Shorts Burger & Shine

Shorts Burger & Shine occupies a prime position at 18 S Clinton Street in the heart of Iowa City, Iowa, directly adjacent to the University of Iowa campus and the Pedestrian Mall. The bar has consistently been voted Iowa City's best late-night destination, a title earned by a combination of the longest operating hours in the area, a welcoming atmosphere, and a drinks menu that balances Iowa craft beers with moonshine-based cocktails — a nod to the "Shine" in the name. The crowd is predominantly university students and recent graduates, giving the room a youthful, high-energy character that peaks on Thursday through Saturday nights. Dress is uniformly casual; the bar makes no demands on attire at any time.

The drinks programme features a well-curated selection of Iowa and Midwest craft beers on tap, alongside a range of moonshine cocktails that have become a house signature. The moonshine selection draws on craft and artisan producers, mixed into both classic-format drinks and original house recipes. Burger-focused bar food anchors the kitchen, drawing both drinkers and late-night diners who want a full meal alongside their round. University of Iowa Hawkeyes game broadcasts are screened throughout the bar, making Shorts a reliable game-day gathering point for students and alumni.

Shorts opens daily at 10:00 AM and stays open through 2:00 AM, giving it one of the longest and most consistent operating windows of any bar in Iowa City. No cover charge applies on any night of the week. The bar is at its most crowded on Hawkeyes game days and on Thursday through Saturday after 10:00 PM, when the university crowd arrives in force. Arrival before 9:00 PM on busy nights is advisable for anyone seeking a comfortable seat rather than standing room.