Iowa City Nightlife

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The Mill is the nearest ting to a UK pub I came across in IC.

Like the bluebird Diner and Java Coffeehouse, it's an IC institution. It's been around since the early 60s, offering beer, food and live music to citizens. It closed in 2003 but reopened again that same year:

>To continue to keep The Mill a special place in Iowa City. To be home for local musicians and other creative artists. To bring great artists from outside Iowa to our intimate venue. To be a place where excellent people serve excellent food and drinks at a fair price.

And, imo, it is successful in that aim.

There are several rooms, and an outdoor patio. There's a good variety of draught and bottled beers, the food is fine and reasonably-priced and there is regular live music (including open mic evenings).

Open from 11am (for lunch, brunch available 10am on Saturdays and Sundays) until late. Full menu available from 4.30pm.

Definitely worth a visit: don't be put off by the unprepossessing exterior or the location (busy road, in IC terms).

Great little place. pretty much what you would expect on the menu, but it is all good food. friendly staff and crowd. a great place to catch a game with all of the big screens. there are a couple of weird regulars, but they don't bite. overall, a great place for some food and a couple steins of beer

Dress Code: no worries, wear whatever you feel like

Awesome newly opened sports bar. 4 huge tvs if games are on. Cosy atmosphere. Has darts, bar games, entertaining and Wonderful staff. Great bar overall...oh and super good drink/food deals. You can also rent out skybox for private parties/ functions/ bar crawls.

Dress Code: Wear What ever you want.

This is a great bar that is far enough from downtown that it isn't packed with drunk greek types. Lots of pool tables and they serve lunch and dinner. Friendly staff. It is pretty old and worn in and very comfortable.

Dress Code: None.

This place is a dive. But not a good kind of dive. I would always sit next to a door and don't make eye contact with anyone except the bartender. It is not really that scary, but I would go in a group because there isn't anyone there you want to talk to if you don't know them. And make sure to watch your drink.

Dress Code: Wear something dirty and black out a few teeth if you have a chance.

Downtown Iowa City is full of pubs, surprise, surprise... It's a college town what do you expect. Once such bar is Brothers. It's large and conducive to rowdy crowds, but early on a summer evening having a beer on their outdoor patio can be a delight. Inside the bar is dark and decidedly collegiate. They have pool tables and televisions line the bar showing sports, sports and more sports. They serve bar food and have drink specials, with lots of beer on tap. The patio is the perfect place to sit back, watch a game, have a beer and watch people stroll down the pedestrian mall.

Dress Code: Casual, casual, casual. It's a college bar - jeans and a T-shirt will do here.

During warmer times of year go to Ped Mall.
On Friday nights in this college town there are different free bands. You will hear jazz one weekend, then music from some folks from Ecudor the next.
Tips appreciated at these are not big name artists.
There are bars here too (Ashton Kutchner discovered at ped mall).
The college kids hang out here, but if not game night, so do families.
From this area to crossover street of Burlington Avenue, college age guys and girls are often seen hanging around houses drinking or partying together.

Dress Code: No way!
Iowa City is a college town.
My kids enjoy watching the many different colors of hair the college kids come up with.
They know don't point ,just smile now.

Nice Irish drinking establishment in a stone walled basement. They've got board games that you can borrow and play while you are there. Make sure to appreciate the names on the restroom doors.

Dress Code: Lots of green.

Local Irish pub with a welcoming feel. Less crowded that downtown bars, but it isn't more than a couple blocks off the main drag. They don't serve food, but keep a couple menus from the popular Hamburg Inn behind the bar. You can go next door to order food from the Hamburg and the food will be delivered to you as you wait at Hannrahan's.

Dress Code: No dress code.

This is a fun biker/rugby bar also frequented by the "occasional" cab driver. It isn't really an eatery unless you consider pickled eggs and beef jerkey a meal (which I have seen many a time). There is plenty of parking here and leaving cars here is couth, unless it is longer then a month or you live in the car.
There is a beer garden outside with some flashy art on the walls.

Dress Code: Anything from painting clothes to a wedding dress.