Published August 29, 2026 | Updated August 29, 2026

During lunch earlier this week, I made my way back to the streetcar line. The destination was Wilson & Washburn.

Located downtown, Wilson & Washburn is a restaurant and bar named for two of the city’s most famous madams: Anna Wilson, nicknamed the “Queen of the Underworld,” whose heart of gold resulted in donating her mansion to the city in addition to supporting a number of philanthropic causes, and Josie Washburn, a prostitute-turned-madam who authored The Underworld Sewer in 1909.

Its slogan, “A Serious Comfort Station,” is said to be a phrase that described brothels at the time. The establishment has been serving up elevated bar food complemented by an impressive craft beer selection since Jeff Luby and Eric Hochstein opened in 2013. At the time, Hochstein told the Omaha World-Herald, “There’s just enough facts documented to be historical, and just enough legend to keep it fun.”

There’s no mistaking that you’re entering a building with some history behind it and one that is unique in that it has a loft that allows you to observe the goings-on below. The long space has what I presume to be original wooden floors and exposed ceiling beams. The space is filled with dark wood and exposed brick walls that hold a variety of black-and-white photos of women that appear as though they worked in the houses of ill repute. The eastern wall has a long bar with a couple dozen tap handles while the kitchen is visible from a window in the back. While the large windows facing Harney to the north allow in a fair amount of light during the day, those are its only windows. As you might expect, the place is otherwise dimly lit with a combination of hanging lights and wall sconces.

I’ve been to Wilson & Washburn probably a half-dozen times over the last decade or so. While I always enjoy it, it’s not a part of my regular rotation due to its location outside of the Old Market and Blackstone, the two areas I most often visit when we have a babysitter or I’m out with friends. To my recollection, my most recent visit was with some fellow members of the Omaha History Club Facebook group and following the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

I was the first customer when I arrived at 11 just as it opened. In addition to burgers, sandwiches, and salads, the made-from-scratch kitchen has some unusual offerings for a bar including its smoked meatloaf and Scotch eggs. I perused the menu and landed on a burger and fries. In looking back at my previous streetcar posts, it seems this has inadvertently turned into a burger tour, which I’m totally ok with. The burger was cooked medium as requested, and the umami from the red bacon jam made the flavor different from others I’ve tried. While I have no intent on ranking them, I’ll say that it was solid and left me satisfied. The real star of the show for me was the hand-cut french fries. These are underrated and among some of the better fries in town in my opinion.

While I quickly found a parking spot along Harney Street right across the street from Wilson & Washburn, the south side of Harney was entirely blocked between 13th and 15th leading me to walk west a block to cross before heading to the restaurant. Despite the unexpected detour, parking remains easier than you might expect. Since this is downtown, you’ll need to pay for parking.

Located at 1407 Harney Street, Wilson & Washburn has called the Meyer & Raapke Building its home since it opened. Sitting between the Orpheum Theater and the Old Market, this building stands out amongst the parking garages and 1970s-era office buildings that surround it. Designed in a Richardsonian Romanesque style by the Cleves Brothers, it opened in 1886 it housed their wholesale grocery company before becoming the home to Levenson Chemical Exterminating. The space itself even has a bit of a history in the service industry serving as Gilligan’s bar for a time as well as The Foundation.

Wilson & Washburn opens at 11 am during the week and 10 am on the weekends for brunch. The kitchen closes at 11 pm or midnight depending on the day with the bar remaining open until 2 am. It is closed on Monday. Check out their website to learn more. To learn more about the building, click here.

Change is coming to the streetcar’s full route from the Old Market to Blackstone as it targets a 2028 arrival. I’m hopeful that Wilson & Washburn can weather the storm long enough to benefit from it.

Along the Streetcar Line spotlights businesses navigating construction along the streetcar route. I’m dropping by to show some support and hope you’ll do the same.

Omaha Exploration, 2026. All rights reserved. Excerpts and links are welcome with full credit given to Omaha Exploration and a link back to the original content.