USA TODAY Network food journalists around the country named 29 of the best bars in the U.S., including this one in Iowa City ...

Iowa City has a vibrant bar scene beyond Gabe's, the city's representative for USA Today's 2025 Bars of the Year List. Iowa City is a city of contrasts with serious cultural clout.

Gabe's has been an Iowa City institution for 50 years as a haven for rock 'n roll and classic beers. Now it's one of USA Today's Best Bars of the Year.