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Food Dubuque Locals Actually Recommend

Ask around about food Dubuque residents actually eat, and you'll hear the same handful of names again and again.


This river city on the Mississippi punches well above its size when it comes to dining, mixing historic hotel restaurants with chef-driven newcomers in the Historic Millwork District.


Whether you're downtown for an afternoon or staying the weekend, here's the food Dubuque locals point visitors toward, organized by what you're in the mood for.



TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF DOWNTOWN DUBUQUE


Work up an appetite the right way, with the stories playing as you walk.


Take our Dubuque's Historic Downtown Walking Tour. It's a self-guided, location-aware audio tour that starts at the Cathedral of Saint Raphael and winds through downtown's riverboat history and 19th-century architecture.


Along the way, you'll discover:

  • The historic hotel that's stood downtown for nearly 150 years

  • The world's shortest, steepest scenic railway

  • An art museum with real Grant Wood originals


Stories play automatically as you walk, so there's no group and no schedule to worry about, ending at the Dubuque County Courthouse.




FOR AN UPSCALE NIGHT OUT


Caroline's Restaurant, inside the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque, offers classic American fare with a modern twist and expansive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.


Brazen Open Kitchen and Bar, helmed by "Top Chef" alum Kevin Scharpf in the Historic Millwork District, focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and bold flavors worth the trip on its own.


FOR CHEF-DRIVEN COMFORT FOOD


Pepper Sprout Midwest Cuisine blends Midwest comfort with creative, chef-driven dishes right downtown near the German Bank Building.


L.May Eatery, on historic Main Street, serves what they call "gourmet comfort food," a rotating menu of pizzas and entrees alongside a well-rounded wine, beer, and cocktail list.


FOR RIVERFRONT CASUAL


Catfish Charlie's sits just steps from the Mississippi River, a local favorite for Cajun classics like jambalaya and fried oysters, plus its own Catfish Creek brewpub next door. It's the kind of place that leans into Dubuque's riverboat identity rather than fighting it.


FOR CRAFT BEER AND EASY DRINKS


Downtown's seven-barrel brewery pours a mix of classic favorites and inventive seasonal creations for beer enthusiasts.


The Riverboat Lounge inside Hotel Julien Dubuque offers craft cocktails and shareable small plates in a warm, spirited setting, an easy stop before or after dinner.


PLAN YOUR TRIP


Ready to eat your way through downtown Dubuque?


Check out our Dubuque travel guide for tips on where to stay, what else to see, and how to plan the perfect day around the city's best food.


 
 
 

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