Guidebook for Lawrence
Food Scene
Great pastries and coffee shop owned by local brothers
25 locals raden deze aan
1900 Barker Bakery and Cafe
1900 Barker AveGreat pastries and coffee shop owned by local brothers
Encore Cafe
1007 Massachusetts StGreat Chinese food
Free State Brewing Company
636 Massachusetts StLocal brewery and restaurant
Great selection of unique burgers and great dips for fries
24 locals raden deze aan
The Burger Stand at The Casbah
803 Massachusetts StGreat selection of unique burgers and great dips for fries
El Potro
3333 Iowa StGreat Mexican food - 2 minutes from my house.
Terrebonne Po' Boys
845 Vermont StGreat southern and Cajun food in a funky atmosphere
Good and affordable Vietnamese food. It's kind of a little dive, but the owners are wonderful and the food is good. They are not open late though.
Little Saigon Cafe
1524 W 23rd StGood and affordable Vietnamese food. It's kind of a little dive, but the owners are wonderful and the food is good. They are not open late though.
The Roost
920 Massachusetts StGreat for breakfast or brunch
Milton's Café
901 New Hampshire StGood breakfasts and a big patio if the weather is nice
Great, small place with coffee and alcohol. A few tables out on the sidewalk for people watching.
16 locals raden deze aan
The Bourgeois Pig
6 E 9th StGreat, small place with coffee and alcohol. A few tables out on the sidewalk for people watching.
Great locally owned ice cream shop with tons of flavors
15 locals raden deze aan
Sylas and Maddy's Homemade Ice Cream
1101 Massachusetts StGreat locally owned ice cream shop with tons of flavors
715 Restaurant
715 Massachusetts StLocally owned unique restaurant in a great setting
Thai Diner
2223 Louisiana StAffordable, great Thai food
Papa Kenos Pizzeria
837 Massachusetts StHuge, yummy, single slices
India Palace
129 E 10th StA funky little diner with a great counter. Go for a great shake, yummy homemade pies, or breakfast. The owner is active in the community and fed people on the sidewalk during the pandemic.
20 locals raden deze aan
Ladybird Diner
721 Massachusetts StA funky little diner with a great counter. Go for a great shake, yummy homemade pies, or breakfast. The owner is active in the community and fed people on the sidewalk during the pandemic.
Great place downtown for a coffee. There is also a location on 31st street, near my place, but it lacks the ambiance of downtown. The 31st street location does have a drive-thru though.
Z's Divine Espresso
1800 E 23rd St Great place downtown for a coffee. There is also a location on 31st street, near my place, but it lacks the ambiance of downtown. The 31st street location does have a drive-thru though.
Great selection of breads and pastries. They also sell 1/2 loaves and you can get a free taste test when you enter. The cinnamon-chip bread is to die for. They now offer lunch and have outdoor seating.
Great Harvest Bread Co.
501 W 9th StGreat selection of breads and pastries. They also sell 1/2 loaves and you can get a free taste test when you enter. The cinnamon-chip bread is to die for. They now offer lunch and have outdoor seating.
Great selection of breads and pastries, as well as a sit-down restaurant. Good for breakfast or brunch.
23 locals raden deze aan
Wheatfields Bakery Cafe
904 Vermont StGreat selection of breads and pastries, as well as a sit-down restaurant. Good for breakfast or brunch.
The Basil Leaf Café
801 W 9th StNice selection of soups, salads and pastas.
Biemer's BBQ
2120 W 9th StNot fancy, but good BBQ
Five Guys
1191 SW Wanamaker RdBurgers and fries - a few minutes from my place, near Home Depot.
First Watch
11112 W 63rd StGreat place for breakfast or brunch. Only 5 minutes from my home.
Munchers Bakery
925 Iowa StGreat doughnuts and desserts - open 24/7.
A hidden gem for comfort food. Really is a convenience store near the lake, but they sell flowers and great comfort food and pie. Small joint with few tables and a rotating menu on the weekend.
The Clinton Store
598 N 1190 RdA hidden gem for comfort food. Really is a convenience store near the lake, but they sell flowers and great comfort food and pie. Small joint with few tables and a rotating menu on the weekend.
Great Mexican joint run by the same family for decades. In North Lawrence, just over the river. They have a great patio when the weather is nice.
La Tropicana
434 Locust StGreat Mexican joint run by the same family for decades. In North Lawrence, just over the river. They have a great patio when the weather is nice.
Drinks & Nightlife
Jazzhaus
926 Massachusetts StGreat live music. Up above Mass. street via steep stairs.
John Brown Underground
7 E 7th StCool, dark underground speakeasy vibe
Eldridge Hotel
701 Massachusetts St Set in a historic hotel right downtown. Recently remodeled.
When the weather is nice you can sit outside on the 5th floor rooftop and they sometimes have live music. Great views over campus and best view of the city.
11 locals raden deze aan
The Oread Hotel
1200 Oread AveWhen the weather is nice you can sit outside on the 5th floor rooftop and they sometimes have live music. Great views over campus and best view of the city.
New brewery in the Arts District with a nice outdoor area for tasting beers. On the same block as BonBon.
18 locals raden deze aan
Lawrence Beer Company
826 Pennsylvania StNew brewery in the Arts District with a nice outdoor area for tasting beers. On the same block as BonBon.
