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Nebraska, United States

Midtown Omaha

A slow Jan 1: art, a park on a hill, an old-school lunch and the Reuben's hometown. This guide pulls together 1 sight, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.

Plan Midtown Omaha with friendsBrowse 6 places
Midtown Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Places
6

1 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Omaha New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

31°C / 88°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-1°C / 31°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 121 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Omaha, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Midtown Omaha

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

1 sight worth building a day around in Midtown.

  • See

    Joslyn Art Museum

    Nebraska's main art museum, a 1931 pink-marble Art Deco building with the Snohetta-designed Hawks Pavilion added in 2024.

    Tip General admission is free; check holiday hours for Jan 1.

    • Midtown
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Late morning

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in South Omaha.

  • Do

    Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

    Large zoo with the indoor Lied Jungle, the Desert Dome and an aquarium, so most of it works in January.

    Tip Check Jan 1 hours; spend the coldest part of the day in the indoor buildings.

    • South Omaha
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Midday

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Dundee.

  • Outdoors

    Memorial Park

    Hilltop park with a white WWII memorial colonnade, rose garden and long lawns that draw walkers year-round.

    Tip It is a short walk from the Dundee Dell; climb to the colonnade for the view.

    • Dundee
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Midtown Omaha across Blackstone and Dundee.

  • Eat

    Crescent Moon

    Blackstone District ale house across from the old hotel, known for its Reuben and a long Belgian beer list.

    Tip A good late lunch after the museum.

    • Blackstone
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • Eat

    Dundee Dell

    Dundee neighborhood pub since 1934, known for fish and chips and one of the region's biggest Scotch lists.

    Tip Walk Underwood Avenue's shops before or after.

    • Dundee
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Midtown Omaha in Blackstone.

  • Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel in Midtown OmahaPhoto: JonClee86 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Drink

    Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel

    The restored 1916 Blackstone Hotel, where the Reuben sandwich is said to have been created, now with bars and a chophouse.

    Tip Have a drink in the lobby bar and order a Reuben nearby in the Blackstone District.

    • Blackstone
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

How to fit Midtown Omaha into a trip

Midtown Omaha is stop 2 of 2 on our Omaha New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Midtown Omaha into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Omaha

Our climate figures for Midtown Omaha come from Omaha, about 1 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from -1°C / 31°F in January to 31°C / 88°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 121 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Omaha. Omaha weather (covers Midtown Omaha) →

Near Midtown Omaha

7 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Midtown Omaha questions, answered

How many days do you need in Midtown Omaha?

On our Omaha New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Midtown Omaha best known for?

A slow Jan 1: art, a park on a hill, an old-school lunch and the Reuben's hometown. Standouts on our list: Joslyn Art Museum (Nebraska's main art museum, a 1931 pink-marble Art Deco building with the Snohetta-designed Hawks Pavilion added in 2024); Memorial Park (Hilltop park with a white WWII memorial colonnade, rose garden and long lawns that draw walkers year-round); Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Large zoo with the indoor Lied Jungle, the Desert Dome and an aquarium, so most of it works in January).

When is the best time to visit Midtown Omaha?

Our Omaha New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Omaha put the warmest highs in July (31°C / 88°F), the coolest in January (-1°C / 31°F) and the most rain in May (about 121 mm).

What are the best things to do in Midtown Omaha?

Start with Joslyn Art Museum, Memorial Park and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 1 sight, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Midtown Omaha?

Our picks: Crescent Moon (Blackstone); Dundee Dell. A good late lunch after the museum (Crescent Moon).

What is near Midtown Omaha?

The closest destinations in our guides are Omaha (about 1 km / 1 mi), Downtown Omaha & the Old Market (about 2 km / 1 mi) and Des Moines (about 197 km / 122 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Midtown Omaha with your crew

Open the Omaha New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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