The 49 best bars and drinks in Des Moines

Great food and a large drink menu. Went for the funk'd beer special. Me and friends tried lots of wild, tart, and funky beers. We didnt find a bad one in the lot. Funky has ended but there are still lots to try.

The food was excellent! The number of craft drinks was exquisite. They will even make you a craft drink. BUT really the experience was the service by the server named Shoe. Shoe's table side manner was spot on and he knew what would be the perfect drink for us. Shoe was extremely knowledgeable and had great listening skills to help make the experience amazing. We also played a game of HOT ONES with the hot sauces which was a blast with the onion rings!! We will definitely be back and before our 11th anniversary.

We came in as a group of 10 and was able to find a table. We were very fortunate to have server Shoe and I will tell you he made the whole experience! Had great suggestions and played along with our shenanigans! Thank you for helping make the night fun. Great selection of beers and love our barn town!

What a place! So much stuff to see on the walls, but it’s not gimmicky feeling. The music is very 90’s punk on a Monday night which is fantastic, and goes either way the homemade feel of having boasted chicken that is juicy and crispy. There must be 200 beer options including 2 great hop water N/A options. They’re good enough you don’t need a bunch of other N/A choices I’d say! Friendly service. Right location!

i LOVE el bait shop. i come here frequently and it never disappoints. they’ve got such a wide selection of beer and food, there’s something for everyone here.

We have always had a great time at El bait shop. The last few times we've been lucky enough to get the same waiter, who is great, however I can't recall his name. He remembers our favorite drinks, stays on top of our needs. It's a favorite for us for sure!

Great beer selection! So many taps and so little time... Servers were great and pandered to my desire to watch Purdue Hoops at the bar. So many great beer recommendations, great local hot-sauce as well as great food. This is now one of my top go-to places in Des Moines!

Great tasting and affordable food in a friendly and inviting environment. Our appetites were satisfied. If you’re in the area, would highly recommend this place for your family to grab a bite to eat. There is both indoor and outdoor seating.

I had to make this stop—liver and onions are one of my all-time favorites. The bonus? This place has a nostalgic, old-school ’60s Miller-themed bar vibe that’s just plain cool. I was greeted right away and grabbed a booth, perfect for people-watching while I decided on my order. I asked my waitress for heavy onions (the more the better), plus a side salad and broccoli. Let me tell you—they did not skimp on those onions, as you can see in the photo. The liver and onions were fantastic—so good that I’m planning to come back again before I leave this weekend. I even tipped the cook an extra $10 just for being generous with the onions. This is the kind of spot you’ve got to check out, not just for the food, but for the experience.

This place reminded me of the bars in Wisconsin growing up. The only thing that was missing was soming stuffed on the walls. Service was very friendly and food came out fast. Had the deviled eggs and poutine. Every part of it was delicious. If I'm back in the area, I'll be going back here for something again.

I was here 15+years ago and still has the same vibe (minus the shag carpet). I don’t recall eating here back then but had the bacon cheese burger and fries and it did not disappoint. Friendly staff to a out of towner.

Walking into High Life Lounge feels like stepping back a few decades in the best possible way. Wood-paneled walls, vintage beer signs, and that cozy “neighborhood bar” charm make the atmosphere a solid 5/5. Service was excellent. My waitress, Mercedes R., was on point the whole time — friendly, quick, and kept things smooth. She had that perfect mix of charm and elegance, the kind of presence that shows just enough to keep it classy and plenty to keep it memorable. Easy 5/5 there. For food, I started with the Chili Cheese Fries appetizer. They came out hot and hearty, loaded with cheese and chili over crinkle fries. They were tasty, no doubt, but the chili had that familiar mom-and-pop diner style. Good comfort food, but nothing that set it apart — I’d rate them around 3.5/5. The Chicken Pot Pie was my main course. It arrived covered in a pool of brown gravy, which was flavorful but not as rich as I hoped. I’d been looking forward to cracking into a crisp, golden crust, only to find it softened under the gravy. The crust itself was thick and layered, the chicken came in cubes (hard to say if it was fresh-made or not), and the veggies were just shy of fully cooked — not mushy, but with a good bite. In the end, it was filling and hearty, but the presentation and flavor didn’t quite deliver the wow factor. 3.5/5. The bar deserves some credit — plenty of beers on tap, kept cold and flowing. A nice spread without overcomplicating it. That’s a 4/5. What really made the place feel like home, though, was a nearby table of old friends swapping stories from the 70s. Those old goats set the bar high for an up-and-coming Billy goat like me, and it added a sense of warmth and nostalgia that money can’t buy. Final bill was $26.19 with tip, which felt fair for drinks, an appetizer, and a main course. Bottom line: Come here for the retro atmosphere, cold beer, and excellent service. The food hits the classic comfort note, but it’s the vibe — and people like Mercedes — that make the High Life Lounge worth the stop.

