barbqbill

...relocated to downtown Council Bluffs

This legendary gay owned Omaha area diner with pizzaz has relocated to handsome digs on broadway in downtown Council Bluffs. They have more space, and can handle larger crowds. Reservations are usually necessary, or they just may ask you to leave. It's that kind of place.

New Old Market Hot Spot

Hiro 88 takes their well earned reputation from the burbs to downtown with their sleek new Old Market Asian incarnation at J-Lofts. Sushi is the draw but their Japanese and Chinese menus are worth exploring. Expect a crowd on weekends, but well worth the wait.

Super Popular

We visited on a Friday night and the bar was so busy you could not see the floor, and there was a line for the men's room. The clientele is a mix of 20s on up to 50s. The guys are friendly and cute, and not shy about showing affection.

Great Happy Hour specials

A great place to unwind after a long hard day at the office.

Nice little outdoor deck

The bar is okay, but what is really nice is the small outdoor deck area out back.

Friendly neighborhood bar

Whether you are here to play pool or pinball or just to socialize with friends, or make new friends, this is a great place to stop. The clientele is friendly and fun to chat up.

cruisy fun

A small but fun bar, with a cruisy element. Not that there is anything wrong with that..

Mixed, younger crowd

This bar is more stylish then many in the Castro. It has a younger, somewhat mixed crowd.

Key West to the Core

No place says "We're in Key West!" better than Blue Heaven. The food is fine, and the drinks hit the spot, but the key is the atmosphere. Dine outdoors if you can, as the place is a real trip to another world...one where you just might want to take up residence.

Get into the Great Outdoors

The Omaha Frontrunners, a branch of the International Frontrunners organization, is a group of LGBT guys (and occasionally gals) who gather twice weekly to either run or walk for an hour in various Omaha area parks or neighborhoods, for fun and exercise. Afterward many will head for a bite to eat at a nearby casual restaurant. Visitors and first timers are always welcome! Each Wednesday the walk/run originates from Elmwood Park's south parking lot. Sunday morning walks start at 10 and vary by location from week to week. Call for details. Visit their Facebook Page.

Wine & Cheese in Rockbrook

The Corkscrew is quite possibly Omaha's finest wine bar/wine store. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting, whether you are selecting a bottle or two to take home of are joining friends on one of the comfy sofas or outdoors on the patio. Prices are very reasonable, both for alcohol purchases as well as for any of their meat and cheese boards. Hundreds of wines from the 4 corners of the globe are offered in every price range, and the service is knowledgeable.

Glamorous

Dine in high style. Sullivan's atmosphere includes two levels of dining, escalators, private dining rooms, an outdoor patio and live music on weekends. The menu features beef and more beef, plus the other accouterments befitting a high end steak house. Valet parking is available. You will pay through the nose, but for that special occasion it is worth it.

Specializing in Eclectic Socializing

This funky Midtown coffee house, with its many nooks and crannies and expansive outdoor seating, is a popular place for 20 and 30 somethings to hang, work the laptops, and listen to music. Just west of Saddle Creek on Farnam.

Professional services

NAP has now moved to just south of 77th

Always fun

lots of busy bees swarm to Missy B's for the shows, the guys, and the frenetic atmosphere.

Huge selection

if you like shopping you will enjoy doing it here. A huge men's department.

Great selection

if levis are your thing you can't go wrong at this Union Square shop not far from Chinatown.

Convenient

Small, a bit cramped, and the elevator has been known to break at the most inopportune times. But worth checking in if the price is right. A great location in the heart of the city.

The best Memories start here

I have stayed here twice and just love it. The views are spectacular, the grounds beautiful and the hosts friendly. And it is in Laguna!

Eatin' Good in the Gayborhood

Open over 50 years, this family owned and "family" friendly midtown pizzeria serves THE best Neapolitan style pizza in Mid-America. Their lasagnas are also not to be missed. Operating in the shadow of UNMC, the house turned restaurant bustles at lunch and dinner. Parking can be a hassle at peak hours but it is worth walking a few blocks for this pizza. You can also dine in their lounge and avoid a waiting on a table in the dining room.

