Welcome to Springfield! When you’ve been studying A Stunning Mess for some time, you might already know that Springfield, Missouri is Elsie and Emma’s hometown. And, hey, it’s mine too!
I’m Ana, and I’m so excited to inform you a bit about a few of our favourite spots to eat, store, and play.
First up, a pair enjoyable info. Springfield is the hometown of Brad Pitt, Bass Professional Retailers, and The Wall Avenue Journal just lately named it the very best place to work remotely in America. Fairly cool, should you ask me. Let’s soar into what I’m actually excited to speak about (the meals, duh).
Associated: Take a look at our journey archives for extra guides!
Eating places & Bars
There are over 800 eating places in Springfield (!!!); yep, not a typo. 800. Many Springfieldians like to eat native, so we’ve got some nice choices to select from. Listed here are some faves in addition to a bit of lay of the land for the place yow will discover them:
Industrial Avenue, aka C-Avenue — Industrial Avenue is on the north aspect of city— it’s the historic downtown of what was north Springfield and likewise house to some nice eating places.
Some native favorites are Cafe Cusco (Peruvian meals), Lindberg’s (nice burgers and brunch), La Habana Vieja (Cuban fare), Ms. Gilmore’s Tea Room, That Lebanese Place, and Pizza Home—which is understood for its skinny crust and sq. slices.
Downtown Springfield — Springfield’s downtown is walkable and has a big focus of each bars and eating places. Lodge Vandivort shouldn’t be solely an excellent lodge, but it surely’s house to each The Order (which operates all hours from brunch to post-dinner drinks) and Vantage, a dreamy rooftop bar with small bites and yummy drinks.
Rise, Druff’s, and Gailey’s are all nice brunch spots. For dinner and drinks, attempt Kai (sushi), Better of Luck Beer Corridor, Bruno’s (Italian), Flame Steakhouse, Bosky’s Vegan Grill or Gilardi’s for high-end Italian.
And naturally, can’t neglect Golden Lady which is understood for its well-balanced rum cocktails, enjoyable environment, and needs to be recognized for its tacky tater tots (in my humble opinion).
Rountree — The Rountree neighborhood is nearly 5 minutes south of downtown and borders Missouri State College’s campus. It’s an excellent lil’ neighborhood to stroll and luxuriate in a few of my private favourite meals/drink spots on the town.
In Rountree, you’ll discover Tea Bar and Bites, Group Taco, The Royal (dwell music and blow-your-mind cocktails), Skully’s (ramen + extra), and should you’re there within the morning, Sleepy Opossum Cafe, which operates out of The Royal’s area for breakfast.
South Aspect — There are many locations to go outdoors the focus of foods and drinks spots downtown. Listed here are among the greatest on the south aspect of city: Haruno (sushi), Avanzare (Italian), Farmer’s Gastropub (greatest fish and chips outdoors of London!), and Cesar’s Outdated Mexico.
Progress is a go-to for fantastic eating (and has a really approachable brunch menu), and Cellar and Plate is a stable wine bar.
We will’t neglect to say Springfield-style cashew rooster, which you’ll be able to really discover throughout city. Leong’s is credited with inventing the dish, and Emma’s favourite is at Shanghai Inn.
Espresso & Desserts
Onto the candy stuff! I looooove a superb espresso store dangle, and we’ve got some actually nice ones to select from. The Espresso Ethic and Kingdom Espresso are my two private favorites, and every has a location downtown.
Mudhouse is a traditional Springfield espresso store, and Inexperienced Home is a more moderen spot that additionally has affogato on the menu—so enjoyable. On C-Avenue, you’ll discover Large Momma’s and Eurasia, which can also be a extremely pretty boutique lodge. Strive Cherry Picker in Rountree for espresso, wine, or any hours in between.
You’ll discover the very best desserts at Prairie Pie (downtown), Pineapple Whip (cutie little meals truck vibes with a number of places), Andy’s Frozen Custard (a number of places), and European Cafe (downtown bakery).
We have now a mall that options most of the nationwide shops you’d look forward to finding (H&M, Sephora, Lululemon, and so forth.), however among the greatest buying in Springfield is at our native boutiques and small companies!
