Tupelo Culinary Tour

Known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, people from all over the world visit Tupelo, Mississippi to explore the city that gave rise to one of the world’s greatest entertainers. As an emerging culinary destination today, visitors come for Elvis and stay for the incredible food scene.  

Live music is a must in the birthplace of an international icon. Blue Canoe is Tupelo’s home for exceptional live music and eclectic bar food. With one of the largest beer selections in North Mississippi, and specials throughout the week, Blue Canoe is where the locals go for good mood food. You can’t leave without trying the Connie’s Blueberry Donut Bread Pudding, a decadent dessert made with donuts from Connie’s Fried Chicken in South Tupelo.    

Ladies who lunch flock to Sweet Tea & Biscuits Café in West Tupelo. While the tea is sweet and the biscuits are undoubtedly fluffy, the mile-high meringue atop homemade pies keeps people coming back. A line forms daily to enjoy the cafe's Southern specialties prepared in-house, along with staples like the fried green tomato BLT piled high with crisp bacon and pimento cheese are perennial favorites. The café is located inside The Marketplace at Sweet Tea & Biscuits, offering an extensive shopping opportunity after a delightful lunch.  

Visitors looking to dine al fresco are in for a treat in the city where anything is possible. Plentiful patios offer outdoor dining to bask in the sunshine while enjoying fabulous food. Grab a table at The Stables Downtown Grill, where you can sit in the alley of what was once a livery stable. Enjoy their catfish nachos or a legendary hamburger. Park Heights Restaurant offers fine dining and some of the city’s best views on its rooftop across from downtown Tupelo’s Fairpark. Romie’s Grocery hosts live music on its patio where they promise to “put a little South in ya’ mouth.” Serving the traditional “meat and three” at lunch and hand-cut steaks and burgers on the weekends, Romie’s patio is the place to be.  

Eat like Elvis with a visit to Johnnie’s Drive-In, Tupelo’s oldest restaurant and a frequent favorite of the king. Sit in the Elvis booth inside the All-American diner decked out in music memorabilia, or enjoy carhop service at this authentic drive-in. Try the doughburger, a North Mississippi delicacy. Tupelo’s restaurants also serve up plenty of other Elvis-approved eats, including his signature fried peanut butter and banana sandwich at Café 212 in downtown Tupelo.  

Craft cocktails abound in Tupelo’s local restaurants, unique bars, and more. The Tupelo Cocktail Trail invites guests to visit eight downtown Tupelo locations and enjoy delicious local artisan cocktails. Pick up your cocktail card at the Tupelo Visitors Center or at each participating restaurant. Once you've completed all seven stops on the Cocktail Trail, redeem your card at the Visitors Center for a free #MyTupelo cocktail shaker. 

Visitors interested in a unique experience should look no further than Queen’s Reward Meadery. Mississippi’s first and only meadery, Queen’s Reward makes award-winning mead with a sip of Southern hospitality. With several different varieties, try them all in the meadery’s West Tupelo tasting room and take home a piece of Tupelo with a bottle of your favorite mead.

Tupelo has an array of accommodating hotels, perfect for spending time away from home. Hotel Tupelo is the city’s newest boutique property located in the heart of downtown. It is walkable to many of the city’s local restaurants and shops, and with bicycles available for guests staying at the property, the top Elvis attractions are just a pedal away. Tupelo also recently opened a Home2Suites and TRU by Hilton near the Barnes Crossing Shopping District, offering easy access to one of the city’s top shopping hubs.  

Follow #tupelofoodie on Instagram and let your mouth water. Visit tupelo.net to peruse the city’s 160-plus restaurants and start planning your scrumptious trip to Tupelo today. 

Sponsored by Visit Tupelo