Our Favorite Coffee, Food, + Sights in Omaha, Nebraska

After calling Omaha home for the last 6 years (with a 6 month hiatus in California) it felt like time to round up all of our favorite Coffee, Food, + Sights. Whether you’re just passing through or have lived here for years, these are all the place I think are absolutely worth your time. Drop a comment below and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear what some of your favorites are!

Coffee

• Archetype - Completely separate from the fact that the owner of this coffee shop placed 4th in the world barista championship in 2023, this shop is at the top of our list of most-visited in Omaha. They have amazing espresso, drip coffee, and a phenomenal selection of pastries to choose from. Their coffee menu is simple (no seasonal lattes), but they truly know what they’re doing. I’ve never gotten a milk based drink that wasn’t flawless in both flavor and aesthetic. A perfect place to meet a friend or post up and work for a few hours. The Little Bohemia location is the one we frequent most, but the other locations are great too.

• Astute Coffee - Located in an old bank building, this social-enterprise offers workforce development and personal growth to young adults coming out of the foster system. What drew us to this coffee shop initially though was the fact that they offered Onyx Coffee pour overs. They have since expanded their pour-over menu ten fold and now they have us in a choke-hold. We come here almost every Saturday morning to try new pour overs and it has become the highlight of our week. If you’re looking for an incredible pour-over experience or just looking to support a great cause, this is your place.

• Myrtle and Cypress - If you’re a fan of lattes that use all natural sweeteners and high quality milks, including cream-top whole milk and homemade almond and cashew milk, then this shop is for you. They have a selection of gluten-free and dairy-free pastries to choose from as well as a delicious avocado toast. They now have two locations and although very different from each other, they both deserve to be destinations on your tour of coffee shops around Omaha.

• Rally - This is one of my favorite coffee shops to get work done at. The natural light is unbeatable and their outside patio has a really fun city-meets-industry vibe that speaks to me. I generally just get their drip coffee because it’s delicious, but they also have some really great food options including a breakfast sandwich and avocado toast that are both delicious.

• Bad Seed Coffee - I don’t frequent this shop as much as the other four, but it still deserves to be mentioned. When I do go there I always think ‘Why don’t I come here more often?” The vibes are great and the coffee is delicious. I usually just get drip coffee here as well, but this summer when I felt like treating myself I would get an iced shaken espresso with a little bit of brown sugar syrup — IT. WAS. HEAVEN.

Food

Cheap Eats

• Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob - A small shop serving up amazing falafel and kabob salads, sandwiches, and plates. I highly recommend the curry fries.

• Tasty Pizza - This is the spot for cheap pizza in a hurry. Josiah’s favorite is the mushroom and mine is the Mediterranean.

• Cheeseburgers - A greasy takeout burger joint. The best deal is on Tuesdays - $5 for the original cheeseburger.

• El Arepon - Venezualen hole-in-the-wall serving up amazing arepas and empanadas.

• Korean Grill and Egg Rolls to Go - A hole-in-the-wall korean bbq place with incredible bulgogi and hot pot bibimbop.

• La Sierra - A hole-in-the-wall authentic mexican restaurant on 10th street. My favorite is the cheese quesadilla which I know is kind of basic, but my husband loves the ancho chile burritos. The burritos are smaller than what you might envision a traditional burrito being so you might want to get 2-3.

• El Basha - Casual Mediteranean spot that is really delicious.

• Okra - Incredible African food with a casual atmosphere. I love the peanut butter chicken and the ablo (sweet rice dumplings).

• Three Happiness - A Chinese restaurant that delivers on all of the classics.

• Brazen Head - An Irish pub serving up delicious fish and chips, french onion soup, and spicy cheese curds.

Mid-Range

• Mula - Incredible mexican comfort food and margaritas in a very trendy neighborhood with lots of bars within walking distance

• Shucks - Fish house and oyster bar with great fish and chips as well as (no surprise) oysters.

• Lola’s - This is potentially our most visited restaurant in Omaha. I love their frittata, pastries, charcuterie, wine, salads, + sandwiches. Don’t forget to snag yourself a loaf of sourdough bread to-go.

• Block 16 - Alton Brown claims Block 16’s Croque Garcon Burger as his favorite burger ever. Their dragon wrap, three happiness fries, + poutine burrito all deserve your attention as well, but good luck choosing. I can guarantee one visit will not be enough.

• Blue Sushi - I highly recommend planning your visit around their all-day happy hour on Sunday.

