Guidebook for Wichita
Food Scene
American standards in a charming, vintage soda shop - great for lunch or Saturday breakfast.
6 locals recommend
Old Mill Tasty Shop
604 E Douglas AveAmerican standards in a charming, vintage soda shop - great for lunch or Saturday breakfast.
Ridiculously delicious coffee drinks at two downtown locations -- this one is closest to the apartment.
Espresso To Go Go
102 St FrancisRidiculously delicious coffee drinks at two downtown locations -- this one is closest to the apartment.
Old Town basement hipster pub with fresh locally-sourced food, beer cocktails, and solid brunch, lunch & dinner options. Sometime live music next door for a small cash cover.
20 locals recommend
Public at the Brickyard
129 N Rock IslandOld Town basement hipster pub with fresh locally-sourced food, beer cocktails, and solid brunch, lunch & dinner options. Sometime live music next door for a small cash cover.
The expected selection of wines, well-crafted cocktails, salads, sandwiches, New American entrees, and creatively delicious desserts (tabletop smores!).
26 locals recommend
Wine Dive
4714 E Douglas AveThe expected selection of wines, well-crafted cocktails, salads, sandwiches, New American entrees, and creatively delicious desserts (tabletop smores!).
Healthy (but very delicious!) sandwiches, crepes, salads; vegan & vegetarian friendly.
9 locals recommend
Lotus Leaf Cafe
251 Washington NHealthy (but very delicious!) sandwiches, crepes, salads; vegan & vegetarian friendly.
This is a gourmet restaurant with an interesting fusion cuisine menu. I don't always know exactly what I'm ordering but I'm always pleasantly surprised. Pick wine or beer over the "meh" cocktails.
TASTE AND SEE
255 Washington NThis is a gourmet restaurant with an interesting fusion cuisine menu. I don't always know exactly what I'm ordering but I'm always pleasantly surprised. Pick wine or beer over the "meh" cocktails.
A popular lunch & dinner spot with amazing made-from-scratch soups, sandwiches, and salads. They have seasonal and daily specials all the time. Vegan and vegetarian friendly!
10 locals recommend
Tanya's Soup Kitchen
1725 E Douglas AveA popular lunch & dinner spot with amazing made-from-scratch soups, sandwiches, and salads. They have seasonal and daily specials all the time. Vegan and vegetarian friendly!
Wood-fired oven pizza in two convenient locations (21st & Rock) & the original at Douglas & Oliver. The latter is my preference as just across the street is the best independent bookstore: Watermark!
15 locals recommend
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza - Wichita College Hill
4817 E Douglas AveWood-fired oven pizza in two convenient locations (21st & Rock) & the original at Douglas & Oliver. The latter is my preference as just across the street is the best independent bookstore: Watermark!
Try the melt-in-your-mouth adobo pork with green beans and a mojito! Harrison Ford ate here on his last trip to Wichita. :)
11 locals recommend
Sabor Latin Bar & Grille
309 North Mead StreetTry the melt-in-your-mouth adobo pork with green beans and a mojito! Harrison Ford ate here on his last trip to Wichita. :)
This joint serves NY-style pizza in big slices. I prefer Il Vicino as I'm not huge on NY-style, but both are good. The Delano District is really fun and warrants a visit.
14 locals recommend
Picasso's Pizzeria
621 W Douglas AveThis joint serves NY-style pizza in big slices. I prefer Il Vicino as I'm not huge on NY-style, but both are good. The Delano District is really fun and warrants a visit.
Many different kinds of fries (regular, sweet potato, truffle, duck fat, etc.) with as many dipping sauces, best burgers EVER, and a good selection of beer and cocktails.
37 locals recommend
Dempsey's Burger Pub at Clifton Square
3700 E Douglas AveMany different kinds of fries (regular, sweet potato, truffle, duck fat, etc.) with as many dipping sauces, best burgers EVER, and a good selection of beer and cocktails.
Marketed as a Japanese restaurant, but owned by a Korean family so the Korean dishes are pretty good; the sushi is much more traditional (read: boring) than Wasabi, great tempura though!
Hana Cafe
325 N MeadMarketed as a Japanese restaurant, but owned by a Korean family so the Korean dishes are pretty good; the sushi is much more traditional (read: boring) than Wasabi, great tempura though!
One of the oldest family-owned restaurants in Kansas, a total dive with amazing Mexican food.
Connie's Mexico Cafe
2227 N BroadwayOne of the oldest family-owned restaurants in Kansas, a total dive with amazing Mexican food.
Amazing steakhouse with expertly crafted meals, both steak & seafood. Their cocktail and dessert menus are equally impressive. The excellent service and warm ambience make for a special evening out.
7 locals recommend
Chesters Chophouse & Wine Bar
1550 N Webb RdAmazing steakhouse with expertly crafted meals, both steak & seafood. Their cocktail and dessert menus are equally impressive. The excellent service and warm ambience make for a special evening out.
Delicious pub food, great (enormous) salads, beer cocktails, and an obscene number of TV's to watch whatever big game is on.
23 locals recommend
The Hill Bar & Grill
4800 E Douglas AveDelicious pub food, great (enormous) salads, beer cocktails, and an obscene number of TV's to watch whatever big game is on.
Great Mexican street-style soft tacos with solid queso & chips. Avoid cocktails and stick to beer.
9 locals recommend
District Taqueria
917 E Douglas AveGreat Mexican street-style soft tacos with solid queso & chips. Avoid cocktails and stick to beer.
Local & independent for several decades, Watermark is host to many book tours and has an enthusiastic & helpful staff. Adjoining the bookstore is a café with fresh bakery items, great lunch, & coffee.
