City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Address: 3578 Farnam St.
17. Dundee Cork And Bottle
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 934-2118
Address: 614 N. 50th St.
Insider Pick:
Description: A tiny wine bar with an excellent outdoor patio, Dundee Cork and Bottle is a beloved neighborhood bar, but popular with those who don’t live in Dundee, too. On any given Friday night, it’s full of locals—many who know each other—and a few newcomers just there to people watch. Booths sit outside, and even in cooler weather, they’re popular. For those looking to eat, the bar has agreements with the restaurants around the area and takeout can be eaten inside the Cork and Bottle along with a glass of wine; bottles line the wall and a number of types are available by the glass for a reasonable price. On Wino Wednesday select bottles are half price.
18. The Homy Inn
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 554-5815
Address: 1510 N. Saddle Creek Rd.
Description: Three words define the Homy Inn for most people: champagne on tap. And though the bubbly coming out of the fountain behind the bar is certainly a draw (it’s served in pitchers and consumed from short wine glasses), the friendly atmosphere, funky decor, and cheap beer are what the locals come for. The Homy is a small place, with a few booths and large tables, and the decoration is decidedly one of a kind: vintage campaign buttons sit next to a Big Buck Hunter game; the walls are covered in yellowed newspaper; tchotchkes wrapped in plastic bags sit on a ledge near the ceiling; table tops are decoupaged with themed clippings. If you live or visit Omaha and don’t check out the Homy, well, you’re missing out.
19. Jake’S Cigars And Spirits
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 934-9633
Address: 6206 Maple St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Jake’s is a neighborhood bar at its finest, but with a serious dose of cool. The bar’s laid-back vibe and friendly staff mean everyone would feel welcome here, but its great selection of beer, wine, and spirits along with its location in Benson, an up-and-coming artsy neighborhood, earns it some style points. A wide selection of cigars and an on-site humidor mean the aficionado will likely find what he or she seeks here. The bar is busy on most nights—especially weekends—and on slower nights it’s a popular date spot or conversation spot: The noise level is the perfect pitch for talking. Package alcohol is available to go.
20. Jimi D’S
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 391-2011
Address: 6303 Center St.
Description: A popular spot for an after-work drink, Jimi D’s has a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. with beer, wine, and drinks all on special. A sports bar that’s a bit classier than most, Jimi D’s aims to cater to both the corporate and casual crowds at once. A nicely decorated interior—think refinished concrete floors and modern lighting—meets a traditional round bar and loads of television sets tuned to the big game.
21. Liv Lounge
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 884-5410
Address: 2279 S. 67th St.
Description: A regular schedule of events, live music, karaoke, and solid cocktails are what Liv, located in the new Aksarben Village development, is known for. The bar has a lounge-y feel, with comfortable seating clustered around low tables, a backlit bar, and an outdoor fire pit. An extensive cocktail menu—we’re talking book length—means that whatever your fancy, you’ll find it here.
22. Lynx Lounge
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Address: 1604 NW Radial Hwy.
Description: If you like a jukebox filled with soul music and a decidedly retro vibe—think windows with pink curtains, mirrored walls, and a fireplace—the Lynx should be on your list of places to check out. Strong drinks for low prices along with atmosphere to spare make the Lynx one of midtown’s most singular bars. It’s hardly ever that crowded but is great to gather a large group or for those looking for a character-filled spot.
23. Nifty Bar And Grill
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 933-9300
Address: 4721 NW Radial Hwy.
Description: An unappreciated, un-ironic dive bar, the Nifty is one of those places where the same working class sometimes rough-and-tumble regulars hang out almost daily, the bartenders have been there forever, and the jukebox plays solid music. The prices are cheap and if a dark dive bar is what you’re after, that’s what the Nifty brings to the table.
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Address: 4016 Leavenworth St.
25. Side Door Lounge
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 504-3444
Address: 3530 Leavenworth
Description: One of the city’s newest bars, Side Door Lounge is owned by the same family that runs the popular Flatiron Cafe in downtown Omaha. It’s still finding its footing, but the funky space is outfitted with lots of vintage materials—the floors, for instance, came from the old Orpheum Theater downtown—and a large mural by local artist Bill Hoover identifies the bar easily when approaching it from the west side. A schedule of live music and a newly developed craft cocktail menu are the most recent developments in the space, which looks to be an eventual spot for regular performance (including poetry readings and art shows) down the road.
26. The Waiting Room Lounge
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 884-5353
Address: 6212 Maple St.
Description: The Waiting Room Lounge was one of the bars that helped Benson make its comeback as a trendy arts area. The live music venue, recently remodeled, has great acoustics and almost nightly events and drink specials. When live music isn’t taking place at the venue, it plays host to themed movie screenings and other special events, which are all listed on its extensive online calendar.
27. Brix
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 991-9463
Address: 225 N. 170th St.
Description: A huge West Omaha wine store melded with a small restaurant and tasting bar, Brix offers the best of both worlds. Most of the shop’s wine is competitively priced, and a backroom area offers some fancier reserve selections. The beer cases take up almost the entire back wall of the shop and, as you might imagine, the variety is wide. A wine tasting bar sits in the middle of the shop, and next door is an area with seats and table service that serves small plates to accompany a bottle of wine or a beer. Samplers can do a tasting from the bar’s wine vending machines; this activity is popular and also quite fun.
28. Dj’S Dugout
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 498-8855
Address: 636 N. 114th St.
Description: With two locations in West Omaha and Papillion and a new downtown location, DJ’s Dugout is one of the city’s most popular sports bars. The downtown location is located on the corner of 10th and Capitol Avenue in the heart of the Old Market. The bar offers daily specials on bar food (Monday is buy-one, get-one-free burgers; a 9 oz. steak dinner is $7.99 on Thursday). A $7.50 bucket of domestic beer is on special from 3 to 7 p.m. every weeknight.
29. Holiday Lounge
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (402) 391-4442
Address: 7846 Dodge St.
Description: The Holiday Lounge and the Interlude Lounge could be long-lost cousins. Both have remained popular even while holding on to their mid-1970s vibe; these days, it’s the very thing that keeps them both cool. Expect mirrored walls, 1970s vinyl chairs, half-moon shaped booths, and a mixed crowd that veers toward older patrons. People-watching is great at both spots. Don’t let the respective bars’ strip mall locations turn you off; each provides a fun—if not memorable—vintage Omaha experience.
30. Mai Tai Lounge
City: Omaha, NE
Category: Nightlife
Address: 7215 Blondo St.
Description: Hidden in the basement of Mt. Fugi Inn—a Chinese restaurant—the Mai Tai Lounge harbors some of the strongest (and tastiest) drinks in the city. The space is somewhat predictably dark, though a neon glowing fish tank and tiki theme keep things interesting. The drinks are rated in terms of strength: GP (general public), R (Restricted), and (Adults Only); once you get to the section, you’re limited to two cocktails per visit. The coconutty Chi Chi is a delicious choice in the “R rated” section, while the section has some of the Lounge’s signatures, including its namesake Mai Tai, the Zombie (blended rums, pineapple juice, and grenadine), and the Navy Grog (blended rums, lemon, and grapefruit), which is delivered in flames (obviously not for the shy).