World-class music groups who travel through town...always something happening here.
13 locals raden deze aan
The Granada
1020 Massachusetts StWorld-class music groups who travel through town...always something happening here.
Arts & Culture
Good backdrop to the history of Lawrence and Bleeding Kansas set in a great old bank building right on Mass.
21 locals raden deze aan
Watkins Museum of History
1047 Massachusetts StGood backdrop to the history of Lawrence and Bleeding Kansas set in a great old bank building right on Mass.
Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire StExhibits, classes, lectures, and sometimes movies
Great for kids. They have dinosaur bones, live bees and snakes and an interactive panorama.
21 locals raden deze aan
KU Natural History Museum--Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk BlvdGreat for kids. They have dinosaur bones, live bees and snakes and an interactive panorama.
Good introduction to the university and the history of Haskell and Native Americans.
Haskell Cultural Center and Museum
2411 Barker AveGood introduction to the university and the history of Haskell and Native Americans.
Awesome community space with books. coffee, recording studio, lectures, etc.
9 locals raden deze aan
Lawrence Public Library
707 Vermont StAwesome community space with books. coffee, recording studio, lectures, etc.
Great concerts and live music performances, lectures, and cultural events.
14 locals raden deze aan
Lied Center of Kansas
1600 Stewart DrGreat concerts and live music performances, lectures, and cultural events.
Large collection of political memorabilia and world-class guest lectures
Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics
2350 Petefish DrLarge collection of political memorabilia and world-class guest lectures
Parks & Nature
Walkable from my house. The center's building has lots of exhibits and interactive stuff for kids. Has lots of trails around it to explore and informational exhibits about the animals, birds, and plants of the area. You can walk to the trails from my house and wander through the wetlands along the trails near the river and enjoy the wildlife.
10 locals raden deze aan
Baker Wetlands Discovery Center
1365 N 1250 RdWalkable from my house. The center's building has lots of exhibits and interactive stuff for kids. Has lots of trails around it to explore and informational exhibits about the animals, birds, and plants of the area. You can walk to the trails from my house and wander through the wetlands along the trails near the river and enjoy the wildlife.
Great park near downtown which frequently has art, music and cultural events. In the summer it has free concerts in the evening.
South Park Gazebo
1198 Massachusetts StGreat park near downtown which frequently has art, music and cultural events. In the summer it has free concerts in the evening.
A very large lake which is good for boating, hiking, camping and fishing.
45 locals raden deze aan
Clinton Lake
A very large lake which is good for boating, hiking, camping and fishing.
Outdoor walking paths and stadiums for soccer, tennis, and other athletic events and tournaments.
13 locals raden deze aan
Rock Chalk Park station
100 Rock Chalk DrOutdoor walking paths and stadiums for soccer, tennis, and other athletic events and tournaments.
Shopping
North 2nd Street
North 2nd StreetA few nice antique shops just over the bridge in North Lawrence
Phoenix Gallery
825 Massachusetts StGreat shop for all kinds of original art
Locally and nationally-made unique jewelry store. Something for every budget and some cool, funky jewelry.
Goldmakers Fine Jewelry
723 Massachusetts StLocally and nationally-made unique jewelry store. Something for every budget and some cool, funky jewelry.
Great locally-owned store with staff who know books. A fixture downtown forever and it has survived when the chains that came to town didn't. They also have poetry readings and events and a cat who rules the place.
The Raven Book Store
809 Massachusetts StGreat locally-owned store with staff who know books. A fixture downtown forever and it has survived when the chains that came to town didn't. They also have poetry readings and events and a cat who rules the place.
Waxman Candles, Inc.
609 Massachusetts StLocally made candles and it has been in business for decades.
Great vinyl record store with an amazing selection. Located right on Mass. and has a great cat or two to greet you.
Love Garden Sounds
822 Massachusetts StGreat vinyl record store with an amazing selection. Located right on Mass. and has a great cat or two to greet you.
Entertainment & Activities
Beautiful old movie house for Indie, documentary, and foreign movies as well as live music. You can have a beer or glass of wine too :)
27 locals raden deze aan
Liberty Hall
644 Massachusetts StBeautiful old movie house for Indie, documentary, and foreign movies as well as live music. You can have a beer or glass of wine too :)
Regal Southwind
3433 Iowa St5 minutes from my house
Essentials
Target
3201 Iowa StVery close to me
ALDI
3025 Iowa StGreat prices and close to my home
Dillons Food Store
1740 Massachusetts StMany locations in town
Organic and vegan choices - a bit pricey, but a large selection of locally-sourced products.
30 locals raden deze aan
The Merc Co+op
901 Iowa StOrganic and vegan choices - a bit pricey, but a large selection of locally-sourced products.
Walmart Supercenter
1501 SW Wanamaker Rd Two minutes from my home.
Every Saturday morning and Tuesday evenings, March through November. Music, breakfast, local farmer's produce and handmade products. THE place to be on a Saturday morning. Wander around, grab something for breakfast or hit it before you head to breakfast downtown. Dog friendly.
15 locals raden deze aan
Lawrence Farmers' Market
1141 New Hampshire StEvery Saturday morning and Tuesday evenings, March through November. Music, breakfast, local farmer's produce and handmade products. THE place to be on a Saturday morning. Wander around, grab something for breakfast or hit it before you head to breakfast downtown. Dog friendly.