The Empress of Little Rock

I spent the night at The Empress, the first night under new ownership. James and Ben provided a very welcoming experience. I stayed in my favorite room, The Petit Jean, and experienced an awesome stay there. Breakfast was amazing consisting of a made-to=order omelet, French toast, and fruit. I have always loved The Empress and looking forward to future stays there. Thank you, James and Ben!

Unfortunately, I was greeted rudely when I entered the front door. I'm in town for 2 weeks, wanted a little more info and was told to look it up on the internet. The place is beautiful however, the gentleman I spoke with did not give a welcoming presence which made my decision to not stay there much easier. Had he been more customer service friendly, I would have stayed there for my 2 weeks here. It's unfortunate that places have employees/owners like this.

My husband and I were married at the Empress 6/7/25. From our arrival the day before to our departure, we could not have asked for a better experience. The home itself is an exceptional beauty, couple that with Antonio’s hospitality, charisma, and story telling ability and we were hooked! I have never stayed in a strangers home and felt more loved or more cared for. He went above and beyond for us. We stayed in the Garden Suite. The room was beautiful. The bed was so comfy. Everything was spotless! If you are looking for an experience, vacation, a good story or to meet one of the most remarkable humans on this planet…. Run don’t walk to the Empress in Little Rock! If I could give a hundred stars, I would! We will be visiting again.

We had the pleasure of staying in a couple rooms at The Empress and both were incredible. Our host was wonderful. Everything was clean and well maintained . The decor so beautiful and beds were so comfortable.. then there was the bathtubs! A beautiful end to our adventure would highly recommend staying you ever get the opportunity.

I have never stayed at a better place in my life. It was more than "a home away from home" for my spouse and I. The Empress gives that warm feeling you get while waking up on a Saturday morning at grandma's house to the smell of a wonderful breakfast coupled with unlimited treasures all of the place, each with a unique story. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a warm welcome and briefed about our reservation. We stayed in the Cook's Cottage Suite. It was nice and private. It was too cold to fully enjoy the sun porch but it was still beautiful and I hope to return soon when its warmer. There is a full kitchen available. The living room is also extremely comfortable with a giant big comfy couch (that I did enjoy a short nap on moments after sitting down). There is also a washer/dryer included in the Cottage. The master suite was very cozy and comes with rear reading room that my wife and I held a short devotional together before bed. The 2nd room was also very cozy. I think my parents enjoyed that bed a little too much because after dinner, I never saw them again and only heard snores until the morning. In between check-in and going to dinner that night. My wife and I sat in the mansion and spoke for several hours. I think it was around 4 or maybe 5 hours, just learning about the home. We hadn't even ventured into the dining room, library, living room or upstairs or to the tower yet. We simply sat and talked in the drawing room until the sun went down. Coming from Los Angeles and the tumultuous fires, it was nice to find peace where we could. I just wish it were a little warmer to have went and sat in the zen garden to meditate and reflect on life. Going back to what I said earlier about breakfast, that too was phenomenal. Coupled with coffee, tea, OJ, and water we were given waffles, bacon and fresh fruit. My mouth is watering right now. Even after checking out, I had a few hours to kill before my next event and instead of exploring more of Little Rock, I wanted to learn more and more about the home. That being said, I didn't even visit the Carriage House. I hope to stay in the The Hemingway Spa Suite or The Majestic Spa Suite next time. There is just so many things to talk about but I won't spoil any stories or info tidbits. You have to spend a night here, even if only for one night (as Luther says). I highly recommend it. I hope to stay here much longer on my next visit. As for location: the home is nearby a Walgreens and other restaurants and not far from downtown at all. There is also a fun escape room mansion nearby. There is a small parking lot/drive way and ample street parking as well.

If you love Victorians, this is THE place! Soaring ceilings, original woodwork, big fireplaces, stained glass, a wrap around porch...all lovingly restored and furnished with period pieces. It's on a quiet side street-very little traffic and quiet neighbors. Antonio is a great host. Our room, the Petit Jean, was gorgeous, spacious, and well appointed. The only negative was the sound of distant passing trains blowing their horns several times over the course of the night-no fault of the Empress, of course. We'd stay here again if we return to Little Rock.

The ONLY MICHELIN rated accommodation in Arkansas. Read the review in Michelin, their review is spot on. This historic mansion is fully restored with great attention to detail by owner — Antonio. I’m||a UTJD ‘77 and my wife is a Texas judge. Trust us. Stay here. Perfect couples (adults only) romantic getaway. Left of the governors mansion and a couple miles from Sonny Williams, our new favorite steak restaurant.

We enjoy staying in older buildings because they have such a unique character. This one was definitely amazing. There were collections of things to explore in all the public rooms. It was almost like a museum that you could live in. You could feel the history in the place. Our room was very large and comfortable. Very clean. The location was close to downtown. The owner is full of information about the house and has suggestions for restaurants. Breakfast was delicious. I would love to have a longer stay here.

