Omaha’s Old Market is the city’s most historic and entertaining neighborhood, and its story is as compelling as its cobblestone streets. In the late 1800s, it was a bustling produce hub in a booming railroad town. By the 1950s, as Omaha pushed west, the district was nearly forgotten, its buildings left on the verge of being torn down. Then developer Sam Mercer saw an opportunity where everyone else saw a lost cause, buying up properties and sparking a revival that turned the Old Market into one of the most walkable, food-forward, and interesting neighborhoods in the Midwest.
- Parking in Omaha’s Old Market
- Best Old Market Omaha Restaurants & Bistros
- Old Market’s Passageway & Independent Boutiques
- Old Market Ice Cream, Sweets & Saturday Morning Stops
- Old Market Omaha Bars & Nightlife
- Walking from Gene Leahy Mall to the Old Market
Think we missed a great local spot in the Old Market? Let us know!
HurrdatONE: Your Omaha Neighborhood Experts
The HurrdatONE team is local to Omaha, and proud to call it home. Jill Lamkins, our digital manager, actually lives in the Old Market herself, though her connection to the neighborhood goes back further than that. She grew up in Minnesota, and since her dad has family in Council Bluffs, the Old Market was a place they made a point to visit whenever they were in town. Beyond that, our entire team has experienced the Old Market in one form or another, along with dozens of other Omaha-area neighborhoods. Exploring every corner of the Omaha metro is important to us, so we can help you find the best local spots for any occasion.
Before You Go: Parking in Omaha’s Old Market
A little parking advice for anyone driving to the Old Market. The 10th & Jackson Street Garage is your most reliable option overall. Street meters throughout the area run on the Park Omaha app, but spots can be hard to find during busy times like weekends and evenings, so plan accordingly.
One practical tip that no other guide will tell you: wear comfortable shoes! The historic brick streets between 11th and 12th on Howard are a tad uneven, and heels or sandals will make the evening miserable. The cobblestones are part of the charm, but they’re not joking around.
Best Old Market Omaha Restaurants & Bistros
There are plenty of options in the Old Market when it comes to picking your next place to eat. You’ll find some of the best meals in the entire city tucked into brick cellars, inside historic buildings, and down candlelit staircases. While we could list all the amazing restaurants, we decided to focus on four that really stood out for their history, food, and uniqueness.
La Buvette Wine & Grocery
Want to feel transported to the French countryside? La Buvette will make it feel like you have. Sitting on 11th Street in one of Omaha’s most beloved blocks, this wine bar and grocery is a great spot for a date night or spontaneous stop. Part of the menu stays the same daily, while the other side rotates with fresh, seasonal specials, from French-inspired small plates to charcuterie boards, imported cheeses, and crusty baguettes, paired with pours from the in-shop wine selection. Here’s the move: grab a bottle directly off the retail shelves and enjoy it at your table. It’s walk-in only, so be ready for a wait on busy weekends. Prefer to take it home? They also sell cheese, charcuterie, and fresh bread by the pound for the perfect picnic.
- Perfect For: Low-key date nights, hosting out-of-town visitors
- Address: 511 S 11th St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $$
- Hours: Mon–Thurs 10 a.m.–10 p.m. | Fri-Sat 10 a.m.–11p.m. | Sun 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Le Bouillon
Set inside the historic Gilinsky Fruit Company building, the very structure where the Old Market’s preservation movement took root, Le Bouillon brings modern French comfort food to a stunning, light-filled dining room with exposed brick and wide windows. The menu leans into elevated bistro classics, and the wine list is serious and well-priced for the quality level, no surprise given the restaurant is attached to Howard Street Wine Merchant and its underground wine bar, Mon Càve. Grab a bottle from the shop, dine upstairs, or take it down to Mon Càve for a moodier, fireplace-lit evening.
- Perfect For: Romantic dinners, pre-theater meals
- Address: 1017 Howard St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $$$
- Hours: Mon: 2 p.m.–9 p.m. | Tues – Fri: 12 p.m.–9 p.m. | Sat: 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. | Sun CLOSED
M’s Pub
M’s Pub is an Old Market staple, full stop. Since opening in 1972, this Old Market favorite has survived a devastating 2016 fire and a nearly two-year rebuild, reconstructed with the help of the original architects and plans. Today, it’s still doing what it’s always done at the corner of 11th and Howard: serving great food, pouring strong drinks, and keeping a lively but approachable atmosphere that works for pretty much everyone. The lavosh (Armenian cracker-style flatbread) is one of the most talked-about menu items and for good reason. Come for lunch, stay for happy hour, or make it the anchor of a longer evening. M’s is the Old Market restaurant to take people who “don’t know what they’re in the mood for.”
