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Trendy Things to Do in Omaha & Lincoln (2026)
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items A mix of trendy restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and photogenic things to do across Omaha, Council Bluffs, Bellevue, Papillion, and Lincoln, current as of Nov 11, 2026. It leans toward independent spots over chains: Henry Doorly Zoo and The RiverFron...
Sections
6
Omaha
Bellevue
Papillion
Council Bluffs
Lincoln
Tours & Places to Stay
Omaha
Trendy Omaha restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and standout city attractions.
Often ranked among the best zoos in the country, with 160 acres that include the Desert Dome, the Lied Jungle, and Owen Sea Lion Shores. Go early, wear walking shoes, and don't skip the aquarium under the dome.
Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium — Omaha
Downtown's big park redo ties Gene Leahy Mall to the Missouri River, with a playground, sculpture garden, splash pads, and a skate ribbon. Wander over from the Old Market, then keep going to the pier at Lewis and Clark Landing; the parks are open 5 a...
Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront — Omaha
Brick streets, iron balconies, and more than 45 restaurants, bars, and shops in Omaha's historic warehouse district. Come for a stroll or a carriage ride, hit First Friday if you can, and stay for dinner and a drink.
Historic Old Market — Omaha
Small-batch coffee roasted by 2023 U.S. Barista Champion Isaiah Sheese, with cafes in Little Bohemia, Blackstone, and Millwork Commons. Order a pour-over or a carefully pulled espresso and you can actually taste the notes on the bag.
Archetype Coffee — Omaha
Benson's destination sushi bar, and a regular best-in-the-metro pick. Sit at the counter for omakase if you can get a reservation, or go a la carte for the aburi wagyu and a few pieces of nigiri. Closed Mondays.
Yoshitomo Sushi — Omaha
Omaha's oldest craft cocktail lounge, tucked into the Old Market, with a rotating menu of original drinks made from scratch. Tell the bartender what you like and let them run; this is a sit-down cocktail room, not a shot bar.
The Berry & Rye — Omaha
A gorgeous Mediterranean restaurant in the Old Market that is built for sharing. Get the mezze, especially the sausage-stuffed dates and the spread board with hummus, muhammara, labneh, and baba ganoush, and settle in for wine during the 2-to-6 p.m. ...
Clio Mediterranean — Omaha
A theme-changing art cafe in Benson that flips its look every few months, with handcrafted lattes by day and cocktails and charcuterie at night. It stays open late Thursday through Saturday, so it works as a coffee stop or a photogenic last stop.
Edge of the Universe Cafe — Omaha
A laid-back Benson beer hall with 50-plus rotating taps and a weekend Bloody Mary lineup that has won Best of Omaha. Grab a patio seat before a show on Maple Street, or fill a growler to go.
Krug Park Beer Hall — Omaha
Bellevue
A Bellevue forest walk and standout sushi nearby.
Just 15 minutes from downtown Omaha, with 17 miles of trails, a mile-long boardwalk, and a raptor refuge in Bellevue. Admission is $15 for adults; pets are not allowed, so do the boardwalk if you want an easy, pretty walk.
Fontenelle Forest — Bellevue
Bellevue sushi from chef Keen Zheng, who trained in Michelin-starred New York kitchens, including under Daisuke Nakazawa of Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Get the fresh sashimi or a signature roll; regulars rave about the bluefin tuna. Closed Mondays.
Umami Asian Cuisine — Bellevue
Papillion
A welcoming Papillion bistro for a relaxed, locally focused meal.
A family-owned Papillion bistro with Pacific Northwest leanings, Midwest beef, and a solid Oregon and Washington wine list. Order the Pine & Black burger with bourbon aioli and bacon jam, or the wild sockeye salmon, and catch happy hour 2 to 5 p....
Pine & Black Bistro — Papillion
Council Bluffs
Riverfront adventure and local craft beer across the river from Omaha.
Council Bluffs' first craft brewery, a few minutes from the riverfront, with a friendly taproom and live music or trivia most weeks. Try a Council's Kolsch or whatever IPA is on, and bring food or order from next door, since they don't run a full kit...
Full Fledged Brewing — Council Bluffs
A 138-foot tower on the Council Bluffs riverfront with Omaha skyline views, a climbing wall, rollgliding, and a free half-mile Treetop Walk off the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Book the paid adventures in advance; in November they run Friday evening...
Adventure Tower at River's Edge — Council Bluffs
Lincoln
Haymarket coffee, game-day bites, and gardens worth a slow stroll.
Lincoln's flagship coffeehouse since 1988 (the company dates to 1975), in a historic Haymarket building where they still roast and bake on site. Get a house espresso or a pastry and sit on the dock, the best people-watching patio in town, open 7 a.m....
The Mill Coffee & Tea — Lincoln
A bold Haymarket bar and grill known for stacked burgers, loaded fries, and local taps, and a go-to on Husker game days. Order the Big Poppa or the BBQ bacon jam burger with house or truffle fries.
LeadBelly Bar & Grill — Lincoln
A free 1.5-acre garden that National Geographic once named one of the 300 best in the U.S. and Canada, with lily ponds, a waterfall, and a new floral theme every year (2026 is A Patchwork Garden). It is at its most colorful from spring through early ...
Sunken Gardens — Lincoln
Tours & Places to Stay
Bookable ghost tours and distinctive hotels around Omaha and Lincoln.
A one-hour, one-mile evening walk through downtown and the Old Market, meeting at The Arch at Gene Leahy Mall. It runs nightly at 8 p.m. year-round for about $24, with stories tied to spots like the Museum of Shadows; wear walking shoes, and it goes ...
Omaha Ghost Tour: Otherworld Oblivion
A nightly one-hour walk through downtown Lincoln, meeting at 1627 H Street, with stops outside the State Capitol, the Temple Building, and The Cornhusker Hotel. Adults are about $26, and it starts at 8 p.m. year-round, rain or shine.
Lincoln Ghost Tour: Lost Legends & Lust
A restored 1920s landmark in the Blackstone District, with a resort-style pool, a 24-hour gym, and The Committee Chophouse downstairs. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 on Hotels.com, and it is pet-friendly.
Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel — Omaha
The trendiest stay in the Old Market, a 15-story Autograph Collection hotel with floor-to-ceiling city views, Dynamite Woodfire Grill, and Catalyst's big outdoor terrace. Guests rate it 9.8 out of 10 on Hotels.com, and you can walk to Gene Leahy Mall...
The Farnam Autograph Collection — Omaha
A playful Haymarket hotel a short walk from campus, the Lied Center, and Pinnacle Bank Arena, with an indoor pool, an arcade, and loaner bikes. It is an easy Lincoln base if you are in town for a game or a weekend in the Haymarket.
Graduate by Hilton Lincoln
A historic Art Deco boutique hotel a few blocks from the Old Market and right by the Orpheum Theatre, with the on-site restaurant Monarch and a free airport shuttle. Guests rate it 8.8 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Hotel Deco Omaha, Tapestry Collection