Eat, drink and play locally.

Iowa City Alive helps you find and share the best locally owned places in Iowa City. If you usually visit chains and franchises, we have those too, but we're going to do our best to convert you to local connoisseurs like us!

Latest Additions

Alex gave Los Portales 1 Star

Their salsa is watered down to nothing. Food is absolutely terrible, except for the cheese dip and the cheesy enchiladas (same cheese sauce I believe). The only things this place has going for it are ... (see full review)

Rachel gave Brothers Bar & Grill 5 Stars

great amostphere, good drinks and good drink specials. A really fun bar to go to on any night of the week! especially on thursdays fridays and saturdays!

Derek Brooks gave Atlas World Grill 5 Stars

Wow. I was honestly not expecting the food to be as tasty as it was at the Atlas. The Blackened Catfish (served on andouille sausage-jambalaya and buttermilk coleslaw) is amazing.

Service was great... (see full review)

Derek Brooks gave Micky's Irish Pub 4 Stars

Micky's is a little Irish Pub that surprised me. They had some legit Irish beer and whiskeys in stock (i.e. Powers whiskey, it's rare to see this stocked in American bars).

The food was quite good ... (see full review)

Derek Brooks gave Iowa City Yacht Club 4 Stars

The Yacht Club is a hilarious/fun venue. The actual concert area is in a basement with 8 foot tall drop ceilings... I've watched people crowd surf here and literally scrape the ceiling.

That said, ... (see full review)

Amy gave David's Place 5 Stars

I really love David's Place. The food is great, although I find the highly spiced lamb and beef dishes to be the best. The bread IS bland and sour, but it's supposed to be - that, actually is one of t... (see full review)

Katie Anthony gave The Pizza Ranch 5 Stars

The Iowa City Pizza Ranch has great food. It's always hot. The help is polite, friendly and helpful. Prices are very reasonable. I like that the manager is visible and aware of the customers.

Anonymous gave 808 Restaurant & Night Club 4 Stars

I went to eat at 808 with a couple of friends and they had really good food and service! I would go back next time I am in Iowa City.

shay hollon gave El Dorado Mexican Restaurant 2 Stars

The food was great, service was also good. I ordered an entree (chicken popeye) it had no spinach on it. When I asked for spinach on it they brought it back to me with no mushrooms. Then I asked for a... (see full review)

Anonymous gave Joseph's Steakhouse 1 Star

The owner walks around and yells at everyone in the restaurant including the patrons. He was a rude and an unwanted guest at our table. The service was excellent and so was the food, but make sure y... (see full review)

tencmn gave Joseph's Steakhouse 1 Star

My brother and I both ordered ribeyes after the waiter guaranteed us they were aged steaks and would melt in our mouths. I am so upset because these werew the toughest steaks either of us had ever eat... (see full review)

Douglas Bourdo gave Aladdin Restaurant 5 Stars

Terrific service, Wonderful appetisers, Great entrees. Mom & Pop homey atmosphere. The Hummus Shawarma was excellent. The stuffed grape leaves were also excellent. The Chicken Samosa were delicious. ... (see full review)

aeryk gave David's Place 5 Stars

Excellent and authentic food! We were in Ethiopia a couple months ago and David's ranks right up there with some of the cuisine we had abroad. Plus the owner is super nice! Also great lunch buffet if ... (see full review)

Marve gave Riverside Theatre 2 Stars

This theater is very crappy. The staff is a bunch of college kids with nothing better to do and the seating is very uncomfortable.... the worst.

villalpando gave Los Portales 5 Stars

I lOVe this place my Dad is the owner haha well I like it anD THE PEOPLE are very nice and its very cheap!

matt weldon gave Los Portales 1 Star

I must of ate at at a the wrong place. The service sucks and the food was raw. I would much rather go to lacasa! At least they care if you live or die there. Later!