One of the major perks of going to the University of Iowa is the amazing downtown area that is just across the street. Rain or shine, Iowa City is the place to be. I’m going to take you through a couple of my favorite places in the best college town in the country!

Pullman

Pullman is a restaurant that I’ve been to a few times, and it never disappoints. I will always remember it as the place my parents and I ate before they dropped me off here. I had the best breakfast bowl there. It’s an adorable little spot to grab a bite to eat, and the atmosphere is so fun. I also saw Luka Garza there once! 

St. Burch Tavern

Owned by the same people as Pullman, St. Burch is one of the fancier places in Iowa City. Their salads are delicious, and definitely the place I would recommend taking your parents when they come to visit. It’s elegant on top, but they also have this cool basement that’s like a man-cave bar feel. All around, one of my favorite places for a nice dinner out. 

Pitaya

Pitaya is a super cute store that so many girls I know absolutely love. They have adorable clothes, the employees are so nice, and the prices are reasonable. I love everything I’ve gotten there!

Basta

If you like good Italian food, Basta is the place. Also on the nicer side, Basta is where I ate with my mom when we toured Iowa. I will never forget the waitress and all the lovely things she had to say about Iowa. She was also a marketing major (like myself) and couldn’t say enough about the business school. My mom and I enjoyed a great lunch, and we always try to go back! 

White Rabbit

If Pitaya isn’t exactly your style, White Rabbit has a little bit of everything. One of my friends took me to this store and I fell in love with how eclectic and cool their stuff was. Their vibe is more earthy and boho, but they also have some great Iowa City merch. I got one of my favorite sweatshirts there! 

Insomnia

Insomnia Cookies are a hit around here among college students. They have a variety of flavors and are open until the early hours of the morning. They’ll even deliver until 3 am. So when you need a late-night treat for all the study hours you’ve clocked, Insomnia will be your best friend. 

Mesa

A late-night staple in Iowa City is Mesa Pizza. Also, open into the early morning, people often go to Mesa to get some of their late-night cravings satisfied. They’ve got all kinds of pizza. I 10/10 recommend their mac and cheese pizza. It sounds odd, but it is delicious. 

There are so many other places I have yet to explore downtown. This list is only scratching the surface. I encourage visitors to take some time to walk around Iowa City with no plan or agenda, just to see what they stumble upon. You can’t go wrong!

As always, go hawks!

Abbie