16 locals recommend
Watermark Books & Cafe
4701 E Douglas AveLocal & independent for several decades, Watermark is host to many book tours and has an enthusiastic & helpful staff. Adjoining the bookstore is a café with fresh bakery items, great lunch, & coffee.
Café & roaster serving serious coffee drinks in the Douglas Design District. Hope you're not in a hurry - these hipsters take their time. Whole-bean & ground coffee for sale, along with accessories.
23 locals recommend
Reverie Coffee Roasters
2202 E Douglas AveCafé & roaster serving serious coffee drinks in the Douglas Design District. Hope you're not in a hurry - these hipsters take their time. Whole-bean & ground coffee for sale, along with accessories.
This gourmet chocolate store is definitely worth a visit; they also offer a full selection of coffee drinks as well as wine/chocolate pairings, macarons, coffee drinks, gelato & many gift-ready items.
Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates
2132 N Rock RdThis gourmet chocolate store is definitely worth a visit; they also offer a full selection of coffee drinks as well as wine/chocolate pairings, macarons, coffee drinks, gelato & many gift-ready items.
This is the best breakfast spot in downtown Wichita with all items made from scratch in-house. Not much for ambience, but worth a visit.
16 locals recommend
Doo-Dah Diner
206 E Kellogg StThis is the best breakfast spot in downtown Wichita with all items made from scratch in-house. Not much for ambience, but worth a visit.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best Wichita brewery with mid-century style, a relaxed atmosphere and amazing craft beers: hibiscus Gose, toasted coconut porter, & sour. There is usually a food truck in the evenings (check FB page).
24 locals recommend
Central Standard Brewing
156 GreenwoodBest Wichita brewery with mid-century style, a relaxed atmosphere and amazing craft beers: hibiscus Gose, toasted coconut porter, & sour. There is usually a food truck in the evenings (check FB page).
With over 100 beers to choose from (including several rotating specials), there's something for everyone at the Anchor. The late 19th century building has history and charm with pressed tin ceilings.
26 locals recommend
The Anchor Meat Market
1113 E Douglas AveWith over 100 beers to choose from (including several rotating specials), there's something for everyone at the Anchor. The late 19th century building has history and charm with pressed tin ceilings.
A hipster dive bar thick with tattoos & beards which serves a few beers on tap & has a wide selection in cans. The patio out back is nice for the summer. Low-key, unless there's a band w/ cash cover.
Lucky's Everyday
1217 E Douglas AveA hipster dive bar thick with tattoos & beards which serves a few beers on tap & has a wide selection in cans. The patio out back is nice for the summer. Low-key, unless there's a band w/ cash cover.
Standard cocktails & free popcorn (salty or spicy)! It can get crowded, so get there early or be prepared to make friends fast. Live music on the patio select days – sometimes a small cash-only cover.
22 locals recommend
Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar
923 E 1st St NStandard cocktails & free popcorn (salty or spicy)! It can get crowded, so get there early or be prepared to make friends fast. Live music on the patio select days – sometimes a small cash-only cover.
Arts & Culture
The Ulrich Museum on WSU's campus has a terrific outdoor sculpture collection and interesting traveling exhibits. Currently partnering with the Wichita Art Museum on a Gordon Parks exhibition.
Ulrich Museum of Art
1845 Fairmount StThe Ulrich Museum on WSU's campus has a terrific outdoor sculpture collection and interesting traveling exhibits. Currently partnering with the Wichita Art Museum on a Gordon Parks exhibition.
Movie theater two blocks' walk from the apartment with in-seat food & beverage service.
23 locals recommend
Warren Old Town Theatre Grille
353 N MeadMovie theater two blocks' walk from the apartment with in-seat food & beverage service.
Free entry on Saturdays; lots of events throughout the week and on weekends. Currently partnering with the Ulrich Museum on a Gordon Parks exhibition & symposium -- definitely worth seeing.
57 locals recommend
Wichita Art Museum
1400 Museum BlvdFree entry on Saturdays; lots of events throughout the week and on weekends. Currently partnering with the Ulrich Museum on a Gordon Parks exhibition & symposium -- definitely worth seeing.
Shopping
Dozens of house-roasted coffees, tea, spices, and other culinary specialties to choose from - great for gifts.
10 locals recommend
The Spice Merchant & Co
1300 E Douglas AveDozens of house-roasted coffees, tea, spices, and other culinary specialties to choose from - great for gifts.
Hundreds of kinds of nut mixes (raw, roasted unsalted, roasted salted, organic, shelled, unshelled, spiced, etc.) and thousands of kinds of candies including hard-to-find vintage candies.
11 locals recommend
Nifty Nut House
527 St FrancisHundreds of kinds of nut mixes (raw, roasted unsalted, roasted salted, organic, shelled, unshelled, spiced, etc.) and thousands of kinds of candies including hard-to-find vintage candies.
100+ year old confectionary company specializing in traditional chocolates; new location.
Cero's Candies
100+ year old confectionary company specializing in traditional chocolates; new location.
The Workroom
150 N ClevelandEssentials
Located right next door to The Anchor and has great local meats, house-made sausages, cured meats, and dozens of cheeses along with farm-fresh eggs, duck eggs, infused butters, etc.
26 locals recommend
The Anchor Meat Market
1113 E Douglas AveLocated right next door to The Anchor and has great local meats, house-made sausages, cured meats, and dozens of cheeses along with farm-fresh eggs, duck eggs, infused butters, etc.
Dillons Food Store
5500 E Harry StSightseeing
The Keeper of the Plains
339 Veterans Pkwy