New digs for classic pizza

Paradiso recently relocated to brighter, larger quarters, which makes all the more reason to check it out. The pizzas really are things of beauty, as are many of the customers.

Great place to chill

This is a great place to get in some "me" time. The atmosphere is very conducive to lingering over coffee and a light meal, while reading or relaxing. And the book end of the restaurant is also worth perusing. Unfortunately the neighborhood is on the downhill slide, with the closing of several gay landmarks. Kramerbooks remains a reminder of how eclectic and trendy Dupont was in years gone by.

Has potential

We were there on a Sunday night and the place was rather dead, which was too bad, because they have a nice outside deck with a view of the Castro.

Ya gotta go to Harvey's

So much history here. The walls are full of memories. But the food and drinks are worth a visit all by themselves. This place is always bustling and filled with people worth checking out.

Pee Wee's Playhouse with a liquor license

It is hard not to have fun here. The place is bright and campy. The bartenders and waiters are boy-next-door cute, and best of all, friendly. The food isn't bad, and the Happy Hour is pretty darn good.

Great neighborhood bar feel

We like Buddies. Nothing pretentious. Come as you are. It is easy to talk to people and make new friends here.

Great place to chill

This Westport gayborhood bar is a great place to enjoy a drink and people watch. The clientele is friendly, but not cruisey.

Great Location near the action

This hotel is located one block from the Qwest Center Arena and two blocks from the Old Market. It is housed in a rehabbed warehouse, meaning you can expect interesting architectural features not found in prefab buildings. Several bars and restaurants are located with a very short walk.

A taste of Europe

Gay owned and operated, this west side bistro features great food at easy on the pocket prices. The walls are adorned with luscious paintings of The City of Light, adding to the experience. They also do a fabulous Sunday brunch.

Lots to Lust for

Louie M's Burger Lust is a south side tradition. This cute diner packs them in for breakfast and lunch, as well as Sunday brunch. The burgers are worth the trip from across town. They also have some Mexican items to round out the menu. Ask for Jimmy Jo to wait on you and you will have a heaping dose of sass with your meal!

Dark and Delicious

This small west side bistro is both dark and romantic...nearly dark enough to dine in the buff. But better to dine fully dressed and let executive chef Vicki Swartz knock your socks off with her flawless execution of intimate, casual cuisine. The seasonal menu pairs with a vibrant mix of clientele, from "ladies who lunch" to younger couples. Brunettes has gained a reputation as a "family friendly" hot spot for the discriminating palate.

Sophisticated yet casual

This longtime Old Market pub offers an urbane drinking and dining experience. The crowd is eclectic and fun...SOHO meets the Big O.

Charcoal Oven Pizza

Pitch is the latest Omaha place to see and be seen. Fortunately this Dundee pizzeria knows how to turn out a great pie, as well as pastas and salads. The atmosphere is European in influence, with seating designed to encourage socializing. Many of the tables are long, and you may be seated next to strangers -- a great way to make new friends. The crowd skews younger, drawn as much by some interesting house liquor concoctions as for the food. Some great early week pizza and wine deals make this a good place to dine any day.

New Mexican food and great margaritas

Stokes has a loyal following, with a New Mexican influenced menu, which is different from Tex-mex or Mexican cooking. The Russell's Mussels are a thing of beauty. Higher end wines and tequilas predominate on the menu of this Miracle Hills dining spot.

Omaha's best patio for socializing

Mark's is a nice little bar and restaurant, featuring a California inspired menu. The wines by the glass are wonderful, as is the second floor dining room, which features a floor to ceiling window wall for watching the world go by. But the patio is what stands out most. It is multi-tiered, well landscaped, and located behind the restaurant, allowing for conversation away from the traffic. The patio is a great place to dine, unwind, or make out, as just about anything can go on here. Mark's caters to open minded couples and singles who like great food and drinks in a unique atmosphere.

