5 Best Restaurants in Columbia, Missouri to Try

Columbia, home to Mizzou, pulses with the energy of students, professors, and a creative town-gown blend.

Its restaurants capture both Midwest tradition and the inventive hunger of an artsy, diverse college city, serving as crossroads for generations of Columbians.

1. Sycamore

Sycamore is the city’s open secret for elevated Midwestern American cuisine in an intimate, wood-accented space.

Regulars crowd in for house-made pastas, Black Angus steaks, Missouri trout, and desserts ranging from farm-apple galettes to coconut cream tarts.

The kitchen’s focus is seasonal, local, and inventive—while the bar crafts exquisite cocktails and pours a deep list of Missouri and regional wines. Service is subtly expert and always ready to recommend what’s freshest.

2. Booches Billiard Hall

Part burger joint, part living history, Booches (open since 1884) is a Columbia rite of passage.

Savor famous smashed cheeseburgers, chips, and chili in a narrow, pool-table-lined room packed with Mizzou memorabilia.

Evenings see both college kids and old-timers swapping stories; there’s no fancy décor, just one of America’s all-time best burgers and a sense of community that transcends generations.

3. Uprise Bakery / Ragtag Cinema

This creative nexus is a sunlit bakery, cozy café, indie film house, and pub all rolled into one—where downtown’s most eclectic crowd mingles over crusty artisan loaves, rich coffee, inventive sandwiches, and vegan pastries.

Before (or after) a movie, enjoy locally brewed beer and join volunteers and artists for conversation and live music.

The space is always alive—every meal here feels both nourishing and inspiring.

4. 44 Canteen

Trendy, casual, and always inventive, 44 Canteen’s menu mixes global street food and comfort classics: Nashville hot chicken buns, truffle mac and cheese, steamed bao, Korean tacos, and rotating craft beers.

Locals rave about the “Canteen Burger” and happy-hour snacks.

From business lunch to date night, the room is filled with laughter and a relaxed, creative vibe.

5. Addison’s

Equal parts neighborhood tavern and modern bistro, Addison’s offers wood-fired pizzas, grilled salmon, hearty pastas, fresh salads, and their iconic “nachos bianco”—warm, creamy, and large enough for a crowd.

The exposed-brick downtown setting is always buzzing with locals, visiting parents, and Mizzou teams after big games.

With a robust bar and patio, Addison’s feels like the living room of Columbia—and often is.