The ultimate Iowa City game-day guide of places to eat, drink and root for the Hawkeyes

Fall Saturdays in Iowa City are more than just raucous football games and large tailgates. A long history of game-day traditions attracts nearly 70,000 to Kinnick Stadium, and the downtown corridor and beyond is a thriving hub for foodies, locals, and tourists alike.

The 2024 football season begins Saturday, Aug. 31, when the Iowa Hawkeyes host the Illinois State Redbirds.

Here are a few establishments the Iowa City Press-Citizen recommends when in town for a football game, whether you’re looking for a hearty breakfast, a celebratory dinner, or the perfect place to bask in game-day ambiance.

Restaurants that are a short trek from Kinnick Stadium

Details: Stella, 1006 Melrose Ave., Iowa City

Steps away from Kinnick Stadium, Stella is a contemporary spot that combines American classics with Cajun fare. It is also one of Iowa City’s most vegetarian-friendly establishments, serving game-day spirit in a reinvented atmosphere and offering a variety of black bean burgers.

Details: Sidekick Coffee & Books, 310 1/2 Melrose Ave., Iowa City

Less than a 15-minute walk from Kinnick Stadium, Sidekick Coffee & Books is a vibrant hub in the University Heights neighborhood. The café boasts a robust menu, perfect for all occasions from lattes and smoothies to quiche and scones and yogurt parfaits, whether browsing the bookstore or before game day.

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Where to cater your Hawkeyes tailgate in Iowa City

Details: Graze Gourmet To-Go, 345 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Whether you are hosting a tailgate at Kinnick or watching the game at home, consider ordering in. The restaurant often collaborates with University of Iowa teams to provide game-day nutrition for athletes, but the restaurant also takes care of the community. The food at Graze Gourmet is designed to be taken to-go, as hinted in its name, by creating a menu of classic takeout items with a surprising array of options. Pizza, chicken lips, tacos, Mexican fried rice, and dim sum green beans are a few of the standouts, perfect for a game-day celebration.

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Restaurants that are worth the wait before the Hawkeyes play in Iowa City

Details: Micky’s, 11 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Located in the heart of downtown, Micky’s has been a game-day tradition serving Iowa City for more than 30 years. Opening at 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays, the local pub is the perfect spot to swing by for breakfast before the game, though it is also open until 2 a.m. for a late-night bite. Lines can be long, but the food and energy are worth the wait.

Details: Donnelly’s Pub,110 E. College St., Iowa City

The downtown corridor is packed on game day, but Donnelly’s Pub is well worth the wait. Donnelly’s Pub has a wide selection of beer and whiskey but also boasts a robust traditional pub menu from burgers to Irish stew and one of the best Reuben sandwiches in town. Donnelly’s is a good stop before the game or even as a place to hunker down and watch.

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Where to find a quick game-day bite in Iowa City

Details: Kindred Coffee, 287 N. Linn St., Iowa City

Kindred Coffee, located on the north side, is the place to go if you want something quick and easy. The coffee shop is best known for its specialty brews, from espresso tonics to classic lattes. Kindred Coffee also has a small but mighty breakfast menu, perfect for eating on the way to the game.

Details: The Encounter Café, 76 S. Clinton St., Iowa City

The Encounter Café first opened its doors in August 2017 and has become a premiere brunch spot in the seven years since. There are plenty of brunch options, from homemade pastries to breakfast burritos and skillets, whether you are keener on sweet or savory. Diners can either sit and eat or take their food to go while walking to Kinnick.

Where to watch the Hawkeyes game in Iowa City

Details: 2 Dog’s Pub, 1705 S. First Ave., Iowa City

For folks unable to make it to Kinnick Stadium or those who just want to avoid the crush of fans on Saturdays can venture outside of the downtown corridor for a variety of options, including 2 Dog’s Pub, one of the top spots to catch every Hawkeye touchdown. You’ll surely not miss a single play with TVs showing the game on every wall, whether home or away. With more than 20 beers on draft and an expansive menu filled with elevated bar eats such as wings and burgers, 2 Dog’s Pub has something for everyone.

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Details: Big Grove Brewery 1225 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City

With plenty of seating inside and out, Big Grove Brewery’s Iowa City taproom is one of the best places to watch Saturday’s game. Known for its Easy Eddy hazy IPA, Big Grove offers dozens of TVs and even a projection screen for viewing pleasure, and a bar anchored by a rotating list of Big Grove’s well-regarded beers. The food menu is rather expansive as well. The brewery’s regular watch parties often include DJs on the ones and twos during commercial breaks.

Details: 30 Hop, 900 E. Second Ave., Coralville

Located in the Iowa River Landing, the rooftop brewpub and restaurant offers an immaculate array of craft beers, a full bar, and a food menu. The atmosphere is top-notch, with dozens of TVs on the rooftop, perfect for watching the Hawkeyes win.

Details: Coach’s Corner, 749 Mormon Trek Blvd., Iowa City

Coach’s Corner’s Instagram bio refers to itself as the “The #1 place to catch a game in Iowa City!” Located on the west side of town, Coach’s Corner is a quintessential sports bar serving classic bar food fare from wings to a variety of sandwiches that will make you want to come back time and time again.

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Classic eats for the early birds before a Hawkeyes game

Details: Bluebird Diner, 330 E. Market St., Iowa City

Want to get to Kinnick as early as you can? Bluebird Diner is perfect for fans looking for a high-quality breakfast. Open at 7 a.m. daily, it is the ideal place to fuel up before kickoff, serving classic diner breakfast and lunch from open to close.

Details: Hamburg Inn No. 2, 214 N. Linn St., Iowa City

The Hamburg Inn No. 2 has been a cornerstone in the Iowa City community for 90 years. Last year, the joint found new life and has remained a favorite under new ownership since it reopened on Homecoming weekend. Enjoy classics from The Hamburg Inn No. 2 like Hamburg Inn pie shakes, fried chicken, celebratory cups of bottomless coffee, or the classic Presidential Breakfast with two eggs your way, hash browns, sausage or bacon, and toast. Since reopening, the Hamburg Inn No. 2 often has long wait times even on non-game days, so come early to secure a spot.

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Where to find late-night bites in Iowa City

Details: George’s Buffet, 312 E Market St., Iowa City

If you are looking for a place to kick back after the game, try George’s Buffett. The bar serves late-night bites including cheese sandwiches, hot nuts, chips, and cheeseburgers on its limited-food menu. These are the perfect re-up after any long day.

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Details: Sanctuary Pub, 405 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City

Sanctuary Pub has been an Iowa City mainstay since 1972. Reminiscent of a traditional British pub, the bar emulates its namesake, being a sanctuary for a welcoming place to enjoy the company of others over good food and drinks. The restaurant has a menu rooted in classic bar fare, with elevated options like baked brie and vodka shrimp. The restaurant is open until 11 p.m. on weekends; it is a great option after a long day to refuel.

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_.