Image: Explore Ridgeland
Wondering where you can find award-winning steaks, a tearoom filled with tinctures, a winding reservoir, world-class shopping, and businesses guaranteed to warm your heart? We have good news: all of the above – and then some – can be found in 17 square Mississippi miles.
Ridgeland, Mississippi, is filled with some of the best shopping, dining, and hidden treasures (like 105 miles of shoreline!) in the entire Magnolia State. We’ve gathered everything you need to know in one easy place.
Here’s where to eat, stay, and play in Ridgeland.
Eat
Fun fact: Ridgeland is the Steakhouse Capital of Mississippi, not only because it holds the most steakhouses of any other Mississippi city, but steaks here are notoriously the best around. But, there’s more decisions at stake than steak here, because the city also boasts excellent Italian food, casual dining, and charming eateries from a tea room to a philanthropic cafe.
Ely’s
Steaks at this longstanding dining room have earned national chops from outlets like MSN and Business Insider, and most importantly, it’s a fan favorite among locals. While you can choose between Ely’s tender filets, ribeyes, and a New York Strip, there’s also an impressive seafood menu with gulf redfish (a regional delicacy), tuna, and broiled crab cakes. Anything you choose comes with a salad to round out the classic steakhouse experience.
MM Shapley’s
The original Shapley’s opened in 1985, then after a few years’ hiatus, reopened to the delight of locals in 2018. And, its owners are kin to the Ely’s team, so the steaks here are up to snuff. But in addition, the menu includes grilled fish, stuffed shrimp, rack of lamb, and crab claws. start your meal with an order of hot tamales – there’s a reason this family tradition spans more than 75 years. It’s a true farm-to-table restaurant, with a vegetable garden blossoming right outside the dining room.
Insider tip: plan your trip around eggplant season.
The Lily Pad Café
For one of the most memorable, heartwarming meals you can find anywhere in the world, Ridgeland’s Lily Pad Café tops the list. Its mission is to employ and train community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities, giving them the tools to thrive elsewhere. It’s a lily pad – a jumping off point – and a delightful experience for diners. While the mission is reason enough to get you in the door, the food is also excellent, including classic Southern fare like chicken salad, deviled eggs, and cucumber salad.
CW Organics Apothicaire & Tea Room
There’s something magical hidden in a Ridgeland business park – up the stairs and down the hall sits a whimsical, floral-covered tea room plucked straight out of wonderland. The back wall of CW Organics is trimmed with tinctures built for tackling any ailment, and dried flowers carry the earthy vibes through the rest of the restaurant. It’s tough to choose your tea of choice, but when it comes to food, the full tea service is a must. You’ll be showered with sweets, scones, sandwiches, and, one of my all-time favorite bites, deviled strawberries.
TASTE Italian Kitchen
A brand new addition to Ridgeland, TASTE comes to the Renaissance at Colony Park from neighboring Starkville. It’s an elevated dining experience featuring classic pastas, pizzas, and fish and steak entrees, but perhaps the most exciting draw is the expansive bourbon menu chock full of rare sippers.
Stay
After spending some time in Ridgeland, you’ll be ready to stay put for a while. Luckily, many major hotel brands have placed special emphasis on their Ridgeland properties, ensuring new and renovated options are aplenty.
AC Hotel
Part of the Marriott portfolio, AC Hotels are a stylish lifestyle brand found around the world. But in Mississippi, Ridgeland nabs the only one. You’ll find modern guestrooms and plenty of public space ranging from a breakfast area to a fitness center and fully equipped bar.
Hyatt Place
Renaissance at Colony Park is one of Ridgeland’s top attractions, but we’ll get to that later. If you’re looking to stay in the heart of it all, Hyatt Place is an excellent option. With modern decor, an indoor pool, and a dedicated dining area, the hotel itself has everything you need. But, make sure you venture around the surrounding outdoor mall for excellent shopping and dining (including TASTE Italian Kitchen!).
TownePlace Suites
This newly renovated hotel will have you feeling like a local. Situated in the charming Township at Colony Park development, a stroll outside the TownePlace Suites front doors will place you in a residential community brimming with local shops, restaurants, and community spaces. Inside, you’ll find well-appointed suites, a fitness center, an outdoor patio, and complimentary breakfast daily.
Play
Whether you’re in the mood to shop ‘til you drop, soak in some sunshine, or get a little competitive with friends, Ridgeland has it all. From frolic-able fields to arts and crafts, here’s the top things to do in town all along the stunning Natchez Trace Parkway.
Wildflower Fields
Summertime in Ridgeland is extra special thanks to the wildflower fields that spring to life just off the Trace. The dedicated “art park” allows guests to wander through beautiful blooms and even cut a few to bring home with you.
Renaissance at Colony Park
Beware: you could spend an entire day wandering in and out of the shops at Renaissance. It’s beautifully designed on the outside, with unrivaled shopping options from Anthropologie to Lululemon. And, Renaissance is home to Mississippi’s only Apple store. There are plenty of self-care options around, too, from salons to pilates studios and, yes, a wine shop.
The Mustard Seed
Next door to the Lily Pad sits an equally moving store filled to the brim with handmade wares from community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Seedsters” participate in an all-day program, interspersing ceramic painting time with rests, snacks, devotions, and socializing. Find a full collection of their handmade goods at The Mustard Seed, perfect for gifting!
The Rez
You’ll never feel landlocked in Ridgeland thanks to the 33,000-acre lake winding through town. The Barnett Reservoir (affectionately called The Rez) is a one-stop adventure shop, prime for fishing, boating, kayaking, picnicking, and much more. Rent a pontoon at Main Harbor Store Marina, snag a kayak from Pearl River Kayaks, or opt to take in the view with a basket of gator bites on the patio of Pelican Cove.
The Waller Craft Center
Nestled near the Natchez Trace Parkway is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to crafting. Artwork from more than 400 members of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi is on display and available for purchase, ranging from jewelry to quilts, baskets, and wood. In fact, Modern South’s Southern Charm Award plaques are hand-made by a Ridgeland-based woodburner affiliated with the Waller Craft Center. In addition to displays, the Center regularly hosts classes and demo days.
This article is presented in partnership with Explore Ridgeland, a Modern South Founding Partner.
Finre for more stories from around the South.
