. During the fall, cheer on the UA Little Rock Trojans at the Jack Stephens Center on campus. In the spring, visitors can root for the Little Rock Aces youth hockey team at the Arkansas Skatium.
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