We spent 3 nights at The Empress & it was a wonderful time! Antonio & Keith made us feel right at home. We stayed in the Chatelaine Suite and it was beautifully appointed. We loved learning about the home's rich history as well as great places to eat in the area. I highly recommend The Empress for a truly wonderful Little Rock experience!

WOW! If more than 5 stars meant something-this place would get them! Antonio is so accommodating and helpful with recommendations of local restaurants and great places to get something sweet to eat! This place is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. Check-in is completely hassle-free and everything is so clean! Highly recommend if you're passing through Little Rock! A must stay!

Incredibly gorgeous and well restored B&B with warm hospitality. Wish we could've spent more time here taking in all the thoughtful details.

Absolutely amazing house. The wife and I have spent many stays at Victorian B&Bs. (We also live in a Victorian) None compares to this one. This couple has sunk a ton of money and attention into restoring this home with an eye for detail. They have also tastefully and lavishly updated the rooms without ruining the nostalgia of its Victorian architecture and styling. Most of all, this has to be the all-time cleanest place in which we have ever stayed. Even the ceiling fans were freshly dusted and cleaned. The house is rumored to be haunted; the owners were unimpressed. The whole house felt bright and airy, except for the card room up in the top turret which did have a creepy feel... but you don't have to go into it. .;/

Only a handful of Victorians can ever reach the perfection to which the artisans who originally built these glorious homes achieved, but this one is one of but five that I am aware of that the restoration artists most certainly near melted the "wax in their wings" to achieve the epitome of the heat of the pursuit of perfection. Icarus is somewhere shaking his head. Daedalus winced. The home is glorious enough that it leaves even the most privileged humbled. Beautiful place to stay, relax and absorb the finer things in life from the time you lay your head down and are so comfortably "at home" that when you drift off from what is surreal, to what is perfectly dreamed you cannot feel the difference. Better set your alarm because you could easily slumber right through your best chance to ever have an incredible breakfast, graciously served on the veranda by a wonderful host. Excellent breakfast! Nostalgia feels good. I will be back in September.

I can't speak highly enough.. attended a Mother's Day brunch here and had the very best time. The house was stunning. The food was delightful and the owner was so very kind. Can't wait to book a staycation here in the future.

Where do we even begin with The Empress. This place is so special, the history, the architecture, Antonio and Keith's impeccable taste. We stayed on our cross country road trip, one night in the Victoria's Garden Spa Suite and one night on our return trip inside the mansion in the James Hornibrook Suite. Both rooms were beautiful, but the James Hornibrook Suite was exceptional. My husband and I kept saying it felt like we were staying inside the Biltmore Mansion. Antonio and Keith offer such a thoughtful approach to hosting a bed and breakfast, not a detail was overlooked between the decor, breakfast and amenities offered (warm bath towels, restaurant suggestions, personalized toiletries, coffee and tea in the common areas, beyond comfortable bedding, the list goes on). We really were not expecting to love Little Rock as much as we did, but we now hope to fly out from California again just to stay at The Empress and enjoy Antonio and Keith's hospitality.

I'm going to try and express a feeling. It is five o'clock in the afternoon. I am waking up from a nap, after a week of travel and little sleep. The large historic house smells like cinnamon and nutmeg. Deborah's preparing sweet rolls for the morning guest. Fresh cut flowers from their secret garden beside the bed. A porch swing for afternoon talks. Reading a book beside the fire. Sleeping..the deep, remember your dreams kind of sleep. Last...are the people. Wonderful, kind, gracious..so happy you are here....people. They are family. They listen if you want to talk. They are quiet if you need a little peace. They welcome you with smiles and they leave you with a hug. My home away from home. My reminder of all I love about the South. My little "comforts" of a heart filled, loving environment. Welcome to the Empress of Little Rock.

A spectacular place to stay! An absolutely stunning example of Victorian architecture, perfectly restored and sparkling clean, which I find to be the exception in older B&Bs. We stayed in the two bedroom cottage next door, which was the original kitchen to the 1800's mansion. Super wonderful. comfortable and private. We had access to all of the public rooms in the main house. There's a 200 year old Steinway piano in the living room, which is tuned for playing. The musician in my family enjoyed that immensely, including hearing about the provenance of the piano from the owner himself. Breakfast was served on the porch on fine China, made to order and delicious. The gardens and grounds are immaculate and gorgeous. Little Rock is charming and has much to explore. We wished very much that we could stay longer. Well done!