• Pitch - Great pizza + salads.

• Lyle’s - Another top notch pizza spot. The vibes are on point and they use a sourdough crust which is always a win for me. They once had a curry cream soda cocktail that might possibly be the best cocktail I’ve ever had in my life. It was a seasonal one, but I am crossing my fingers they bring that one back.

• Dumpling Empire - A laid back environment, but offering a top notch food experience. Don’t miss out on the cucumber salad, tri-colored steamed soup buns, pork belly bun, and steamed tri delicacies dumplings.

• Fizzy’s - A retro soda-shop-esque diner serving up boozy shakes and greasy eat to satisfy your late night craving or help you nurse that Sunday morning hangover.

• Crescent Moon - A great laid back bar serving up delicious grilled sandwiches and burgers.

• Kinaara - There are a lot of delicious Indian staples on their menu, but the real reason to come here is for the masala fries.

• Get Real Sandwiches - Obviously the sandwiches are delicious, but the fried brussel sprouts are also a must.

• Heirloom Fine Foods Market & Cafe - This is a fancy little grocery located in the Millwork Commons building that also has a deli where you can get really delicious sandwiches.

• Clean Slate Food Co. - They offer a meal delivery service focused on sustainable-locally sourced ingredients, but they also have some delicious grab-no-go as well as made to order options at their Millwork Commons Cafe. Everything I’ve had here felt nourishing and tasted so delicious.

• Dolomiti - Wood-fired pizza with a Northern Italian influence. I love both the Rustica and Formaggi pizzas as well as the citrus beet salad.

• Vis Major - A really fun brewery that always has a solid rotation of beers and pizzas. If you’re a pickle person, the pickle pizza is a must.

Fancier Fare

• Au Courant - They serve up modern takes on European dishes and is an excellent spot to celebrate a special occasion. I highly recommend doing the chef’s tasing menu that ranges from $75-95/person. It’s indulgent, but so worth it. A top tier culinary experience of my life — hands down.

• Clio - An upscale Mediterranean spot in the Old Market that feels like you’re walking into a Greek dream. The food is phenomenal and the decor is incredible. We love the saffron rice fritters, yellowtail crudos, crispy potatoes, and sausage stuffed dates. I highly recommend making reservations, but you might be able to test your luck sitting at the bar.

• La Buvette - A wine bar and grocery in the heart of the Old Market. If you want to feel like you’re in Europe this is your spot. Grab a glass of wine and a few small bites to split with your girlfriends and hang out on the patio. They don’t take reservations, but its totally worth the wait or trying to hit it at an off time.

• Yoshitomo - Run by an award winning Chef, this sushi restaurant is known for serving up some of the best around.

• Ooh De Lally - The cocktails, mocktails, and appetizers are where this place shines in my opinion. The shortrib fries, Dundee dip, and grilled cheese are my top picks.

Sweet Treats

• Coneflower - This farm-to-cone ice cream shop uses real, local ingredients and serves up a wide range of seasonal flavors along with a handful of classics. I am a sucker for the cookies-and-cream, but it’s truly hard to pick a favorite. Yelp listed it as their #1 Ice Cream shop in the U.S. so no visit to Omaha is complete without a stop here.

• Sweet Magnolia - If sugary treats are your thing, this is your spot. A boutique bakery specializing in perfectly crafted, melt-in-your-mouth confections.

• Carter & Rye - I stopped trying to perfect my homemade hand pies after I tried the ones at Carter and Rye. They’ve gotten it down to a science and I am happy to support the fruits of their labor. They have a rotating list of sweet and savory hand pies that are all guaranteed to make you smile.

Drinks

• Beercade - One hand holding a beer, one hand playing an arcade game — what’s not to love? There are two locations, one in Benson and one in Little Bohemia.

• Tiny House Bar - Seasonal craft cocktails featuring local & regional spirits, wine, and beer in a 110 year old house in Little Bohemia. turing local & regional spirits, wine, and beer in a 110 year old house in Little Bohemia. The interior shines with its mixing of local art and one of a kind furnishings & wallpaper. The drinks are delicious and the vibes are ones you’ll want to come back to time and time again.

• Nite Owl - This place feels like you’re stepping onto the set of Mad Men and it’s a top pick for where I want to be on a Friday night. There’s always a movie projected behind the bar to provide some entertainment. I have yet to have something I didn’t like from here, but if you’re not sure where to start get an order of the Totchos and one of the on-tap cocktails and see where the night goes. Don’t forget some fried Oreos and maybe an order of wings or two.

