The Flavors of Mississippi

Mississippi’s culinary story is being written right now, shaped by chefs and makers who honor deep Southern roots while advancing new flavors and culinary traditions. The state’s ten MICHELIN-recommended restaurants, along with other standout dining and drink destinations, offer everything from refined tasting menus to comforting classics. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer journey, these are the places that turn a Mississippi trip into something you’ll remember long after your last bite.

Discover Mississippi’s Michelin-Recommended Restaurants

Elvie’s

Elvie’s offers a cozy, upscale dining experience in the heart of Jackson’s historic Belhaven neighborhood. The restaurant, which was named after chef and owner Hunter Evans’ grandmother, features a New Orleans-inspired menu with emphasis on fresh ingredients sourced, whenever possible, from local farms. Elvie’s was recognized with the MICHELIN Guide’s Bib Gourmand distinction, honoring restaurants that deliver exceptional quality and value.

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Sacred Ground Barbecue

Sacred Ground Barbecue’s chef and owner, Derek Emerson, built the restaurant’s massive smokers himself, a testimony to the hands-on ethos that carries through every step of their process. The result is a menu that honors Southern barbecue traditions while elevating them with precision, balance, and a deep respect for the ingredients. Sacred Ground Barbecue was recognized in 2025 with the MICHELIN Guide’s Bib Gourmand distinction for restaurants that deliver exceptional quality and value.

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Ajax Diner

At Ajax Diner, classic Southern comfort food is served with a sense of place and plenty of personality. A longtime fixture on the Oxford Square, Ajax is known for generous plates, familiar favorites, and a menu that celebrates the everyday dishes Mississippians grew up with. It’s the kind of spot where locals and visitors gather alike, offering an authentic taste of Oxford that feels timeless, welcoming, and unmistakably Southern.

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City Grocery

A cornerstone of Oxford’s dining scene, City Grocery helped establish the city as a serious culinary destination. Owned by John Currence, a James Beard Award–winning chef and founder of the City Grocery Restaurant Group, the restaurant pairs classic technique with regional ingredients. Set in a historic building on the Square, City Grocery delivers a refined yet welcoming experience that continues to set the standard today.

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Pulito Osteria

Pulito Osteria brings Italian-inspired dishes to Jackson’s walkable Belhaven Town Center district. Led by chef Chaz Lindsay, the restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients, handmade pastas, and wood-fired dishes that feel both familiar and thoughtfully refined. Pulito Osteria strikes a rare balance between relaxed elegance and refined execution, making it a perfect choice for both casual dining and special occasions.

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Siren Social Club

One of Coastal Mississippi’s newer dining destinations, Siren Social Club brings a thoughtful, chef-driven approach to modern Southern cooking. Co-owner Austin Sumrall draws on regional influences to create menus that are refined yet approachable, reflecting the continued evolution of Gulfport’s culinary scene.

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Snackbar

Snackbar, part of John Currence’s acclaimed City Grocery Group, is an Oxford favorite that brings a lively, chef-driven energy and creative cocktails to the table. The restaurant blends Southern cuisine with global influences, emphasizing creative small plates, fresh raw oysters on the half shell, expertly crafted cocktails, and a commitment to locally sourced ingredients.

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Taylor Grocery

A beloved institution in Taylor, Taylor Grocery is as much a community gathering place as it is a restaurant. Known for its classic fried Mississippi catfish, simple sides, and unpretentious atmosphere, Taylor Grocery has earned a devoted following by doing things the same way for decades. With its screened-in porch, live music, and deep sense of place, it offers visitors an experience that feels timeless, authentic, and rooted in local tradition.

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Vestige

A quietly influential presence on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Vestige offers a thoughtful, modern dining experience shaped by seasonality and precision. Led by the husband-and-wife team of Alex Perry and Kumi Omari, the restaurant blends refined technique with locally sourced ingredients, resulting in tasting menus that feel both imaginative and grounded. Vestige is known for its understated elegance and its role in redefining expectations for fine dining along the Gulf Coast.

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White Pillars

Located in a restored historic beachfront mansion, Biloxi’s White Pillars blends historic elegance with a modern Southern sensibility. The restaurant is led by chef Austin Sumrall, offering diners an experience that connects Biloxi’s seafood heritage with expertly crafted coastal flavors.

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More Fresh and Flavorful Places

Eagle Point Oyster Company

Eagle Point Oyster Company

Ocean Springs

Eagle Point Oyster Company is an oyster farm that sells premium off-bottom oysters grown and harvested in the nutrient-rich waters of the Mississippi Sound. […]

Mosaic

Mosaic

Ocean Springs

Mosaic is a restaurant and bar located in downtown Ocean Springs, known for its globally inspired menu centered on small plates designed for sharing. The…

The Farmer’s Table in Livingston

The Farmer’s Table in Livingston

Flora

The Farmer’s Table in Livingston is a cooking school and catering service located in Madison County’s Town of Livingston. […]

Leña Pizza + Bagels

Leña Pizza + Bagels

Cleveland

Opened in 2023, Leña Pizza + Bagels has quickly earned a reputation as one of Delta’s top new restaurants. In 2024, it was included in The…

Wonderbird Spirits

Wonderbird Spirits

Taylor

Nestled in the heart of Mississippi, Wonderbird Spirits is a hidden gem for gin lovers and anyone looking for a serene outdoor setting. Located in…

Mayflower Cafe

Mayflower Cafe

Jackson

The Mayflower Cafe is the oldest operating restaurant in the capital city, first serving customers in 1935. The restaurant is famous for its classic, Greek-inspired…

Forklift

Forklift

Tupelo

Forklift is a Tupelo restaurant serving Southern food, elevated. The restaurant emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and hand-crafted cocktails. […]

Explore Restaurants by Region

From vibrant cultural attractions to unforgettable cuisine, your next great Mississippi experience starts here.

