LOCAL FOCAL

The Iowa City area has so many local businesses that it’s almost impossible to visit them all, but if you want to try, start with these three! My top three local businesses are La Tea on Washington Street in downtown Iowa city, Marquee Pizzeria on second avenue in Coralville, and Deluxe Cakes and Pastries on Summit Street in downtown Iowa City. 

DIRTY DIRTY MILK TEA FROM LA TEA; PHOTO BY CALLISTA WEST

La Tea

La Tea is my personal favorite boba shop. My usual order is a large dirty milk tea with extra syrup, but they have other delicious and popular drinks like the strawberry milk tea, coffee bubble tea, caramel milk tea, and brown sugar bubble tea. Stop in next time you’re 

looking for a sip downtown! Their address is 123 E Washington 

St, Iowa City, IA 52240.

VARIOUS BEVERAGES AND SWEET TREATS FROM DELUXE CAFE; PHOTO BY CALLISTA WEST

Deluxe Cafe

Deluxe is a small cake and pastry shop in Iowa city. Their selection of tasty and gorgeous treats is almost overwhelming. Everything looks amazing, which makes it almost impossible to choose just one thing. I visited recently and enjoyed an iced chai, a strawberry cream pie, a berry meringue tart, and a slice of pumpkin bread (not all at once obviously). All of these treats were absolutely amazing, but my personal favorite was the pumpkin bread. If you’re hungry for a sweet treat, Deluxe is definitely the place to go. Their address is 812 S Summit St, Iowa City, IA 52240.

WINONA PIZZA FROM MARQUEE PIZZERIA; PHOTO BY CALLISTA WEST

Marquee

Marquee pizzeria is my favorite place to go for a casual night out. Their pizza dough is naturally leavened and cooked in a woodfired oven. They have a wide selection of pizzas, appetizers, and drinks. My usual order is a stracciatella appetizer, either a shirley temple or a peach ring mocktail, and their Winona pizza. They have 13 other pizzas to choose from, so consider going and checking out the menu for yourself! They are located at 920 E 2nd Ave #123, Coralville, IA 52241.