Omaha has gone through a complete change in the past 10 years. Growing to a thriving downtown with new apartment buildings becoming an up and coming destination. And the food scene has also gotten a reboot. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of dining options in downtown Omaha. There’s some great food out there!
Below are my top picks for the best restaurants in downtown Omaha.
Cibo vino
1101 Jackson Street, Omaha, NE 68102
In my opinion, this Italian restaurant is the best place in the Old Market district. I went twice, that’s how much I loved it. It’s a nice mix of upscale and budget friendly meals (though you can certainly spend a lot of money here if you get wine and desert). Their charcuterie board and cacio e pepe pasta were my absolute favorite and they have an extensive wine list that won’t steer you wrong.
There is some outdoor seating, which is in the perfect spot to people watch as the restaurant is located at the beginning of the old market area and across the street from the weekend farmers market (which is a must if you are visiting).
Le Bouillon
1017 Howard Street, Omaha, NE 68102
This restaurant has a great ambiance with both indoor and outdoor seating located in the heart of old market. As the name suggests, it’s a French restaurant and is a great date night spot. The food isn’t overpriced and it’s beautifully plated. I had the risotto and also splurged on desert, both were fabulous. 
Dining alone, I sat at the bar and met some great people (this also happened at Cibo Vino as well).
The Boiler Room
1110 Jones St, Omaha, NE 68102
Another great date night location, this is a really cool restaurant. It’s also expensive. That’s why it’s more of a date night. So many locals told me I should try it though, just for the history of the location with it’s big open and industrial looking dining room.
The food is, however, amazing. This was probably my second favorite restaurant after Cibo Vino, near old market. The only reason it’s my second favorite is the price. I had 2 glasses of wine and two appetizers and a cheese plate for dessert (though I was certain I would regret eating all that cheese later), my bill was over $100.
For the experience, it was worth it.
Kitchen Table Restaurant
1415 Farnam st., Omaha, NE 68102
The first time I went to Omaha, I was actually looking for a different spot for lunch near the Capitol District, but came on Kitchen Table Restaurant first. It has a very cool vibe, is a small business, and vegan. The look drew me in.
I had a delicious house made kombucha and a delicious sandwich with chips that was totally worth the stop. And the place was super busy with constant stops from regulars that made it obvious this was a local favorite.
Yoshitomo
6011 Maple St., Omaha, NE 68104
This was one of those memorable dining experiences that you just have to spoil yourself with. Yoshitomo is a top ranked sushi restaurant located in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Omaha. It also offers an omakase experience, which is what I went for. I did the bar top omakase, which was a little cheaper than the table experience.
When you arrive, you wait until your allotted time slot. Then they bring you in as a group (maximum of 10-12 spots total) and you spend the next couple hours tasting the most incredible sushi while your server explains each piece in detail. I also recommend getting the sake pairing, where you can have as many or as few glasses as you want, all with a different pricing of course).
It was one of the best meals I have ever had and was worth the cost of admission, though you definitely need a reservation for this one. You can still enjoy their sushi menu in the regular part of the restaurant, for less of a cost, if budget is a concern, so I hope you still try it.
Gather
1108 Howard Street, Old Market District, Omaha, NE 68102
This is another unique dining spot in old market. The inside ambiance is really cool and you can go upstairs and explore their gardens where they grow a lot of the food for the restaurant. The menu is a mixture. I had a thai inspired meal, which was fabulous. The prices are also reasonable here, but a bit more upscale than some of the bigger family friendly restaurants, like the nearby spaghetti factory.
Concluding Thoughts
The restaurant scene in Omaha is really growing, with so many great places to choose from, you can’t experience it all in one visit. If you want unique dining options with a taste of class, they certainly have it, but it’s also got a great mix of family friendly and budget friendly spots as well. There it truly something for everyone here and a great starting point when you are exploring all the things to do in Omaha.
