How to Spend A Spontaneous Weekend in Bentonville, AR
I took my first solo trip from Tulsa to Bentonville, and I’m already planning my next trip back! Here's how you can enjoy your own Bentonville getaway.
Welcome to Bentonville, Arkansas! This artsy town of 50,000 is one of the best kept secrets of the south, but what isn’t a secret is that it is home to the headquarters of the highest grossing retailer in the world. Yes, I’m talking about Walmart. But Bentonville is home to far more than Walmart’s headquarters and original Walton's 5 & 10 store. This sleepy, little town is wide awake when it comes to world-class art, live music, winding bike lanes, artisanal coffee, aviation, and all around being real darn cute.
I visited Bentonville for the first time last weekend, and I was so impressed that I’m already planning my second adventure there! Bentonville has something fun and artsy for everyone. Whether you want to take in the paintings at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art or dance your heart out at the annual Format Festival, Bentonville promises to bring out your inner aesthete.
Where to Stay
Plenty of travelers in Bentonville opt to stay at the 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville, a boutique hotel with a contemporary art museum on the ground floor. However, I booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn using points I had racked up on my Hilton Honors card…because we can’t splurge for every trip. It was comfortable enough for one night, but the 21c Museum Hotel is at the top of my list for the next trip.
The drive from Tulsa only took about two hours. Once I arrived, I immediately checked into my room and changed outfits before heading over to The Momentary to catch the Rina Sawayama and Empress Of concert I had planned my trip around. The Momentary is a contemporary art space satellite to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It hosts a rotation of visual art exhibits, visiting chefs, concerts, and other bespoke programming.
The Momentary commands huge names in the music world and you can catch both Wu-Tang Clan and Wilco on their stage this year.
I’ll admit: it’s a very Instagrammable venue!
Saturday Farmers’ Market
The first thing most visitors do on a beautiful Bentonville morning is head straight downtown to Onyx Coffee for one of their quirky coffee drinks, like the Oatfogato, and a tasty breakfast sandwich. Onyx Coffee is a high-end coffee shop and roaster that came recommended by a few friends, but I was immediately drawn to the Saturday farmers’ market happening in the town square. There were dozens of stalls and food trucks, two performers played live music, and patrons munched on fresh pastries they’d bought from one of the bakers.
Downtown Bentonville is a lively hub full of great restaurants, bars, cute shops, and the original Walmart, which is now a free museum. I stopped by the used book store Once Upon a Time Books to peruse their wondrous book collection, and then Block Street Records, before making a beeline to The Hive for brunch while my stomach grumbled.
Breakfast & Brunch
The Hive is a trendy restaurant serving customers on the ground floor of the 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville. The walls are decorated with an art installation made of honeycombs, bees, and plants. Very on brand. I ordered the eggs Benedict and the Stonewall Inn, a gin and pear brandy cocktail that was (probably) too strong for 11am. The biscuit served in the eggs Benedict was for real and I highly recommend it. The pancakes at the table over looked delicious, so I recommend giving those a try. The Hive also serves lunch and dinner, and has a cute bar. Yes, the bar has bee art too.
Afternoon Explorations
Once I finished brunch, I went out into the hotel lobby and found myself right in the middle of the 21c Museum Hotel’s gorgeous modern art gallery. The gallery and interactive installations are completely open to the public, meaning you’re free to wander through the exhibitions even if you’re not staying at the 21c Museum Hotel. See their current exhibitions here.
I was overdue for coffee by the time I finished the exhibit Still, Life! Mourning, Meaning, Mending, but the nearby Onyx Coffee had a line wrapping around the building. So I hopped in my car and drove up north to Airship Coffee, which my friend had recommended to me before my trip. She thought I would like it, and she was right! I sipped a cortado on the patio while bikers rode along the trail looping around the coffee shop.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Once I was fully caffeinated, I felt ready to tackle the jewel of Bentonville: the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
This stunning art museum is housed in a building designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdi. It features a collection of American art spanning from colonial times to the present day. Try to view the 3,500+ pieces of art if you can, but don’t miss out on famous paintings like Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1. This flower painting set a record of highest-selling painting by a female artist when Alice Walton bought it for the Crystal Bridges’ collection for a whopping $44 million.
This art museum is huge and you can spend the entire day exploring the permanent collection and current exhibitions. Hungry? Grab a bite at the in-house restaurant Eleven while taking in the beautiful views of the lake in the center of the museum.
Take a stroll along one of the many art trails around the museum grounds if you have the time. I parked in the overflow lot and walked along the Orchard Trail to the main entrance when I arrived. The Orchard Trail features Architecture at Home, Crystal Bridges’ first outdoor architecture exhibition, and long-standing art pieces that you can interact with.
Feeling adventurous? Hike along the Crystal Spring trail and find the waterfall.
Dinner
I ended the day with dinner at The Preacher’s Son, a chic restaurant that was once a gothic church.
I was struck by how bright and airy the restaurant was. Lights streamed through the stained glass cathedral windows. The designers retained the dark wood beams along the ceiling, which give the restaurant a distinct aesthetic. The kitchen is headed by executive chef Neal Gray, a Bentonville native son whose resumé includes a stint at the legendary French Laundry in northern California. If that doesn’t say you’re in good hands, I don’t know what does!
Reservations are required at The Preacher’s Son and the bar fills up fast. I called ahead and the host said she would hold a spot for me at the bar for five minutes after opening. By the time I arrived three minutes after opening, they’d declined my seat to two people. Good thing I had called ahead!
My friendly bartender had great recommendations for the menu and things to do around Bentonville. He told me about the Walmart AMP, a music pavilion in Rogers, AR, just a few minutes outside of Bentonville. Everyone from Snoop Dogg to Fall Out Boy has graced the Walmart AMP stage, and I couldn’t believe I’d never even heard of this concert venue. I’m definitely going to see a show there, especially since it’s only two hours from Tulsa.
Chef Gray’s menu did not disappoint. I had the rosé from Stellenbosch, South Africa, and the shrimp tostada. I finished with the half chicken with local mushrooms and black rice. All delicious.
Be sure to check out Undercroft, the “secret” speakeasy bar behind the coat check door once you finish your meal. It’s the perfect spot for a nightcap in one of the most impressive small towns around.
Upcoming Events in Bentonville:
November 8-9: Heartland Summit.
Through December 31: Listening Forest exhibit at Crystal Bridges.
Concert lineups at The Momentary and Walmart AMP.
Visit Bentonville’s event calendar.