Couldn’t get much better! The broasted chicken is the best in the area. Tenderloin was awesome too. The old dive bar feel was something we love. The server was the best part!

Terrible service!!!! Enjoying time with adult friends at 4pm, laughing, and and drinking. The bartender looks like a tweeter himself. Was super disrespectful and short. Complaining of people being loud when it wasn’t. They were rude and disrespectful and dismissed. We left and didn’t continue business because of the unwelcoming atmosphere.

Bellhop has some great tiki drinks, but as another reviewer noted, it’s not a traditional tiki vibe - I’d describe it as modern exotica. A younger crowd as well. We had great service and there’s some pyrotechnics with at least one drink 🔥 😁

At first, we thought this place had potential. I ordered a double shot of Patrón that tasted suspiciously like José.. first red flag. Then my friend stood at the bar for 10 minutes trying to order while the bartender blatantly ignored her, serving everyone else around her. Weird energy. We came in excited, ready to stay all night and tip big, but the vibe was off. Ended up heading across the street instead and had the best night there. Save yourself the trouble! This place is all attitude, no hospitality. Very disappointing.

Had a great experience here. Wasn't busy when we went. Bartender gave us great suggestions. Overall a great atmosphere. The unique drinks were delicious as well.

Wow! So many drink options and all of them are in the spirit of tiki drinks. Before ordering I would ask if the drink if for two or one person, because some of them are really big! There is beer on tap as well. I would love some snack food here though, especially since tiki drinks tend to be strong and sneak up on you.

The bartenders here are extremely friendly and eager to make suggestions if you don't really know what you want. The drinks were spectacular. I especially love the vibe of the place!

Didn't give the food rating because I didn't order there, but everything else here is amazing. Great bartenders. Amazing THC drinks. Good music. Worth every penny.

They were quick to seat us and friendly. I learned I dislike margaritas but not their fault. Tequilas are just not my thing I guess. The bar tender mixed me a mystery mule as they weren't on the menu and it was delicious. I left a tip for the good drink. I'd go back with friends.

My friend and I had a blast at this place! So many different choices of video games! The neon lights add to the 80s/90s theme, and the drinks and pizza are really good too! If you’re looking for an arcade with classic arcade games with pizza that has stretchy gooey cheese, this is the perfect place for you! I know I enjoyed it! Only thing I would’ve changed was for them to play more 80s music and less modern crappy music. Other than that, perfect night out!

We had our wedding reception at Up Down. Jess was wonderful to work with. She answered all my questions and made sure everything went perfectly. The staff was awesome too. All of our guests had a blast and told us it was the most fun wedding reception ever. Thank you for making our day memorable and, most importantly, fun 😊

Very nice two story arcade in downtown DSM. Started coming here two years ago as it has become a post convention staple for Assembly Required, a local toy show 100% worth checking out. Pizza is great and slices are large. Beer list is good and there is a solid spread of beer types. Only caveat was they must have sold or swapped the GI Joe cabinet with another location. The bartender downstairs had no clue what I was talked about when I asked if it was somewhere else in the arcade. Might be good to train the team on what games are on site. I’ll be back again! Three beers, two slices, and a fiver for games put me at $30 with tip for the night.

Omg 21+ video game themed bar! Homemade pizza by the slice! But 2 floors of FUN!!

Up-Down is one of my favorite places to be. From all the different arcade games to the amazing service it just hits the spot! The drinks are made perfectly crafted to the way you want them and the pizza is to die for! Great place and great fun!

Fun atmosphere, good is OK. The gumbo was thick and similar to gravy. I like my gumbo slightly less than gravy consistency. Overall it was good.

We have visited this location multiple times and it is always a fun environment to grab some drinks and play some nostalgic games! They have a wonderful variety of game choices that everyone will enjoy! Our group is a big fan of the Shotski they offer as well!

By far, the most creative and cozy cocktail bar in Des Moines! Hello, Marjorie has the best vibe with incredible attention to detail—from the moody lighting to the décor. The cocktails are consistently delicious and unique, and the entire atmosphere is perfect for a night out with friends. This is a must-stop for anyone looking for great drinks and even better memories. Highly recommend for those searching for an elevated and welcoming Des Moines cocktail bar.

