Linocut illustration of Ocean Springs: live oak with Spanish moss, a wooden pier with a pelican on a piling, a sailboat on the horizon, and marsh grass.

Editor's Note

A small town, honestly covered.

Browse the 147 lists →

Where to eat, what to do, and the businesses that earn the trust. 147 ranked categories, refreshed every month.

Ocean Springs is small enough to know and rich enough to write about. We rank every category that has five or more real local businesses, by a blend of star ratings and review volume. The Featured slot on each list is clearly labeled and never changes the ranking beneath it. That is the whole deal.

Plan Your Visit

read the visitor guide

01

Things to Do

Beaches, the museum, the bayou, the bike loop, the festival weekend.

02

Walter Anderson Museum

The artist who painted Horn Island. The Little Room is here. Plan ninety minutes minimum.

03

Front & East Beach

The bay-side beaches. Sunsets, crabbing, parking notes, when to arrive on weekends.

04

Gulf Islands Seashore

Davis Bayou, Horn Island, West Ship. The campground, the bike route, the boat options.

Postcards from Ocean Springs

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art on Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs. — The Walter Anderson Museum of Art on Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs. Photo by Georgianotthestate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Front Beach at sunset, looking across Biloxi Bay. — Front Beach at sunset, looking across Biloxi Bay. Photo by Anably, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore Visitor Center at Davis Bayou. — The Gulf Islands National Seashore Visitor Center at Davis Bayou. Photo by Peterwchen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A storefront on Government Street, downtown Ocean Springs. — A storefront on Government Street, downtown Ocean Springs. Photo by Paul Lowry, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The historic L and N Depot, Ocean Springs. — The historic L and N Depot, Ocean Springs. Photo by Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Horn Island and the Mississippi Sound barrier islands, from above. — Horn Island and the Mississippi Sound barrier islands, from above. Photo by Robert A. Morton U.S. Geological Survey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Field Guides

long-form local guides

Linocut of a pelican on a piling.

Things to Do

Linocut of a great blue heron in flight.

Walter Anderson Museum

Linocut of a beach with pier and gulls.

The Beaches

Linocut of barrier island marsh.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Linocut of cypress in the bayou.

Davis Bayou

Linocut of a tree-lined main street.

Downtown

Linocut of small shops along brick sidewalk.

Shopping

Linocut of an Adirondack chair on the sand.

A Perfect Weekend

Linocut of a child on a beach with a kite.

With Kids

The Town Index

From the Best-Of Desk

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Best Restaurants 25 ranked Best Fast food restaurants 16 ranked Best Seafood restaurants 10 ranked Best Donut shops 6 ranked Best Shopping malls 6 ranked Best Parks 19 ranked Best Veterinarians 11 ranked Best Used car dealers 9 ranked Best Pizza restaurants 7 ranked Best Mexican restaurants 5 ranked Best Tire shops 8 ranked Best Coffee shops 11 ranked