Where to find five of the best places to drink in Iowa City
Everyone in Iowa City has a favorite bar. From friendly craft breweries to historic dives and maybe their old college stomping grounds, there is certainly no shortage of places to grab a drink. What might start out as a quick drink could turn into a lively conversation with a stranger at the bar or discovering your new favorite cocktail. Here are the most exciting places to get a drink in Iowa City.
Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar
While Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar might be best known for its array of wine and light bites, the northside wine bar also offers a variety of classic cocktails. The quaint front transports customers to the south of France, the perfect environment to indulge in an Old Fashioned or splurge on a bottle of wine from the wide selection at the bar.
Location: 209 N Linn St., Iowa City
Contact: 319-359-1999 or @brixiowacity
The Greenhouse
The Greenhouse, a plant-themed cocktail bar serving craft cocktails and elevated bar snacks, opened in 2022. The bar transports guests to a verdant oasis, with many of the drinks featuring local tinctures, herbs, and bitters to create specialty cocktails with a botanical twist. Standouts from the menu include the Watermelon Habanero Shrub, which features Espolon blanco tequila, shrub, and soda, or the Barbella, which uses Bagger vodka, elderflower liqueur, and lime juice. The Greenhouse also has weekday happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., where customers can get $2 off cocktails, wine, beer, and kombucha; the bar also has a weekend happy hour from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Location: 505 E. Washington St., Iowa City
Contact: 319-259-7404 or @greenhouseic
The Chart Room
Come join us tonight for Whiskey and Wine Wednesday from 4 PM - 11 PM! Additionally, we’ll be featuring our Eagle Rare...
Posted by Chart Room on Wednesday, June 28, 2023
If you want to expand your palate or try classic cocktails, try The Chart Room, the whiskey lover's heaven, with the bar boasting dozens of whiskey varieties and knowledgeable bartenders to help you decide. This modern-day speakeasy has complex cocktails for a moderate price, with drinks ranging in price from $8 to $14. The bar also has happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday with 50% off of draft beers and well liquor and 25% off wine by the glass and Trade Wind cocktails.
Location: 2441 James St. #4, Coralville
Contact: 319-379-2900 or @chartroomia on Facebook
Wild Culture
Wild Culture is located on the northside and is a full-strength kombucha brewery based in Iowa City. During the day, Wild Culture is a hot spot for students and remote working folks for coffee and kombucha alike, but in the evening it's a must-stop for crafty cocktails. With a rotating seasonal cocktail menu, there is always something new to try. Cornerstones of the menu include an espresso martini and Negroni, both elevated twists to classic drinks.
Location: 210 N. Linn St., Iowa City
Contact: 319-351-3737 or @wildculture.iowacity
The Deadwood
The Deadwood is where college students and townies come together. Located on Dubuque St. in the downtown corridor, The Deadwood has served up no-fuss cocktails and beers for more than 57 years. The unsuspecting bar stands out in a college town; while it always cheers for the Hawkeyes, it is not a sports bar but a community hub for people coming together over common ground. With dozens of places to sit and socialize or play a round of pool, it is easy to see why people have been going to the Deadwood for decades.
Location: 6 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
Contact: 319-351-9417 or @icdeadwood
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: The five best places to drink in the greater Iowa City area
