Welcome to my home… Tyler, Texas!
Growing up in small-town, USA – Fairfield, Texas, pop. 2,916, living in Tyler now is like living in a big city. After graduation I experienced living both in College Station and the DFW Metroplex for several years, and what I found is… in comparison to my small town roots, Tyler is the perfect size and place for me. It’s a big, little town where you most often will run into somebody you know out in public, but still have everything you need right at your finger tips. It’s the ideal combination for me, and given that my family and Drew’s family both live here, it really will be the most perfect place to have our family in the coming years.
A question I’ve received a lot lately is where are my favorite places to eat, shop and play in Tyler! If you are not from the area, there are lots of wonderful hidden gems over here in East Texas, and today I am sharing some of Drew and my’s favorite spots in our town! I would say here in the last few years Tyler has really begun to expand more in the category of cute places that are fun to play, including my newest favorite addition to town – a local coffee shop right off a popular trail!
Whether you’re planning a visit during rose season or are looking for a great place to relocate and move as a family, Tyler really is such a great place to be!
favorite places to eat and drink
Javis – All Texans know Tex Mex is it’s own food group in our state. Javis is a relatively new restaurant to Tyler that is our family favorite! Delicious food, great atmosphere, a huge patio, it has all the things!
The Grove – The Grove is a guaranteed social setting in Tyler! Whether it’s Sunday brunch, a nice dinner, drinks and live music with friends, or a special event… it is such a fun place to be and to celebrate! The Grove is where our rehearsal dinner was held as well as my bridal brunch, and is a beautiful venue with tons of space indoor and outdoor! If we want a night out with friends, The Grove is always our first go-to.
Kiepersol – Drew proposed to me at Kiepersol Winery out in the Vineyards! It truly is the most stunning place! The restaurant is top tier for dinner, and a great steak I might add! You can also enjoy the vineyards more casually with drinks and appetizers on the patio as well! In addition, they have a bed and breakfast and tasting rooms as well!
Fresh – If you’re looking for a casual and quick place to grab a bit to eat, let your kids run loose and play, Fresh is the perfect atmosphere for just that! Think similar feel to Whole Foods, but make it the East Texas version! Fresh is a grocery store, but has several on-the-spot meals and food to be served. Come evening, it’s a very popular, family-friendly establishment to meet friends for food and drinks while kiddos play on the playground!
Stanleys BBQ – Stanleys is a famous BBQ spot in Tyler that is well known by locals and visitors! Another fun place to grab a casual bite to eat while enjoying live music and a patio scene. Pro-tip: Drew and I love their sandwiches most… try The Brother in Law or Super Deluxe!
Villa Montez – Villa Montez is a semi-casual latin cuisine restaurant located in the most beautiful historic mansion. It’s seriously so pretty. The property began as a home in the early 1900s and then turned into a restaurant years later. The food is great and the atmosphere is top notch!
Prime 102 – A newer establishment and steakhouse downtown! Stunning atmosphere and great drinks as well!
Lago Del Pino – Another beautiful venue and restaurant, spread out over a ton of land and overlooking a lake. The food is reasonably priced and it’s a great spot for a celebration or birthday dinner!
True Vine – A fun spot that the guys especially love! True Vine Brewery has several of their own beers and beers locally made here in Tyler. It’s a great spot for a casual Friday night, you can grab a pizza and appetizers from Sola Bread and let kiddos play outside while enjoying company, pizza and drinks!
The Black Pearl – A bar downtown with lots of great drinks!
Great Harvest Bread Co – A new bakery here in town that Drew and I love for lunch! They have the BEST breads, delicious pastries, and a bomb apple bacon pepper jelly grilled cheese, you read that right, and it’s gooooood. They also have breakfast and coffee throughout the day too!
Roost – Best chicken salad ever. Another favorite lunch spot for Drew and I. We eat the honey walnut chicken salad and pimento cheese like it’s going out of style!
Village Bakery – If you have a sweet tooth, stop by Village Bakery to pick up a little treat! This is the bakery where my wedding cake came from and their desserts are the best of the best! It’s a Tyler staple as it’s been around since 1948!
The Coco Bean – My newest favorite spot for coffee! The Coco Bean also doubles as a fun spot to not only grab coffee or a bite to eat, but to play as well, see below! They also serve juices and quick bites for lunch from local vendors here in Tyler as well such as Cafe 1948!
favorite places to shop, play, and stay
The Coco Bean – I told you it doubled as a great spot to play! Not only is it a coffee shop, but you can also rent the cutest bikes to ride down Legacy Trails which is a spot Mallory and I love to walk/run! Holistic Beauty Med Spa is also located in this same building and you can have a girls day with all the self care – massages, facials, hair blowouts, lash tints, and so much more! Tasha the owner is incredible! You can see more about my experiences on my instagram stories!
Tyler Rose Gardens – Tyler is known as the rose city, and it’s with good reason! Our roses grow so beautifully here and visiting the rose gardens in late spring and October during peak seasons are out of a dream! One of my favorite places to literally just walk around and frolic through the wanderlust of thousands and thousands of stunning blooms.
Azalea Trails – On that note of flowers, in addition to our roses being stunning, azalea season is equally as beautiful here in Tyler! Mid-late spring, the entire city is covered in the brightest colors of the most beautiful azalea blooms. There are tours throughout our Azalea district where you can visit historical homes and see the azaleas thriving.
Plantation Pines Farms – My sweet friend and fellow teacher Heather and her husband own Plantation Pines Farm! It started as a Christmas tree farm and has expanded to also harvesting tulips in the spring and pumpkins in the fall! Such a fun place to go as a family, take pictures, stroll fields, go on a hayride and more! It really is the cutest family fun spot.
The Village at Cumberland Park – Our outdoor shopping center with lots of my favorite shops including Kendra Scott, Versona, Kirklands, Old Navy, H&M and more! Also has lots of places to eat – including a new Cinnaholic shop!
Broadway Square Mall – I don’t go to the mall often, but I do frequent our local Dillards here in Tyler, located at the Mall!
Spinout – A super cute, locally owned boutique with lots of my favorite brands!
Cole & Co – Another local favorite, the best place to find the best gifts!
Haute Totz – A local children’s clothing store that is just precious. Smocked heaven. Need a baby shower gift? They gotcha. Plus free monogramming!
Sweet Gourmet – Real life candy land selling a variety of dessert and food items as well as popular brands in kitchen!
Both Lake Tyler and Lake Palestine are also just a short drive away as well and are places we frequent for fun in the sun.
High Hill Farm – If you’re looking for a place to stay, my #1 suggestion would be at High Hill Farm located just outside of Tyler in Arp. The property has beautiful bungalow accommodations along with various amenities to make the stay extra special! Also a great venue to host events!
I hope this guide is helpful if you plan to visit the Tyler and east Texas area anytime soon! Another thing we love to do is on the first weekend of each month visit Canton trade days which is about 45 minutes west of Tyler. It’s a super fun atmosphere to walk around and shop!
One final things, if you are new to the area or are moving here and are in search of a church home or have more specific questions about anything in Tyler, I’d love to chat with you! Feel free to send me a message or DM anytime. We love Tyler, we love our church, and we’d love to help get you plugged in!
If you do ever get a chance to visit, I hope you love Tyler as much as we do! It really is such a sweet place to be.
xx,
Madison
