Thanksgiving dinner on the 16th floor, with a city skyline outside the window instead of a crowded kitchen.
That alone got my attention. Nobody has to wrestle a turkey or scrub a roasting pan afterward.
The restaurant has two Thanksgiving buffets planned for November 26, 2026. One runs earlier in the day, while the other welcomes guests in the evening.
The holiday spread includes roasted turkey, beef, and carved ham, so even someone who isn’t particularly excited about turkey has other options.
One side of the dining room looks over downtown. The other faces the Cedar River.
That’s a pretty strong argument for skipping the folding table in the basement this year.
For an Iowa holiday that usually means oven timers and a sink full of dishes, I’d make room for a view like that on my list.
Your Holiday Plate Comes With A Skyline On The Side
Sixteen floors up is a pretty great place to pass the mashed potatoes. 350 First sits at the top of the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, right in the middle of downtown.
That height is the whole hook. The restaurant is built around its view, with floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap the dining room in daylight and city scenery.
Most Thanksgiving meals happen at eye level with the neighbor’s garage. Here, the backdrop is downtown Cedar Rapids spread out below your table.
The restaurant describes its food as modern American, and Google lists it as a New American eatery with rooftop views. So you get a polished kitchen and a setting that does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Holiday meals can feel like work for whoever hosts. Moving the feast up here hands that job to a professional kitchen and gives everyone something to look at between bites.
It also solves the question of where to seat the in-laws. Every chair near a window comes with its own conversation starter.
For a family that wants Thanksgiving to feel like an outing instead of a chore, this rooftop spot makes a strong case. Few Iowa dining rooms can match that kind of perch.
Buffet By Day, A Second Buffet By Night
Two Thanksgiving buffets share the same address this year, and that’s a smart move. 350 First is offering both a daytime feast and an evening buffet on November 26, 2026.
The first buffet runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and costs $38 per adult. Families who prefer celebrating early can enjoy their meal without rearranging the entire afternoon.
Evening diners have their own opportunity. A second buffet runs from 4 to 8 p.m., with adult admission priced at $39.
Both menus feature roasted turkey breast with leek gravy, braised beef, and chef-carved ham. There’s plenty to choose from before you even reach the sides.
Smoked Gouda mashed potatoes and rosemary stuffing add familiar holiday flavors. Green bean casserole and homemade cranberry sauce keep the traditional crowd happy too.
Dessert offers another reason to pace yourself. Seasonal cobbler and apple vanilla cake appear among the advertised sweets.
That flexibility helps mixed groups. Grandparents who like an early meal can book the daytime buffet, while anyone with afternoon plans can aim for dinner.
Reservations are recommended, especially for larger families. Check the available seating times before planning your holiday.
Either way, somebody else handles the gravy. Honestly, that might be the best part of all.
Choose Your Window: City Lights Or River Views
Here’s a fun dilemma for any group. The dining room at 350 First is split into two sides, each with its own scene outside the glass.
One side faces the downtown skyline. The other looks out over the Cedar River as it winds through the city.
Neither choice is a bad one. It mostly comes down to whether you prefer buildings and rooftops or water and open space.
Timing changes things too. An afternoon buffet brings natural light pouring through those tall windows, while an evening dinner shows the city lit up after dark.
November sunsets come early in Iowa. That means a later Thanksgiving meal could easily catch the shift from daylight to glowing streets.
Families with kids might lean toward the river side. Watching the water and bridges gives younger diners something to point at while waiting for food.
Couples might want the downtown view instead. City lights can make dessert feel fancier than it already is.
If you have a preference, mention it when you book. Window seats are the prize here, and asking never hurts.
Sleek Seats And Soft Corners Set The Mood
The elevator doors open and the room does the talking. Guests stepping out on the 16th floor are met by expansive windows and sleek, modern furniture.
The look is contemporary without feeling stiff. It aims for comfort and style at the same time.
There’s more than one way to sit, too. Soft seating areas near the bar offer a relaxed option for a casual meal or a quick bite.
Traditional tables handle the bigger dinners. That mix lets the space work for a family holiday, a business meal, or a low-key evening.
For Thanksgiving, that variety is handy. A large group can gather around a dining table, while a smaller party might prefer a cozier corner.
The modern design also keeps attention on the windows. Nothing in the room competes too hard with the scenery outside.
It’s dressy enough to feel like an occasion. Still, it stops short of the kind of formal room where you’re afraid to laugh too loudly.
That balance matters on a holiday. Nobody wants to spend Thanksgiving whispering, especially once the pie arrives.
