Callisto — Restaurant in Bentonville

CALLISTO Exotic. Lush. Wondrous. Delicious. The name means, “most beautiful,” which is a befitting moniker for this extraordinary, unique place. Called “Bentonville’s Worst Kept Secret,” it lives up to its “speakeasy” heritage, harkening back to the times when entry to such a place required foreknowledge, insider connections, and a secret door.

The secret entry to Callisto is the delightful Midnight Gallery, featuring the work of local artists. A hidden door behind a rather large painting gives you entry into another world: Polynesia. As you make your way through the passage and your eyes begin to adjust to the dim light, you find yourself approaching a waterfall, in front of which are two beautiful women bearing drinks. You then round the corner and are transported to a tropical wonderland.

Everyone will be talking about the amazing, freshly imagined and creatively glassed cocktails, the fabulous snacks, skewers, sweets, and sharables (created by the master beverage director and the executive chef, respectively). Not only are they artfully presented (exotic bamboo silverware, tropical crockery, remarkable glassware), they are sometimes smoking with a dry ice-like mist or smoldering cinnamon sticks, adding to the mysterious ambiance of the experience. The food, while not the main fare, is fantastic and carefully crafted to complement the cocktails. The staff is wonderful; professional yet so personable that you will want to overstay. Yes, everyone will be talking about these things. As well they should.

What they might not be talking about is the tree in the middle of the main room, or its rough-hewn rock wall, or the extraordinary bathrooms (which elegantly continue the tropical theme and are super clean), or the music (the perfect sound and volume to add an auditory backdrop to the Polynesian pageant). They might not notice how pure the water is, or how utterly incredible the ice cubes in the drinks are. And they might not care about the story. The story is the thing that sets it all apart though, once and for all, so they should care. There is a mysterious map found in the menu. It depicts The Sunless Isle. Upon visiting the website, the curious will discover Chapter One of The Story of Our Adventurer. Read this chapter to be fully drawn into the story of Callisto, and the meaning of the map, as well as the names of many of the items on the menu. You will be hooked, as we were.

This is a place to mark very special occasions, or to impress very special people, or to just visit if you want to feel very special in your own right. The Director of Hospitality will make you feel welcome, like a member of the family. It is actually a family affair, and they have spared no expense to bring Bentonville an artful experience that will delight all the senses of the discerning adventure-seekers.

Callisto. Bentonville’s Worst Kept Secret. Visit them on their website (callisto.bar), on facebook or instagram, or best of all, in person at 407 SW A Street,...

Callisto is the first tiki bar in Arkansas that I am aware of. I did not expect it to be one of the best I’ve ever been to! And I’ve been to many well renowned tiki bars across the states. I highly recommend a reservation to make sure you can get a chance to experience this place. Look for the entrance at Midnight Gallery.

Loved the vibe. It’s a bit of a subdued tiki vibe. Not as over the top as other establishments I’ve been to. The big tree in the dining area was a nice touch. They also had a bit of holiday decorations up as a nice touch in December. Love to see table lamps they provide a great light up close at the tables. Some tiki places are quite dark.

The menu is wonderfully designed. The three word quick descriptions are great to have for those not well versed in tiki drinks. As is the glossary. More places should offer these things! I like that there are also a few shots and group drinks of multiple sizes.

Started off with The Gilded Merchant. There is some recency bias here but this is one of the top 5 tiki drinks I have ever had. The freshness of the banana and perfect blending was out of this world.

Java Hai was a great coffee drink with a nice spice profile. Try this if you like an espresso martini.

The Four Winds was a great combo of mezcal and spice. Pine and watermelon were a great touch.

Caribbean Silk was also complex with a light ginger profile. Very tasty!

Plata y Sangre was a great little frozen berry drink with a lovely tartness.

Lastly, we were super excited to see ice-cream takes on a couple classic tiki drinks. It was a tough choice and we chose the Pearl Diver. It was absolutely fantastic. I could have probably eaten a gallon. Amazingly smooth with the unique flavors and spice of a pearl diver.

Braxton, Gabriel and the rest of the team are doing all the right things here. The menu was fantastic and mixology top notch. Service was amazing. Can’t wait to see how new iterations of the...

This is a literal five star experience from the moment you check in, to the moment you leave. They thought of literally every single detail from start to finish. I won’t spoil the entry process but once you’re in, you’re handed a complimentary cordial of champagne and lead to your seat. From then on you’re in the hands of some of the finest servers, mixologists and professionals in the industry. From the bespoke and custom fabricated interior, the vibe ( that’s heavily influenced by a soundtrack that’s easy to leave in the background but will grab your attention at the perfect time) which fits simultaneously as an intimate place to dip off to as well as a place to revel and gather. even down to the bathrooms— they thought of everything. The experience is thoughtful and mindful at every turn. Then to top it off, it’s extremely reasonably priced. The price of drinks and food for two people was way below the standard for the square and the experience completely overshadows any available in the area. Our server, Lydia, took incredible care of us. Their head Braxton Barret and Chef Alex are doing incredible things with an incredible team.

The food is mostly small plates, meant for snacking and sharing but a few more substantial options exist and all of it's exceptional, but extremely affordable. Their drinks run from $10-44, and every single one is thoughtfully crafted and carefully presented. Most running around $14-17 for a show stopping centerpiece creatively served. This place is amazing for dates, and for large groups of friends/family, and the seating areas accomodate both effortlessly.

This is truly a special thing to have in our...