We are from out of town and it was a Sunday evening that we were looking for a cocktail and were seeking out the "speakeasies" we've heard about. We found this place and it is everything we were hoping to find! Discreet entrance...eclectic atmosphere, great service from Madison (who also could answer all our questions about the decor and history) as well as delivering the best dirty martini I've had in a LONG time! Makes me wish I lived here :-)

I had heard about this bar but never been. We left Winefest's Sips in the City event in search of air conditioning on June 14, 2025 and this place did not disappoint. My friend got the Betty Blanco because she likes tequila and said it was great. Our server Kelsey was amazing. We had a great experience. It is a pretty dark bar, so bring your readers and get your phone flashlight ready.

We stumbled on this little place while staying at the Marriott downtown. It was a Monday night and our server Desi was a great addition to our little trip. The drinks were exceptional and the atmosphere made you feel warm and fuzzy.

Hands down one of the best cocktail bars Des Moines has to offer! Not only are the drinks absolutely incredible and their menu is always well curated and diverse to cater to everyone’s taste, but the atmosphere, music, and staff are just as divine as the drinks! Always treated like family when I go in with my friends. I feel welcome whether I’m dressed to the nines or in leggings and a Tshirt. It feels fancy and upscale without the pretentiousness that some high-end cocktail bars might have. Fair prices too!! And the speakeasy in the back is a MUST visit! 10/10 no notes. 🥂

Used to be my go-to spot for nice cocktails in Des Moines, but my last visit left something to be desired. The drinks look nice but the Prosecco on tap was gross tasting that night and my partner got a hugo spritz and it was basically purely elderflower liqueur. It was so gross, he couldn’t even drink it. We were never checked on after this and had to flag someone down for the check. Anyway, I probably won’t visit again when I’m back in town.

Our group of 4 had a splendid time at Hello Marjorie. We just had a couple cocktails later on a Saturday night. Two people had non alcoholic beverages that they said were quite tasty. I had the old fashioned which was very good and I don’t remember what my other friend got. Service was fantastic. My wife had to ask if the virgin margarita was actually virgin because it tasted so real and they brought out the bottle to show her. Really cool spot downtown Des Moines for a drink!

I absolutely love The Bartender's Handshake. Extremely good and interesting drinks at prices lower than most. They've also started small "tapas" style plates which they rotate frequently. Pictured is the best hummus I've ever had! The location is small and intimate, but clean and does not feel cramped. Lighting is dim and styling is retro. They have a back patio, which seemed decently sized, but sadly it was too cold to enjoy. I'd never think twice about coming here!

I couldn't love this place more. The drinks are phenomenal. No regular bartenders here, the mixologists really know what they are doing. I asked for a classic drink that wasn't on the menu and they didn't even hesitate. Boom, "Here you go! ". The atmosphere is very nostalgic. I grew up around the corner. So being in the back patio area with all the old school lawn furniture and vintage cups AND the location, feels very comforting. Add an awesome drink, it's perfect. I highly recommend if you're looking for a high-end (but not overly priced) drink with friends, or a quiet corner with a date. You won't be sorry.

Fantastic cocktail bar with fun signature drinks and affordable classics. The patio is great, and inside feels like a neighborhood spot that's been there for years. The bartenders are nice and knowledgeable, and will make you anything you can think of.

I am a regular here, have been here multiple times. Just got told “hey you cannot be here I kicked you out last week for spitting on the floor last week”, I am also a business owner on Ingersoll Ave and I’ve never disrespected an establishment, let alone the one I come to at least once a week. I don’t know if the bartender (Long blonde hair, glasses, male) was drunk or was racially profiling me for someone else but will not be supporting this establishment anymore going forward. This is not the safe space I thought I was and considering I was with a business partner it was very embarrassing. No thank you.

Quaint, little bar. Indoor seating is intimate. There's more outdoor seating than there is inside. The indoor space is beautiful. Bartender was very kind and knowledgeable. The drink concoctions are very interesting. I will say that I didn't love all of them but they were fun to try.

I'm hesitant to tell you how amazing Bartender's Handshake is because I don't want word to get out, but here goes... it's INCREDIBLE. The food is great but the cocktails are really the star of the show. We sampled several before we got to the Karate Kick and now I can't wait to go have it again. Very well balanced with a bit of a kick but not so hot you have to sip it gently for an hour. One of the best cocktails I've had recently and I do this a lot. :-)

Great service. Very friendly bartenders. The drinks were creative and delicious. It was noisy. There was a group of people who were quite loud.

Loved the atmosphere. The food was good, and the beer was awesome. Will be back. Would be nice to temper the a/c a bit when it is not summer out. I get your servers get hot, but freezing out the customers is counterproductive as well. Table next to us cut their stay shirt because the were freezing and we didn't stay as long as we would have as well.

Love this gem , sits above the Royal Mile. Good food selection, diverse drink selection. Soccer bar of Des Moines for those looking to watch . Always get excellent service upstairs @ Red Monk from Colin. Ingelhoffer is a very good sandwich , and of course Fish and chips is Delicious.

