When you arrive at Bird Dog Cafe, you'll feel as if you’ve found one of Mississippi’s best-kept secrets. It’s tucked away in a small town, serves up deliciously creative cuisine, and features a spacious outdoor area - complete with lots of seating and yard games. You’ll likely never want to leave, so it’s a good thing there’s an Airbnb on-site.

Bird Dog Café opened in 2020, making it one of the newest additions to Laurel, a charming small town that rose to fame on HGTV’s Home Town.

One of the best cafes in Mississippi, Bird Dog Cafe in Laurel, MS, occupies an old home known locally as the Stassi House.

Ben and Erin Napier, the hosts of Home Town, actually designed and renovated the café.

The duo used their skills to transform the battered house into a dining space that is timeless, functional, and rustically charming.

Inside, there’s re-salvaged décor and a menagerie of mismatched furniture, which includes assorted chairs, a church pew, a community table, and a handful of tables crafted with antique sewing machine frames.

One of the best changes made to the historic house, though, was the addition of a deck with seating.

At 18 feet by 50 feet, it provides lots of extra space for outdoor dining at one of the best MS cafes.

The deck isn’t the only option for an al fresco meal at Bird Dog Café, though.

There are a couple of tables on the front porch, too - and that's in addition to a sprawling lawn with benches, lawn chairs, and other types of seating scattered throughout.

Café patrons can spend their time dining, drinking, and soaking in the surroundings, which only get better at night when set aglow by strategically placed string lights.

This is certainly one of the "best coffee shops near me."

Visitors feeling a bit livelier (or more competitive) are sure to appreciate the café’s yard games.

And all patrons are sure to appreciate the café’s menu.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu features a little bit of everything.

There are apps, small plates, entrees, sandwiches, salads, and, thanks to an in-house pastry chef, freshly baked treats.

To wash it down, there’s a huge assortment of specialty beers and craft cocktails.

Don’t have access to a designated driver? This is your chance to indulge!

The café has an attached apartment that’s been turned into an Airbnb, so you can stay overnight.

Ready to dine at Bird Dog Café? Keep in mind dinner is only offered on select nights, so keep an eye on the Bird Dog website for the latest updates. Have any questions? Call the café at (601) 651-2260. Want to book an overnight stay? Check out the attached Airbnb.

So, did you know about Bird Dog Cafe? Ever dined at the café? Did you sit outside? If so, how was it? We want to know.

Looking for a unique vacation in Mississippi? We think the whole town of Laurel is one of the Magnolia State's best small towns.