Omaha
Old Market
Old Market is the cobblestone district in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries, home to more than 45 places to eat and drink. Sam Mercer started turning its old produce warehouses into the district you see today back in the late 1960s.
A Little History
Old Market grew up around Omaha's run as a major railroad hub in the late 19th century, when the city connected the established East to the expanding West; by the 1950s, Omaha's westward growth and changes in grocery marketing sent the wholesale produce market into decline. Sam Mercer had secured a collection of properties in the area by 1968, and one of the buildings he restored became The French Café, the district's signature establishment when it opened in 1970 — now known as Le Bouillon.
In 2003, the district launched a self-guided historic walking tour with plaques identifying key buildings and their history. One stop on that tour, the Passageway at 1020 Howard St., started as a cool-storage alley for produce sellers before the Mercer family covered it over in the 1970s. At the district's edge, the former Union Station building — Omaha's train depot from 1931 to 1971 — is now home to The Durham Museum.
Where to Eat
M's Pub
Has been the district's chef-driven mainstay for more than 40 years, known for a creative wine list, at 422 S. 11th St.
Gather
A farm-to-table restaurant at 1108 Howard St. that opens daily at 5 p.m., so plan on it for dinner, not lunch.
Dynamite Woodfire Grill
Specializes in wood-fired and smoked meats.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Serves sushi Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
Dolci Old Market
Bakes cannoli, tiramisu, and biscotti from family recipes and is open Sunday afternoons and evenings if you're craving something sweet after dinner.
Ted & Wally's Ultra-Premium Ice Cream
Sits at the historic corner of 12th and Jackson, 1120 Jackson St., scooping until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on weekends.
Le Bouillon
Serves everyday French cuisine and is closed Sundays.
Where to Drink
Brickway Brewery & Distillery
Bills itself as Omaha's first brewery-and-distillery combo since Prohibition, pouring Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday until midnight, and Sunday until 10 p.m.
Dubliner Pub
An Irish pub at 1205 Harney St. It stays open until 2 a.m. every night.
Clio
A wine bar at 1202 Howard St. It runs a daily happy hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Godega Market and Coffee Bar
A coffee shop that doubles as a beer-and-wine market, open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Berry & Rye
Bills itself as the city's oldest craft cocktail lounge, with a rotating menu of original cocktails; it's open Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Shops Worth a Stop
Made in Omaha
The pick if you only have time for one shop: it stocks gifts and goods from more than 90 local artisans, farmers, and makers, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Old Market Candy Shop
On Howard Street. It has been making handmade chocolates and fudge since 1977; its hours are seasonal, so check its site before you go.
Tannenbaum
Has been a Christmas shop since 1985 that now also sells gifts and souvenirs; hours shift with the season, so check ahead.
City Limits
A greeting-card and gift shop at 1114 Howard St. It is worth a browse if you need a card or a small gift.
Goldsmith Silversmith
A custom jewelry store where the owner has designed and repaired pieces by hand since opening the shop in 1974.
Things to Do
Venues, Galleries, and Landmarks
The Passageway
Started out as an alley where produce sellers stored goods to keep them cool; the Mercer family covered it in the 1970s and turned it into a walkway of restaurants, shops, and art galleries. It's billed as one of the most photographed spots in the city.
The Durham Museum
Occupies the former Union Station and covers the region's history through permanent and traveling exhibits; fall hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., closed Mondays. Admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 62 and up or for military members and veterans, and $10 for kids ages 3 to 12, plus tax.
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
Runs an international artist residency program alongside exhibitions and educational programs; its galleries are temporarily closed for an exhibition install, so check its site before you go.
Passageway Gallery
Features a different artist every month.
Artists' Cooperative Gallery
Has shown the work of regional artists across media like sculpture, painting, pottery, glass, and printmaking since 1975.
Recurring Events and Markets
- The Omaha Farmers Market, Old Market sets up at 11th and Jackson Streets every Saturday morning in season, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; check the market's own site for this year's season dates.
- First Fridays brings a new artist to Passageway Gallery on the first Friday of every month, with an opening event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
What's on
Coming Up in Old Market
Getting There and Parking
Parking Options and Costs
Old Market offers on-street metered parking, surface lots, covered garages, and valet service, with more than 2,000 spaces available near the district. Meters run Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and take coins, credit cards, or payment through one of the kiosks on nearly every block.
Walking the District
Once you've parked, the district itself is built for walking: the cobblestone, brick-lined streets are where the restaurants, shops, and galleries all sit.
Plan a Visit
An Evening Out
Start with dinner at Le Bouillon or M's Pub, then walk over to Brickway Brewery & Distillery or Dubliner Pub for a drink; Dubliner stays open until 2 a.m., so there's no rush. If you want dessert first, Ted & Wally's scoops until 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends.
A Daytime Visit
Spend a Saturday morning at the Omaha Farmers Market, Old Market, which runs 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in season, then browse Made in Omaha and the district's other shops before they close. Round it out with a stop at The Durham Museum, closed Mondays, or one of the district's galleries.
Grab a table, park the car, and let the cobblestones do the rest. That's Old Market on a good weekend.