- Perfect For: Casual group dinners, showing off the Old Market to first-timers
- Address: 422 S 11th St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $$
- Hours: Mon–Sat 11 a.m.–12 a.m. | Sun 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
The Boiler Room
Finding The Boiler Room for the first time feels like discovering a secret. Tucked into a literal converted boiler room inside the historic Bemis Bag building, the space required a full transformation from raw industrial space into one of Omaha’s most striking fine-dining rooms, complete with a bird’s-eye view down into the kitchen from the upper level. Chef Tim Nicholson’s menu changes daily based on what local farms and foragers are offering, from monkfish to Wagyu flank steak, paired with an extensive, Old World-leaning wine list. This is the place for anniversaries, milestone dinners, and any occasion where you want the meal to feel like an event. Our own Jill Lamkins has spent the past three dating anniversaries with her fiance here and personally recommends it to everyone. Reservations are strongly recommended.
- Perfect For: Anniversaries and milestone dinners, impressing out-of-town guests
- Address: 1110 Jones St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $$$$
- Hours: Tue–Thu 5:30–9:00 p.m. | Fri–Sat 5:30–10:00 p.m. | Sun–Mon Closed
Things to Do in Omaha’s Old Market: The Passageway & Independent Boutiques
The shopping and gallery experience in the Old Market is built almost entirely around independent, local businesses; you won’t find national chains here, just one-of-a-kind shops you won’t find anywhere else. Again, we’re highlighting a few of the places worth slowing down for, but know there are plenty of other amazing places to explore.
Old Market Passageway Gallery
The Passageway itself deserves a mention before anything else. This multi-level brick courtyard at 10th and Howard is one of the most architecturally distinctive spaces in all of Omaha. It’s also where you’ll find the Passageway Gallery, a cooperative fine art gallery operated by local Nebraska artists. Entry is free, the rotating collection includes original paintings, glasswork, and sculpture, and you can talk directly with the artists who created the work. Even if you don’t buy anything, walking the Passageway levels should be on every Old Market visit.
- Perfect For: Art-curious first-timers, low-key date afternoon
- Address: 417 S 11th St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Mon–Tue 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | Wed–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | Sun 12–5 p.m.
Made in Omaha
If you’re looking for a unique local gift, Made in Omaha on Howard Street is your answer. Every item in the store is made by an Omaha or Nebraska artisan: locally roasted coffee beans, Nebraska craft beers, handcrafted jewelry, soy candles, screen-printed apparel, and pantry goods from regional producers. The candle bar is a popular stop for customization. This is the right place to send visitors before they head to the airport, and honestly it’s a great spot to stock your own kitchen or wardrobe with things you won’t find anywhere else.
- Perfect For: Authentic Omaha gifts, solo browsing
- Address: 1012 Howard St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $–$$
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m. | Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Homer’s Music & Gifts
Operating in the Old Market since 1971, Homer’s Music takes the cake as one of the oldest independent record shops in the entire region. The selection spans new and used vinyl across virtually every genre, with a particularly strong section dedicated to local and regional artists. Listening stations let you preview before you buy, and the staff is extremely helpful and knows their catalog. Beyond vinyl, Homer’s carries concert posters, turntables, and a mix of music-adjacent gifts that make it easy to spend more time (and money) than you planned. A mandatory stop for anyone who cares about music.
- Perfect For: Vinyl collectors, solo weekend browsing
- Address: 1210 Howard Street Omaha NE, 68102
- Cost: $–$$
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m. | Sun 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Jackson Street Booksellers
A used bookstore should feel exactly like this: floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves, creaky floorboards, and a maze of aisles that make it easy to lose track of time. That’s Jackson Street Booksellers, open since 1993 and stocking over 100,000 titles, with a serious focus on rare, out-of-print, and first editions in art, literature, architecture, design, history, science, and philosophy. Casual browsers will find plenty here too, with friendly, knowledgeable staff happy to help you track down something specific. Budget at least an hour if you’re the type who can’t walk past a good spine.
- Perfect For: Solo afternoon browsing, bookish date activity
- Address: 1119 Jackson St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $–$$$
- Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–7 p.m. | Sun 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Old Market Ice Cream, Sweets & Saturday Morning Stops
Some of the best moments in the Old Market don’t happen over a formal dinner, they happen with a cone in hand walking the cobblestones, or elbow-deep in a crate of retro candy.
Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Ice Cream
Ted & Wally’s is the Old Market ice cream stop. Operating since 1984, this Jackson Street fixture makes its ice cream the old-fashioned way: 20% butterfat base, antique rock salt freezers, and scratch recipes that rotate constantly. You might find Dutch Chocolate one weekend and Honey Lavender or Beer Ice Cream the next. The historic brick garage setting adds to the experience, and vegan options are available for dairy-free visitors. Lines move steadily even when they look intimidating, and a scoop runs $4–$9 depending on size and toppings. This is the kind of place you tell people about unprompted.
- Perfect For: Post-dinner dessert stroll, families with kids
- Address: 1120 Jackson St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $
- Hours: Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Hollywood Candy
What started as a retro candy store has evolved into something harder to categorize and significantly more fun. Hollywood Candy is a warehouse-sized space on Jackson Street, combining a bulk candy counter with a vintage pinball arcade, an old-school soda fountain, and a movie memorabilia museum filled with props and collectibles from Hollywood productions. Kids go wild for the candy corridors; adults gravitate toward the pinball machines and cinema relics. It’s entertaining for all ages, which makes it a reliable stop whether you’re with children or just channeling your inner 10-year-old.