• Little Ricky’s - Either before or after you stop at Nite Owl pop over to this bar and hang out on their rooftop. Solid drinks and who doesn’t love a good rooftop?

• Trap Room - Located in the Northern downtown area, this is the perfect bar to grab a drink before or after a show at the Slowdown or as a destination on its own if you’re looking for a relaxed environment with a solid beer and cocktail selection.

• Vis Major - I mentioned this place above, but worth throwing in this section as well. A really fun brewery that always has a solid rotation of beers and pizzas. If you’re a pickle person, the pickle pizza is a must.

• Pageturners Lounge - Another Mad Men-esque bar with great vibes and solid drinks.

• The Bull Moose - A Teddy Roosevelt inspired neighborhood bar with cabin vibes, craft cocktails, and a great beer selection. I equally love sitting on their patio and lounging inside, making it a great year-round option.

• Mercury - This cocktail lounge in downtown goes all in on their cocktail menus both in recipes and aesthetic of the physical menu itself. They once had their menu written on a CDs inside a 2000’s CD case and another time it was written on a Broadway playbill. The creativity is so fun and keeps you coming back for more!

• Homy inn - A great destination for some Champagne on tap as well as dive bar drink classics.

• Red Lion Lounge - A Live Jazz bar located in Blackstone serving up classic on-tap cocktails for a very reasonable price. It’s the perfect place to hang out on a Weeknight with friends or take a date for a post-dinner cocktail.

• Idle Wine and Goods - If wine or fancy canned fish are your jam, this place is for you. The owner is always super willing to help you pick out a bottle of wine for your next dinner party or pour you a glass to enjoy right there in the adorable little shop. No matter what you get, your day will be better after making this a pit stop.

• Dry Spokes - If alcohol isn’t your thing or if you just need a break, this mocktail focused bar is a great place to post up on a Friday night. They have a live monthly poetry slam this is super fun.

• Scriptown - A microbrewery located in Blackstone turning out some classic, locally handcrafted beers.

• Kros Train - I’m a super fan of their Fairy Nectar, a hoppy IPA that has notes of grapefruit, mango, and tropical goodness. Their downtown location is my favorite because of the industrial warehouse vibes.

Things to Do

City

• Neighborhoods to check out

  • Dundee - Great restaurants and really fun area to walk around and look at houses.

  • Blackstone - Great for going out on any night of the week. We live very close to this area so we frequent it often.

  • Benson - Great for going out on a Friday or Saturday night.

  • Little Bohemia - Great shops for picking up some great gifts, but also some great places to get coffee or drinks.

  • The Old Market - Old brick building and brick roads set the tone of this classic part of Omaha that is super fun to walk around.

• Gene Leahy mall - Omaha's iconic downtown park featuring a performance pavilion, a state-of-the-art playground, interactive water features, a sculpture garden, and a sizeable dog park. The addition of this park has made me much more proud to call Omaha home.

• Joslyn Castle and Garden - A gorgeous mansion located near the Blackstone district I definitely recommend popping over to walk the grounds at the very least, but if you want a peak inside you’ll need to join a guided tour for $17/person.

• Lauritzen Gardens - A beautiful botanical garden that’s definitely worth a visit.

• Joslyn Art Museum - It’s free and 100% worth a visit.

• Small Music Venues to check out

  • Slowdown

  • Reverb Lounge

  • The Admiral

  • Waiting Room

Nature

• Shram Park State Recreation Area  - A great place to have a picnic and then do some hiking.

• Zorinsky - A great place to ride bikes or walk around a gorgeous lake. The 7 mile loop around the lake is completely paved.

• Standing Bear Lake - The perfect location to plan a 3.3 mile walk around a lake followed by a picnic by the water.

• Neale Woods Nature Reserve - This is our favorite hiking spot around Omaha because it’s rarely crowded, so consider it a true act of friendship that I’m willing to share this secret with you. Located north of Omaha, Neil Woods has what I would consider the truest form of hiking close to the city (dirt paths, challenging hills, a secluded feel, etc.) and is totally worth the drive.

• Hitchcock Nature Center - Just across the river in Iowa you can find some more of what I would consider “true” hiking. We don’t frequent here as often because it can get a bit more crowded than Neale Woods and is a further drive for us, but it’s still a fantastic option! They also have some great campsite available that we’ve enjoyed using.

