Going to Market in Little Rock
To Market, To Market
The River Market District is downtown Little Rock’s hotspot. Located just a short walk from the Convention Center and many upscale hotels, this picturesque street is filled with quaint shops, excellent eateries, and the River Market Hall.
Nestled on the bank of the Arkansas River, the River Market serves as the hallmark of downtown Little Rock. A combination of an open-air pavilion and a lofty, arched shopping area, the Market houses some 17 merchants, from florists with a flair for design, to butchers selling locally raised meat cured in Arkansas’ famous smokehouses.
The first thing one notices when entering the Market is the mixed aroma of coffee, pastries and international dishes. There is no limit to dining possibilities. Andina Caf�© is the perfect spot for that first cup of the day. The Caf�© offers a wide selection of gourmet coffees and cappuccinos, pastries, and for lunch, delicious sandwiches. A sampling of worldwide cuisine is available in the Market. From box lunches at Big on Tokyo to authentic Mexican food at Casa Ma�±ana to couscous at Middle Eastern Cuisine, one could spend weeks here and never eat the same meal twice!
The Market is the ideal place to buy gifts and memorabilia. Visitors will be delighted with the Arkansas products for sale, such as jams and jellies, honey, and salsa in Arkansas Junction. Eyiuche’s Accessories offers a beautiful collection of bright apparel and eclectic jewelry for women.
Eat Your Veggies
During the spring and summer, a Farmer’s Market is held in the open-air pavilion. Local farmers come from all over the state to display their rosy tomatoes, plump strawberries, and crisp beans. Locals know that this is where they can find the freshest fruits and vegetables at the best prices. Other vendors often accompany the Farmer’s Market, selling handmade jewelry, paintings, and hand sewn clothing. Every day is bustling with excitement at the River Market.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
The River Market is not the only place one can find quality shops. Just outside the Market, on President Clinton Avenue, is an assortment of boutiques. Visitors are always attracted to the African hand-carved wooden figurines in the window of AfrJaMex. This appealing boutique is an ethnically diverse shop with beautiful statues, pottery, clothing, house wares, trinkets, and jewelry from Africa, Jamaica and Mexico. This shop is as much a cultural museum as a store.
Take A Hike sells everything a lover of the outdoors needs-from boots to compasses, and canoes to backpacks. The employees are avid outdoors people, and are extremely helpful at answering questions. Stone County Iron Works crafts beautiful furniture, lamps, fixtures, rugs, and planters from iron. This is an excellent gift shop!
Party Time
Shopping is only a small part of the fun to be had in the River Market District. Exciting events are held just a few feet away in the Riverfront Park, such as the annual Riverfest, held each May on the river’s bank. Entertainment, food, music, artists, and a spectacular fireworks performance delight thousands each year. Well-known musicians perform concerts in the open amphitheatre in the park throughout the year.
Get Your Culture On
Around the corner from the Market is the Museum of Discovery, a hands-on science museum aimed at children, yet enticing all ages. If the kids are along for the trip, this is a must-see for them. This is an educational, but fun way to learn about the human body, electricity, technology and more! Every month brings a new, intriguing exhibit to explore.
For Adults Only
The rest of the District is loaded with restaurants and pubs. The Flying Saucer, one of two British-style pubs on the street (the other is The Underground), boasts over 200 kinds of beers from around the world. Those who prefer Miller should not visit this dark, comfy bar; since they specialize in export drafts and bottles of all sorts of beers and ciders. They also have a menu of munchies that goes nicely with Australian beer or Indian cider! Pool tables and rock music entertain the thirtysomething crowds every night of the week.
Other nightlife manifests itself at places such as Sticky Fingerz and Pour House, which offer live entertainment throughout the week. These locales are an excellent way to spot terrific singers and bands before they hit it big. Many performers are regulars at these restaurant/bars, and draw in crowds of fans nightly.
For those who prefer a less rowdy evening and a good meal, not all restaurants in the area are entertainment hotspots. The Flying Fish is an experience not to miss. Its bustling activity keeps this fried catfish and shrimp joint hopping from the lunch hour ’til closing. Spicy crawfish are available in season, for you fellow Cajuns.
Trio’s is an upscale restaurant offering outstanding service and high-quality cuisine. Meals here are a bit pricey, so be prepared to sit back, enjoy a gourmet meal, and hand over the credit card when it’s over! Trio’s ambience is candlelit, quiet, and classical. The menu includes poetic names for dishes such as Sea Bass Haiku and Ribeye Reta.
Business or Pleasure?
The River Market District is the ideal place for those on business trips, simply because everything is within walking distance! There are several hotels, all recommended by the Convention Center, just minutes away from the food and shopping.
The Arkansas Excelsior is located a stone’s throw from the Convention Center. Its excellent service has given it the reputation of being one of the best hotels in downtown Little Rock. With amenities like the Executive Business Center, three restaurants and fitness center, guests feel right at home.
The Capitol Hotel is also located near the River Market District. This posh hotel prides itself on its Old World charm and modern-day hospitality. And it has a right to take claim to the term “Old World,” since it first opened in 1876, making it one of the area’s oldest hotels still in business. The rooms are complete luxury, decorated in marble and oak. For those who are reluctant to wander far from the comfort of the Capitol Hotel, Ashley’s Restaurant, located inside the hotel, offers creative and costly cuisine to guests.
The Convention Center itself is host to hundreds of conventions, meetings and luncheons each year. Not just Arkansas businesses take advantage of the spacious meeting rooms and technology available for presentations, but companies from all over the country. The staff is well trained and ensures that programs go off without a hitch.
Getting into and out of Little Rock is a breeze with the efficient Little Rock airport. Shuttles go from the Convention Center to airport daily, to accommodate business travelers, and the drive is only ten minutes.
Seattle, Los Angeles and Dallas now have competition. Little Rock is the undiscovered city of plenty, and downtown Little Rock has it all. Eliminating the hassle of renting a car and driving from one end of a city to another is well worth the pleasant visit to this place full of Southern charm and big-city know-how. Whether it is a balmy summer or a mild winter, any time is ideal to visit Little Rock.
