Fall in Love With Downtown Bentonville
Valentine’s Day is upon us and some of you may be looking to celebrate your love, either platonically, romantically, or with yourself.
Don’t fret, as this guide will lead you to spots where you can celebrate all three. Plus, all of the places mentioned are just as romantic outside of Valentine’s Day.
Here are various spots around Downtown Bentonville that make for a romantic evening or will be filled with the theme of love in celebration of the February 14 holiday.
- The Eddy
Hours: Sun - Thurs 4:00 - 10:00 PM Fri - Sat 4:00 - 11:00 PM
One of Bentonville’s newest establishments is the stunning Compton Hotel. Inside, located on the second floor is The Eddy, a chic, lowlight cocktail bar featuring a full menu and gorgeous views of downtown. Sit down on comfortable leather chairs and couches and if you’re lucky, you can snag one by the corner window that looks directly out to the square. A perfect spot to snuggle up with your date. Delicious fish and meat options take up the menu, along with curated cocktails, yummy sweet treats, and a full bar.
- Sestina
Hours: Sun - Thurs 5:00 - 10:00 PM Fri - Sat 5:00 - 11:00 PM
Now, let’s say you’ve just gone to The Eddy for a warmup cocktail and maybe some light snacks. Do you want to keep the night going but don’t have the energy to travel to another place? Simply walk downstairs to the main hotel lobby, head to the right, and you will find yourself inside a delicious Tuscan steakhouse that will have your tastebuds on a private flight to Italy. DWTN Now was recently given a sneak peek at some of their dishes as part of a new “Bentonville Bites” episode. After learning about the restaurant’s mission of being a warm environment featuring many sharable entrees, we were brought wood-fired steaks, burrata cheese, focaccia bread, and of course, pasta. Now, France certainly has the “City of Love,” but Italy just as so, if not more, knows how to do romance. Gather your date, friend, or spouse and head here (reservations recommended) to try the aforementioned dishes but of course, the expansive wine selection. Some of the wine is the finest in the area, all carefully selected and offers a rich taste of Tuscan country. Having both of these delicious food and drink options inside the same building and steps from the Bentonville Square is very difficult to beat.
- Junto
Hours: Sun - Thurs 5:00 - 10:00 PM Fri - Sat 5:00 - 11:00 PM
Down the street from The Compton sits another hotel, Motto. Once inside the lobby you may hear Music For a Sushi Restaurant and if you head toward it, you won’t find Harry Styles, but you will find Junto - an exquisite Japanese restaurant. Focusing on sushi, Junto boasts a Japanese-inspired menu, including seasonal small plates and chef specialties, alongside an extensive list of traditional sushi, sashimi, and nigiri. Not a fan of sushi? No problem, as they have rice and chicken options, and if you go during lunch time, one of the best burgers in Bentonville I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. However, the recommendation here is to go for a date night or Valentine’s Day. The sushi is delicious to match with the lowlight ambience and you can also head to the bar before or after if you want to change spots and have a cocktail.
- Callisto
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday 4:00 - 11:00 PM Thursday 4:00 PM - Midnight Fri - Saturday – 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Have you always dreamed of taking a romantic vacation to Hawaii but just haven’t been able to make it happen yet? We’ve got you covered. Enter Callisto, a tiki-inspired lounge hidden inside a secret entryway of an art gallery. Need I say more? If so, the drinks, all tiki-themed, are delicious from what I’ve tried and there are many options! They also come in an optional tiki bowl, made to share for two. The food? Steak, chicken and vegetable skewers, plus shareables -- poke, coconut shrimp, and crying tiger steak.
The ambiance and decor, to me, is what really makes this place shine. It’s as if the Rainforest Cafe gained some class and there are no animatronic animals. (I love The Rainforest Cafe). It includes lowlighting, booths, and table seating. A reservation is definitely recommended for Callisto as it is constantly busy. However, they do take walk-ins. One last thing: Boozy desserts. Okay, moving on.
- The Preacher’s Son
Hours: Sun - Thurs 5:00 - 9:00 PM, Fri - Sat 5:00 - 10:00 PM
Speaking of class, The Preacher’s Son is arguably one of the classiest restaurants in Bentonville. Perfect for an evening of snazzy business-casual suits and dresses with fine southern dining. The building is a historical one. Originally built as a church in 1898, it turned into a restaurant in 1970, keeping much of the architecture intact. The church itself is full of hidden gems that reflect its rich, expansive history. According to their website, “the dining area under the Bell Tower features a staggering grid of 288 individually hung 5” gold bells. The ceiling itself of the dining room is equally impressive, with eight colossal support beams framing a gorgeous, soaring chapel.” However, an impressive atmosphere at a restaurant can only do so much, so what about the food? Led by a chef with decades of experience, the menu offers a solid variety of dishes, prepared with flavor at the forefront. Trottole carbonara, mussel toast, grilled swordfish, and a pork porterhouse served with peanut, apple sauce, and blue cheese butter are just some of the options!
- Undercroft
Hours: Mon - Thurs 5:00 - 11:00 PM, Fri - Sat 5:00 PM - Midnight
Are you leaving The Preacher’s Son with a full stomach but ready for a nightcap? Head downstairs into this not-so-secret speakeasy, Undercroft. Located directly below Preacher’s Son, it feels like you are transported to New York City. Corners with couches and chairs if you have a group, booths that you can sneak into and share a dessert cocktail with your date, or a long bar if you want to sit up and treat yourself on a solo date night. Small plates are an option if you’re feeling snacky, which include some of the menu items from upstairs. Otherwise, they have cocktails available, organized on the menu by “shaken” or “stirred.” James Bond would love this place. Non-alcoholic drinks are available as well if you don’t drink. In addition to the romantic ambience, on certain nights of the week Undercroft will also have a DJ spinning tunes, and if you can’t make it for Valentine’s Day or choose to go somewhere else, around Christmas time, the space turns into a vastly decorated holiday bar.
- Tusk & Trotter
Hours: Mon - Fri 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sat - Sun 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Now, you might think a place influenced by European pub culture isn’t exactly a romantic spot, but Tusk & Trotter, who labels themselves as an American Brasserie, has several different options for brunch, lunch and dinner. Namely for this blog, they have also introduced a limited Valentine-themed menu. For $150 per couple, dinner will start with pan-seared panko crusted crab cakes, served with lemon remoulade. The main course features a choice of Ozark Natural Steak Company American Wagyu 20-day aged ribeye or NY strip served with garlic confit and green beans, OR if your mind isn’t somehow already made up, a Chilean sea bass, pan seared with a honey Asian glaze served over red pepper risotto & sauteed spinach. Either option sounds excellent, and to top it all off, dessert is a sweet potato creme brulee. In short, Tusk & Trotter may not fit the bill when you think of romantic restaurants, but when you taste the food, it really makes it worth spending your holiday or date night here.
These are just some of the options in downtown Bentonville that would make for a romantic night out. If you are interested in more options, check out our “Date Night in Bentonville” guide. Otherwise, don’t worry about making the February 14 date the time to celebrate with your friend, lover, or yourself. Celebrations of love can and should happen any day of the year, and these spaces will be there waiting for any time you choose.