Best Things to Do in Biloxi, Mississippi

Have you heard? Biloxi is known as a gambling town, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Playing table games is fun. So are slots, and all of the other games of chance a casino can think of. In Biloxi, you have a choice of several casinos, but Beau Rivage has the most modern amenities and consistently friendly staff.

Join Captain Mike and First Mate Nate for a live shrimping demonstration. In the still waters just offshore, the captain will teach you the strategies of shrimping and tell captivating stories of life in the industry. Prepare to get your hands dirty. Captain Mike plucks the actual shrimp, fish and crabs caught in his nets and passes them among the passengers for an up-close look.

Just across the Biloxi Bay Bridge you will find boutiques, restaurants, bars, art galleries and much more in Ocean Springs. The generic strip malls and fast food restaurants you pass on the way in give way to a walkable downtown area perfect for window shopping or bar hopping. The area around the intersection of Washington Avenue and Government Street has a vibe like a mini Duval Street in Key West. Within a 50-foot distance you can pass by a fashionable boutique, a welcoming bar that has been there for decades and an ice cream shop. The oak trees that engulf the streets feel like an addendum to the fascinating architecture, a mixture of modern brick buildings, decades-old wooden buildings and historic landmarks. Until recently, Ocean Springs had a mascot: a rooster named Carl. The city marked his passing with a block party, bittersweet as it was, and donated the proceeds to animal-related nonprofits.

Of all of the beaches that line the southern boundary of Biloxi, West Biloxi Beach has the most prominent dunes and the whitest sand. The boardwalk creates a beautiful walkway along the beach, connecting several shops and restaurants where you can take a break from the heat. It also has several informational plaques inscribed with local history and information about the beach’s marine life.

This museum lovingly preserves the murals and other works of local artistic legend Walter Inglis Anderson. His art reflects the community’s love and admiration of the natural world. Here, you can learn about Anderson, see works by other local contemporary artists and, for those with artistic inclinations, take a painting class. 

Nature lovers will enjoy the gorgeous views at Davis Bayou. Placid water vistas and trails through the marsh grass can fill anyone with serenity. The park  has a boat launch and campground as well as an indoor visitors center with exhibits on the local flora and fauna you can see in the area. Keep any eye out for wildlife like pelicans and alligators.

Explore the many fascinating ways in which the ocean has defined life in Biloxi at this museum. One exhibit traces the city’s history from its founding, through its early days of oystering and shrimping, to its domination of the global shrimp processing industry. Another explains the history of the barrier islands and how they protect the Biloxi community. Yet another looks at the devastation hurricanes have wrought on the city and how Biloxi has built itself back after each one. 

The Biloxi Shuckers are a minor league baseball team with a fun name and great merchandise. They play at MGM Park right next to the Beau Rivage. Games are easy to get to and fun for all ages. For our baseball fans: the Shuckers are members of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Beau Rivage Resort and Casino’s upscale steakhouse serves many kinds of meat, but why stray from what they do best? Their steaks are cooked to perfection, and they have an extensive wine selection. You can’t go wrong with the filet and a side of mushrooms. Be sure to make a reservation as a free table is hard to come by at peak hours.

Located at Hotel Legends, this dining room channels the intimacy of a bygone era. Enjoy a great steak and a glass of wine in the low light as a singer plays classic covers ranging from Frank Sinatra to Willie Nelson. 

For your early-in-the-day dining and caffeine needs, turn to Greenhouse Biloxi, which specializes in coffee and biscuits. The cafe rotates its creative biscuit flavors daily, which run the gamut from apples and peanut butter to kale. Located just off the renovated Howard Avenue in downtown Biloxi, you can enjoy your breakfast outside in the area’s green space that is dotted with local art installations.

One of the first businesses set to anchor the revitalization of downtown Biloxi, Ground Zero is a must for music lovers. Live musical acts play every night during dinner hours as guests enjoy sandwiches and burgers. Their sandwiches are good, but the restaurant’s crown jewel is its Maggie’s Fried Cheesecake. Get it for dessert. 

Shaggy’s is the go-to beachside restaurant for seafood and tropical drinks on the West Biloxi Boardwalk. This franchise isn’t unique to Biloxi, but its ocean views and prime location make it worth a visit. The ocean’s breeze pairs excellently with cocktails. 

The term “Lil” is an understatement at this breakfast spot. It’s tiny, but its Southern comfort food more than makes up for the lack of legroom. You can get all of your Mississippi favorites: biscuits, bacon, sausage and the works. The deli’s biscuits and gravy, a Southern staple, are especially tasty.

You will see this adorably named brewery’s name on taps all over town. On its home turf, Fly Llama Brewing has built a fun, breezy brewery with many lagers (llagers?), IPAs, sours and even seltzers to choose from. My personal favorites are the Fly-PA and a seltzer named Free Britney, but I recommend getting a beer flight so you can explore the beers yourself.

Part of the allure of the Oceans Springs downtown area is this charming bar. Aesthetically, it acts as the middle ground for the bars along Government Street. Though decidedly not a dive bar, it feels a little rougher than the area’s upscale bars. Whatever it is, with plenty of local patrons and a unicorn atop its Pabst Blue Ribbon tap, people love it.  

Also along Government Street, this bar has a patio perfect for sunny days and festive evenings. The party rarely ends here, making it a perfect spot to people-watch those passing through downtown Ocean Springs. It boasts a fantastic drink list and a knowledgeable staff always willing to offer you a taste of something new. If you see something on the menu that you have never seen before, the bartenders will not hesitate to offer you a free sample.

I make a point of trying a dive bar in every place I visit. It feels like the perfect barometer for a community’s true grit. In Biloxi, that barometer is Sweets. Everyone knows each other, and, when a stranger walks in, they don’t remain one for long. The staff and patrons are beyond friendly, too. If dive bars are your thing, you must give this watering hole a try.

At this Old Hollywood-themed hotel, each room is a massive suite and the pool is gigantic. Photographs of legends like Humphrey Bogart, James Dean and Audrey Hepburn adorn the halls and rooms, and the aforementioned Sapphire Supper Club is on the first floor. This new luxury hotel does not have gaming onsite, but it is within walking distance of most casinos and downtown Biloxi. Hotel Legends is perfect for those who want a quieter place to stay. 

Beau Rivage has appeared on this list twice. So, you already know it has the best gaming environment in town and one of the best restaurants. It also has great resort staff, a nice pool area and top-notch rooms. If you want to stay at a casino in Biloxi, this is the one. 

Away from the casinos is The Roost, a serene boutique hotel with an eye-catching, classic Southern cabin look.The lovely pool area is surrounded by the large oak trees, and the rooms — with large, neutral-toned furniture, animal hides and distressed wood — look right out of a Restoration Hardware catalog. Tucked away though it may be, The Roost is still within walking distance of the bars and shops of downtown Ocean Springs.