Great atmosphere and bartender was really helpful suggesting drinks. Fish & Chips was tasty. I would definitely recommend going here.

Bartender was great! Very knowledgeable and very creative. Loved the ginger drink! It was our 5 year anniversary last Saturday so my husband treated us to a night out. The Red Monk is definitely a new favorite.

Had a good time in this Belgian themed place where I had been to attend the trivia night! The staff was friendly and accomodative to my specific food and beverage request! The trivia was good, and I didn't realise how the time went by. Great way to cap off my last day in Des Moines.

Red Monk was actually a backup plan for our rehearsal dinner after we were not able to utilize the patio at Truman's Pizza due to cold weather. The space is beautiful and well lit, not how I previously remembered. They've done some awesome updates and the staff there were attentive and amazing to work with. I highly recommend this spot.

I usually don't write bad reviews, but in this case I felt I should. We had a great time at the Royal Mile downstairs, and were really looking forward to coming up to the Red Monk. 2 stars because they have a good beer selection and a cool atmosphere. The bartender acted annoyed by our presence when we walked in. Her friends were seated at the bar. She talked to them while we were ordering. Once we ordered, she paused in the middle of pouring our drinks to mix drinks for her friends, take a shot with them, and talk to them. She ignored us the entire time we were there. She never offered to refill our empty glasses. It took probably 10 minutes from the time I pulled out a credit card to the time I finished paying. They were not busy, otherwise that would be understandable. We probably could've walked out without paying and she wouldn't have noticed. It was disappointing, and the worst service I've ever experienced at any bar. We might be back, simply for the beer selection, but if we see her behind the bar, we will leave.

I ordered fish & chips, Caesar salad, and a cup of beef stew for take-out. I arrived about 5min after it was supposed to be ready and my walk back to the hotel was another 5min. The fish was packaged under the fries, rendering away any crisp that might have been on the fish. Five lovely pieces! All stuck together in a soft mushy pile. The salad is limp, but edible. The stew is somehow room temp? Pretty disappointing since this food is usually fool proof. My guess is it’s great if you get it in the pub along with a beer.

I have to say a special thank you to our amazing waitress! She was very attentive and took great care of us. Got to try the 1792 full proof here as well which was awesome to finally have the opportunity to do so! Affordable prices, great service, and a great drink selection. What else could you ask for?

My wife had the turkey club sandwich with fries. I had the turkey pot pie. Both were hot when served and these tasted good. The server was nice and took our order correctly as we received the food as we requested. The food is English pub food, burgers, sandwiches, with an English flair!

I was in for a concert and stopped for lunch. Nice old school Irish bar. Ordered the chicken pot pie and it was amazing. No pot. Just the pastry pie covered in gravy. Yum.

The place where we watch Arsenal games in town. The service is always excellent. The food is homey and usually pretty good too! Overall, we enjoy spending time there!

We had a fantastic meal at the Royal Mile. We sampled the tikka masala, shepherd pie, fish and chips, the Earl. They were all delicious. Our waitress was wonderful and very knowledgeable. I don't remember her name, but she had long braids.

Got seated right away. Good selection of food and beverages. We had a Reuben and burger and both were good.

We came out for the weekend brunch & it did not disappoint! Most of the food is served family style where they bring out a big portion for the table to share. All the food was excellent & the service was good too!

Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewery in Des Moines, Iowa is a great downtown spot for enjoying a drink in a relaxed, welcoming setting. On our recent visit, we stopped in for a quick drink and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and atmosphere. I ordered one of their house-brewed IPA beers, which was crisp, flavorful, and perfectly balanced for IPA lovers. My wife went with a grapefruit mule, which was refreshing, well-mixed, and had just the right amount of citrus zing. The brewery itself has a beautiful, historic building vibe with high ceilings, exposed brick, and warm lighting that makes it feel both cozy and upscale. The brewing area behind glass is a fun touch — it’s always interesting to see where the beer is actually made while you’re enjoying a pint. While we didn’t order food this time, the menu offers a wide range of pub favorites, burgers, sandwiches, and locally inspired dishes. Service was friendly and efficient, and despite the State Fair pulling most of the downtown crowd, the staff kept the atmosphere upbeat and welcoming. Court Avenue is also known for being a great gathering place for friends, date nights, or pre-event drinks before a concert or game. If you’re exploring downtown Des Moines, it’s worth stopping in to try their craft beer, cocktails, and hearty food in a unique, historic setting.

Worth every dollar spent here. Excellent customer service, they were all so very friendly, helpful and patient especially with the long line at the Farmers Market. Enjoyed the Steak, Egg, Gruyère cheese with garlic aioli sauce on a sesame bun, added avocado and tomato. Ooh this hit the spot for, perfection.

