Food, Wine, and Romance

You’re a new couple ready to take your first trip together. Or perhaps you’ve been together for a while, and now you’re ready to recharge the romance. Or maybe you are simply a lover of all the finer things in life. Food, wine, romance against a landscape of serene natural beauty: You’re going to love every minute in Ridgeland.

Where to Stay

The perfect scenario for your love story begins with the perfect setting—that means comfort, even luxury. Fortunately, luxurious comfort is not only available, it’s affordable in Ridgeland.

At Hyatt Place, Hyatt’s signature Grand Bed® with its heavenly soft pillowtop mattress is so comfortable that frequent travelers have tried to purchase them for their own homes. At Hyatt’s Coffee-to-Cocktail Bar, the two of you can share a convivial cup of coffee in the morning and an intimate cocktail each evening.

At Hampton Inn, the Clean and Fresh Bed® is an oasis of ease, a pure white confection of linens, ultra-comfortable mattress and Down Dreams Soft pillows. Eager to set out on your adventure? In addition to a complimentary hot breakfast, Hampton also offers complimentary On-the-Go Breakfast Bags.

Earn top Hilton points (10 points for $1) at the extended-stay Homewood Suites by Hilton, and you’ll also “earn points” with your significant other for choosing spacious suite comfort and superb amenities like a full-size refrigerator (ideal for storing wine and romantic midnight spreads for two).

Homewood Suites by Hilton
853 Centre Street Ridgeland, MS 39157
(601) 899-8611

A business district near the best of Mississippi, we’re located in a peaceful business district just off County Line Road in Ridgeland. Enjoy free breakfast ahead of a day’s exploration, and join our free evening social Monday – Thursday.

Learn More

What to Do

Take two people ready to fall in love, or to fall in love all over again. (Or substitute one solo adventurer, or more, simply looking for a sumptuous experience.) Add in a fresh and fun cooking class at Everyday Gourmet, and you’ve got the perfect ingredients for a deliciously delightful experience. A full menu of different classes makes it easy to find a choice that appeals to you both.

After class, pack your own hand-crafted picnic or pick up something from any of the pleasing dining options, then head out to the Reservoir Overlook on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Rez, as it’s affectionately known by the locals, is 33,000 acres of open water, the perfect backdrop for a romantic lunch for two, as you feast your eyes on the gorgeous setting (and on each other!)

Afterward, you may decide to rent a pontoon boat at Main Harbor Store, and enjoy the rest of the day floating away together. Or you can save your boating for Day Two, because the Overlook is also the northern trailhead for the Ridgeland’s Multi-Use Trails, blissful paths for strolling together or biking. (Bikes are available for rent, with free pickup and delivery, at Bicycle Revolution.)

On your trek, you’ll probably want to make a stop at M7 Coffeehouse. Here, you can relax inside the charming white clapboard café, as you enjoy a Spanish latte and perhaps a snack at the Toast Bar, featuring locally sourced fresh breads. With lattes in hand, take a ramble through Ridgeland’s Olde Towne, also known as the Jackson Street District, where specialty gift stores and clothing boutiques beckon. (Take note of Elle James Bridal and Bridesmaids—you may be back for a visit there, soon!).

Ready to rejuvenate? The Drench Day Spa's Swedish, hot stones or deep-pressure massages let you unwind together. Or try a yoga class at M Theory; your first lesson is free!

Where to Eat

When it’s time to wrap up your day, choose the perfect ending: A romantic dinner for two, with great food and great wine; in Ridgeland you have a true banquet of choices.

The prime beef, wine and seafood at Ely’s Restaurant and Bar has garnered national acclaim with accolades from MSN and Business Insider proclaiming Ely’s as “Best Steak House in Mississippi.”

The blackberry sangria is a special treat at CAET Seafood/Oysterette offering a full bar and a casually upscale seafood and oyster bar dining experience. CAET is located inside Renaissance at Colony Park, where you can take a walk under the stars through the elegant Old World-inspired surroundings.

Of course, what could be more romantic than an authentic French bistro? Anjou Restaurant, led by the French father-daughter duo of Christian Amelot and Anne Amelot-Holmes, melds authentic French flavors with a Southern twist, through tempting treats ranging from house-prepared beignets and crepes to fried oysters and shrimp and grits.

Or, imagine yourselves enjoying authentic Italian at Fratesi’s, where the hearty Italian entrees are served up in an utterly irresistible setting: Think checked tablecloths, a bottle of Chianti and candlelight. That’s amore! That’s Ridgeland!

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Homewood Suites by Hilton
853 Centre Street Ridgeland, MS 39157
(601) 899-8611

A business district near the best of Mississippi, we’re located in a peaceful business district just off County Line Road in Ridgeland. Enjoy free breakfast ahead of a day’s exploration, and join our free evening social Monday – Thursday.

Learn More
Main Harbor Marina Store
3999 Harborwalk Drive Ridgeland, MS 39157
(601) 853-0683

All the supplies and fuel that you need for boating and fishing at the Rez are available at the Main Harbor Marina Store. They offer rental services including pontoons, double decker boats and more. Main Harbor Marina also shares a building with Pelican Cove Grill, the perfect spot for seafood, drinks, and live music after a long day's adventure.

Learn More