College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, 2026

Are you planning to come to Omaha to watch all the college baseball teams that qualified to compete in the College World Series? It kicks off on Friday, June 12th, at Charles Schwab Field at 2:00 p.m. central time with the first game between West Virginia and Troy. The second game will be at 7:00 p.m. between North Carolina and Ole Miss. The games will conclude on June 20th with a best-of-three elimination that will determine the winner of the overall tournament.

Recently, I was at the Big Ten Tournament to watch the Nebraska baseball team compete, but unfortunately we didn't take the title. While I was there I discovered some great places to eat, and hang out, between games so I thought I would share my favorite picks. These are all within walking distance to the stadium so it is very easy to grab a bite between games or while waiting for games to start.

Lefty's - A casual Irish Pub right across from the stadium. It is where the Husker fans hang out and enjoy drink specials, shot specials, and great service. They are located at 1310 Mike Fahey Street and it is a really fun sports bar. An adjoining wall is open to my next recommendation. They are open at 2:00 p.m. during the week and at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The times may change since the series is going on so check out their website to stay current at www.culjatbars.com.

Rocco's Pizza and Cantina - They serve all types of pizzas and Mexican food. You can order at Lefty's or at Rocco's, and again service is great and the selections are abundant. Rocco's also has outdoor seating, great cocktails, and is great for watching sports on their many TVs. It is best known for being the home of the CWS Jell-O Shot Challenge so be sure to ask how that works when you visit. They open at 11:00 a.m. everyday.

Blatt Beer and Table - Located on the south side of the stadium at 610 N 12th Street. This place has a Gastropub Vibe and boasts some of the best craft beers and cocktails. I would say it has an elevated bar food menu and is known for it's Chicken and Waffles dish, Dixie-fried chicken, and Backyard Burgers. Open daily at 11:00 a.m. and Sundays at noon.

The Old Mattress Factory Bar and Grill - Also known as "The Matt", is nestled in a historic building about a block or so from the stadium at 501 N 14th. It too is open at 11:00 a.m. everyday. They are known best for their American pub food and sports bar atmosphere. The service is good and the food is tasty.

Bobo Noodles and Dumplings - Located at 812 N 14th and it opens at 11:00 a.m. It is a new place that has only been open a short while. They serve authentic Chinese food and handmade soup dumplings. The savory noodles, rice, and all the classic dim sum favorites were absolutely amazing. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Check this place out and you won't be disappointed.

Hook and Lime - Is a popular, modern, Mexican restaurant that serves scratch-made food. It has an extensive tequila and mezcal selection, which pairs with all the gourmet tacos, tortas, and fresh salsas. They are known for only using fresh ingredients, good service, and great food. They are located at 735 N 14th and they open daily at 11:00 a.m. but are closed on Mondays.

I also learned that if you sign up for the ParkOmaha app you can actually reserve parking ahead of time and pre-pay in the app. It lets you extend your parking time, and will notify you when your time is close to being done. GPS is available to locate parking next to your destination. This app is a game changer (forgive the pun) and you can find all the information at www.downlapps.com.

So, come enjoy all the games and have some great food and drink - and remember in the great words of Yogi Berra "It ain't over 'til it's over", and may the best team win!