Set in rolling prairie, Lawrence is a university town with artistic edge, progressive politics, and a food culture as creative as the community.
Locals come together for indie cafes, multicourse chef’s tastings, and quirky joints humming with Jayhawk spirit.
Each meal here feels like a gathering of friends—no matter how far from home you may be.
1. Free State Brewing Company
Kansas’s first legal brewery since Prohibition, Free State is a Lawrence icon—known for copper kettles, brick interiors, a wall of Jayhawks memorabilia, and hearty, house-brewed ales.
Burgers, shepherd’s pie, locally raised steaks, gouda mac and cheese, and green chile beer cheese soup fill out the comfort-heavy menu.
A favorite for pre-game rituals, parent-visit dinners, and first Friday art walks.
2. The Roost
Every morning, The Roost’s front windows steam up with the city’s best cinnamon rolls, scones, and biscuits with sausage gravy.
Brunch is a major event, with lines for creative Benedicts, apple fritter French toast, and brown-sugar bacon.
Lively, welcoming staff know your regular order by your third visit, and the walls bristle with local art and politics.
3. 715 Restaurant
Downtown’s buzziest bistro is all about from-scratch—house-cured meats, handmade pastas, wood-roasted vegetables, and seasonal salads.
The kitchen brings Milan and Manhattan to Mass Street, with a wine list to match.
Friday nights swirl with friends in for cacio e pepe and sparkling cocktails; Sunday brings lattes and eggs prepared with serious flair.
4. Zen Zero
Lawrence’s international crowd finds its place at Zen Zero, a bustling Asian kitchen where spicy Pad Thai, fragrant Massaman curry, Nepalese dumplings, and lemongrass tofu fill plates.
The open kitchen, global playlist, and vegan-friendly menu make it a favorite for students and scholars, while to-go orders keep the whole city fed after late nights.
5. Ladybird Diner
A rebellious, retro diner festooned with pin-up art and punk music, Ladybird turns local produce into creative takes on chicken fried steak, mac and cheese waffles, and wild breakfast hashes.
On the sweet side: cult-favorite pies (salted honey, key lime), giant cinnamon rolls, and boozy milkshakes. Laughter, board games, and tattooed servers make this an essential Lawrence stop.
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