This was my first time at this restaurant. I went out for brunch after enjoying the farmers market with my friends for a weekend trip. One of my friends is very allergic to avocados and asked the waitress to leave them off of the dish she ordered because she couldn’t have them. When her plate arrived, the avocados were on the dish and she had to ask for it to be remade. Additionally, we ordered a pitcher of the blueberry Moscow mule. I am a Moscow mule fanatic and love trying new flavors when I’m out and about. Upon our first few sips, we all agreed that there was no blueberry flavor. When we asked the waitress if it was for sure blueberry and not another flavor, she said the bartender “definitely put blueberry in there.” Usually when a guest isn’t happy with their drink, they offer to remake it or add something to it to make it better. That didn’t occur. I was disappointed in how we were treated. It felt very transactional. I was overall pleased with my own food but the service was something that makes me not want to come back here again.

This experience wasn't quite what we had hoped for. The service was mediocre. The server was kind of crabby and uninterested in serving us when she found out we weren't ordering meals. We did order some french fries which were cold and she never offered us any utensils or napkins. The beer was hit or miss. Didn't stay and try them all because the service wasn't worth paying for. On a positive note to ambiance was fantastic, beautiful old town building. Wish we would have had a better experience.

Arrived for a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. The place was quiet, with only a few other customers. I was seated immediately, and the service was great. The turkey avocado club was excellent. 10/10.

It wasn't that busy, so I popped in for lunch, and I'm glad I did. The reuben with a side of coleslaw was extremely good. The bartender was exceptionally nice. I will have to come again when I'm in the area.

In town and needed a place to meet up with a friend. Saw this place and it looked phenomenal. And guess what? It was. The atmosphere is definitely old pub like. Service was super friendly. I tried the Black Forest schnitzel and the Roulandon Rolls. My friend got the Best of the Wourst. Everything was spot on. Loved it all. If you are in the mood for German food this place is it.

In town overnight and tried out the Jagerschnitzel with jager gravey. Pretty tasty. Had to save room for the German chocolate cake...had to save some for later! Great service and cool place to eat and socialize.

Though the restaurant parking lot is extremely small , we easily found nearby free parking next to a big government building that has free weekend parking. We had a short walk to Hessen Haus. And it's a bar but I saw lots of families too. Comfortable seats and definitely not too crowded. The server was great and the place is fun and lively. However it wasn't obnoxiously loud or anything. The menu has a lot of choices and we decided on goulash and sauerbraten. The dishes were a large serving size and we shared them. We also ate a garden salad with vinegrette dressing. The food was so yummy and well made. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone.

This place was really a diamond in the rough...and Alicia at the bar was absolutely amazing. Traveling for work is stressful and she made this place feel like home. She made incredible recommendations (get the Black Forest Schnitzel) and was just so friendly and real. She makes me want to come back!

You may have to wait a bit for a table to open, but the food/drinks were delicious! Service was top notch and they have so many drink options!

Excellent food with generous portions. Friendly staff and the atmosphere is quite fun with the German decor. Highly recommend the German chocolate cake and their giant pretzels.

Great time here. I brought 2 other co-workers here for dinner. Sat outside on patio. I got the Black Forest schnitzel which was really good. Had a bier as well. Drawbacks were a smelly dumpster in the alley, also view from patio was pretty much the alley. But to the west was an old train depot with splendid architecture.

A great calm place for those who want to meet out at a bar without the Hussle and Bustle. Staff was great, and new even. Drinks were good. Atmosphere A+

This place used to be our go to. I’m not sure if management changed or what, but, the menu and staff has changed. I ordered an old fashioned. The long haired guy fixed it and gave it to me. I noticed it didn’t have one of their in house made bourbon cherries in it so I asked for one. His reply, “you’ve been getting your old fashioned from the wrong place.” I told him this is the same place I always order them from and they always come with a cherry. He says, “well I don’t do them that way.” Nothing good lasts forever.

Just got an alert from credit card asking if i gave a 33% tip. Nope. This was the stunt of a late night bartender who took the liberty to add it themselves with the instant tip ipad receipt that no one likes. Why? Well, this was theft by an employee. Will not come back and now all know how ya operate. It has been declined and now Visa has flagged your business.

Great cocktails and super helpful selecting a drink. Very cute outdoor space with bench seating, pillows, gas fireplaces and heaters. Inside is very nicely decorated and clean

One of the best experience I have ever had. All the drinks were made perfectly and tasted GREAT!!!... If you get Jason as your bartender you are in luck....Highly highly recommend.. make the trip , you will not regret it

When the bartender somehow senses your hunger and offers up her personal supply of thin mints, you feel welcome. I like how they break the menu down into classic and new-fangled cocktails. Something for everyone. Relaxed vibe, great cocktails, even better service.

