South Main District

SOUTH MAIN

Two decades ago, South Main was a neighborhood dying on the vine, but you wouldn’t know it to look at the eclectic district today. Historic charm meets the creative beat of residents and business owners who have turned the funky, slightly gritty stretch into one of Little Rock’s most popular outings. Stroll past the art sculptures that line almost every block, visit a vintage shop fortified with fresh-brewed coffee and scones from the corner bakery. Enjoy fresh, creative fare washed down with hand-crafted local spirits and you’ll know why Southern Living magazine named SoMa the “Next Great Neighborhood.”

SEE & DO

Visit one of the best farmers markets in Central Arkansas at The Bernice Garden (Sundays, April through November) where locals shop for farm-fresh produce and sample prepared bites amid sculptures, crafts and live music. Get your crafter on with a class at South Main Creative, which offers DIY classes like silk-screening, gilding and weaving.

Nearby, visit the ESSE Purse Museum offering one of the most unique collections to be found anywhere. One of only three purse museums in the world, ESSE’s assemblage of hundreds of 20th century handbags will leave you pondering the joys and struggles of the women who carried them. Don’t miss out on ESSE’s gift store, which carries stunning handbags ranging from high fashion to hand-crafted, all designed by women.

If you’re traveling with your furry friend, drop by The Bark Bar, giving Fido a chance to stretch and play with other pooches while you reward yourself with snacks and an adult beverage.

The district’s cool vibes come out at night. SoMa After Dark, held the first Friday of each month, offers special features such as pop-up ice cream stands, customized jewelry, happy hour and live music.

ARKANSAS DEPT OF PARKS HERITAGE AND TOURISM

ESSE Purse Museum

BRIAN CHILSON

SHOP

Shop with a clear conscience at the Green Corner Store with its selection of eco-friendly and sustainable products. Locally made honey, soaps and pickling kits, as well as tea lattes, tea tonics and kombucha on tap at their tea bar, bring customers back again and again. Electric Ghost sells adorable succulent plant arrangements on the side of its main business as a screen-printing boutique. Vintage lovers will love the great selection in SoMa, like what can be had at Sweet Home Furnishings and Moxie Modern Mercantile, whose owners keep inventory fresh with beautiful, quirky and oddball finds.

Art lovers should check out M2 Gallery and Boswell Mourot Gallery for a nice selection of those one of a kind creative treasures by local and regional artists. SoMa residents also appreciate a neighborhood Edwards Food Giant, providing groceries within walking distance.

EAT & DRINK

The dining scene in SoMa furthers the district’s reputation for the offbeat and unexpected, save for two establishments that stand as a testament to consistency. Community Bakery has spent decades perfecting the art of baked goods, gourmet coffee and artisan sandwiches with legions of regulars to prove it. Many of those regulars have once or twice stumbled in from an all-nighter at the neighborhood’s other longtime stalwart, Midtown Billiards, an all-night bar specializing in pub grub that’s good for what “ales” you.

Beyond that lies an eclectic group of eateries sure to please. Try Boulevard Bread Company for artisan breads like rustic Italian ciabatta, baguettes and white sourdough, baked fresh daily. You’ll Rock N Roll Sushi love the authentic street fare at Mockingbird Bar & Tacos, sourced and made from scratch. More local ingredients can be had at The Root Cafe serving farm-to-table style favorites like biscuits and gravy for breakfast and spicy veggie banh mi sandwiches for lunch. Or, enjoy sushi with an attitude at Rock N Roll Sushi.

For acclaimed cuisine with a Southern gothic touch, try South on Main, one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in Little Rock. Down the street a piece,

Raduno Brick Oven and Barroom

has one of the most handsomely stocked bars around, serving good cocktails to good friends noshing on perfectly charred pizza. It also serves a dandy Sunday brunch. Then cross the street to find ice cream bliss in Loblolly Creamery, where favorite flavors double vanilla, strawberry buttermilk and salted caramel mingle with seasonally inspired ones. Finally, get a tour or grab a nightcap at Rocktown Distillery, Arkansas’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. Among the house-made gin, vodka and whiskey, the internally acclaimed bourbon is a solid choice, taken neat or in Rocktown’s signature Old Fashioned. n

BRIAN CHILSON