6+ Delicious Restaurants in Bentonville, Arkansas

This post contains affiliate links, which help support my blog at no extra cost to you!

Bentonville was one of those trips where the meals started becoming just as memorable as the museums, trails, and cute downtown wandering! I knew the city had a growing food scene, but I did not expect to leave with such a long list of restaurants in Bentonville I would happily plan a second trip around.

What I loved most is that the dining options felt so varied for a city this size. In one trip we had dinner in a restored church, tropical cocktails with shareable plates, handmade pasta, a serious barbecue tray, sushi inside a stylish downtown hotel, and onion rings good enough to earn an entire paragraph. That range made eating our way through town one of my favorite things to do in Bentonville!

This is not meant to be every restaurant in town, because truly, we would have needed several more days for that. These are the must-visit restaurants in Bentonville we personally tried and loved, plus a few that are already sitting at the top of my next-time list.

Must-Visit Restaurants in Bentonville

1. The Preacher’s Son

The Preacher’s Son is set inside a restored historic church downtown, and the building does so much of the mood-setting before the first drink even hits the table.

The dining room is gorgeous. You have the high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, stained-glass details, and that whole old-church-turned-restaurant drama that makes dinner feel like part of the trip instead of just a place you happened to eat.

We tried the burrata and their blackened salmon dish. The burrata was such a good starter because it felt rich and simple at the same time, and the salmon was colorful, fresh, and beautifully plated!

This is a great pick when you want a nice dinner in downtown Bentonville without leaving the walkable core. I would make a reservation (they do book up!), dress a little cute, and leave time for a drink downstairs at Undercroft or upstairs at Celeste.

2. Callisto

I love a speakeasy, so Callisto was one of the most fun surprises of the trip! It’s definitely one of the most unique restaurants in Bentonville.

The whole space has a tropical, moody, playful vibe with greenery, glowing bar shelves, and cocktails that feel like they belong on vacation. It is definitely a good drinks stop, but I would not treat it as somewhere to pop into after already eating dinner. Come hungry and order a few plates to share.

We tried the Korean fried cauliflower, ceviche, and crying tiger steak. The cauliflower was flavorful and filling! The ceviche added something bright and fresh, and the steak gave the meal a little more substance.

This was easily one of my favorite Bentonville nights because it hit that perfect travel sweet spot: fun atmosphere, great cocktails, and food that actually holds its own. If you are making a dinner-and-drinks plan, Callisto can handle both.

3. Sestina

Sestina is a Tuscan steakhouse inside The Compton Hotel, and the space has a warm, polished glow that immediately makes dinner feel like an occasion. I would book this Bentonville restaurant for a date night, birthday dinner, or one of the nicer meals of the trip.

We had the beef carpaccio, focaccia bread, a filet, and radiatori pasta. The carpaccio and focaccia made such a good start to the meal; the filet was cooked perfectly, and the radiatori was the dish I kept thinking about afterward. It was rich, cozy, and exactly what I want from a pasta dinner.

I also loved that Sestina felt elevated without being overly formal. You could make it a romantic dinner, a girls’ trip dinner, or a “we are on vacation and deserve pasta” dinner. All are valid, obviously.

4. Wright’s Barbecue

After a few polished dinners, Wright’s Barbecue was exactly the kind of casual meal we needed. It is a Bentonville staple for smoked meats and classic sides, and it feels like one of those places visitors and locals can both get behind.

Our tray had brisket, burnt ends, mac and cheese, potato salad, and pickles, which is basically the exact lineup I want when I am trying a barbecue spot for the first time. The brisket and burnt ends gave us the smoky, hearty part of the meal, while the sides made it feel complete.

The downtown Bentonville location also has a nice patio setup.

5. Table on 6th

Table on 6th is my slightly unhinged inclusion on this list because we only had time to grab onion rings to go, but I am telling you, they were good enough to make the cut.

They were crispy, golden, thick-cut, and wildly satisfying. I love when a very simple order tells you a restaurant knows what it is doing, and these onion rings immediately made me wish we had time to sit down and try more.

So no, this is not a full Table on 6th review. It is, however, a very sincere endorsement from someone who has not stopped thinking about a takeout container of onion rings. Next time, I want the full meal.

6. Junto

Junto is a modern Japanese restaurant inside Motto by Hilton Bentonville Downtown, and it was a great change of pace from some of the heavier meals on our itinerary. The space is chic and energetic, with set tables and a sushi counter.

We popped in for a light lunch and had a really delicious sushi roll. If you’re just visiting Bentonville, I also think Junto is a nice break in the itinerary if you have already done barbecue, pasta, and richer dinners and want something a little lighter but still fun.

Bonus Bentonville Food Stops

Trash Ice Cream

For dessert, Trash Ice Cream is such a fun downtown stop. They do scratch-made “drilled” ice cream where you choose a base and mix-ins like candy, cereal, cookies, and other sweet chaos, then finish it with toppings. We loved this spot for a quick sweet tooth fix!

Ozark Mountain Bagel Co.

For breakfast, Ozark Mountain Bagel Co. is an easy add before a day of exploring. They make New York-style bagels that are handcrafted, water-boiled, and baked fresh, which is always the kind of breakfast situation I am looking for before museums, trails, or a coffee shop crawl.

I did the BYO Bagel sandwich and added scallion cream cheese with egg, avocado, and tomato. It was so good!

Bentonville Restaurants on My List for Next Time

• The Hive is located inside 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville and focuses on locally sourced ingredients and the culinary identity of Arkansas. Our guide from our Big on Bentonville tour highly recommended this place!
• Conifer is another Bentonville restaurant I kept hearing about and did not have time to squeeze in. It is a farm-to-table, dedicated gluten-free restaurant, and the menu changes with the season, which makes it feel especially worth planning around for a future trip.
• Bentoville Food Theater also sounds so cool. It is on the downtown Bentonville square and has three chef counters with menus that change every few weeks, plus grab-and-go options and special events. Expect ramen, temaki, and curry options. The concept feels very Bentonville: creative, a little unexpected, and something I would absolutely want to experience on a return visit.

Which Bentonville restaurant are you trying first?

From cozy cafes to chef-driven restaurants and creative cocktail bars, there was so much variety packed into such a walkable city. The restaurant scene has grown alongside Bentonville’s transformation into a destination for art, outdoor recreation, and culture, and it’s absolutely worth coming hungry.

I hope this guide helps you discover one of your new favorite restaurants in Bentonville! If you have a place I need to add to my list for next time, let me know in the comments.

Before you go, be sure to follow me on Insta @guidedbydestiny and check out some of my other US travel blog posts:

Amazing Coffee Shops in Bentonville, Arkansas

Best Things to Do in Bentonville, Arkansas

Fun Things to Do in Oklahoma City