The Surprising Mississippi Food Town You Need To Visit Now

Mississippi is a state of small towns, which means there are dozens of enchanting enclaves waiting to be discovered from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee border. Ben and Erin Napier made Laurel famous, and everyone knows about the historic charm of Natchez, but there’s another Mississippi community that it’s long past time we paid attention to. As Mississippi’s fifth largest town, Hattiesburg is home to around 48,000 people and almost 100,000 more in the surrounding area. It’s known as The Hub City, thanks to its location at the intersection of Interstate 59 and U.S. Highway 49, but the city connects much more than just major roadways. Hattiesburg is known for its impressive combination of attractions, from a vibrant local dining scene to great public art and an impactful civil rights history. Here’s how to spend a weekend in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The Best Things To Do In Hattiesburg, Mississippi

A Mississippi Main Street Community and Main Street America downtown, downtown Hattiesburg should be your first stop when visiting. As you stroll the wide streets, you’ll notice pockets of color around every corner. Download a map of the HBURG Public Art Trail, and see if you can find all 100 works, which include more than 40 murals, a dozen large-scale sculptures, and 40 hand-painted utility boxes.

Other downtown destinations to visit include the Saenger Theater, a 1929 movie palace that’s been transformed into a performing arts venue, and the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum, an ever-changing window display of miniatures located in a nondescript alley. The attraction also includes rotating art installations, as well as the Pocket Theater, which shows super-short films through an eye piece lodged into the alley wall. If these wonderful displays of art have you feeling inspired, head to Mohawk Steel & Glass Co. to try your hand (or should we say breath) at creating your own. The glassblowing studio offers regular classes where novices can blow their own glass flowers, paperweights, vases, and more.

One of downtown’s biggest icons is The Lucky Rabbit, a 15,000-square-foot vintage and antiques shop that’s stuffed to the gills with classic nostalgia. Inside, you’ll find classic arcade games, old drink machines, working payphone booths, and every type of home collectible imaginable. Only open on the weekends, the decade-old shop was even featured on HGTV’s Home Town as a favorite store of host Erin Napier. If you want to shop for goods and gifts from this decade, check out Walnut Square Gifts and Stationery, Main Street Books, and Sacks Outdoors.

To learn more about Hattiesburg’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, there are several stops you’ll want to make. Start at the Eureka School Civil Rights Museum, a civil rights museum that’s housed in the second brick school building for Black students in Mississippi. Pay your respects to the sacrifices of Black Mississippians at the African American Military History Museum and on the Freedom Summer Trail, a collection of markers and significant locations that together tell the story of Mississippi’s 1964 Freedom Summer via an audio tour.

Hattiesburg is a family-friendly destination, but some spots that are especially popular with the kiddos include the Hattiesburg Zoo and Hattiesburg’s portion of the Longleaf Trace. The 44-mile rails-to-trails conversion is a popular spot for walking, running, and biking. Start at the James Lynn Cartlidge Gateway, where there’s ample parking, as well as food and drink vendors, pavilions, and bike rentals.

Where To Eat In Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hattiesburg is home to 200 locally owned restaurants, giving it more local dining options per capita than anywhere else in the state. A big part of Hattiesburg’s dining scene can be attributed to two restaurateurs: Robert St. John and Nelson Haskin. St. John has been a fixture in Hattiesburg for more than three decades. His beloved restaurants include Tex-Mex spot El Rayo; The Midtowner, where you can find blue plate lunches and breakfast served all day; Creole-inspired eatery Crescent City Grill; family-style Italian restaurant Tabella; and Ed’s Burger Joint, with its seemingly endless burger and hotdog, and sandwich options. St. John’s Mahogany Bar is all about the beer and whiskey, but also offers a great late-night menu. His newest venture, Loblolly Bakery, sees him pairing with James Beard award winner Martha Foose to bring the city both classic pastries and inventive treats.

Haskin’s restaurant collection consists of five downtown spots, each with their own vibe and speciality. Head to Bourbon on Front for an upscale steak or seafood dinner and access to the city’s only rooftop bar. For more casual eats, try the gourmet burgers at Hattiesburgers and Blues, the chicken tenders at Nellie’s Chicken and Daquiris, or breakfast at Southbound Bagels & Coffee. Take a quick trip to New Orleans with Dinner at Blue Jazz Café, where the menu is decidedly Cajun, and the live music is always flowing.

Other Hattiesburg hot spots include Birdhouse Café for a healthy but delicious lunch from Food Network Star Katie Dixon, Trattoria Pizzeria for a classic, crowd-pleasing dinner, and beloved 100-year-old diner Coney Island Café. If you’re looking for a craft brew, try Southern Prohibition Brewery, Colludium Brewing Company, or The Porter.

The Best Places To Stay In Hattiesburg, Mississippi  

The Bay Bed & Breakfast is a great place to stay if you want the best of both worlds. You’ll be near enough to walk to all the action in downtown Hattiesburg, but still get to experience all the charm and homey comforts of a Southern B&B. Traditionalists can enjoy modern comforts and an industrial chic vibe at nearby Hotel Indigo. Other popular hotel chains like Hilton Garden Inn, Doubletree, and Courtyard by Marriott each have Hattiesburg locations. For a serene retreat set in nature, book a tiny home or larger lake house at Longleaf Piney Resort, located 25 minutes from downtown, or make base in the rolling hills on the edge of De Soto National Forest at Whiskey on the River cabins, which is 20 minutes from downtown in nearby Petal.