Known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo, Mississippi, draws visitors from all over the world to explore the city that gave rise to one of the world’s greatest entertainers. An emerging culinary destination, Tupelo is where visitors come for Elvis and stay for the incredible food scene.
New restaurants seem to open in Tupelo weekly. The latest hot spot is Jobos, located inside Hotel Tupelo. The restaurant offers modern coastal cuisine with a twist, featuring fresh seafood. Their craft cocktails are diverse and delicious, utilizing fresh-squeezed fruit juices in their concoctions. Jobos offers brunch on the weekends, serving up everything from Classic French Toast to the Brunch-So-Hard Burger.
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 Doughnut Bread Pudding, a decadent dessert made with doughnuts from Connie’s Fried Chicken in South Tupelo.
Ladies flock to lunch at Sweet Tea & Biscuits Café in West Tupelo. While the café’s tea is sweet and their biscuits are fluffy, the mile-high meringue atop the homemade pies keeps people coming back. A line forms daily to enjoy the Southern specialties prepared in-house, and staples like the Fried Green Tomato BLT piled high with crisp bacon and pimiento cheese are perennial favorites. The café is located inside The Market Place at Sweet Tea & Biscuits, offering an extensive shopping opportunity after a delightful lunch.
Visitors looking to dine alfresco are in for a treat in the city where anything is possible. Plentiful patios offer outdoor dining for guests to bask in the sunshine while enjoying fabulous food. Grab a table at The Stables Downtown Grill, where you can dine 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 from its rooftop across from Downtown Tupelo’s Fairpark District. Romie’s Grocery hosts live music on its patio, where they promise to “put a little South in ya’ mouth.” With traditional meat-and-three plates at lunch and hand-cut steaks and burgers on the weekends, Romie’s is the place to be.
Eat like The King with a visit to Johnnie’s Drive-In, where Elvis liked to frequent. At Johnnie’s, Tupelo’s oldest restaurant, guests can sit in the Elvis Booth inside or enjoy carhop service at this working drive-in. Try the doughburger, a North Mississippi delicacy. Tupelo’s restaurants serve up plenty of Elvis’s eats, including his favorite fried peanut butter and banana sandwich at Cafe 212 in Downtown Tupelo.
Tupelo’s culinary culture is constantly changing, but one thing remains the same—you won’t find a bad meal in the city where anything is possible. Follow #tupelofoodie on Instagram and let your mouth water. Visit tupelo.net to peruse the city’s more than 160 restaurants and start planning your scrumptious trip to Tupelo today.