Great drinks and great service yesterday afternoon. My group enjoyed having a conversation pit to relax in and our bartender kept up with our drinks seamlessly. Also appreciated the interesting cocktail choices and loved the Ancho Daddy. Spicy without being on fire... the only downside is that it's hard to stop drinking these.

It's a very unique place....I'll call it a Chinese pizza hut but with much better pizza. The atmosphere was very different but fun and clean. The pizza crust was excellent, but the fried rice was disappointing, so I'd stick more to the pizza side of the menu. There were many unique pizza options so be a little adventurous and try something new to surprise your taste buds. We would definitely go back.

Just happened to be passing through Des Moines and drove by Fongs. My wife said it had been on Triple D so I turned in. Very glad we did. They were having happy hour and any alcoholic drink got a free slice of pizza. We did the MaiTai's which they limit 2 per person. If you're a light weight probably makes sense. We got one slice of sausage and one of pepperoni to start. Very thin but good flavor. In doing some reading it was the Crab Rangoon pizza that Guy came to try so that's what we did. Gotta say they do a really good job of their Asian fusion with that. Great flavor. Could have been a bit more imitation krab on it but all in all a great job. If we were in Des Moines longer we would really like to try some of the other fusion pizzas. Maybe next trip. 👍

Was very happy to go to Fong's pizza. Service was good. If you like mozzarella cheese sticks, you need to try the cheese stick egg rolls. They were really good. The Crab Rangoon pizza was really good. I'm not sure I'm with Alton Brown from the Food Network and can say it's the best thing I ever ate but it was good and I would get it again. The General Tso Chicken pizza was good as well but felt like it needed a little bit more sauce. I would definitely go back and try more pizzas on my next trip to Des Moines.

Staff were friendly and helpful, the place looks amazing and smells great. The cheese sticks were delicious. The pizza was good just not my favorite but I can see why people enjoy it. If im back in town id give it another try maybe with a more traditional pizza topping.

Unique: they nail both your regular pepperoni and their signature pizzas like General Tso, which is amazing and I don't typically like that kind of stuff. The new location is awesome and seats way more people and parking is readily available. Coke products.

Fongolian beef and honey garlic (with chicken added). Both pizzas were great. Honey garlic was especially good with a bit of siracha to pair some spice with the sweet. Will be coming back again.

We really enjoyed our lunch at Fongs! The atmosphere was enjoyable with plenty of space to dine comfortably, party of five. The dining area was clean and tidy. Our server/hostess/bus person was attentive, but not overly so. They took our drink orders, allowed us plenty of time to peruse the menu and place our order with no rush. As we dined, they stopped by occasionally asking if we needed anything, checking to be sure we were enjoying our visit and food. We ordered the limited time Oktoberfest pizza, crab rangoon pizza and the Iowan. As always, the crab rangoon pizza was the crowd pleaser. The Iowan our second favorite and the Oktoberfest pizza was also a delight. Everything was served fresh and made to order. So good! Fongs is a great place to dine with family, friends, anyone, really! The pizza is where it's at!

My husband and I went on a double date to Eatery A tonight, and we all absolutely loved the ambiance of the restaurant and the taste of the food. It was delicious, hot, and tasty. The decor, the different seating options (large booths, small tables, lounge type chairs), and overall vibe was stunning. We've eaten on the patio area in the summertime, and if you have a chance to eat outside, do it! It's worth it. At night, the nightlife of people walking, talking, and having fun surrounds you and adds a little extra entertainment to your dinner. Unfortunately, tonight we were quite disappointed in the service or lack of. It took us over 2 hours in total to get our drinks, apps, and dinner. We had reservations at 6:30 and left a little after 8:45. (Thankfully, we weren't in a hurry, but still). We ordered our apps and dinner at the same time since our server was taking so long just to bring us our drinks out (15+ mins), but it still took over an hour just to get our dinner. By the end of the night, we were the last table left in the restaurant (a few people were left at the bar area), and I had to grab our own to-go boxes from the side area, and located a random waitress and asked her to please help get our ticket or waitress. Our waitress finally walked up with boxes and asked if we were ready for our bill... no apology or acknowledgment that she her taking a bit longer tonight or in general. Our food was GREAT (and surprisingly hot when it arrived), but the service lacked a LOT. Hopefully, it was just one bad night and not an ongoing issue, but I will give them another chance at some point since their pizza's were so good.