Wonderful place to stay. Friendly and elegant. What a beautiful Victorian Home. Everyone there is amazing

So beautiful! I had tea here with my mom & grandmother & also took a tour of the rooms! Eveything is antique and lovely. We had cinnamon pomegranate tea along with a cranberry scone, a brie-and-fig sandwich, a cucumber sandwich, fresh fruit, and chicken salad croissant sandwich. It was all prepared wonderfully. For dessert there was an orange johnny reb cake, oatmeal tea cake with apricots, and meringue swirl. I was very full but ate it all anyway! I was so happy to come here and have grand high tea with my family. I would definitely stay here at least one night for my future honeymoon-hopefully in the room with the exquisite clawfoot tub!

I highly recommend The Empress for a place to stay. It is an experience. I like bed and breakfasts, but on this trip we were trying to economize. For that reason, I was opposed to staying there, but my wife loved the house from her childhood. In this case, I am glad my wife talked me into it; it was worth every penny. The new owners, who bought the place from Sharon, have turned an incredible piece of construction into a work of art. I grew up with many older homes, and I have visited many other older homes, but I have never seen that level of craftmanship. For example, I have never seen curved windows before, or these incredible brass hinges. We had a chance to peak into all of the rooms, and all would have been the most elegant place I have ever stayed. The owners talked about some of the changes they made, and it sounded like they put their own attention to detail into each change. For example, they replaced pink wallpaper with a pattern very close to the original pattern from when the house was built. The breakfasts were the best I ever had. First, the breakfast arrangement was the most elegant I have ever seen. Whoever made the French toast the first day totally nailed it, and then topped it with pecans from a tree in the yard. The second day I wrongly said I would not like their egg-based dish. They had the bowl of oatmeal I suggested waiting, but the oatmeal went to waste; I loved it. They also made the best tasting breakfast potatoes I have ever had. The hosts were by far the most hospitable of any bed and breakfast we have ever stayed. We were staying there at the start corona virus situation, and the owners fed us dinner so we would not need to order take out. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the evening talking with them. I always rate the beds in my critiques. I am partial to memory foam beds, but I was very comfortable in the bed in our room. I could climb back into bed without waking my wife, and my wife really liked it. It was a good compromise since she hates memory foam beds. Stay there, even if just for a night.

The house is absolutely gorgeous. Everywhere you look, there is something unique that catches your eye. The rooms are quiet, comfortable and styled so well; each one is different from the others. The breakfast service was great and right on time! The owners are extremely welcoming and friendly; very easy to talk to and knowledgeable of the area. I highly recommend staying in a place that is a piece of history!

A charming old Victorian style home in the heart of the governors historical district in Little Rock! Great hospitality and southern charm makes for a great romantic getaway! You won't be disappointed!

This BnB fulfilled all my BnB dreams! It is grand and elegant, while also feeling so cozy and quiet. Downstairs, there are rooms and rooms of fascinating decor to look at, with perfect BnB touches, such as a grandfather clock that chimes every hour (not audible from the rooms upstairs) & soft music that really adds to the ambiance! A grand stairwell leads you up to the guest rooms- as well as a cute little area for tea and snacks, if you get peckish. Upon entering our room, both of us gasped, and I immediately said, "I never want to leave!" The decor is gorgeous, the bed is so comfortable (Perfect balance of soft & firm-- No hammocking! I fell asleep almost immediately!), the windows are huge & breathtaking, the water pressure in the shower is so relaxing, and best of all, the room is pristine! The entire mansion is filled with old and exciting things to look at, and yet, no dust! It is the best maintained place I think I have ever stayed in! On top of all of this, the breakfast was delicious and plentiful (sweet, doughy, handmade french toast, fresh fruit, hot tea & coffee, orange juice...) & the owners (one of whom is a very accommodating man named Antonio) are some of the friendliest people we have ever met! Thank you so much, Antonio!

My boyfriend and I recently stayed here and it was FABULOUS! The staff was super friendly and went out of their way to make you feel at home. The food was so rich and delicious especially the Grand Marnier infused french toast! It was to die for!! The secret garden in the back was so cozy especially with the calico kitty sunbathing out on the lawn. Located just a few minutes away from a bakery and some cute galleries! Can't wait to stay here again!

This was a wonderful experience. This was more then just a bed and breakfast it was like stepping back into the 1800s. From the beautiful decor to the old time hospitality I Loved this place! The food was amazing and the rooms were spacious and most important clean!! I want to find a reason to go back to Arkansas just to stay a The Empress again!!!

