Top Things to Do in Iowa City
The University of Iowa anchors the state’s original capital, where the old statehouse, a vaudeville-era theater and eclectic dining enliven a stay.
Do
Coral Ridge Mall An indoor ice arena, carousel and children’s museum (with free admission to all on the last Friday evening each month) amp up the fun. coralridgemall.com
The Englert Theatre Catch a reading, musical, play, dance performance or concert at the 1912 former vaudeville theater and opera house. englert.org
Hancher Auditorium A sleek, curving $176 million performing arts center replaced the University of Iowa’s original auditorium, destroyed by flooding. About 50 events each year include ballets, concerts, lectures and musicals. hancher.uiowa.edu
Haunted Bookshop It's still supervised by two cats, but the tidy shop selling books, toys, gifts and cards has moved to the historic Wentz house on North Gilbert. thehauntedbookshop.com
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum It’s worth the 11-mile drive east on Interstate-80 to see the birthplace cottage, library, museum and burial site of the first U.S. president born west of the Mississippi. hoover.archives.gov
The Iowa City Pedestrian Mall Abutting the University of Iowa campus, the Ped Mall is home to restaurants, bars and shops. A facelift is adding new seating, plants, lighting and improved accessibility. downtowniowacity.com
Old Capitol Museum Retrace the footsteps of the state’s founding fathers in Iowa’s original Capitol. Lectures and concerts entertain in the Senate Chamber. oldcap.uiowa.edu
Prairie Lights Books Browse three floors of books and catch an author reading in the long-running Live from Prairie Lights series. prairielights.com
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History Learn about Iowa’s 500 million years of history, see 1,000 birds on display and say hi to Rusty the giant sloth replica. mnh.uiowa.edu
Eat
A and A Pagliai's Pizza Using a northern Italian family recipe, this casual spot provides Iowa City with a taste of old-world pizza. pagliaisic.com
30 Hop Sixty beers on tap in the main restaurant and 30 in the rooftop bar make this a popular spot to gather in the Iowa River Landing district. Nibble on a side of truffle fries. 30hop.com
Backpocket Brewing Company Go for outdoor seating, craft beer and thin-crust pizza in the Iowa River Landing. backpocketbrewing.com
Baroncini Soft music and cozy booths set the tone for an evening of contemporary Italian dishes, such as house-made agnolotti pasta stuffed with local beef and Parmesan. baroncinirestaurant.com
Big Grove Brewery The international street food should clue you in that this isn’t a typical brewpub. Come for the diverse menu as well as live music, brewed-on-site beers, the game room and an expansive patio. biggrovebrewery.com
Bluebird Diner Savory sausage and excellent hollandaise elevate breakfast standbys. thebluebirddiner.com
Blackstone American-style dishes sizzle with Mediterranean and Asian influences. Brandy-doused flaming cheese creates a scene. blackstone-ic.com
Hamburg Inn No. 2 A burger specialist comes in at 4 a.m. daily to make the patties for this downtown diner established in 1948. A second location in the eastern part of the city opened in 2017. hamburginn.com
Heyn's Ice Cream For more than three decades, Heyn's has been dishing up Iowa City's favorite ice cream in nearly 40 flavors. heynsicecream.com
Iowa River Power Restaurant In a former power plant, enjoy expansive views of an Iowa River dam and cooked-to-perfection prime rib.iowariverpower.net
Leaf Kitchen You can still get high tea at this tearoom, but also eggs Benedict or crepes for breakfast, and a grilled chicken club for lunch. leafkitchen.weebly.com
Molly's Cupcakes Devour a created-to-order cupcake or three. A portion of profits is donated to area schools. icmollys.com
Oasis Falafel It’s the place to go for authentic, inexpensive Middle Eastern fare, such as a pita bursting with falafel, hummus and Mediterranean salad. oasisfalafel.com
Pullman Bar and Diner The modern diner serves food both familiar and unexpected—fried chicken and corned beef hash, yes, but also roasted marrow bones with bacon jam. pullmandiner.com
Rapid Creek Cidery In a barn overlooking Wilson’s Orchard 15 minutes from downtown, this upscale restaurant serves cocktails made with Wilson’s excellent hard cider, and dishes inspired by local products. rapidcreekcidery.com
Stay
Brown Street Inn The six-bedroom 1913 mansion in a leafy neighborhood feels serene but is close to downtown attractions. brownstreetinn.com
Graduate Iowa City A lobby filled with bookcases, reading nooks and (literally) writing on the walls reflect literary inspiration from the University of Iowa at this 231-room downtown hotel. graduatehotels.com
HotelVetro Sleep on pillow-top mattresses in chic, ecofriendly rooms, and take in city views from the huge third-floor patio. hotelvetro.com
For information: Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau thinkiowacity.com