Iconic live music bar. Legends of all genres, near and far, have all played this unsuspecting dive tucked into downtown Iowa City. Two levels and a courtyard. Come early and stake out a spot front and center for your favorite band. Cool, intimate experience buuut that means it also gets crowded quick. Haven't had a problem with sound or service. Great spot to catch a killer show at an affordable price. read more

Who doesn't love Gabe's? Reasons to go to Gabe's: 1. Uh, live music. Duh. (Peep their website for an up to date calendar.) 2. Staff is pleasant. 3. Beer garden. 4. Multiple bars (upstairs & downstairs) with cheap drinks. 5. It's fun. (And they get some good bands to play there!) Reasons Gabe's probably isn't for everyone? It's dank and dirty. The bathrooms are kind of gross. They sell cheap beer (hi, Hamms and PBR)-- you're not getting a craft cocktail here. But like, when you're going to see Smile Empty Soul or a Lil Peep Cover Band-- do you want your music venue any other way? I came Saturday to a concert. I danced my butt off. No complaints or regrets here! Love that Gabe's lives in IC-- stop by for a Pabst or a show. read more

I came in tonight on Saturday and it was honeslty the worst experience ever. I was at the bar ordering my drinks and I watch the bartenders and the other employees point and laugh at my boyfriend and then the security goes up to him and asks for his ID, after he was already questioned at the door. I get it. I work in a restaurant also, but I would NEVER do that to someone. I was signing my check to close out my bill, and 3 of the employees stared me down when I wasn't going to tip because of what I watched happen to my partner. I had to ask them what the issue was because it was that obvious. I have loved coming here in the past since it is right by where I live, but I will honeslty never come again. read more

Employees were extremely disrespectful to our entire group. I understand they were trying to do their job, and they asked for ID. I showed them my ID (that was already check by the bouncer) and the entire group of bouncers looked at me and laughed. If u don't look 30, do not go here. Again, I can understand I look young, but to have the whole night focused on that was a shame. Employees asked for my ID over 4 times. Not a place I would recommmend AT ALL. If you are over 50 you would love it here. Other than that, DO NOT GO HERE. read more

One of my favorite nightlife vibes! Some friends and I went Labor Day weekend and had so much fun. There's no cover - which is super nice - and the service was good. Friends and I hung out in the outdoor patio the whole time where we met some cool people, smoked, and danced. My only thing was that one of the bartenders was not the friendliest. He claimed one of my friend's ID was fake when it obviously wasn't. Argued about it for a minute. Just annoying. read more

I love this place! The music, the dancing, the people, the atmosphere all feel perfectly fun and welcoming. I always enjoy it.

Overall a decent bar but they have the most obnoxious closing ritual in town. They make last call and then three minutes later start yelling obscenities at you to get you to leave like they didn't just take your money to get you a beer. Not the place to end your night. read more

Great little venue. Has the punk vibe to it. Very careful with Covid. You either need your vax-card or a mask.

Always a good time at Gabes! Bartenders are fun and sweet. Make sure to have a PBR for the full experience.

Gabe's was cool. I'd heard so much about it--even way out here in California--and finally got to see the Bellrays there last summer, and another band I love but whose name I never remember. Great venue. They had some great bands play through there, and were a staple of the Iowa City music scene for years. When I was there it was decaying--they were going to close soon and everyone knew it, so I felt no guilt decorating the women's bathroom with nail polish. The building has apparently reopened as a venue called the Picadoro, which is cool, but it'll take years before it has the gritty rock & roll charm of Gabe's. read more

Damn it Teri S! You stole FTR from meeeee! Anyway, Gabe's Oasis is the original hole-in-the-wall dive bar indie venue for great shows. Bands I remember seeing here before they made it big include: DCfC, Minus the Bear, Troubled Hubble, The Walkmen, The French Kicks, Ester Drang, Mates of State, Of Montreal, to name a few. There are tons more but I can't remember the countless shows I saw on the cheap here during my college years. The acoustics are great, and it's always fun getting to chill with the bands in the back when you buy merch from them. I wish there were something similar here in Santa Cruz. My only real complaint is the smoke. But that's the Californian in me. read more

Growing up this was the place I always dreamed about going to shows at. The huge list of all my favorite bands that played here... astonishing. So before I moved to IC I only had been to gabes a few times and it was this mystical place. Gabes was the first place I went the day I moved to the city and I had so many good times here. It's changed a lot but the memories remain and will never leave me. Definitely a treasure that has proven it's need to be kept afloat. read more