Peanut Butter Twix Bar (Dairy-free + Gluten-free)

If I had to pick a candy bar to eat for the rest of my life I would probably pick a Twix. They’re just so delicious — the caramel, the shortbread, the chocolate — all of it. It provides such a satisfying crunch while also delivering the perfect caramel to chocolate ratio. Seeking out a healthier alternative for my candy bar of choice, I came across Rachael’s Good Eats healthier Twix Bar. I made a handful of tweaks to eliminate the need for coconut flour as it’s not my favorite texture or flavor and then decided to use my peanut butter caramel in place of an almond butter based caramel. What I ended up with was a dessert that I am consistently stocking my freezer with and i am certain after you try it you will be too.

Peanut Butter Twix Bars

Inspired by Rachael’s Good Eats

Makes 20 bite size bars

Shortbread Layer:

• 1 cup almond flour

• 1 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup

• 1 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Caramel Layer:

• 1 recipe of my peanut butter caramel sauce

Chocolate Layer:

• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Flaky sea salt for topping, optional

Make the shortbread layer: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a 9 x 5 pan with parchment paper (a standard bread pan). Set aside. In a large bowl, combine all the shortbread ingredients until well combined — ensuring there are no dry spots remaining. Transfer the mixture to the greased pan and pat down in an even layer. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. Set aside and allow to cool completely.

Make the Caramel Layer: Follow the direction for the caramel in this blog post. Allow the caramel to cool completely before spreading it evenly on top of the shortbread layer. Place the baking dish in the freezer and allow the caramel to harden (about 1-2 hours).

Make the Chocolate Layer: Place the chocolate and the coocnut oil in a microwave safe container and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until the chocolate chips have fully melted.

Putting it all together: Pour the chocolate onto the hardened caramel in an even layer. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Return to the freezer for another 10-15 minutes until the chocolate hardens. Remove from the freezer and slice the bars into 1/2” pieces widthwise and then cut each piece in half. Store in an airtight container in the freezer or refrigerate for up to a month.

Packing For 16 Days Abroad in a Backpack

I used to be the person that would bring the biggest suitcase on a trip. Through the years I’ve realized that even when I brought a big suitcase I didn’t wear 3/4 of what I brought. I’ve been working on minimizing my wardrobe for the past few years and it’s made me realize how little I actually need. This concept transferred over to travel and I’ve been slowly bringing less and less on our trips and it feels so good.

We recently got back from traveling around Norway, Sweden, + Denmark for 16 days. It was a DREAM. I’ll write more on the specifics of the trip later, but here I wanted to share the answer to the question on got most after I shared that I was only bringing a backpack. The burning question many of you had was, “What did you pack?” Understandably, a lot of you were skeptical this would be enough for me to even make it through the whole trip, but once I started hearing the skepticism I wanted to take the challenge a bit further. I wanted to move the challenge from “Packing for 16 days abroad in a backpack” to “Packing for 16 days abroad in a backpack AND not repeating an outfit.” Here’s proof that I stepped up to the challenge. Please know I have nothing against outfit repeating at all (I am a frequent “offender’) this just felt like a really fun challenge to push myself to be resourceful.

The main reason for bringing just a backpack was because we were moving around constantly and it was so much easier to just carry one thing. Plus, Europe’s cobblestone streets are stunning, but really not fun to roll a suitcase on. Below I am sharing my thought process when packing and a list of everything I packed to make it possible. I also share some of the things I wish I would have brought and some things I wish I would have left at home.

Please know, I am not a fashionista. I’m just a practical lady that wanted to pull together some comfy outfits that made me feel good and let me focus on experiencing the culture and sights around me. I knew we were going to be very active (walking 25,000+ steps a day, hiking, biking, etc.) but also sitting on trains and planes and ferries. Comfort was my highest priority. After comfort I tried to focus on packing some solid basics that could be mixed and matched — neutral colors, dresses that could be layered over, etc. This allowed me to bring fewer items because everything went together. I could easily thow my chambray shirt over my linen dress or wear it over a cropped tank with shorts for bike riding. Layers was a really important component I considered when packing. I wanted to make sure I had a variety of options because the weather could fluctuate.

This was the longest we had traveled period and it was definitely the longest I had ever lived out of a backpack. I’d definitely do it again, but here are some things I would bring with me next time and some things I would leave at home. I hope this brings you some packing inspiration for your next adventure.

