Don’t let hunger cut your museum visit short. These local eateries are mere blocks away from some of Iowa’s coolest culture centers. Listed hours are may vary.
IOWA CITY
Stanley Museum of Art
160 W Burlington St, Iowa City
Also nearby: Old Capitol Museum, UI Museum of Natural History
Le Gourmet Korean Restaurant
201 S Clinton St — Old Capitol Town Center (~5-min. walk)
Open 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. M-F, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat, closed Sun
If you want your lunch as colorful as Pollock’s Mural, hit up the mall. One of Iowa City’s most popular lunch spots serves irresistible jjamppong, ramen, bibimbap, L.A. galbi and a range of Korean snacks.
Zolly’s Grill
201 S Clinton St – Old Capitol Town Center (~6-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m., open until 2:30 a.m. Fri & Sat, closed Sun
Fill up with a Chicago-style gyro cheeseburger, Philly, Italian beef, black bean burger or other handheld meal, with a milkshake on the side sourced from Dan and Debby’s Creamery in Ely.
The Encounter Cafe
376 S Clinton St (~7-min. walk)
Open 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., closed Sun
This cafe may not be open late, but it’s one of IC’s go-to hangout spots. Their omelets, breakfast sandwiches, paninis and pastries are made with mostly local ingredients, and the soft pretzels are a work of art.
CEDAR RAPIDS
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
1400 Inspiration Pl SW, Cedar Rapids
Also nearby: African American Museum of Iowa
Czech Town Station
69 16 Ave SW (~3-min. walk)
Open 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Decadent cinnamon roll French toast, chicken Kiev eggs benedict, tater tot poutine and cocktail flights will give you almost as much to discuss as the massive Smithsonian affiliate down the road.
Lucky’s on 16th
86 16th Ave SW (~4-min. walk)
Open 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Lucky’s serves comfort food for any meal in a dining room covered in vinyl records. Enjoy your hot cakes, Italian grinder or Salted Caramel White Russian inside or on the back patio, which has a view of NCSML.
Little Bohemia
1317 3rd St SE (~7-min. walk)
Open Wed-Sat, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., closed Sun-Tues
A quick stroll across the Cedar River will bring you to this 1932 tavern. Order some Czech goulash and dumplings, Polish kielbasa or Bo’s Famous Loin sandwich. Don’t forget a Czech pilsner from the bar.
QUAD CITIES
Figge Art Museum
225 W 2nd St, Davenport
Also nearby: German American Heritage Center and Museum; Putnam Museum and Science Center
Mantra Indian Cuisine and Spirits
220 N Harrison St (~3-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. & 5-9:30 p.m., closed Tues
If your eyes are tired from art-gazing, Mantra’s soft yellow lighting will soothe as you feast on samosas and curries (mild, medium and spicy): chicken tandoori, tikka, bhuna lamb, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
Sippis American Grill and Craft Beer
406 W 2nd St (~3-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sun
Grab a catfish sandwich, classic Iowa pork tenderloin or a Vino Burger — grilled in sweet wine and topped with Swiss, bacon and garlic aioli — at this classic bar and grill. There’s a cozy fireplace and a (slight) view of the Figge from the patio.
Abarrotes Carrillo
903 W 3rd St (~14-min. walk)
Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Warm up with some spicy chorizo tacos and a hearty soup, or cool off with a shrimp cocktail and michelada. Also a carniceria (meat shop) and a late-night food trailer, this Mexican restaurant can feed a ravenous tour group any time of day.
DES MOINES
Science Center of Iowa
401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
Also nearby: Des Moines Art Center
Hessen Haus
101 SW 4th St (~1-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m., open until 2 a.m. Fri & Sat
This festive beer hall features the Iowa Polka Music Hall of Fame and a rooftop view of downtown DSM. Adults can choose from roughly 175 European brews while kids beg for some German chocolate cake or a cinnamon sugar pretzel.
El Bait Shop
200 SW 2nd St (~6-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m., open until 12 a.m. Fri & Sat
Love liver and onions and fried chicken gizzards? You can find them here, along with dozens of other carnivorous delights like hot beef and turkey, beef stroganoff and fish tacos. The maximalist approach to decor and beer taps are the bacon bits on top.
Rook Room Game Lounge
300 SW 5th St (~6-min. walk)
Open 8 a.m.-10 p.m., closed Tues & Wed
If SCI left you in a playful mood, head over to Des Moines’ only gaming cafe for a coffee drink, themed cocktail, pizza-stuffed sando (an elevated Hot Pocket-type item developed by Lachele’s chef Cory Wendel) and an activity from the Game Wall.
WATERLOO
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum & Grout Museum of History & Science
503 South St, Waterloo
Also nearby: Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, Dan Gable Wrestling Museum, Waterloo Center for the Arts
La Placita Taqueria and Mexican Store
321 W 4th St (~5-min. walk)
Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Some of the best tacos in Waterloo are served here for $2.50 each, along with steak and chicken burritos, fajitas, sopes, soups and margs. Grab a few Mexican grocery items while you’re there!
The Brown Bottle
209 W 5th St (~9-min. walk)
Open 4-9 p.m., closed Mon
This family-owned Italian restaurant has been filling Cedar Valley with delicious carbs since 1972. Everything here puts Olive Garden to shame, from the crispy garlic bread to the creamy alfredo to the tender veal marsala.
Pick Up N Go Soul Food
927 W 5th St (~9-min. walk)
Open late afternoon to 10 p.m. or later, closed Tues & Wed
Owner Tamara Pernell promises “Good Ole Cooking from the Heart N’ Soul,” including all your favorite soul food and Cajun staples. Their lobster tail corndogs are award-winning, and the crab boils could feed a family the size of the Sullivans.
DUBUQUE
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
350 E 3rd St, Dubuque
Also nearby: Dubuque Museum of Art
Stone Cliff Winery
600 Star Brewery Dr (~12-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Hit the Mississippi Riverwalk until you spot the former Dubuque Star Beer brewery, now a restaurant-slash-museum of local history. Munch on a quinoa bowl or goat cheese and bacon panini, then wander the space with a glass of wine or beer in hand.
Baraboo’s on Main
345 Main St (~12-min. walk)
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. or later; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sun, closed Mon
Named after the owners’ beloved labradoodle, Baraboo’s serves decadent burgers, a BLT with jalapeño raspberry jam, and a Reuben called The Big Lebowski. That glass doohicky on the bar is a gravity smoker, and is used to infuse certain cocktails with a flavorful “fog.”
Sunshine Family Restaurant
401 Central Ave (~15-min. walk)
Open every day 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Finish breakfast before the museum even opens at 9 a.m.! This family friendly, downhome American diner serves a mean pancake sandwich, biscuit and gravy and sirloin steak. Visitors of a certain age can take advantage of the daily senior special.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s August 2025 issue.
