One of the best parts of living in a van is discovering new places. I like ending up in towns or cities I wouldn’t have otherwise visited, and that is the perfect way to describe my recent visit to Omaha, Nebraska.
I stopped over in the heart of the Midwest on my mad dash west, the five-day drive that took me from Rochester, New York to Denver, Colorado. While Omaha wasn’t high on my list to visit (or even on my radar, really) it is the home of a dear friend of mine and I jumped at the chance to see her in person again. It was also a convenient stopping point after 16 hours of driving, letting me decompress on Friday and Saturday.
Welcome to Omaha, Nebraska
When I first crossed the Missouri River from Iowa into Nebraska, I admit I was taken aback by the size of the Omaha skyline. After a drive through the plains where most of the buildings had been four stories at most, this rose from the hills like an urban reprieve. I’m always on the lookout for unique destinations, and Omaha did not disappoint.
I started my visit at my friend’s house just outside of downtown. It was nice to spend a few nights in a quiet neighborhood where I didn’t have to worry about garbage trucks waking me up at 6 am or someone crashing into the side of my van (that’s a story for another blog post.)
On Saturday, we ventured out onto the town, my friend excited to show us what her city had to offer. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this city, but as soon as I stepped out of the Uber onto the stone streets of the Old Market District, I was struck by the quaint charm and liveliness that surrounded me. The stone streets ran for a few blocks in either direction, creating a pedestrian ambiance.
Dinner at Upstream Brewing Company
What surprised me the most was the sheer number of bars and restaurants lining the streets, each offering its own unique vibe and flavor. From cozy pubs to trendy cocktail lounges, there was no shortage of options to choose from. My dinner was guided by my friend, who steered us to Upstream Brewing Company after our first choice, Gather, had a 90-minute wait. (Gather is consistently ranked as one of the best places to eat in Omaha and I’m absolutely making a reservation the next time I come through.)
Upstream Brewing Company welcomed us into a large, multi-level dining space with a swift usher to our table. The first thing I noticed was the number of playing cards stuck to the ceiling – dozens of them scattered around the restaurant. Upstream hosts a weekly magic show with the card-on-the-ceiling trick apparently the big draw. (Did I think to take a photo? No, I was too distracted by the food and company.)
We ordered a round of drinks and I was thrilled to find Upstream had a cider on the beer list. Hard ciders can be challenging to find outside of the Northeast and I love to try local cideries. It was light and crisp, not too sweet, my favorite way for a cider to be. My husband and friend each got a pint from the in-house brewery and enjoyed them.
Dinner started with soft pretzels, a favorite of mine at pubs. Three small pretzels came salted on a plate with a robust stone ground mustard and a gooey beer cheese. Our entrees were just as good: I got the Greek salad with grilled chicken, my husband got the BBQ pizza, and my friend got the mushroom Swiss burger. No one was disappointed and it was the perfect fuel we needed to wanted downtown for our next drink.
Drinks at the Laka Lono Rum Club
That next drink was at the Laka Lono Rum Club, just a few blocks away from Upstream. You head down a flight of stairs and pass a large sculpted octopus before entering the tiki bar which is outfitted like a set from Pirates of the Caribbean. Laka Lono was by far the busiest stop on my quick tour, with lines at both registers and all of the tables filled. After a short wait, we took our drinks (me, a surprisingly good pineapple cider, and my friend and husband with rum drinks) and tried to find a place to sit. One table open and we headed over, but we met with another party of four who eyed us distastefully until we retreated (The New York in me would have stayed just to annoy them, but that’s not Midwest manners.)
Instead, we perched on the edge of the water feature which was, for the time, empty and filled with fake skeletons. It was a loud, dark bar where drums came on every time someone ordered a flaming drink. Although it was crowded, people were having a good time and the vibe was lighthearted. We stayed here just for a drink before continuing to our last stop of the night.
Last Call at The Berry and Rye
That stop was the Berry and Rye, halfway back the way that we came from Upstream. It was a 180 from Laka Lono, a chic lounge with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and soft velvet seats. Their cocktail list was expansive and my husband got a delicious bourbon drink. I stuck with my classic NA bar order (cranberry juice with tonic and lime) and we sat for a bit just enjoying the atmosphere and people-watching.
We didn’t stay out too late on Saturday as my friend was leading a 10:30 yoga class that we were attending. It was my first time trying a restorative yoga class, and the first yoga class I’ve been to in years. Power Life Yoga creates a soothing atmosphere with a well-heated room to help your muscles relax and lit by candlelight. An hour of stretching and deep breathing later, I was ready to get back on the road to get to Denver.
Now admittedly, I didn’t see much of Omaha – just a night on the town in the Old Market District. But it was enough to entice me to come back again and dig deeper into what this city has to offer. If you’re driving through, make a stop in Omaha, at least for dinner.
