Visitors are big on Little Rock, especially once they find their way to the funky, quirky, and lively neighborhood of SoMa.
Funky and fresh, SoMa embraces the creative spirit, families, and the farming community (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
SoMa—Southside Main Street—in Little Rock is where the past meets a funky present. Part of downtown, this historic district runs south from I-630 to 17th street. The neighborhood has no set boundaries as it borders and sometimes meanders into the Mansion District and Pettaway neighborhoods. The neighborhood has shaken off its sleepy past and become a walkable, family-friendly hot spot anchored by a world class museum and an award-winning distillery.
Main Street began as a dirt road in the earliest incarnation of Little Rock and the area now called SoMa reached a heyday in the 1950s. The area flourished until downtown was split in two by the creation of I-630—“downtown” holding on north of the freeway and the south becoming what some called a “no-man’s land.” Enter Anita Davis after the turn of the century. The matriarch of SoMa who created The Bernice Garden is held in auspicious regard to this day as she strolls the neighborhood her efforts created.
The matriarch of SoMa, Anita Davis, welcomes guests to ESSE Purse Museum & Store (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
The Bernice Garden (1401 Main St) is a privately owned space open for the public. The garden’s creation was the genesis for the SoMa revival. Davis started the garden to foster community togetherness and today many locals and visitors gather here to enjoy a bite to eat, meet up before heading out to a SoMa restaurant or bar, or enjoy one of the arts events like acoustic music mornings every Saturday. A farmer’s market takes place at the Garden every Sunday, rain or shine.
One of only two purse museums in the world, ESSE welcomes guests from around the globe to SoMa (Photo: Michael C. Upton for TravelMag)
After The Bernice Garden the two other anchors of SoMa are the ESSE Purse Museum & Store (1510 Main St) and Rock Town Distillery (1201 Main St). ESSE is Davis’ personal collection turned into a museum, which highlights women’s history through fashion. Rock Town is the first legal distillery in Arkansas since Prohibition, and the makers offer flavored vodkas, bourbon varieties, liqueurs, gin, and moonshine.
Where to stay
Other than private residences, there are no accommodations in the small neighborhood of SoMa. The rest of the capitol city offers many choices, but two unique options are located within a 20-minute walk of SoMa, the Little Rock Marriott (3 Statehouse Plaza), which is attached to the Statehouse Convention Center, and The Empress of Little Rock (2120 S Louisiana St), a stately B&B in a circa-1888 Victorian mansion.
Eat and drink
Taking the place of a once popular dairy treat spot, The Root Café (1500 Main St) has become a staple in SoMa and the rest of Little Rock because of its dedication to and support of sustainable farming.
Most of the food in SoMa can be traced back to the local farming community, including ingredients at Raduno (Photo: Courtesy Little Rock CVB)
Other popular destinations for food and fun include Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom (1318 Main St, Suite 100), Mockingbird Bar & Tacos (1220 Main St), and the Bark Bar (1201 S Spring St.) is especially popular with dogs.