As a graduate student of the mathematics department, I think its sacrilege if I say anything bad about Joe's, but I really don't have anything. You don't get the feeling like everyone in there are sluts and douchebags (like most college town bars). You really can just come, enjoy some drinks, talk with friends, and meet new and interesting people. Or go crazy if that's your style, the point is that its all welcome at Joe's without the creeper vibe. The staff are great, but don't expect too, too much conversation with them when their busy, and it does get busy.
Just stay classy, Joe's.
By far my favorite bar in Iowa City. Â While that's not saying a whole lot, I spent a lot of time here when I was an undergrad. Â Being a couple years older than most of my peers I felt more a home hanging at Joe's with locals and grad students. Â Great atmosphere, high turnover in staff (which is normal in Iowa City) but they somehow manage to keep friendly/cool people employed. Â I come back when I can and am rarely disappointed.
Review Source:Let's just lay this out there - if you've been to Joe's or if you are just considering it, you are IC old. Â Sorry, you aren't going to convince me otherwise. Â Anyway, I like Joe's better than I used to. Â They got some primo beers on tap now, a pleasant change. Â Now you can get something like an Iowa beer during happy hour instead of Amber Bock (gag). Â Reasonable prices, and popcorn. Â What more could you want for an old folks' bar?
Review Source:Classic place that any age can go to & NOT feel weird. It has the great feel of downtown (which it is) but also isn't jammed right in the middle of the ped mall. Easy access & parking & you don't have to fight around all the college students.
Their remodel job has done wonders for their new look & yet they still have the feel of the 'old joe's'
Joe's Place is a downtown IC staple & will always be tops on my list!
The bar scene in Iowa City reminds me of the sports scene in India. Do you know there are 1.2 billion people in India? We're talking one of of the most populous countries on Earth. But when the Olympics roll around, they never win anything. Think about it, you ever seen an Indian basketball team doing anything? What about an Indian sprinter? India didn't win its first individual gold medal until 2008. That's just sad. All those people in your country, and none of them athletic? You don't have fields and courts and parks in Calcutta? Yet you have Cows who are just roaming the streets like they're dogs. India: full of gurus, shamans, and starchy foods, but no pickup games or youth league soccer.
Similarly, Iowa City has 1.2 billion bars, but Iowa City is not particularly good at presenting a decent bar to the public. If you're looking for ruti tuti fresh and fruity shots, hanging out with young girls who are still learning to walk in heels and think at the same time, or boys with too many protein supplements coursing through their veins and the misguided notion that the high five and MMA are some sort of religious rituals, then Iowa City's bar scene probably speaks to you.
But if you like a really good bar, with really good bar characteristics, you might as well be Steve Nash stranded in New Delhi. Ain't a lot of places to get a good run.
Really good bar characteristics include: proper lighting, minimal specials, a quick-witted or brilliantly surly bartender, a lack of tall boys, reasonable volume on the music, a respectable selection of beer on tap, some sense of history, and a bar should never be too full (60 or 70% full at most). And ladies. The right kind of ladies. I know you know what I'm getting at here.
Now, where were we? Oh yeah, Joe's. Well, they don't have all of those characteristics. But it's okay, because they have FREE POPCORN. And there's a mixed crowd in there. Sure, the d-bags are present, but so are a bunch of grad students (usually in the middle section), and a lot of local yokels. The cocktail waitresses are usually sexified. Baby dolls are smokin', word to spicy green chutney. Â
For a downtown bar, this is as good as it gets. There are only 4 respectable bars in town, and this is one of 'em. Thorough selection of lix, a few decent beers on tap and in bottles, a nice space, and did I mention FREE POPCORN? I will forgive them for the tall boy tubs at the door and the worst bathrooms for a number 2 that you can imagine.
This is the bar to go to when you want to watch sports or get laid. Last time I went there, I did both. [does a celebratory macarena dance in the living room]
So, to sum up: this is a 3 star bar in terms of Olympic ratings, but relative to the Indian athletic scene it gets bumped a star.
Usually find myself here when I head downtown. Pretty cheap beer, Â chill crowd, and usually can find a booth or table to sit at. Wait staff does great job checking in often to see if you need another drink. If for some reason that isn't enough, they have the tub on Friday and Saturday nights full of beer specials. Â Patio is ok, mostly smokers out there. House drink is an egg bomb, you'll just have to figure that out for yourself. Overall decent place without many dbags or sorostitutes, perfect for hanging with friends where you can actually hear each other talk over the music and have some cheap beers.
Review Source:Being new to the city, we're always on the lookout for a good place to hang - enter Joe's. Recommended by a friend who's been her for 8 years, we tried the place and it was a good time. The patio in the back is a great place to hang and people watch out on the Ped mall.
The beer is cheap and at least in the summer times they have some interesting ideas including, but not limited to, the reverse cover night, where they paid us in $1 off beer coupons.
Dart boards and pinball are your escapes whilst remaining inside the castle walls and they've got two bar tops so you can always "go to the better side".
Friendly people at the bars and somewhere between a dive and a mid tier place. Little on the dark side as far as lighting went when we visited, but overall a solid place to chillax with some friends after a long week!
Came by afterward for a drink and some games. Â Pretty laid back and didnt seem as crowded as the other bars on the next street. I would say this is a pretty chill place to hang at in a college town. Â Although the dartboards at the back seemed pretty crappy. Â Other than that, I am happy drinks are so cheap here and everywhere in Iowa.
Review Source:Reasonably priced beer and mixed drinks, a patio for your heathen smoking friends, Â pool, deerhunter. Â An upperclassman/ grad student bar, but there are definitely people of all ages, and it's reasonably easy to find some sitting space, except on the patio during peak hours. Â Loud, no-theme entertaining bar.
Review Source:Some of the best staff and bartenders in Iowa City. A towney bar that has transcended time, even trying to hire generations of people to work there. Good music, relaxed theme, and a great place to hang out at all levels depending on the night. Stop by for lunch to and make sure to have Rob's Famous Taco's and Chili Dog's.....one of the most hidden secrets of Iowa City...never a menu...just ask!
Review Source:The service is really good, they have plenty of games and normally the people there have decent taste in music for the jukebox. Â But they have great happy hour beer specials and some decent outdoor seating. Â The happy hour specials go well with the free salty popcorn that's almost always available.
Review Source:Everyone's welcome at Joe's, but I like it because it's one of the few remaining places downtown where you can find people older than 18. Tons of pools tables, always packed. New outdoor patio. Good service. Plenty of tables. Not as big of a fan since the owner remodeled a few years back.
Review Source:
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