26 Best Bars in Iowa City

“I love dancing there with my friends!“

“Hilltop is a local dive and neighborhood bar with a great menu. 3 pool tables in the back, several TV's with Iowa games featured. Great selection of canned and bottled beverages. They recently expanded their NA selection. This is a great spot for conversationalists, lunch specials, and the rural, urban crowd this spot draws in. Open Tuesday through Saturday“

“The Green House is the bomb“

“I came in today. I ordered a burger. it was the tap tap to be exact. I wanted to add bacon on it but there wasn't an option for the bartender to add that when she placed my order. Instead, she went back to the kitchen to check with the cooks to see if it could be an option and they made it happen. such a great way of going above and beyond.“

“A true classic bar. Incredible staff for 40 plus years“

“the greatest bar! We highly recommend!“

“Great service and our food was delicious! Highly recommend“

“always great service n vibe“

“Gracie M sets the standard of bartending like Alabama sets the standard of college football. Drinks are always on point, service is quick, and her energy makes the whole place better. She somehow manages to keep everyone happy even when it’s packed, and she does it with a smile. If Gracie’s working, you already know it’s going to be a good night.“

“Didn’t see the first shark for about half an hour – a tiger – thirteen footer. You know how you know that when you’re in the water, Chief? You tell by lookin’ from the dorsal to the tail. What we didn’t know was our bomb mission had been so secret, no distress signal had been sent. They didn’t even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, Chief, sharks come cruisin’. So we formed ourselves into tight groups…the idea was, the shark comes to the nearest man and he starts poundin’ and hollerin’ and screamin’. Sometimes the shark go away. Sometimes he wouldn’t go away. Sometimes that shark, he looks right into ya, right into your eyes. Y’know, the thing about a shark, he’s got lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eyes. When he comes after ya, he doesn’t seem to be livin’ until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white, and then – aww, then you hear that terrible high-pitch screamin’, the ocean turns red, and in spite of all the poundin’ and the hollerin’, they all come in and rip ya to pieces…in that first dawn, we lost a hundred men. I don’t know how many sharks, maybe a thousand. I don’t know how many men. They averaged six an hour…Noon the fifth day, Mr. Hooper, a Lockheed Ventura saw us. He swung in low and he saw us…and he come in low and three hours later, a big fat PBY [seaplane] comes down and start to pick us up. You know, that was the time I was most frightened – waitin’ for my turn. I’ll never put on a life jacket again. So, eleven hundred men went in the water, three hundred and sixteen men come out, and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb“

“It's great to meet people there“

“Great view! Great food!!!“

“Best bartenders and regulars in the business! Go Griff!“

“My Great Uncle Dave's place. It has one pool table, half a bathroom, and an old school jukebox with Portishead on it. Kurt Vonnegut loved it, and for a long time it was the Writer's Workshop designated hangout. One of the oldest gay-owned businesses in a town with deep LGBT roots“

“food is always excellent and service is always great when I stop by.“

“Always a good time and they have a great selection of beer.“

“The tunes are fresh and wild.“

“Always a good time. Snorting coke in the back alley behind here and some of the regulars kept me entertained sometimes too. Decent kind of typical bar food though and decent, very decent when it comes to drinks. Usually kind of a younger crowd but not too bad though.“

“I had my second visit today for lunch and I was pleasantly impressed even over my high expectations from my first visit. this will be a main stop any time I am in town. I forgot the bartenders name but he was working at 230 pm on Feb 24th. absolutely fantastic service“

“My wife and I went to the Black Angel for a late lunch about 4 pm today. We split a beef brisket sandwich with each us having a bowl of chicken tortilla soup. The soup was lukewarm and had to be reheated which was promptly and courteously done, as was all service rendered. This was our only complaint. Everything was excellent. Best Chicken Tortilla soup (not too spicy) ever had, The sandwich was great too. Yum!“

“Love it would definitely come back and bring friends“

“This place is lit! Super cool vibe and the best bartenders and staff! Keep it going 👍🔥“

“we ate here for the first time on Tuesday and the service was phenomenal! your server, Kate, needs a raise or promotion because she was outstanding! very friendly and engaged. we will definitely be back!“

“had a great time with KJ localee and karaoke people were inviting and friendly, looked clean and will kept“

“I'm consistently impressed by the exceptional service and food quality at The Bistro at the Courtyard by Marriott. Great Iowa City location just across from Kinnick Stadium in University Heights – the atmosphere is fantastic, the food is always fresh and top-notch, and the staff is outstanding. A consistently delightful experience, whether dining indoors or on the patio.“

“They did a great job and made a great effort to make my nails beautiful!!“