Do Good mural, Commercial Street Historic District
Travel has been difficult for us since my husband decided (during the pandemic) to pursue a dual-Master's Degree in Business and Finance. To balance school and work he enrolls in one class at a time, each lasting nine weeks with only a weekend break in between. Because of this, travel is extremely limited to quick getaways or somewhat-local overnight stays. And so, to celebrate our third wedding anniversary this year, we opted for an overnight stay in Springfield, Missouri to visit Mother's Brewing Company and Finley Farms.
Shelly's Route 66 Café in Cuba, Missouri
An eclectic collection of Route 66 Memorabilia
No matter the distance, any road trip requires a visit to a local diner. Along our route to Springfield, we stopped by Shelly's Route 66 Cafe in Cuba, Missouri, for a fast and friendly diner breakfast. Shelly's Cafe features Route 66 memorabilia to browse and reminisce over while you await your largely portioned meal, prepared by Shelly, herself.
Mother's Brewing, Springfield
Mother's Brewing Company Taproom and Backyard
What an interesting and fun place! Mother's Brewing Taproom and Backyard is a great place to drink and play. We arrived on a Friday just as the taproom opened and loved the "backyard" area featuring large-scale lawn games with ample places to sit and soak in the sun. We will look forward to returning to Mother's during the evening hours to enjoy live musical performances and perhaps a brewery tour. Mother's is an entertainment destination, offering fun for the whole family.
Mother's Brewing Taproom and Backyard, a fun place for the entire family.
The Jaipur Room
Culture Boutique Hotel
For many years now, we have sourced Airbnb for our travel accommodations over standard hotels. Over the past few years, I've noticed somewhat of a decline in Airbnb offerings. There are plenty of great options out there, but many listings are bogged down by exorbitant cleaning fees, less convenient windows for checking in and out, and fewer amenities compared to hotels. For our overnight trip to Springfield, I wanted to book a local establishment for our stay. After a lengthy search, I was delighted to find Culture Boutique Hotel.
445 E Commercial St. Springfield, MO 65803
Amenities, galore.
Nestled along the historic Commercial Street district, Culture Boutique Hotel is a beautifully restored building that sits atop Eurasia Coffee Co. Formerly the location of the historic Springfield Mattress Company, the building has been renovated to feature a coffee shop, shared co-working spaces, and six uniquely decorated hotel suites.
We enjoyed a wonderful stay in the very cozy yet spacious Jaipur Room. Special touches like the coffee and pour over kit, curated décor specific to the Jaipur region, and dedicated working space made our stay so special. After a refreshing overnight stay we ventured downstairs to enjoy cortados before heading out to breakfast across the street, at Van Gogh's Eeterie.
Eurasia Coffee Co.
A much-needed Cortado.
The cafe is adorned with greenery.
Van Gogh's Eeterie
Finley Farms in Ozark, Missouri
Finley Farms & The Ozark Mill Restaurant
Finley Farms is a travel destination featuring sprawling gardens, several on-site restaurants and gathering spaces, and plenty of beautiful views along the Finley River. I first learned of Finley Farms through an email digest by Missouri Life Magazine featuring the farm's history. After exploring the farm grounds, we made our way to the on-site Ozark Mill Restaurant to enjoy an early dinner. Upon entry visitors will find themselves in the restaurant's general store, filled with curated items for the kitchen and home. After browsing the store, I recommend visiting the restaurant bar for a cocktail while you await your table. I ordered a delicious lavender and lemon cocktail that was almost too pretty to drink.
My husband enjoyed the fried catfish while I enjoyed the uniquely prepared chicken and dumplings.
The Garrison
Beneath the Ozark Mill Restaurant, you will find yourself transported back in time, to the American Prohibition Era. Fashioned as a speakeasy, The Garrison is Finley Farms' fine dining establishment complete with a descent into the basement where visitors will traverse a molasses tank before speaking the "password" to gain entry. A much more intimate dining experience, the darkly lit and cozy ambiance elicits a feeling of secretive exclusivity. The menu offers dishes prepared from locally sourced, in-season ingredients and an assortment of craft cocktails.
As we had already dined upstairs at the Ozark Mill Restaurant, our visit to The Garrison was specifically to enjoy dessert and post-dinner cocktails. We look forward to a return visit to explore the rustic food menu featuring interesting offerings such as duck, quail, and wild boar.
