Need tips for visiting Library and food in Little Rock
 

My husband and I are planning a quick trip to Little Rock to visit the Clinton library. Does anyone have any tips on the Museum? Also, is the Peabody the best hotel in town, and what are the great places for food, in all price ranges!

Thanks so much!

Cindy

Hi Cindy
If you stay at the Peabody (which should be a nice hotel since the Peabody took over and remodeled), you'll have several food choices in the area. If you like seafood, my favorite place in the River Market District is The Flying Fish. It's on Pres. Clinton Avenue and is open for lunch and dinner. They always have great food--fried, grilled, broiled seafood/fish. Prices vary--some may be around the $6/7 range and then go up from there. The atmosphere is very casual so don't feel like you need to dress up to eat here.

If you like pizza, there's a fantastic pizza joint kind of across from the Peabody and convention center called Iriana's. It's the closet thing we have to New York style pizza and it's my favorite in town! Another casual place with inexpensive prices and is open for lunch and dinner. They have daily lunch specials (not open on Sundays) and the prices are low.

The Peabody itself has what is supposed to be a nice and expensive Italian restaurant. I haven't been there so I can't be very helpful. Across from the Peabody is the Capitol Hotel, with a great restaurant called Ashley's. It's high dollar, but they have been closed for remodeling, so that might not be an option.

There are several other places to eat in the River Market area--Sonny William's Steakhouse (expensive, supposed to be good) comes to mind. There is also a River Market Pavillion that is like a food court type area with various types of foods (BBQ, Middle Eastern, Japanese, etc.). There are more I can't remember but they are all inside an enclosed area and are open for lunch each day. These are not fast food-types of places, so you can get some good food here and prices are towards the low end. There's a little bakery kiosk there called "Community Bakery" that is part of a local bakery chain--very good! I know there are also some bar-types of places in the area, although I'm not familiar with these, so maybe someone else can post about that.

The Library itself has a restaurant called Cafe 42 that is also supposed to be good. I hear their Sunday brunch is nice but I haven't made it there yet. I believe they have sandwiches and other hot entrees for lunch options. I'm not sure if they are open for dinner or not.

Even though I live here, I haven't visited the library--yet--so I am not sure about the hours of the library itself. I do hear good things about it; it's supposed to be well put together and very interesting. I hope you enjoy your time in Little Rock.

The Peabody is in a great location near the Clinton Library. I'm a local, so I haven't stayed there (since it was the Peabody) and have no information about the rooms. In the downtown area, Sonny Williams Steak House has a great reputation - we've had both good and bad food there. In a less convenient location, but still only 10 minutes from downtown is Brave New Restaurant - it's a local's favorite and has the best fish in town!

Suann and Lee:

Thank you so much for the great tips!

Cindy

Nu Cuisine is another downtown upscale restaurant with very good food.

Lee4 & Cindy8000 -
My daughter is in Little Rock this week for a conference, They ate at Iriana's last night - she LOVED it!
thanks!
d

Iriana's is the BEST! Every time I've taken someone there or recommended it, they've always been happy (and had full bellies, I might add!).

if you favor Chinese, there's a great place in Jacksonville, AR. Its about 17 miles NW from Little Rock on Hwy 167. Take the Main Street exit and it is located just north of a Burger King. I forgot the name of the Chinese restuarant, but it is right there by hwy 167.