Eatery A I used to love this place, and I was so excited to have it since I hadn’t had it in 5 years. But I will say this was such a huge disappointment. Ordered the meat balls and arancini, it came out ICE cold and very old. We decided against any of the entrees due to this reason. But decided to get a pizza, because its pizza and pizza is always good and i used to think theirs was too. The pizza was worse, Caramelized onions does not mean adding sugar for sweetness, and they should say the onions are basically candy sweet on the pizza. It was overly sweetened. Over all, i will not be coming back and this place has gone down hill. Was unable to eat ANY of the foods. I used to love this place 💔 The manager was nice, but still made us pay for the pizza, no worries. I do not recommend this place anymore. Took 10 minutes for out server to even greet us but we were willing to look past that because we were hoping the food would have out weighed the terrible service and the fact the server did not look like she even wanted to be there. It seemed like a bother she was even waiting on our table. Unfortunately that was not the case and the food was terrible.

Great Happy Hour especially if you like pizza. Staff were friendly. Service was attentive. The establishment had a cozy vibe and it was extremely clean. The pizza was pretty good, but definitely left me wanting more for the overall experience. Overall this place is a good place to grab a quick bite.

Went to Eatery A with some friends for bottomless mimosas on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and had our own private room! Our server was very friendly and quite attentive. She filled everyone’s glasses so promptly and always made sure that everyone had what they needed. For food, we ordered the Nutella French toast and Lemon Ricotta pancakes. They were OK. My favorite thing at the restaurant was the limeade. It was so refreshing!

A very nice cozy place offering vegetarian food along side their. The staffs are friendly and very helpful. The food was good. Very quick service and their N/A no worries cocktail was amazing, highly recommend it. Their roasted bell pepper and squash soup another amazing dish. Loved this place overall

LOVED this restaurant. The menu is fantastic and I had trouble deciding what to get. Everything we ordered was amazing. I highly recommend.

Warm, industrial, pizzeria meets eatery. The wood fire stove is absolutely the cornerstone of the restaurant. A very easy atmosphere with the intoxicating aroma of outstanding pizza that meets you as soon as you walk in. Today, I order the asparagus soup, with a few small plates to-go. The Moroccan carrots, warm artichoke, and Greek cucumbers.

You can never fail when heading to the Iowa Taproom, I ordered the chicken tenders while my husband ordered the peanut butter burger - both amazing! Drinks are always good and you can’t go wrong with what you pick. You are able to order a flight of drinks as well!

We went on a Friday night and it was packed! The place is laid out nicely but it is loud. You have to really strain to hear your table. However the prices were great and the food tasted amazing. My wife and I got two different types of tacos, both were yummy. I also tried a flight of beers, which seemed adequately priced. Then I went too far and got the Iowa Pie for dessert. It was amazing too and a very generous portion.

My husband and I were just passing through and needed food! WOW, are we glad we stopped here! Loved, loved the unique menu. It was sooo difficult to make a decision! I had the salmon salad and my husband had the pulled pork sandwich and they were both extremely delicious! We also loved the selection of both beer and cider! THE FOOD and THE STAFF - AMAZING! Don’t pass up a chance to dine and drink at the Iowa Tapeoom!

Erica was our server and made the experience even better! Amazing atmosphere, service and food. Great place to bring friends, will be coming back soon!

Great place for any size group. Food is delicious, beer is plenty, great atmosphere and friendly staff. Pricing is modest and affordable.

By far 1 of the BEST beer bars I've been to! The service was spectacular, and so was the food! The honey Sriracha dip for the steak egg rolls was the perfect amount of heat and very well balanced! My salmon salad - fantastic! And those wings were really good also! Beer selection - wow! 120 beers on tap. This place was huge! There are no booths from what I saw from where we were sitting, but they had plenty of seating when we went at 4pm on a Fri afternoon. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu and beers! Samples of beer are free! They have 4 or 5 beer flights you can choose from, or build your own. Starting price is $14. If you're not into beer or cider, there's also liquors for mixed drinks.

Great food! The space itself is kinda small. Music next door was so loud we could hardly hear each other. The place itself is really cool. Love the look of the place. Huge bar in main area. Staff was friendly and accommodating for us.

This place has very limited veg options but the mushroom sliders (ordered without cheese) were excellent and quite filling. The space is really nice and much larger than I expected. The bartender was very friendly and accommodating and the food arrived quickly.

Katelyn killed it tonight! Great spot for a few cocktails!

The place was a lot of fun. I wish I lived there, so it could be my regular bar.

Located below RoCA; entrance is in alley. Typical dive bar but shares menu with RoCA. Blackberry bramble cocktail is delicious. Also had Margherita flatbread which is also good. A little on expensive side but I would eat here again.

