Get To Know Fayetteville, Arkansas

By: The Local Palate

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For years this funk Northwest Arkansas city lived in a shadow of its own making, once known best to students and outsiders as the home of the University of Arkansas or as the heart of Hog Country (“Wooo Pig Sooie!”). But today Fayetteville has officially taken its rightful seat at the proverbial grown-ups’ table of the culinary world.

A steady influx of new chefs, artisan coffee roasters, and entrepreneurs— including many passionate graduates who have chosen to stay—has redefined the city and turned it into a year-round playground for refined palates. Even its dive bars and college hangouts have, in recent years, matured their menus to include seasonal cocktails with zero-proof options and bespoke bar snacks, like popcorn seasoned with cumin or made-to-order elotes—meaning Fayetteville’s culinary scene has never been more exciting.

Sidecar cocktail lounge bartender — Sidecar Cocktail Lounge

Best Places to Eat, Drink, and Explore

BEST NONALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS

Sidecar Cocktail Lounge

Bartender Trey Fincher takes a chef’s approach to cocktails at this vinyl bar where sober hour is daily and his full- and zero-proof creations change seasonally.

BEST BRUNCH

The Farmer’s Table Café

Farmers are the rock stars of this vegan- friendly brunch, alongside legendary breakfast tacos made with housemade vegan “sausage” or with pork from Bansley’s Berkshire Ridge Farm.

BEST LATTE

Pink House Alchemy

The entire range of Pink House Alchemy syrups, shrubs, and bitters are fair game for custom latte concoctions at its flagship café; even the pastries are syrup-infused.

BEST SWEET FIND

Crème Ice Cream Co.

Southern cornbread and saffron pistachio are perennial favorites at this small-batch creamery, but it’s worth ordering the ice cream flight to sample their rotating specialty flavors.

BEST PATIO HANG

City Park

Fayetteville’s community-oriented and nature-appreciating spirit combine at this expansive patio restaurant—an extension of the city park—where weekends are reserved for slow- smoked barbecue and lawn games.

ice cream flight at creme ice cream co — Ice cream flight at Crème Ice Cream Co.

Where to Shop

Hotvine Wine Shop

More than a bottle shop, this little yellow building is filled with pros who also curate vibey playlists and local snack pairings. They stock boutique wines from around the world, with a great selection of zero-proof and non- alcoholic beverages, and sell 2-ounce pours from their on-site tasting room.

Fayetteville Farmers Market

Fayetteville Farmers Market, one of Arkansas’ longest running, is the heartbeat of the city. From handmade leather goods and gluten-free pastries to farm-fresh skincare products and seasonal produce, the year-round market is a vibrant celebration of all things local.

Bloom Cheese Collective

The husband-and-wife team behind this cut-to-order cheese shop regularly stocks 100 cheeses at any given time. Brooks (a trained chef) and Ali Cameron (a cheesemonger) source their products from around the world, serving in- house charcuterie boards with curated wine or beer pairings and BYOT (Bring Your Own Tray) for charcuterie to go.

Where to Stay

The Stonebreaker

This 78-room hotel tapped a James Beard-recognized restaurant design firm to ideate its industrial farmhouse aesthetic, opening just after the 2024-2025 football season. The hotel’s interior gives the feel- ing of an adult summer camp, with rustic minimalist furnishings and plenty of communal gathering spaces all accented in earthy greens and creams. The hotel also includes an award-winning restaurant, bar, and a members-only club that’s housed in a restored Victorian house on the property.