Coastal | Jackson | Oxford

Coastal Mississippi

Taranto’s Crawfish, Poboys & Seafood

Taranto’s Crawfish, Poboys & Seafood

Biloxi

Taranto’s Crawfish, Poboys & Seafood is a family-owned and operated restaurant established in 2006 in Biloxi. Founded by “Arnie” Taranto and his family, it began…

Maison De Lu

Maison De Lu

Ocean Springs

Maison De Lu, founded in 2008, is a fine dining, coast casual restaurant and bar located in downtown Ocean Springs, that has become a beloved…

Magnolia House

Magnolia House

Biloxi

Magnolia House is a fine dining restaurant located inside Harrah’s Gulf Coast, in Biloxi, MS. With a focus on quality, comfort, and southern Louisiana flavors,…

Chimney’s

Chimney’s

Gulfport

Chimneys Restaurant in Gulfport, MS, offers a sweet dining experience with its charming ambiance and delicious cuisine. Located in a historic building with exposed brick…

Thorny Oyster

Thorny Oyster

Bay St. Louis

Thorny Oyster Bay, located in downtown Bay St. Louis below the Pearl Hotel, offers a sophisticated yet comfortable dining experience with a focus on local…

Thirty-Two

Thirty-Two

Biloxi

Thirty-Two, located at the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, offers an exceptional dining experience with its AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant. Known for its stunning…

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House

Biloxi

Mary Mahoney’s is one of Mississippi’s best-known seafood restaurants, serving guests at their historic Biloxi location for more than 50 years. […]

BR Prime

BR Prime

Biloxi

BR Prime, located within the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, is an American steakhouse known for its modern elegance and delicious food items. Guests can enjoy…

Jackson

Walker’s Drive-In

Walker’s Drive-In

Jackson

Walker’s Drive In is a deceptively casual name for one of Jackson’s most celebrated restaurants. Their fall menus highlight Mississippi-grown produce — think sweet potatoes,…

Tuk Tuk Boom

Tuk Tuk Boom

Jackson

Tuk Tuk Boom is a high-quality Thai and fresh sushi restaurant located on the Plaza in Highland Village Shopping Center in Jackson, MS. Chef Craig…

The Pig & Pint

The Pig & Pint

Jackson

Located in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson, The Pig & Pint combines barbecued meats, tacos, and sides with an extensive menu of craft beers. […]

Saltine

Saltine

Jackson

Saltine is a oyster bar and restaurant located in downtown Jackson, offering a modern take on Southern cuisine paired with fresh seafood and craft cocktails.…

Hal & Mal’s

Hal & Mal’s

Jackson

Hal and Mal’s is a bar and restaurant in Jackson, founded by brothers Hal and Malcom White with a vision to create a community gathering…

Char

Char

Jackson

Experience the essence of upscale Southern cuisine at Char, located in the chic Highland Village of Jackson. Offering a menu that puts a modern twist…

BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar

BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar

Jackson

BRAVO! has proudly served delicious Italian food in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere since 1994. The Jackson favorite, which is located in Highland Village, boasts…

Aplós – Jackson

Aplós – Jackson

Jackson

Aplós is a fast-fine restaurant incorporating influences from Italy, Greece, and the Middle East. Their “Simple Mediterranean” cuisine is built around an eight-spit rotisserie and…

Oxford

The Sipp on South Lamar

The Sipp on South Lamar

Oxford

Sipps on South Lamar is a wine and tapas bar located on the historic Oxford square. The Sipp offers more than 50 wines and 100 whiskeys,…

The Coop

The Coop

Oxford

The Coop, located on the fourth-floor terrace of Oxford’s Graduate Hotel, serves locally inspired cocktails and classic Southern food – and offers stellar views of Oxford’s…

SoLa Oxford

SoLa Oxford

Oxford

SoLa Oxford is a chef-driven restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi, known for its inventive fusion cuisine that blends Southern sensibilities with global influences. Described by its…

Big Bad Breakfast

Big Bad Breakfast

Oxford

Big Bad Breakfast is renowned for their extensive breakfast menu featuring Southern-inspired dishes, including a variety of omelets, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and other breakfast classics.…

Saint Leo

Saint Leo

Oxford

Saint Leo is an Italian restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi, known for its wood-fired cooking and commitment to sustainability and local sourcing. Inspired by owner Emily…

Kingswood Restaurant

Kingswood Restaurant

Oxford

Kingswood Restaurant is an upscale yet approachable dining destination located within The Oliver Hotel in Oxford, Mississippi. Under the culinary direction of Executive Chef Neville…

Bouré

Bouré

Oxford

Located on the historic Square in Oxford, Mississippi, Bouré offers “up-scale down-home” fare with an emphasis on Creole flavors. The restaurant is part of the…

Bottletree Bakery

Bottletree Bakery

Oxford

Bottletree Bakery is Oxford’s go-to spot for scratch-made baked goods and espresso-based drinks. […]

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