Its a small venue bar/concert location. The bands play upstairs with sticky floors and funky bathrooms. As dive bars go, this is it. The bar downstairs has an indoor and outdoor locations. Its like a saloon in its long hallway styled bar. The sound stage is loud and you get to stand close... spit on your face close. Some people like it, I didn't care for it so much. I just wished they would have cleaned up the place a little. In trying to make a statement that "its all about the music", they didn't have to forget hygiene. read more

We'd run into other bands on the road as far away as Roswell, NM and San Diego that could only remember Gabe's for its terrifyingly horror-show sketchy bathrooms and death-defying load-in from the back. It's since been refurbished nicely. Depending on who's running sound it can be spot on or waaaaaay overdriven. Loud, wall of sound music and bass tones that slice through my guts is what I need in live shows, but there's a difference between loud music and music that sounds like it's coming from blown speakers. Gotta have an appreciation for the acoustics. That said, they continue to bring in relevant acts at decent prices. read more

Gabes has been around since I was a teenager. It has the most eclectic offerings in town. Pop to hardcore... it's a great bar.

Gabes is legendary! Everyone from Pavement, to Jeff Buckley, Guided By Voices, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Flaming Lips, to Bright Eyes, etc have all played here. The bathrooms are a gross. The drinks are cheap! It's loud, dirty, and most of all really really fun! One of the ultimate dive bars in the country! There are two bars one up stairs where the main stage is. And one down stairs where they also have a pool table and smaller shows! They have a great patio area out back for sitting under the summer sun.. I have been lucky to play here over 15 times and have gone to at least 15 shows here where I was just a spectator! Some of my fave shows ever have been here, I have met some of my life long friends here, and had some very fun drunk and sober times here! This places bleeds rock and roll history! Maybe it's gone down hill a little from the glory days, but hell everyone one always says remember when... I still feel a great historic vibe when I walk through those poster covered doors! read more

Great live music venue. It's a little dirty and dated. I'm not sure if it's still the same owners as Yacht down the street but they need to put the same improvements they've done there with a bigger selection of liquor and the cleaner vibe. Make the staff clean and stock a better booze selection and it'd be 5 stars read more

Gabe's downtown in Iowa City (formerly The Picador and Gabe's Oasis before that) has always been a prime spot to catch a show and most of the time that becomes a great night even without knowing who's playing on the card. They have a pool table and a couple of video games if you're with friends as well as hosting free shows downstairs occasionally. read more

I grew up in iowa city and have gone to gabes for years. In 2015 I was assaulted in the bathroom there by three men. I was knocked unconcious and robbed of my money and other belongings. After this had happend gabes had reported threw social media that I was a bum off the street that was intoxicated and had fallin several times in the bathroom. People even joined in to support this redicules account, falsely claiming that I had drank with them and they saw me fall. I suffer from ptsd now and have not been the same ever since that night. I lost work and took over a month and a half to heal the contusions in each eye. I dont drink any more but I would still say be careful who you drink with and where you pull your wallet out at. This was how they targeted me. It took over two hours of them waiting till I was where they wanted me. Crazy thing was they jumped me down stairs bathroom at 830 on a weekend night. It was busy. They didn't care. There was 5 or 6 of them in there looking out. Only 2 were arrested. Be careful down town. read more

Good for cheap pitchers of beer and loud rock and metal, and of course the live shows. Nice and grungy and not a hint of the lame Iowa City sports bar trappings. read more

Pretty good dive bar far as I know. I vaguely remember a rock band playing. I vaguely remember walking back to my hotel which must mean I had fun. I have heard a lot about this place over the years and was excited to finally visit. I met up with some friends after a concert in town. Seemed like a great late night spot. Perhaps it was a little too late in the evening for me that night. Wish I could remember more. Will be back next time I'm in town. read more

Chill atmosphete, great venue, not totally disgusting like other places, good beers on tap.

saw lucero as my first concert at the picador - excellent experience. felt like being at the metro/doubledoor in chicago.

Gabe's has certainly seen better times. After being closed and becoming The Picador for a few years, Gabe's is now truly seeing the end of its life. The bookings are few and far between, and they're copy and paste metal flavor. Iowa City has better venues to offer artists and customers than Gabe's. read more

I attended "Gabe and Walker's" from 1973-1984 (I think they changed their name to "Gabe's" prior to 1984, can't remember), which coincided with my undergrad/grad years at U of I. This place has always been A DIRTY, NASTY DIVE BAR with freaking disgusting restrooms and good music, make no mistake about it. Thankfully a move back to CA and ultimate enlistment in the Silicon Valley tech industry saved me from the relentless Dime Beer nights and their seductive clutch . . . that being said I could always walk in and let them know I was in the Writers' Workshop/Undergrad edition and get a free beer, now that was pretty cool. read more