A Food Lover’s Guide to Mississippi’s Top Culinary Cities

Boasting an impressive variety of award-winning chefs, locally-owned restaurants, and unique fare, Mississippi offers food enthusiasts a flavorful journey to experience. Whether you’re exploring cultural heritage in Oxford, Southern history in Jackson, public art in Hattiesburg, or basking in the laid-back charm of Mississippi’s coastal cities, you’re sure to enjoy many unforgettable meals and moments along the way.

Oxford

In Oxford, immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant literary scene with a visit to Square Books, a beloved bookstore right on the historic downtown square. During your visit, be sure to stroll through the beautiful University of Mississippi campus and visit Rowan Oak, the former home of legendary author William Faulkner. Craving some music? Oxford is also home to the Lyric Theater, where you can catch live music from regional and national touring acts.

Best Bites: Snack Bar, led by James Beard Award-winning chef Vishwesh Bhatt, is a local favorite. It’s one of four restaurants in John Currence’s City Grocery Group (all of them worth visiting). If you’re in the mood for Southern comfort food, you can’t go wrong with Ajax Diner.

Jackson

Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city, is known for its cultural attractions and museums, including the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and the city’s newest museums, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History. Together, the two museums offer insight into 15,000 years of history and a collection of more than 17,000 historic artifacts.

Best Bites: For a unique twist on upscale diner food, head to Walker’s Drive-In, where Chef Derek Emerson combines seasonal ingredients with classic Southern cuisine. Or try the Mayflower Cafe. The beloved restaurant recently re-opened under the culinary leadership of Hunter Evans, co-owner and head chef of the acclaimed Jackson restaurant Elvie’s.

Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg combines small-town charm with big-city creative energy. Begin your visit with a tour of the city’s public art trail feature more than 50 large-scale murals. Stop by the Hattiesburg Zoo, a family favorite, or explore the Longleaf Trace, a 44-mile scenic paved trail system.

Best Bites: The Porter Public House combines classic American pub fare with house-made craft beer. Ed’s Burger Joint, owned by local restaurateur Robert St. John, is another popular choice, featuring an extensive burger menu and decadent milkshakes.

Coastal Mississippi

Coastal Mississippi offers a mix of natural beauty and coastal charm. While the coast is known for the casino resorts and beaches of Biloxi and Gulfport, be sure to explore the area’s smaller communities, including Ocean Springs, home to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.

Best Bites: In Ocean Springs, Vestige offers a seasonal tasting menu created by James Beard semi-finalists Alex Perry and his wife and co-owner Kumi Omori. For classic coastal dining, head to White Pillars in Biloxi, where Chef Austin Sumrall showcases Gulf flavors with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Mississippi’s cities are packed with diverse experiences, from literature and history to coastal beauty, and each one offers a dining scene that celebrates the best of Southern cuisine. 

Learn more at VisitMississippi.org/Flavors.

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