USA Today: Iowa City bar one of the best in the country

The bar opened in 1974 and is a two story music venue with a large beer garden located in downtown Iowa City. Joseph Cress/Think Iowa City

A night at Gabe’s is a night of rock ‘n’ roll history

USA Today ranked Gabe’s as one of the 29 best bars in the country in 2025.

Posters from musicians dating decades into the past line the walls inside this local favorite, “where the music’s live.”

“Gabe’s is a lighthouse of nostalgia, and band posters tell the story, from Nirvana to Danny Brown,” USA Today writes, “Stay downstairs for a no-frills dive bar experience made for a sitcom, with eccentric characters spilling stories of their memories that leak into the urban beer garden in the back.”

The bar opened in 1974 and is a two story music venue with a large beer garden located in downtown Iowa City.

“Upstairs, audience members crowd the edge of the stage to see their underground favorites from EDM DJs to hardcore punks.”

Read the full article from USA Today by clicking here.

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Find Your game day headquarters

Visiting to support your team when they play the Hawks or looking for a staycation to make the most of a Hawkeye victory? Here’s the best hotels to kickoff your stay.

Courtyard by Marriott Iowa City University Heights
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Courtyard by Marriott Iowa City University Heights

901 Melrose Ave. Iowa City, Iowa 52246 USA
Dutch Country Inn
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Dutch Country Inn

110 East Avenue Kalona, Iowa 52247 USA
Hotel Millwright
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800 48th Avenue Amana, Iowa 52203 USA
Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown
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Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown

255 E Court Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 USA
SureStay Plus by Best Western Coralville Iowa City
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SureStay Plus by Best Western Coralville Iowa City

200 6th Street Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Homewood Suites by Hilton Coralville – Iowa River Landing
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Homewood Suites by Hilton Coralville – Iowa River Landing

921 E. 2nd Ave. Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
MainStay Suites
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MainStay Suites

2491 Holiday Road Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Fairfield Inn & Suites Coralville
Coralville, Hotels, Places to Stay

Fairfield Inn & Suites Coralville

650 Coral Ridge Avenue Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA
Holiday Inn & Kinnick Conference Center
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Holiday Inn & Kinnick Conference Center

1220 1st Avenue Coralville, Iowa 52241 USA

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Downtown Iowa City

Wander through historic Downtown Iowa City with its charming pedestrian mall and eclectic mix of independent shops and eateries.
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Getting Here

Here, creativity lives on every stage, gallery wall, and page. With a pulse on the past and a passion for what’s next, our cultural scene will leave you inspired long after the final act.
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Rankings

Our area consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, play, and raise a family. The recognitions listed below are just a few of the accolades our destination has received in the last few years.
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Restaurants

In Iowa City you may feast upon milk shakes made from whole slices of pie, slurp corn chowder produced from the freshest and best corn on the planet, and order a jar of bacon as an appetizer.
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