Published July 5, 2026 | Updated July 5, 2026

Sonny’s in Aksarben has long been one of my favorite outdoor hangout spots. I was excited to learn of its new location downtown. For those that are unfamiliar, Sonny’s is a popular outdoor bar that operates seasonally from May to October.

They recently opened a second location downtown in the Builders District. Like the original, it hosts outdoor concerts and utilizes a repurposed Airstream camper as a bar that serves cocktails, wine, beer, mocktails, and other non-alcoholic beverage options and daily specials.

The covered gazebo features some hanging plants and misting fans that are perfect for hot days like the ones we’ve been experiencing. What sets this location apart from the original is its large movie screen, which features a Monday night movie series every other week in collaboration with Film Streams, which operates the Ruth Sokolof Theater nearby. The next movie is Cool Runnings on July 20th.

Sonny’s downtown also features an outdoor space with bags and ladder ball, walking paths, and native plants. While this location doesn’t benefit from an adjacent food hall, Good Life Sports Bar and Grill recently opened its new location at 1501 Mike Fahey Street in a mass-timber building that also contains offices, Fly Fitness, and The Root coworking spaces. It also has a food truck, Alley Taco 402, on-site. Another nice aspect for those of us with children is the ample green space that allows for blankets and chairs, in addition to offering a space to dance and for the kids to get the wiggles out.

If you’re unfamiliar with its location, the Builders District sits on top of the former Jefferson Square neighborhood in North Downtown. The 10-block urban redevelopment project aims to be a walkable district that stretches from about 14th to 17th Street and from about Cuming Street to Cass Street. Anchored by Kiewit Headquarters, it will eventually be the home to a 170-room Marriott-branded hotel that includes 12 condos. You’ll likely recognize longtime businesses such as Pettit’s Pastry, Happy Bar, and Automatic Printing. It fills in a long-underutilized pocket between Creighton University to the west and Charles Schwab Field on 13th Street. Sam Noddle, vice president of Noddle Companies, was quoted on Grow Omaha as saying: “We’re doing things in a really intentional way and trying to make sure that it’s long-term thinking and done in a very qualitative way.”

I dropped into Sonny’s to watch the World Cup match between Portugal and Croatia. There’s no doubting that it was hot outside, but the covered gazebo, misting fans, and a cool cocktail in hand made a huge difference. It wasn’t just tolerable, it was an enjoyable experience. I have no doubt it will continue to improve as the plants and trees mature and the district continues to build out. While Aksarben is still my preferred location, this one is a great addition to downtown.

Sonny’s is located at 724 N. 16th Street and features a happy hour Mon-Fri from 4 pm to 6 pm and karaoke every Tues from 7 pm to 9 pm. Its hours are Mon-Wed from 4 pm to 10 pm; Thurs from 4 pm to 11 pm; Fri from 4 pm to 12 am; Sat from 11 am to 12 am; and Sun from 11 am to 8 pm. The park is surrounded by a fence that is locked when the park is closed. I suspect this is due to the large movie screen that remains in place when not in use. Bathrooms are located behind the bar, and there’s a paid parking lot and metered parking along the street. A parking garage with restaurant space will soon open nearby.

For more information including menu and dates for movies, check out its website: https://sonnysomaha.com/builders-district-2

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