Date:  June 19, 2015  |  

For many, the Spa City is a respite for rest, relaxation, and fun! The shores of Lake Hamilton offer not only peace and quiet, but also plenty of opportunities to let the good times roll. Aside from the water, the city is home to a number of restaurants, fashionable boutiques, and one-of-a-kind shops. What’s more, if you call Hot Springs home—or you’re looking to move to the area—you’ll find amazing local resources to help you build or remodel. Read on for a few of our must-visit stops.

EATS & SWEETS

For fresh and innovative fare, we suggest dropping into Café 1217 (501-318-1094, cafe1217.net) where founder, owner, and head chef Diana Bratton offers soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees that will delight even the most discerning palate. The menu changes monthly to continue to offer diners new options reflective of what’s in-season. When we dined there in June, we particularly enjoyed the Shrimp Cobb Salad, the House Smoked Banana Leaf Pork Sandwich, and a piece of strawberry pie from the dessert case.

If you’re in the mood for seafood, there’s no better place than Cajun Boilers (501-767-5695, cajunboilers.com). Serving both lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers authentic Cajun dishes such as crawfish étoufée, boudin, and Catfish Chalmette along with fresh oysters, fish, and peel-and-eat shrimp. They can also cater to a crowd. Contact them for more information about hosting your next event or meeting at this well-loved Hot Springs restaurant. 

LOCAL FINDS

Along Central Avenue, you’ll see an abundance of locally owned boutiques for both fashion and home décor. We suggest making Accessory Gallery and Sparkle (501-321-9168; facebook.com/shopag) your first stop. These stocked shops are a go-to source for the well-dressed woman. The two boutiques (which are connected to one another) offer clothing for a casual lunch or date night, as well as everyday wear. Plus, they have shoes, scarves, purses, and an excellent selection of jewelry to complete your look. Their newest lines include Comfy, Lysse, Zenzii jewelry, and Mycra Pac rain jackets. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for the latest arrivals.

If history is your cup of tea, don’t miss Tillman’s Antiques (501-624-4083). The long-established store, located in the heart of downtown on Central Avenue, is a destination for estate jewelry pieces, glassware, and collectibles—as well as the stories that accompany them. Owner Davis Tillman is a wealth of knowledge on the artifacts and is eager to assist you in finding the perfect choice for your own collection. In addition to the estate items, we love their selection of attractive and affordable Lafonn man-made diamond jewelry as well as pieces from Ronaldo Designer Jewelry, Inc., which are all handcrafted in America.

MAKE IT HOME

Hot Springs boasts an array of talented interior designers who can help with any project. Designer Jennifer Huett of House to Home (501-520-4949, shophousetohome.com) is known for infusing whimsical, on-trend style and color into her projects. Her business, which recently relocated to Ridgeway Street, is open Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and by appointment on Friday and Saturday. Contact Jennifer for your next whole-home redo or one-room makeover, and be sure to visit her blog for inspiration.

The team at Sandy Sutton’s Design Center (501-624-6700, sandysuttonsdesigns.com) also recently made the move into a new space. They are now located on Central Avenue. Here, they have created a true one-stop resource for everything from flooring and backsplash tile to on-trend wallpaper and fabrics. Offering both residential and commercial design, the award-winning Hot Springs native can help with everything from space planning to custom draperies or finding the perfect antiques and furnishings for your home.

Whether you’re working with a designer on a full-scale project or you’re just looking for a few pieces and updates around the house, there’s a variety of stores that cater to your needs. We suggest heading to Arkansas Furniture (501-623-3849, arkansasfurniture.com) on Albert Pike Road when you’re in the market for a new sofa, a pair of chairs, a dining table, ottoman, or even accessories. You’ll find affordable, high-quality lines such as Bernhardt, Lane, La-Z-Boy, and Broyhill. Plus, they also have a great selection of mattresses from manufacturers like Serta, Tempur-Pedic, and icomfort. The home furnishings shop is conveniently open Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. to help meet all your furniture needs.

For more in-depth updates, visit Peter’s Flooring and Paint (501-623-1800, petersflooringandpaint.com). Since 1906 they have been servicing Hot Springs and surrounding areas. When you visit their 8,000-square-foot showroom, you’ll find an amazing selection of carpet, wood and laminate flooring, tile and stone, as well as a paints and stains from brands such as PPG Pittsburgh Paints, Cabot, Pratt & Lambert, and more. They also offer cabinetry, countertops, radiant heating, wallpaper, and window treatments—making them a one-stop shop for any home update. Finally, to make the process easy and convenient, call on them for in-house measuring, installation, or financing.