Deadwood Tavern

Downtown Iowa City STAPLE! Under new ownership and he's great! He has worked there for over 15 years prior to buying it so he knows the history. They're making some great updates and changes BUT they're not doing anything drastic, just making things more 21st century (new flat screen televisions, cell phone charging stations at the bar and in the booths, etc.) Great place, great people!
5 8 years ago (08-12-2017)

The town of Iowa City has changed tremendously in the last couple of decades. There are still a handful of Institutions that remain untouched by those who wish to teardown and rebuild. The Deadwood is one of those places. A long time hangout for the disenfranchised, awkward, deadbeats, Deadheads, potheads, pinball addicts, intellectuals, psuedo intellectuals, drinkers, smokers, trippers, etc.. There are all types that hang out of this place. Some may seem a little rough in appearance but most are genuine and occasionally well educated conversationalists. It's affordable and would qualify as a dive bar. There are pool tables in the back. There are also a number of pinball machines, both old and new. Unfortunately, the bathrooms have been painted in recent years and the outstanding collection of short prose, graffiti, dirty jokes, and poetry have been lost forever. Let's just say the newest generation of patrons have some work to do. The bar is dark and has booths along the wall, which combine to ensure that you will leave the establishment more inebriated then you realized. I had some of my best times in this bar over the years. Drinking bottled Pepsi, meeting strange people, attending drag shows, naked rugby parties, Halloween parties on LSD, watching two homophobes get harassed by two of the buffest gay men I've ever seen. If Bill Hader's "Stefon" where to mention the Deadwood in one of his cameos it would not surprise me in the least. The Tobacco Bowl is gone, Joe's Place a shadow of its former self, but the Deadwood remains, a haven for those who wish to keep Iowa City weird.
5 7 years ago (25-03-2018)

My favorite bar in Iowa City, the best people in town visit this place. It's got a decent pool table, comfortable place outside to drink with interesting foot traffic, always some kind of deal on something, and the bartenders are rad. I came here the night I found out Scott Weiland died to play a bunch of STP on the jukebox and it was already in full effect when I got there. Good people, good place, highly recommend it
5 8 years ago (23-12-2017)

Best bar in town. Hands down.
5 7 years ago (26-04-2018)

My favourite place for years. Meet friends, enjoy good times. Great location and staff. Fun crowd.
4 8 years ago (13-10-2017)