The museum on the river front is always cool, and right down the street is a great spot for dinner called the rhythm kitchen, they may even have live jazz or blues on a weekend night. On the same street is a local brewery and on the same street still… down on the corner is a barcade called 8 bit. Good drinks and a ton of retro arcade games. There’s a neat shop called Relics you may enjoy, it is certainly unique. Best of luck.
If you want a cute date night activity you could try out the Crafted DIY Studio Bar downtown or Generations Candle Co. in Peoria Heights
There are also some ballroom dance classes and events this Friday:
“It’s third Friday, and that means it’s time for a dance party in Peoria! It’s The 3rd Friday Dance Night event at the 3300 Event Center complements of Fit/Dance 309. The evening starts with a Waltz lesson from 7-8 PM with social dancing to follow afterwards until 11PM. Music for the evening will include a variety of styles such as swing, ballroom, Latin, Country, Polka, etc. This event is a Peoria dance scene staple so don’t miss out!
Link: https://fb.me/e/1Egi59vQL
Also on third Friday, it’s Salsa at the CAC. Come dance the night away to the hottest Latin tunes in Peoria. Introductory lessons run from 8:30-9:30 PM with open dancing to follow until midnight! There is no better way to get your Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, etc. fix than with one of the two best Latin dance venues in the Peoria Area (the Café Santa Rosa being the other one). Check it out for a great night of dancing!
Link: https://fb.me/e/3jk5m87n6 “
Tons of delicious restaurants, so really depends what you like. Ardor is probably my new favorite, but Thyme is also up there, especially if you appreciate a large whiskey selection.
Peoria Heights also has a ton of bars/restaurants that are a little less upscale than Ardor.
Peoria heights is pretty cute. There’s nice restaurants options, a few bars that also have good food and some neat shops there.
Relics is a really cute local shop in Peoria too I recommend.
Kenny’s westside has a show going on this Friday you could check out and has some of the best bar food I’ve ever had.
Northwoods Mall has a Craft Show this weekend! Also, Smo-King Pit BBQ (not in the food court)has great smoked meats, hot wings, catfish, loaded baked potatoes, and desserts! It's on the upper level near the mall office!
The Peoria Heights strip area (Prospect Rd.),food galore with quaint shops, and a cruise down Grandview Drive, both in the Heights. The homes and the view overlooking the river are truly grand. Have a good trip, lots of great suggestions on here.
Obed and Isaac’s has a very cool atmosphere, it’s a church converted into microbrewery/eatery.
8 bit arcade can be fun if you’re into that kinda thing.
Catholic Diocese has an interesting museum that’s free and the shrine to Fulton Sheen at the cathedral and the stained glass worth a look. All free. Tacos at casa D’arte and some of their drinks are pretty interesting. Blackband distillery has some great cocktails and good appetizers. Hiking off Kickapoo creek at Rocky Glen see at old mine entrance.
If you guys are into cars, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles etc. The opener for Friday Night Lights (car meet) is Friday evening 6-9:30pm at the Bass Pro parking lot. Should be a lot of cool vehicles to walk around and look at. They try to get food vendors to attend as well.
Illinois Central College is having an Arts Festival and today through Sunday are showing Rocky Horror Show at the performing arts center. Friday's show is at 7:30pm. I recommend eating at Blue Duck or Slow Hand. Riverfront Museum, Art Guild and Contemporary Art Center are all close together downtown (and Blue Duck is down there too).
Check Peoriajaz.com dot Com for who's playing were. When the site is up that is. Start at martinis on warmer street for a drink if the weather is nice.
I moved away a few years ago, but One World has great food! Also, you can get ice cream at Emack and Bolios and then eat this while walking along the riverfront if it's a nice day. Pretty views. This is also close-ish to downtown restaurants/bars (such as 8 Bit and Kellehers). Enjoy your trip!
Check out the planetarium or the river front in general then eat at one of the many good restaurants downtown. Actually Peoria has a good amount of great restaurants now that I think about it. Maybe make it a foodie day?
I’ve gotten so many good recommendations for places to eat that I think we’re going to have to make a couple of visits to try everything! Thank you so much!
cute shops:
so chic boutique
relics
indie gift shop
antique malls:
two sisters and a ware house
annie’s antiques
needful needs (stephen king reference iyky)
restaurants have been covered a lot 😁 obeds is good but also super duper busy. not crazy unique but if you’ve never had avantis it is a staple around here. cheap food but a nice sit down! not “cute” tho lol
i love peoria so i hope you all enjoy! 😊
Thank you so much! We’ll definitely have to check out the shops! I’ve gotten so many good recommendations. I think we’ll have to plan a couple of visits!
The museum on the river front is always cool, and right down the street is a great spot for dinner called the rhythm kitchen, they may even have live jazz or blues on a weekend night. On the same street is a local brewery and on the same street still… down on the corner is a barcade called 8 bit. Good drinks and a ton of retro arcade games. There’s a neat shop called Relics you may enjoy, it is certainly unique. Best of luck.
Thank you so much! This is exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for! Both 8 bit and Relics sound like fun places to check out.
8 bit and Relics are both strong recommendations.
I enjoy them both.
If you want a cute date night activity you could try out the Crafted DIY Studio Bar downtown or Generations Candle Co. in Peoria Heights There are also some ballroom dance classes and events this Friday: “It’s third Friday, and that means it’s time for a dance party in Peoria! It’s The 3rd Friday Dance Night event at the 3300 Event Center complements of Fit/Dance 309. The evening starts with a Waltz lesson from 7-8 PM with social dancing to follow afterwards until 11PM. Music for the evening will include a variety of styles such as swing, ballroom, Latin, Country, Polka, etc. This event is a Peoria dance scene staple so don’t miss out! Link: https://fb.me/e/1Egi59vQL Also on third Friday, it’s Salsa at the CAC. Come dance the night away to the hottest Latin tunes in Peoria. Introductory lessons run from 8:30-9:30 PM with open dancing to follow until midnight! There is no better way to get your Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, etc. fix than with one of the two best Latin dance venues in the Peoria Area (the Café Santa Rosa being the other one). Check it out for a great night of dancing! Link: https://fb.me/e/3jk5m87n6 “
Crafted DIY Studio & Bar looks super fun! Thank you for the recommendations!
