The Haymarket is where Lincoln’s railroad and wholesale past became its present. Designated a local landmark district in 1982, the eight blocks of 1880s brick warehouses now hold the city’s best stretch of independent restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops — from Indian and Japanese to steaks and pizza, plus coffeehouses (The Mill is the oldest), candy shops, and Ivana Cone’s homemade ice cream. Live music spills out of Iron Horse Park, just north of the old train station, all summer.
The detail that makes it unmistakably Lincoln: the oversized ceramic head sculptures by Omaha artist Jun Kaneko, scattered through the district like friendly giants. They’re the first thing visitors photograph and the thing locals use as meeting landmarks.
Come hungry and plan to wander — the biggest problem here is choosing. Saturdays May through October belong to the Haymarket Farmers’ Market, which takes over the streets with 100+ vendors. Parking is easiest in the garages; the district itself is entirely walkable.