Aksarben Village

A Little History

Aksarben Village takes its name from Ak-Sar-Ben ("Nebraska" spelled backwards), one of Omaha's most popular destinations throughout the 20th century. It was famous for its horseracing track and also home to a grandstand, a coliseum, concerts, public ice-skating, minor league sports, world championship rodeos, and road shows. It started with the Knights of Aksarben, a local philanthropic organization of business, social, and political leaders. That group's philanthropic work is what built the district you visit today, and Aksarben Village still credits it with creating one of Omaha's most prominent attractions.

Where to Eat

• Herbe Sainte⁠↗

  A Cajun and New Orleans-style restaurant at 1934 S. 67th St. Weekend brunch hours are posted two ways on its own site: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in the hours block, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the body copy. Check herbesainteomaha.com before you plan around a start time. Its owners set out to bring the feel of the Big Easy to Aksarben Village specifically, and it shows.

• R.U.B. Rotisserie Urban Bistro

  Serves rotisserie chicken at 1917 S. 67th St., Suite 110, open daily but closing at 8 p.m. every night, so this isn't a late dinner stop.

• Red Door Woodfired Grill

  Has a location at 6680 Center St. The only hours posted online cover all of the chain's locations, not this one specifically, so call ahead or check reddoorgrill.com before you go.

• Inner Rail Food Hall⁠↗

  A nine-vendor food hall with a central bar, behind the HDR building at 1911 S. 67th St. Its own site posts two different sets of hours in two spots on the same page, so treat any hours you see as a starting point and confirm on innerrailfoodhall.com before you plan around a closing time.

• Vitality Bowls

  Serves açaí bowls and smoothies at 1922 S. 67th St.

• Saffron Urban Indian Kitchen

  An Indian restaurant at 6706 Frances St., open Tuesday through Sunday: lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It's closed Mondays.

• Le Macaron

  Brings French pastries and macarons to 1917 S. 67th St., Suite 160.

• Godfather's Pizza

  Serves pizza at 2117 S. 67th St., open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where to Drink

• Kinkaider Brewing Co.

  Runs a taproom at 2279 S. 67th St., which it calls one of its favorite taprooms; it closes at 8 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, earlier than the 11 p.m. to midnight it keeps Tuesday through Saturday.

• Backlot Taphouse

  A bar and taphouse at 2110 S. 67th St., Suite 108.

• Sonny's

  A seasonal outdoor bar at 1905 S. 67th St., so don't count on it being open year-round; it opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends, and its own site lists only opening times, with no closing time posted.

• Godega Market & Coffee Bar

  A convenience store and coffee shop at 1917 S. 67th St., #120; its own site gives two different Aksarben hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in one spot, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in another. Check godegamarket.com before you go.

• Roast Coffeehouse

  A coffeehouse at 1904 S. 67th St. Its own site doesn't post hours, so call ahead before you make a special trip.

• DJ's Dugout

  A sports bar at 2102 S. 67th St., open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., per the district's own page for the location.

Shops Worth a Stop

• Chlorophyll⁠↗

  A plant and garden boutique at 1917 S. 67th St., Suite 170, selling plants and terrarium supplies, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• A Priori

  A clothing and lifestyle boutique at 1917 S. 67th St., Suite 130, open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Things to Do

Venues, Galleries, and Landmarks

• Baxter Arena

  Next to Aksarben Village rather than part of it. It sits at 2425 S. 67th St.

• Zone 6

  An outdoor hub with sand volleyball, the Inner Rail Food Hall, a pop-up park, the Bark Park dog park, and Sonny's.

• Stinson Park

  A green space at 2285 S. 67th St. It hosts outdoor concerts, an open-air market, and events year-round; its summer concerts alone bring in 5,000 to 10,000 people.

• Aksarben Cinema

  The district's own theater, which it says has been voted Best Movie Theater in Omaha for more than 10 years.

Recurring Events and Markets

The Saturdays @ Stinson Concert Series, sponsored by HDR and Pacific Life, brings free live music from Omaha bands to Stinson Park. The district also hosts a Sunday Market, organized by the Omaha Farmers Market rather than the district itself, at 67th and Mercy Road; it runs Sundays from spring through fall, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. On Sunday market days, the market's own site says every garage in the district is free.

Getting There and Parking

Parking Options and Costs

Aksarben Village runs several public parking garages: the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) garage is free after 4 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends, Zone 3 and Zone 5 offer free public parking around the clock, and Zone 6 offers free public parking with no specific hours listed. On Sunday market days, the Omaha Farmers Market's own page for the Aksarben market says every garage in the district is free.

Walking, Biking, and Transit

Aksarben Village describes itself as a walkable place with bike trails running through it. If you didn't bring your own bike, B-Cycle stations sit at 67th and Center, 67th and Frances, south of DJ's Dugout, and next to Blue Cross Blue Shield off Aksarben Drive. Metro's Aksarben Transit Center, at 6801 Mercy Road, is served by Routes 11, 13, 15, 18, 30, and 55; Routes 15 and 30 detour northbound on Sunday market mornings, from the start of service until about 2:30 p.m., because of the Sunday Market.

Plan a Visit

Whichever way you spend the day here, there's enough packed into a few blocks that you won't need to plan much beyond showing up.