Illustration by Lucia Calfapietra
Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs rose to prominence in 1879, when Dr. Alvah Jackson’s promotions of its more than 60 natural springs (“Eureka!”, he reportedly exclaimed after finding the first) helped the city emerge as a popular wellness destination. Today, it embraces a patchwork of identities—LGBTQ stronghold, health resort, hippie haven, religious community—where travelers and residents of seemingly disparate sensibilities raise glasses at the local dive bar. Downtown reflects that character. Narrow walkways and streets twist past Victorian storefronts and eccentric public art in defiance of a grid, almost never meeting at a right angle. Pack comfortable shoes: Eureka Springs isn’t nicknamed the “Stairstep Town” for nothing, once claiming more stairs per square mile than any other city in the U.S.
Storybook Stay
Dating back to 1935, Rock Cottage Gardens Bed & Breakfast comprises five quaint and cozy guesthouses set among eclectic yard decorations and a wedding chapel. Heed the breakfast bell: Innkeeper Steven Mongeau’s creations—such as mixed-berry vegan scones—merit an early wake-up call.
Vinyl and Vittles
Poke around the vast selection of cassettes, 8-tracks, and vintage vinyl at MoJo’s Records while waiting on counter service at its attached eatery, B-Side Cafe. The sandwich-forward menu features a stacked muffaletta on oven-warm focaccia, as well as curry potato soup and a fortifying Frito pie.
Watercolor Whimsy
At Adventure Art, co-owners Amber and Lloyd Leibee sell artisanal art supplies such as easels, journals, and ceramic paint palettes. Pre-assembled watercolor tins—containing eight pigments apiece and inspired by books, nature, and famous artists—are unique gifts for the creative on the go.
Depth of Flavor
Persistent flooding in the late 19th century forced the city to raise its roads a story. Mud Street Cafe, a subterranean breakfast-and-lunch joint with limestone walls and a grand oak bar, sits at Main Street’s original elevation. Fresh produce works its magic in the veggie hash browns, and an ample coffee list warrants multiple cups.
Rock Solid
High, low, and all brows in between will find something to savor at the Stone House, a small wine bar tucked into an 1800s-era cliffside dwelling. Leather armchairs and low-light ambience make for an intimate evening alongside a gourmet charcuterie tray or blue cheese–infused fondue. The terrace doubles as prime people-watching real estate.
Soak It In
Eureka Springs has been synonymous with restorative treatments since its founding, and Spa1905, located in the historic Basin Park Hotel, upholds the tradition with services like CBD hydrotherapy baths and antioxidant-rich facials. The pomegranate scrub and chocolate truffle wrap (a mix of cocoa, almond, and macadamia oil) is an extra-luxurious option.
Family Affair
Wilson & Wilson Folk Art is the gallery and studio space of mother-daughter painters Blakely and Sylvia Wilson. Original works and canvases, rendered in the pair’s joyful, Americana-influenced style, cover almost every inch of wall with bucolic scenes. Cheery note cards and puzzles, based on Blakely’s paintings, offer an affordable way to bring a piece home.
This article appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Southbound.