Pagination Bookshop is a highly-curated bookstore in a historic house inbuilt 1905. It’s an exquisite place to roam round and take a look at their completely different sections in numerous rooms of the home. It’s price noting that additionally they have an excellent number of youngsters’s books.
For garments, Staxx is a neighborhood favourite that carries some nice manufacturers, and Springy Denims are greatest in school classic resellers—they’ve received their very own line in addition to curated classic.
Tradition Flock has actually enjoyable, inclusive attire; a lot of it designed in-house. For presents (for a buddy or your self), you may’t go incorrect at The Market, and The Native Bevy is an excellent cute little store with all locally-made items and presents.
Flea Markets
As you will have heard should you’ve listened to the ABM podcast, we’ve got some superior flea markets round city. Relics might be essentially the most well-known, and it’s really the biggest flea market in Missouri.
One other favourite is the Classic Peddler—they’re recognized for having some nice curation. Just a few different locations to hunt for classic embody Freakin’ Antiquin’, Mike’s Distinctive, and S.T.D. (sure, it’s actually referred to as that).
Leisure
Spring via fall are among the greatest occasions of yr to go to SGF, so you may make the most of among the warmer-weather leisure choices.
We’re house to the Springfield Cardinals, which is a minor league baseball workforce and, IMO, a enjoyable place to eat a sizzling canine. BigShots and Getaway Golf are each enjoyable actions when the climate is sweet, too.
Some indoor kid-friendly actions embody Wonders of Wildlife (the aquarium is amazingly bigger than life), the Discovery Heart, the Springfield Artwork Museum, and ice skating at Jordan Valley.
For a night out, attempt the Blue Room Comedy Membership, see what’s taking place on the Gillioz, or catch a film at both Alamo Drafthouse or the Moxie.
Mountaineering, Biking & Parks
Springfield is house to some enjoyable trails and out of doors actions, as nicely. On the town, you may go to the Springfield Nature Heart or try a few of our lovely greenway trails: South Creek, Wilson’s Creek, and Galloway Creek are just a few favorites.
The Galloway path borders Sequiota Park, which is a pleasant cease off. Nathanael Greene Park has a botanical backyard, the Sac River Path affords 14 miles of single-track mountain biking, and Fellows Lake is one other great place for mountain biking, picnics, and small boat leases (although it’s not a lake you may swim in, simply FYI).
FAQ
Regularly Requested Questions
How huge is Springfield, Missouri?
Your definition of how “huge” Springfield is will very possible rely in your private historical past. When you’re coming from a real small city, Springfield will supply most of the stuff you’d count on from an even bigger metropolis.
On the similar time, it will be unfair to match it to someplace like Nashville or Dallas. The inhabitants is about 170,000, which is similar to Cary, North Carolina or Salem, Oregon. Geographically, Springfield is unfold out over 82 miles—about the identical land space as Boise, Idaho or Toledo, Ohio.
Is Springfield an inexpensive place to dwell?
The price of residing in Springfield is sweet in comparison with different cities of its dimension. Taking a fast scroll of Springfield, Zillow provides you with an concept of housing prices within the space, and customarily talking, individuals have a tendency to purchase “starter homes” right here as there aren’t many condos or townhouses.
Whereas Springfield does have some public transportation, you actually need to have a automotive to dwell right here, so that might be a value to contemplate should you don’t have your individual car.
Is Springfield a superb place to dwell?
Factoring in Springfield’s dimension, facilities, price of residing and extra, we might contemplate Springfield a superb place to dwell. Typically, Springfield is an effective place to boost youngsters, and there are lots of selections for faculties, together with some specialised applications relying on a baby’s wants.
The situation affords the chance for straightforward journeys to St. Louis, Kansas Metropolis, northern Arkansas and extra inside a 2-3 hour drive, or you would drive to bigger cities like Nashville or Chicago inside 7-8 hours. Springfield’s airport can also be very simple to fly out of, whereas a bit of costlier than another airports.
Because of Elsie and Emma for inviting me to share a bit of bit about good ‘ole SGF! Whereas it’s a bit tacky, I’ve gotta say the individuals make the place, and we’ve got some actually nice individuals who make Springfield house.
As a few of my good buddies would say, this place is nearly as good as any. xx, Ana