The Menu Keeps Things Bold And Seasonal
Fresh, bold, and seasonal are the words the restaurant uses for its food. 350 First serves modern American cuisine that Google describes as eclectic New American fare.
That style gives the kitchen room to play. Dishes can change with the seasons instead of sticking to one fixed lineup forever.
Steak and salmon come up often in mentions of this place. Burgers make a regular appearance too, giving diners another option during ordinary restaurant service.
A seasonal approach fits the holiday nicely. Fall flavors and comfort food feel right at home when the weather outside turns chilly.
Menus do change, so specific dishes may not always be available. Checking the current menu before you go keeps surprises to a minimum.
What stays steady is the goal. The kitchen aims for food that matches the upscale setting without getting fussy about it.
That works well for mixed tables. Adventurous eaters and picky ones can usually both find something that sounds good.
So even if your crew argues about cranberry sauce every year, the menu offers plenty of peace treaties.
Sweet Endings Worth Saving Room For
A famous hotel cookie turned into a cannoli? That’s one of the clever desserts that has appeared at 350 First.
The idea takes the well-known DoubleTree cookie and works its flavor into a cannoli filling. Then it all goes inside a flaky shell.
It’s a fun nod to the hotel downstairs. Familiar and fancy at the same time, which is a pretty good trick for a dessert.
Cheesecake fans have had an option too. A New York cheesecake has been served with a crunch berry crumble, whipped cream, and fresh berries.
Chocolate cake also comes up when people talk about sweets here. Clearly the dessert list takes its job seriously.
Of course, Thanksgiving tradition usually calls for pie. Holiday menus can bring their own sweets, so ask what’s on offer that day.
Dessert menus rotate like everything else. The cannoli or cheesecake might not appear every visit, but checking is half the fun.
Pro tip for the holiday: pace yourself during the main course. Leaving room for something sweet with a skyline view is a decision you won’t regret.
A Lounge That Brings Big City Energy To Iowa
Right beside the dining room, the 350 First Lounge offers a more relaxed way to enjoy the same height. It’s open daily and shares those sweeping views of Cedar Rapids and the river.
The lounge feels a bit more casual than the main dining area. It works well for a light bite instead of a full spread.
Specialty bar bites are part of the appeal. Small plates make it easy to snack and chat without committing to a big meal.
Happy hour is a regular draw here too. It’s a nice option for anyone who wants the view without a long dinner.
The space gives off a big city feel, which is a fun surprise in the heart of Iowa. Tall windows and city lights do most of that work.
Live music has also been part of the scene at times. Event calendars can change, so it’s worth checking what’s happening.
On a holiday weekend, the lounge could make a good second stop. Grab a snack, enjoy the lights, and stretch the celebration a little longer.
Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner All Get The View
Thanksgiving might steal the spotlight, but the view works overtime all year. 350 First serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each with its own menu.
Mornings start early on most days. Breakfast typically opens at 6:30 AM on weekdays and Saturdays, with a slightly later start on Sundays.
Lunch usually runs in a shorter midday window. Then dinner picks up in the late afternoon and runs into the evening.
Sunday works a little differently. The morning service stretches until noon, and dinner follows later, with no separate lunch window.
That schedule makes the restaurant handy for out-of-town relatives staying over the holiday. A skyline breakfast the morning after Thanksgiving sounds like a great way to recover.
Lunch offers sandwiches, salads, and entrees. Dinner brings out heartier main courses for a fuller meal.
Since hours have gaps between services, timing matters. Showing up at 10 AM on a Tuesday might mean waiting for lunch to begin.
A quick check of current hours saves that awkward moment. After all, nobody wants to ride an elevator 16 floors just to admire a locked door.
Getting There Is Easier Than Carving A Turkey
Finding this rooftop spot is refreshingly simple. 350 First is located at 350 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, inside the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex.
Hotel guests just take the elevator up. Everyone else is welcome too, since the restaurant serves the public as well as overnight visitors.
The downtown setting puts it close to plenty of Cedar Rapids attractions. That makes it easy to pair dinner with a stroll or a show nearby.
Parking downtown is typically paid. Some diners choose a ride-share instead, which keeps the holiday stress level nice and low.
The convention complex below means the building stays busy. Events in the hotel can bring extra traffic, so leave a little buffer time.
For families traveling to Iowa for the holiday, staying in the hotel could be extra convenient. Dinner is only an elevator ride away from your room.
Locals get a treat too. It’s a chance to see their own city from a fresh angle on a day built for gratitude.
Book your table, pick your window side, and let someone else do the dishes this year.