I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, getting to explore little Southern towns around us this year has been so much fun! The weekend after I finished up the first year of my MBA program, my boyfriend and I needed some time away together. We planned a short weekend trip to Ocean Springs, just under a two-hour drive from New Orleans. It was exactly what we needed! I actually spent a lot of time in this area while growing up. I have family who lives there including two cousins my age who grew up there so we visited at least once a year. It’s always been a lovely place, but so much has changed since then! This little town is seriously unexpected and cute.
Friday
We arrived on Friday afternoon and checked into Ocean Springs’ newest tiny hotel, The Beatnick. I was immediately FREAKING out about how cute this place was. You can ask my BF, I was actually screaming. The tiny hotel features four cabins, a plunge pool, and a fire pit area. Each super trendy cabin is a little different, but all include a wet bar, a screened-in front porch with rocking chairs, private outdoor showers, and even a hammock!
After checking in and lounging by the pool with a glass of wine for an hour or so, we headed out to meet my uncle for a drink before our dinner downtown. We wanted to meet at The Wilbur, a super cute cocktail bar at another hotel called The Roost, but they were closed for a wedding so we will have to catch it next time! We met him at Mosaic instead which was a super lively little spot on a Friday night! The patio was filled with people enjoying the weather, live music, and cocktails.
Then, we walked over to Vestige for one of the best meals of our lives. The seasonal menu at Vestige features local ingredients and inspiration from Japan, where the chef’s wife is from. The menu changes daily, but the evening we visited, a six course tasting menu featured small plates including charcoal grilled octopus, poached salmon, wagyu beef ribeye steak and a dessert that was to die for.
Saturday
In the morning, we walked over to Greenhouse on Porter to grab breakfast. I can’t say enough good things about this place! As the name indicates, the restaurant is in an old greenhouse. They have coffee, breakfast, lunch, drinks, and sometimes live music. However, their biscuits are the star of the show. Each day, they feature a special sweet and savory biscuit. We tried a strawberry ginger biscuit, a beet goat cheese & chard biscuit, and a slice of quiche that was also delicious.
After breakfast, we walked over to The Walter Anderson Museum of Art. It’s one of my favorite little museums. Not only is his artwork diverse, but his story is so interesting. One of the coolest parts of the museum is called “the little room,” a room that he spent the latter years of his life in painting it from floor to ceiling.
We spent the rest of our day hanging around the pool at The Beatnick and having drinks with new friends we made who were also staying there.
For dinner, we kept it super casual and grabbed chips and dip from Rooftop Taco & Tequila Bar, followed by splitting a delicious burger and martinis back at Mosaic. We really wanted to go to The Wilbur, a speakeasy at The Beatnick’s sister property down the street, The Roost, but they were hosting a wedding and closed for the night. Guess we will just have to make it back!
Sunday
Grab breakfast (again) at the Greenhouse on Porter or if you are feeling lunch, stop by the The Shed, Mississippi’s famous BBQ restaurant on your way out.
