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Iowa City Must-See
45
items I lived in Iowa City for two years and go back and visit friends all the time! Here are some places I recommend as someone who has been both a local and a tourist! My boyfriend attended the university for grad school, so our point of view is slightly...
Map
Sections
5
Restaurants
Bars/Breweries
Activities
Coffee/Tea
Little Treats
Restaurants
People will say Nodo had the best fries in Iowa City, but it's actually Burger Haul
Burger Haul
The second best fries in Iowa City (but probably the best garlic aoli to dip them in)
Nodo Downtown
Fave Irish restraunt, they have a good beer selection but their food is incredible. I recommend the saucy nugs or the avacado reuben. They always have a burger of the month. They Do trivia nights, bingo, lots of different events.
Pat and Fran's Irish Pub
Brunch/breakfast spot, really tasty creations
The Dandy Lion
Quaint breakfast spot, they have a breakfast sandwich that I forget the name of but it's delish
Bluebird Diner
Cheap breakfast (I think their regular customers are all retired, fixed-income kind of people)
Midtown Family Restaurant
They sell their hummus at local grocery stores and I always have to stock up their food is soooo good
Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)
Thinking of their food literally makes my mouth water. I usually get steak tacos, gotta have the queso on them too. They will sometimes have deals for students at certain hours (usually early afternoon when classes are ending)
Estela's Fresh Mex - Iowa City
In the summer they have fresh spring rolls and they are the best thing I've ever eaten
Soseki Café
Definitely a bougier place, so if you're a broke college student probably not the best option. If you've got cash to spend, their food is really good and so are their cocktails. They also do brunch
Pullman Bar & Diner
Pretty small store, I recommend sitting outside if you can. Amazing pork belly.
Ramen Belly
Their food is pretty good but the real upside is the deals they have on Tuesday and Thursdays (days might be wrong i haven't lived here since 2023), cheap martinis and dollar menu for sushi
Formosa
Great brunch spot, went with friends all the time
Tin Roost
They close really early in the day (like 3pm), but if you're an early bird this is a great place to hang out and study. The have a really good soft pretzel. Run my Mennonites? The Amish? I'm not really sure
The Encounter Cafe
Bars/Breweries
Loved playing pub trivia here (SO: Christopher's Bar Exam), their fish and chips are tasty
Donnelly's Pub
Love it here, the bartenders are chill,they do trivia, they have a rooftop and free popcorn
Joe's Place
Pool hall, free to playing week nights, always had a blast here
TCB Pool Hall
Obsessed with her, tell Josie I say hi. They have live music sometimes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic kombucha and other drinks, they have board games you can borrow
Wild Culture | Iowa City IA
My boyfriend loves their Boomtown beer, really fun place to hang out with a group of friends. Nice outside seating area with fire pits, dog friendly
Big Grove Brewery & Taproom
Their chef is from Texas or something and they slow cook the meat every day, amazing. Their pizza is also incredible, and the beer is also good. What else could you want.
Backpocket Brewing
I wouldn't say the drinks are good, but they are pretty cheap. They have deals every night idk but it's an arcade bar, I think in Sundays it is open for families to bring their kids until a certain hour
Double Tap (Tap Tap) - Iowa City
Cash only bar. This is where you come at the end of the night when you don't quite want to go home yet but you don't want to stand in a crowded bar anymore.
The Deadwood. | Iowa City IA
College kid dive bar, the inside is kinda dank and gross but they have a beer garden that is nice if you don't mind people smoking
Gabe's
Described as a "watering hole", not the fanciest bar you'll ever go to but they have exactly 2 burgers on their menu and it's a great burger.
George's Buffet - Iowa City
Activities
Go see Rusty the giant sloth. I would take literally everyone here. Inside an academic building so sometimes classes are going on, but if the museum is open it's OK to walk through their class lol
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
Fun place to come walk around, they might have a fishing area? Don't remember. Scary to drive across the dam
Devonian Fossil Gorge
Cute apple orchard, they have pumpkins in the fall. They also have a restraunt/cidery? Never went, but they sell their cider and treats at the little store there and I highly recommend
Wilson's Orchard & Farm (Iowa City)
Riverside: the future birthday of Captain James Kirk. They have a cute museum and in the summer time they have a star trek themed town festival with a parade (we go every year still, it's really not that exciting but it's a good excuse to come to tow...
The Voyage Home Museum
This is where we stay when we come to town, it's right downtown by the bars and the ped-mall. Love the wall paper
Graduate by Hilton Iowa City Hotel near University of Iowa
I could do a whole list about Amana (maybe I will) but it's a great day trip from iowa city, lots of cute shops and restaurants/a brewery and winery. A must-see, really, if you have more than one day in Iowa City and can take a trip out here for a fe...
Amana Colonies
Cash only, Amish grocery store. You can find a lot of staples for a lot cheaper than a regular grocery store. Stock up on spices, candy, dairy, etc.
Stringtown Grocery (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
Best bowling place in town (aka the cheapest) live your best Big Lebowski dreams
Colonial Lanes
Coffee/Tea
This starbucks and this starbucks only (I used to work here) union store!!! Love them.
Starbucks
Cozy vibes, best place off campus to chill and read or do homework or just chat
Press Coffee
Part of the graduate, they sometimes have lattes made with cereal milk that are sooo good. The walls are made with pencils
Poindexter Coffee
I'll be honest, their coffee is mid. But their seating area is large and cozy, great place to hang out and study. Open late, midnight I think?
Java House Coffee Roasters - Downtown
The best bookstore, im putting in under coffee/tea because they have a café on the second floor and it is really good.
Prairie Lights Books | Independent Bookselling Since 1978 - Iowa City
They used to be downtown but moved, actually the best coffee in Iowa City
DAYDRINK
Little Treats
Cute old DQ, they've been open forever. They have creations named after their staff. My go-to order was either a hot fudge sundae with banana or a blizzard with graham cracker syrup and butterfinger pieces
Dairy Queen
Like crumbl but actually baked and not made by underage kids and actually tasty lol
Cookies & Dreams
Fun donut creations, you can also get a milkshake with the ingredients of a donut and then that donut on top genius
Hurts Donut Co.
I'm obsessed with this place, they have a coffee shop and a wine bar and food to order, I cannot recommend the loaded French fries enough. You can order them on the kiosk and put whatever you want on them. It's dangerous.
Bread Garden Market
My boyfriends mom loves this place
Scratch Cupcakery Coralville
Cash only!! Bakery run by the local Amish community, run don't walk for a caramel pecan roll.
GOLDEN DELIGHT BAKERY, Kalona - Restaurant Reviews & Photos
Best hard-serve ice cream, a lot of great flavors.
Heyn's Ice Cream Iowa City