5 Restaurants in Downtown, Iowa City IA That Serve Alcohol
Updated 29 September 2026 · 5 restaurants in Downtown, Iowa City IA considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide covers five restaurants in Downtown, Iowa City IA that are listed on Google as serving alcohol. It is meant for anyone planning a dinner with wine, a casual pub meal, or a drink before a show near the Ped Mall. The list was ranked from Google ratings weighted by review count, so places with both strong scores and plenty of reviews sit higher. Each entry below uses only the listed hours, address, attributes and what reviewers mention.
#1
Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge
★ 4.7 (603 Google reviews)American restaurant$40–100 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
An American restaurant at 521 S Gilbert St, open for dinner from 5 pm every day, closing at 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Google lists a fireplace, a private dining room, small plates and happy-hour drinks and food, along with a strong wine list and cocktails. Reviewers mention a high-end setting, crab cake and fried oyster starters, a smoked fish board and dim lighting, though one describes a very poor evening of service.
Best for: An upscale dinner with wine
- Address
- 521 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
- Hours
- Fri 5–10 pm; Mon 5–9 pm; Sat 5–10 pm; Sun 5–9 pm; Thu 5–9 pm; Tue 5–9 pm; Wed 5–9 pm
#2
Micky's Irish Pub
★ 4.6 (856 Google reviews)Restaurant$10–20 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
A pub-style restaurant on S Dubuque St that opens at 11 am on weekdays and 8:30 am on weekends, staying open until 1:30 or 2 am. Attributes include outdoor seating, sports, late-night food, happy hour and spirits. Reviewers mention a firehouse burger, Scotch eggs, pretzel bites and midweek wing deals, and describe the room as calm at some hours and loud and busy at others. One reviewer found the food lukewarm.
Best for: Late pub food and drinks
- Address
- 11 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
- Hours
- Fri 11 am–2 am; Mon 11 am–1:30 am; Sat 8:30 am–2 am; Sun 8:30 am–1:30 am; Thu 11 am–2 am; Tue 11 am–1:30 am; Wed 11 am–2 am
#3
The Dandy Lion
★ 4.6 (608 Google reviews)Restaurant$10–20 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
A women-owned restaurant at 111 S Dubuque St, right on the Ped Mall, serving from 8 am to 2 pm and closed on Tuesdays. It lists breakfast, cocktails, coffee, comfort food and outdoor seating. Reviewers mention pancakes, rotating specials, a house burger and vegan sausage and egg substitute options, plus a regular wait for tables. Parking is by meter or garage, and one reviewer reports slow service after a long wait.
Best for: Brunch with a cocktail
- Address
- 111 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
- Hours
- Fri 8 am–2 pm; Mon 8 am–2 pm; Sat 8 am–2 pm; Sun 8 am–2 pm; Thu 8 am–2 pm; Tue Closed; Wed 8 am–2 pm
#4
BlackStone
★ 4.4 (1,376 Google reviews)American restaurant$20–30 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
An American restaurant at 503 Westbury Dr, open from 11 am daily until 9 pm, or 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Google notes a patio, fireplace, sports, and strong beer, wine and cocktail lists, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reviewers mention a half-price martini deal, monthly specials, desserts, decent parking and a relaxed place to watch a game. One says the group handled a large reservation on short notice.
Best for: Watching a game over dinner
- Address
- 503 Westbury Dr #1, Iowa City, IA 52245, United States
- Hours
- Fri 11 am–10 pm; Mon 11 am–9 pm; Sat 11 am–10 pm; Sun 11 am–9 pm; Thu 11 am–9 pm; Tue 11 am–9 pm; Wed 11 am–9 pm
#5
Wilder
★ 4.4 (179 Google reviews)Restaurant
Representative photo, not of this business.
A restaurant at 210 S Dubuque St opening at 4 pm most days and staying open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Attributes include live music, outdoor seating, sports, small plates, vegan options and spirits. Reviewers mention smash and Wagyu burgers, bar seating, live music on a Thursday and a casual feel that suits a meal before a film nearby. They also describe quick, friendly service.
Best for: Burgers and a beer before a movie
- Address
- 210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
- Hours
- Fri 4 pm–12 am; Mon 4–10 pm; Sat 12 am–12 pm, 4 pm–12 am; Sun 12 am–12 pm, 4–10 pm; Thu 4–10 pm; Tue 4–10 pm; Wed 4–10 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 5 restaurants in Downtown, Iowa City IA with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then listed on Google as “Alcohol”, then by rating. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 29 September 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge, Micky's Irish Pub, BlackStone and Wilder take reservations, useful on weekend evenings.
- For an early start, The Dandy Lion opens at 8 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated restaurant on this list?
Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 603 reviews. Micky's Irish Pub is second at 4.6 from 856 reviews.
Which restaurants in Downtown, Iowa City IA are open late?
Micky's Irish Pub stays open until 2 am; Wilder stays open until 12 am.
How much does it cost at these restaurants?
Google lists these price ranges per person: Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge $40–100; Micky's Irish Pub $10–20; The Dandy Lion $10–20; BlackStone $20–30. The others do not list a price range.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge and BlackStone.
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