My wife and I stayed two nights at the Empress recently and really enjoyed it. We've only stayed at a few other B&Bs over the years (married for 10 years this past spring) so I can't claim to be an expert, but this one was pretty great. It's a beautiful old historic house that's well worth a tour if you're in the area (they allow tours even for non-guests during certain hours). The room we stayed in was very nice, the ac works terrifically (a plus as hot as it was in AR and something we haven't found in every place we've stayed over the past year), the bed was VERY comfortable and had nice, soft sheets and pillows. They provide a complimentary sweet liquor (Amaretto? Judging by taste that's my guess), great cleaning and room service and best of all a wonderful breakfast that is top-notch. Everyone who works there that we dealt with was very nice and helpful. There's even a huge porch that wraps around the entire house for sitting, a portion of which is off by itself reserved for smoking, which as I enjoy a good cigar on occasion particularly on a trip, was much appreciated and not always possible at lodging locations. If we return in the future, which we certainly would if we were staying in the Little Rock area again, I think we would book the room with the large claw foot tub because it looked amazing. The only thing I'd note in the negative would be that, at least in our room, the TV in the cabinet is incredibly small (possibly just a small computer monitor). This wasn't an issue for us much as we weren't there to watch TV and I doubt it's an issue for most guests at a B&B, but I thought I'd note it as a normal sized TV would fit in the wardrobe without disrupting the lay of the room.

My only complaint about The Empress is that I had to leave! I went this past weekend with my boyfirend and we stayed in the Washburn-Welsh room, which was fabulous. This B & B has a total of 9 rooms, 6 in the mansion and 3 suites in the carriage house - both types are awesome and you can't go wrong. The carriage house rooms have modern spa bathrooms while the masion rooms have private baths with victorian tubs. Deborah took such good care of us the entire stay. Breakfast was delicious both days and we had afternoon tea Sunday afternoon, also wonderful. You can really tell the owners took a lot of time and care when putting the place together, nothing looks out of place. No detail went unnoticed. Although we had a busy schedule of seeing Little Rock attractions we still enjoyed lesiure romantic time around the house be it swinging on the poarch swing, laying in the hammock in the garden or enjoying champage at our in room sitting area.

Wish we could have stayed longer! We were travelling through the area and decided we needed to feel restored. And we were. We stayed in the carriage house and soaked in the tub and used the steam room. What a treat for the road weary. One day is not enough. The bed was very comfortable, the breakfast elegant and we were so pleased to have the beautiful Christmas decorations still up. Everyone was gracious and made us feel like VIPs. A treat that was worth every penny.

My sister and I had the privilege of having high tea at The Empress on Sunday, July 17, 2017. First off the house itself is absolutely stunning! It's truly like stepping back in time. We were greeted at the door by Deborah and escorted to the beautiful dining room for our amazing tea. She had prepared everything from scratch and it was delicious. Afterwards she led us through the house and informed us all about its immense history. I would highly recommend anyone to go and stay at this gem of a house, or at least stop by for tea!

The Empress of Little Rock could not have been a better choice for our 3-night stay in the city on June 27, 28 and 29. The staff was very warm and welcoming, making us feel at home right away. The breakfasts were delicious and beautifully presented, and our room was handsomely decorated with period pieces. The innkeepers were generous with their time as they answered our questions and steered us to dining choices that were just right for us. Consequently, we enjoyed a lot of fine Southern cuisine.The Empress is an architectural gem which is exquisitely maintained. My husband took many detailed pictures of the place, both inside and out. As a couple who has stayed in many B&Bs, we consider this one exceptional. We'll stay there again when we're next in the vicinity.

Horrible customer service- so much for southern hospitality. My mother and I were on a cross-country road trip and went out of our way to stop in Little Rock just to see the infamous Empress. The website advertised drop-in tours from 11-3 Monday thru Thursday. We pulled up at 2:40 on Thursday afternoon and were reconfirmed by the sign outside that tours were offered at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. We made our way up to the front door and another couple arrived at the same time. We all rang the door bell and were eventually greeted by a woman asking if we were here to check in. We politely pointed to the couple and told her to help them first and all four of us entered the front hallway. The woman introduced herself to the couple, checked them in, and began leading them to their room. It wasn't until she realized we weren't with them that she even acknowledged our presence. She came back over, seemingly frazzled by our presence, so we told her we were waiting for the tour. She immediately scoffed and said that the tour guide had gone home for the day- even though it was now only 2:50. She offered no explanation, just simply kept repeating that the tour guide was gone and we could come back next week. I told her we were leaving town that afternoon and asked if we could still look around- this seemed to be hugely offense from the look of disgust on her face. After this she abruptly ushered us out the doorway and shut the door so fast it almost hit us on the way out. Extremely disappointing!

We walked into the most beautiful old house we have ever seen and were greeted like family by the Innkeeper. We stayed in the Hemingway Suite, which was as luxurious a room as I have ever seen, with a double jetted jacuzzi, "aromatherapy steam shower" (which was so high-tech we had to get a quick explanation from the innkeeper, but so worth the time) and a huge soft bed. We ordered champagne which we enjoyed sipping by the light of an electric fireplace. Our only regret had nothing to do with the Inn...the weather was rainy all weekend. But all the more time to enjoy our beautiful room!!! Oh yeah, the breakfast was top notch!!!!