Sierra Wheeler

In no part of the metro has there been a bigger metamorphosis than in South Main (SoMa). The area has bloomed into a locally loved realm all its own over the last few years, just on the south side of I-630. Stepping away from the core of Downtown, you’ll be rewarded with historic neighborhoods filled with grand Southern mansions and refurbished eye-catchers. The long-established bungalows are worthy of an evening stroll through the Quapaw Quarter—some predating the Civil War and many on the National Register of Historic Places. People from all over central Arkansas take advantage of the Quapaw Quarter Association’s annual Tour of Homes each spring.

If there’s one thing locals flock to the SoMa district for, it’s the food. There’s The Root Café, sources much of its ingredients from small local producers; Saturday morning staple Community Bakery; the newest kid on the block, Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom; and South on Main, an award-winning restaurant with ties to Hollywood power couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, an Arkansas native.

Walkability is key here, with the most popular establishments right on Main Street. Moxy Modern Mercantile, The Green Corner Store, Loblolly Creamery, the Bernice Gardens Farmers Market, seasonal food truck meetups, the Mardi Gras parade and festival and the Esse Purse Museum—these are can’t-miss SoMa claims to fame, and just a few of the reasons locals love to call this area home.

GOOD TO KNOW

Cornbread Festival: This festival is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s a city-wide favorite, evidenced by a growing number of guests each year. Prepare for lots of cornbread, local vendors and live music. In the past, cornbread cook-off winners have not only won prize money, but were even featured in Food Network Magazine.

/Bernice Garden /SoMa - Little Rock’s Southside Main Street
/Esse Purse Museum /Quapaw Quarter Association
@oxfordamerican
@southonmainlr @loblollycreamery