Belgian in Dundee

This Belgian restaurant with a Croatian chef turns out the city's best pommes frites along with memorable Belgian and French cuisine at bistro prices. The interior is more reminiscent of a SOHO or East Village dining spot than one typical for Omaha. If you love Belgian beer you will fall in love with Dario's selections, which cover several pages in the drink menu. The crowd tends to be 30-50 in age, and rather bohemian.

Great place to chill

This relaxing bar in the heart of The Old Market features a bar and a lounging area with comfortable seating in a "chill" atmosphere that makes you want to linger. The bartenders are friendly and easy on the eyes. The mixed crowd often has a high LGBT component.

Highly Rated Steakhouse

This steak and chop house is garnering rave reviews from local media. Beef and seafood predominate, but the appetizers can be paired and turned into a satisfying meal. A very handsome dining room and bar feature a wait staff easy on the eyes.

Vegetarian Fun

McFoster's has been Omaha's premier vegetarian friendly restaurant for over 20 years. (They also have free range chicken and seafood on the menu). From the outside it resembles an English cottage. Inside it is more "Wavy Gravy." The food is very good, so much so that many non-vegetarians choose to dine here.

Caf

This small wine bar/bistro could have been airlifted from Paris' 4th arrondissement and plopped down on south 11th St. in the heart of the Old Market. More intellectual than a library, it is the true soul of what passes as Omaha's café society.

Gorgeous Dining

Like the name implies, the sumptuous dining room at the Flatiron is shaped like an iron, with nearly floor to ceiling windows running the length of the two exterior walls. The food is modern American with more than a bit of European influence. The Flatiron caters to the pre and post theatre crowd, as is is near to the Orpheum and several other theatres. It is also a 5 minute walk to four gay venues. Expensive, but arguably worth it. Open for dinner nightly except Sundays.

Omaha's Newest French Hot Spot

Tucked away and mostly located below ground, this chef driven Old Market restaurant has won many accolades since it opened in 2009. The exterior appearance offers no clue to the beauty and vibe that surrounds you once you walk in the door. The menu recreates itself each day based upon the chef's whim and what locally sourced foods and flown in seafood is available that day.

Omaha's Business center

This sleek hotel is rated 4 stars by various travel sites. It is connected to Qwest Center arena/convention center, yet only a 5 minute walk to the heart of the Old Market entertainment district. The Liberty Tavern lounge and restaurant is a popular place to imbibe, but I recommend venturing out to sample what the neighborhood has to offer.

Wonderful bistro dining

Nicola's Italian bistro is rightfully known for their Italian and Mediterranean food, but their killer outdoor patio is what sets this Old Market place above the rest. Have a glass of wine (or 3) and a sandwich or pasta and watch the world go by.

Popular Downtown/Old Market Hotel

The Hilton Garden Inn is conveniently located midway between the Qwest Convention Center and the Old Market district of shops, bars and restaurants. The hotel features a popular and GLBT friendly lounge and the upscale Spencer's Steakhouse. The clientele ranges from the business set to tourists in town for concerts and conventions.

A slice of New Orleans

This popular downtown restaurant features authentic Cajun cuisine in an atmosphere you would swear came right out of the French Quarter. Live music from the balcony stage adds to the festival atmosphere. The menu is extensive, and many items come in both large and smaller portions. Customers skew young and festive, with a strong GLBT flavor at night.

European Style downtown

The beautiful old Aquila building has been converted to this popular European style boutique hotel that caters to the urbane set, with a high quotient of GLBT customers. The hotel is across the Street from the Orpheum performing arts center and an easy walk to restaurants and shopping in the Old Market district. Omaha's largest gay dance club is 2 blocks away. The lounge/restaurant is a popular place to see and be seen.