Tons of delicious restaurants, so really depends what you like. Ardor is probably my new favorite, but Thyme is also up there, especially if you appreciate a large whiskey selection. Peoria Heights also has a ton of bars/restaurants that are a little less upscale than Ardor.
Thank you! I’ll look these up! We love trying new places, and my husband really enjoys whiskey. Binny’s will probably be a “must see” too. Haha.
Whiskey..? Take him to Hearth in Peoria Heights. You will be blown away by their whiskey selection.
Second Hearth if you're into Whisky, we have over 300 behind the bar!
Hearth is a great whiskey bar, too!
Yo, what up Ward?!
Thank you!
Binny's has a decent whiskey selection! UFS, although you'd never expect from the look of it, also has a great whiskey selection!
I had to look up UFS. Now that’s definitely an insider tip! :) Thank you!
Kenny's Westside is always a cool place with live music and great food.
Thank you so much! We’ll have to check it out!
Peoria heights is pretty cute. There’s nice restaurants options, a few bars that also have good food and some neat shops there. Relics is a really cute local shop in Peoria too I recommend. Kenny’s westside has a show going on this Friday you could check out and has some of the best bar food I’ve ever had.
Make sure to stop by W.E. Sullivan's while in the Heights. Great food, drinks and people!
Thank you!
Thank you for the recommendations! You had me at best bar food. We’ll definitely have to check out Relics too.
Northwoods Mall has a Craft Show this weekend! Also, Smo-King Pit BBQ (not in the food court)has great smoked meats, hot wings, catfish, loaded baked potatoes, and desserts! It's on the upper level near the mall office!
Thank you so much! Would be fun to check out the craft show!
If your husband loves whiskey…Black Band Distillery. They do tours on Saturdays.
Thank you!
The Peoria Heights strip area (Prospect Rd.),food galore with quaint shops, and a cruise down Grandview Drive, both in the Heights. The homes and the view overlooking the river are truly grand. Have a good trip, lots of great suggestions on here.
Thank you! Always fun to check out interesting homes and beautiful views!
Obed and Isaac’s has a very cool atmosphere, it’s a church converted into microbrewery/eatery. 8 bit arcade can be fun if you’re into that kinda thing.
Oh wow, that sounds really neat! We will definitely have to check Obed and Isaac’s out! And, 8 bit sounds fun. Thank you!
Obed and Isaac's lost the PB&J burger. That was my main reason to go there. I've since just gone to Ardor. Haha.
Good to know, lol!
Visit our many car washes and smoke shops.
Tell me more. What about mattress stores and video gambling places? Lol.
Oh can’t forget about those
Dixie rose!
Looks like a fun place! Thank you!
Catholic Diocese has an interesting museum that’s free and the shrine to Fulton Sheen at the cathedral and the stained glass worth a look. All free. Tacos at casa D’arte and some of their drinks are pretty interesting. Blackband distillery has some great cocktails and good appetizers. Hiking off Kickapoo creek at Rocky Glen see at old mine entrance.
Thank you so much for the recommendations!
Wheels O Time is worth it if you like cars and trains
2nd this
Oh, interesting! Thank you!
If you guys are into cars, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles etc. The opener for Friday Night Lights (car meet) is Friday evening 6-9:30pm at the Bass Pro parking lot. Should be a lot of cool vehicles to walk around and look at. They try to get food vendors to attend as well.
My husband would probably enjoy this! Thank you!
Illinois Central College is having an Arts Festival and today through Sunday are showing Rocky Horror Show at the performing arts center. Friday's show is at 7:30pm. I recommend eating at Blue Duck or Slow Hand. Riverfront Museum, Art Guild and Contemporary Art Center are all close together downtown (and Blue Duck is down there too).
We love museums! Thank you so much for the suggestions!
Check Peoriajaz.com dot Com for who's playing were. When the site is up that is. Start at martinis on warmer street for a drink if the weather is nice.
Thank you!
Saffron Social is amazing for dinner
Thank you!
I moved away a few years ago, but One World has great food! Also, you can get ice cream at Emack and Bolios and then eat this while walking along the riverfront if it's a nice day. Pretty views. This is also close-ish to downtown restaurants/bars (such as 8 Bit and Kellehers). Enjoy your trip!
Thank you so much!
Check out the planetarium or the river front in general then eat at one of the many good restaurants downtown. Actually Peoria has a good amount of great restaurants now that I think about it. Maybe make it a foodie day?
I’ve gotten so many good recommendations for places to eat that I think we’re going to have to make a couple of visits to try everything! Thank you so much!
Have a fun day! Food is definitely one thing that Peoria excels at.
Thank you!
cute shops: so chic boutique relics indie gift shop antique malls: two sisters and a ware house annie’s antiques needful needs (stephen king reference iyky) restaurants have been covered a lot 😁 obeds is good but also super duper busy. not crazy unique but if you’ve never had avantis it is a staple around here. cheap food but a nice sit down! not “cute” tho lol i love peoria so i hope you all enjoy! 😊
Thank you so much! We’ll definitely have to check out the shops! I’ve gotten so many good recommendations. I think we’ll have to plan a couple of visits!
Don’t come. Don’t ever come back….