Things I wish I would have left home:

• The active dress I brought isn’t my favorite. I feel like it is a weird length (like it needs to either be a bit longer or shorter to make it flattering).

Things I wish I would have brought:

• A rain jacket (we got lucky and it didn't rain on us much at all during the trip, but the security of that additional layer would have been nice)

• Instead of the active dress I would have brought this active skirt instead. It would have been more versatile to swap out tops to create more variation.

• A pair of linen shorts. It ended up being pretty hot in Flam (80F+) and my only option was to wear my sweat shorts - which was fine, but another option would have been nice and wouldn’t have really taken up much room.

Day 1 + 2

The Packing List

• Bottoms

  • Madewell Jeans - Similar here

  • Linen pants - Similar here

  • Aerie sweat shorts - Similar here

• Tops

  • Cable knit Sweater - They’re out of the color I have, but color that is in stock is gorgeous. Hold out for a sale. They always have good discounts.

  • Chambray shirt - similar here

  • White tank 

  • Black tank 

  • Brown t-shirt

  • White t-shirt

  • Crop tank (I contemplated bringing the skort that goes with this too for more versatility and in hindsight it would have been a good addition.) 

• Dresses

  • White linen dress - Similar here and here and here

  • Black linen dress

  • Athletic dress - I cut mine to be shorter, but I want to get it hemmed to be even 3 inches shorter.

• Outer layer

  • Jean Jacket

• Shoes / Accessories

  • Swimsuit - Similar here

  • Baseball hat 

  • Earrings (x2) 

  • Sneakers

  • Sandals

  • Canvas tote

  • Crossbody bag  - Similar here

• Undergarments / Sleepwear

  • 1 Sports bra

  • 10 pairs of underwear (see note below)

  • 1 nude colored bra

  • Pajama set

Notes

• Packing cubes are game changes. They keep things organized into categories (I usually do: tops, bottoms, dresses, sleepwear + undergarments, etc.)

• Here’s the backpack I took. I like that there are pouches on the front that allowed me to put things I wanted to reach quickly. It also qualifies as a carry-on. I’d say the quality is on par with the price point. I got it about 6 years ago and it’s got some rips in it now, but for less than $60 and the amount that I’ve put it through, I think it’s fair.

• Day 1 + 2’s outfit are the same because we ended up having to stay in London overnight and my bag was checked to Copenhagen (Omaha made me check the bag because the flight was too full already) - I only almost cried which after not sleeping for 48 hours felt like a win.

• I knew we would have access to laundry halfway through our trip so I only packed enough underwear for that (plus a few extra). If your airbnb doesn’t have laundry there are usually laundromats that you can post up at for a couple hours (obviously this depends on where you are traveling, but a good option to look into).

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Lemony Cucumber + Feta Pasta Salad

According to the calendar summer hasn’t even started yet, but we have already had our fair share of 95 degrees days. It’s days like these that a salad for dinner feels like the best option — for both your sweaty body and your vegetable-craving soul.

When we aren’t making this Italian Chopped Salad this summer, we will be making this cucumber and feta pasta salad. It’s light, refreshing, and really hits the spot on those hot summer nights. Pair it with some grilled chicken and string lights and you’ve got yourself a summer night’s dream.

Lemony Cucumber + Feta Pasta Salad

Makes 6 servings as a side dish

• 8 ounces of bowtie pasta, prepared according to package directions

• 1 large cucumber, diced

• 4 ounce block of feta, diced

For the Lemon Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

• 1 small garlic clove, grated

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon maple syrup

• ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Optional Additions:

• fresh herbs for topping (mint, cilantro, parsley)

• Hazelnuts for topping

• chickpeas

Making The Vinaigrette: Meanwhile, In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, and honey, if using.Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking and continue to whisk until the dressing is emulsified.

Making the Pasta: Prepare the pasta according to package directions. Drain (do not rinse) and then while the pasta is still hot drizzle the lemon vinaigrette over the pasta and then toss together in a bowl. This will allow the noodles to soak up as much flavor from the vinaigrette as possible.

Bringing it all Together: Allow the pasta to come to room temperature on the counter and then add in the cucumbers and feta. If you’re adding chickpeas this would be a good time to add in as well. Allow the pasta salad to chill for at least an hour before serving. Serve the pasta salad up in individual bowls and then top with the herbs and hazelnuts. Enjoy!

Will keep in the fridge for 3 days. If the pasta is seeming a bit dry after it has been in the fridge overnight just drizzle it with a little extra olive oil and toss it together.