- Perfect For: Families with kids, nostalgia-seekers of all ages
- Address: 1209 Jackson St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $–$$
- Hours: Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | Fri 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | Sat 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Old Market Farmers Market
Saturday mornings in the Old Market belong to the Farmers Market, and if you haven’t been, you’re missing one of the best weekly events in downtown Omaha. The open-air market runs along 11th and Jackson Streets with regional vendors selling fresh produce, cut flowers, baked pastries, honey, handmade goods, and hot breakfast items from local food makers. Live street performers typically set up along the perimeter, and the energy is genuinely festive. It’s dog-friendly, stroller-friendly, and one of the few truly free things to do in the neighborhood. Get there closer to 8 a.m. if you want first pick of the best produce and pastries.
- Perfect For: Saturday morning outings with kids or dogs, solo wandering
- Address: 519 S 11th St (11th & Jackson Streets), Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: Free admission; $–$$ for purchases
- Hours: Saturdays 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (May through October)
Old Market Omaha Bars & Nightlife
The nice thing about nightlife in the Old Market is that everything is close enough together that you can easily walk from one bar to the next. You won’t find chain sports bars or franchised club concepts, but what you will find is an underground tiki lounge, an English-style pub that’s been pouring pints for decades, and enough craft cocktail creativity to keep any palate occupied.
Laka Lono Rum Club
Walking into Laka Lono for the first time requires a commitment: you’re heading down a staircase into what feels like a coral cave decorated by someone who loves rum and theatrical cocktails. The menu leans into tiki classics and inventive house originals, some arriving in carved vessels lit on fire. Our own Jill Lamkins celebrated her 25th birthday here with the Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife, a group bowl big enough to share with the whole table, and called it as fun as it was delicious. A team favorite for solo drinkers is the Zombie, a boozy tiki classic they light on fire for a fun, photogenic pour.
- Perfect For: Date night cocktails, post-work happy hour groups
- Address: 1230 Howard St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $$
- Hours: Sun–Thurs 3 p.m.–12:00 a.m. | Fri 3 p.m.–2 a.m. | Sat 12 p.m.–2 a.m.
Mr. Toad’s Pub
Mr. Toad’s doesn’t try to be anything other than a great, no-frills bar, and that’s exactly the point. One of the oldest operating bars in the district, it sits at the corner of 10th and Howard with a covered patio that’s been the setting for countless lazy Tuesday afternoons and post-show wind-downs. The interior runs dark and wood-paneled in the best English pub tradition, and the draft selection leans toward the heavier side. Sunday night live jazz is a regular fixture that draws a relaxed, music-appreciating crowd. If you want a cold beer on the patio, a conversation with whoever’s sitting next to you, and zero pressure to order something artisan, Mr. Toad’s is your spot.
- Perfect For: Post-theater drinks, casual solo or group drinks
- Address: 1002 Howard St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: $–$$
- Hours: Sun–Fri 2 p.m.–2 a.m. | Sat 12 p.m.–2 a.m.
Walking from Gene Leahy Mall to the Old Market
The transition from Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront into the Old Market is one block and one of the best urban walking sequences in Omaha. Start at 10th and Douglas at the northern edge of the park, walk south one block, and you’re on Howard Street in the heart of the district.
Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront
The RiverFront redevelopment transformed Gene Leahy Mall into a destination, and it now functions as the natural northern anchor for any Old Market visit. The 10-acre urban park includes a hillside giant slide that kids absolutely love, wide paved walking paths suitable for strollers, an illuminated water feature that’s particularly striking at dusk, a dog park, and a performance pavilion that hosts events throughout the year. It’s free and open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pair it with an Old Market lunch or evening stroll for a complete half-day downtown itinerary that costs next to nothing.
- Perfect For: Families with young kids, starting or ending an Old Market visit
- Address: 1001 Douglas St, Omaha, NE 68102
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Daily 5 a.m.–11p.m.
Make the Most of Your Old Market Visit
The Old Market rewards visitors who slow down. The best version of a day here starts at the Farmers Market on a Saturday morning, picks up coffee and pastries from a vendor, wanders through Homer’s and Jackson Street Booksellers before the afternoon rush, pops into the Passageway Gallery, and ends with dinner at La Buvette or M’s Pub followed by a cone from Ted & Wally’s. Evenings stretch naturally from Mr. Toad’s patio into the subterranean depths of Laka Lono. For a special occasion, nothing in downtown Omaha tops The Boiler Room. Looking for even more things to do in the Old Market? Check out these other top destinations.
Looking for more ways to explore Omaha’s neighborhoods and dining scene? Check out these related guides from Hurrdat ONE:
- Best Romantic Restaurants in Omaha
- Best Ways to Celebrate an Anniversary in Omaha
- Best Bookstores in Omaha
- Best Farmers Markets in Omaha
For more local guides to Omaha’s best neighborhoods, food, and nightlife, check out Hurrdat ONE! And if we missed your favorite Old Market spot, let us know, we want to hear from you.