First time To Des Moines referred by a local. Awesome spot it your looking for a bit of a dive, but somewhat fancy :) this is the spot. Bartender Brent was awesome. Also, they offer a full menu from the restaurant upstairs and the food was awesome!

It's not that people don't know about Shorty's, it's just that if you aren't looking for it, you won't find it, either. The dark basement bar has music playing, sports on TV, and an atmosphere that can range from raging good times to casual drinks with friends. It's a nice spot tucked in downtown Des Moines. Go down the basement where the ceiling is a bit low and enjoy the dark man cave-like atmosphere for a couple cold ones.

We really liked this Bar, very comfortable, nice bartenders, can get really good appetizers. Loved the retro 60's vibe, it is my Era.

Came in ordered a tequila sprite, the sprite was flat kindly told the bartender the drink was flat she asked her « manager «  to remake my drink with canned seven up. He then proceeded to point and me across the bar and scream “who this guy?” Then pour a small amount of sports from the gun and forces me to drink it saying it’s not flat and being extremely rude. Will not be going here ever again

I stopped in here this last weekend for the first time while bar-hopping in East Village. It’s probably my favorite bar I’ve tried so far. This place has a really unique theme and the darker, gritty atmosphere was really fun! They even had someone spinning vinyl, which I thought was a really nice touch! The staff were all very prompt and friendly and took the time to chat with me and make me feel comfortable all the while being attentive to the rest of the patrons. I will definitely be coming back soon!

Cool place, definitely a vibe and worth your time stopping in. Only down side is its small and can be extremely crowded.

I had an extremely disappointing and frustrating experience with this business. They lost my debit card, and instead of taking accountability or even expressing concern, they responded with denial, rudeness, and absolutely no sympathy. What made the situation even worse was how poorly the manager handled it. Rather than listening, investigating, or offering any kind of resolution, the manager was defensive, dismissive, and unprofessional. It felt like they were more interested in avoiding blame than actually helping a customer who was put in a vulnerable and stressful position because of their mistake. This is not how you treat customers—especially when their financial security is at risk. The lack of empathy and the refusal to accept even basic responsibility was shocking. If this is the level of care and leadership coming from management, I have no confidence in the rest of the operation. I will never return, and I strongly recommend others think twice before trusting this business with anything important. Edit: After reading the response from this business, I feel obligated to clarify the situation and correct the misleading narrative they’ve shared. The bartender who took the card outright lied and claimed he never had it, even though we saw him handle the transaction. There was no real investigation, no accountability—just denial. When we brought this up and asked for some kind of rectification, the manager literally told us to “shut up” and laughed. That’s how they chose to respond to a serious situation involving someone’s financial security. Eventually, they offered 15% off the bill—not as a goodwill gesture, but only after we pushed back on the disrespect. Their response here now suggests we were just “looking for a handout.” That kind of passive-aggressive, defensive tone only confirms how poorly this was handled from start to finish. Gaslighting the customer, and turning blame onto us is not how any reputable business should behave. Their passive-aggressive response here, full of backhanded apologies and minimizing language, only reinforces what we experienced firsthand: a complete lack of empathy, professionalism, and responsibility.

Very sexy place! I love to end my night here whenever I go out! Katie is my favorite bartender. Love it when they have a DJ! Limited on space but I kind of like that.

A cozy basement bar with an atmosphere that would feel at home in a Tarantino flick. While the bar focuses mostly on their tequila selection, they also have a few beers on tap. The DJ adds a nice touch to the atmosphere check it out!

Used to be more Lucifer themed, kinda lost its edge but the bar selection and service are still good.

Des Moines' cutest triangle shaped bar. Best cocktails, patio, and I hear the staff is pretty awesome too! 😉

Our favorite drinks date-night spot in DSM! Beautiful views, amazing drinks, beautiful patio. I love places with character and SA has so much character!!! In the winter their atmosphere is so cozy and cute. I’ll have to come back to this review and add more photos of that.

One of my favorite bars in Des Moines. Hosted my bridal shower here this past weekend and could not have asked for a better experience. Location is perfect and the staff is wonderful!

Tonight I went to Secret Admirer because I thought Silent Book Club would be there. However, they canceled. So, I sat there and read anyways. The bartender, Steven, was freaking awesome! He definitely made everyone feel at home. I would go back to Secret Admirer again just for his bartending. Please note I still like the place if he isn’t working. Just a serendipitous evening at an awesome bar. If you are in town and want an awesome place to have a drink, then I highly recommend!

Great little bar right by Court +bonus points for not being on Court. Drinks were tasty and staff were incredibly attentive. Received a great draft beer recommendation when I went! Cozy place with nice decor and intimate atmosphere, great for date nights and small group gathering.

Good cocktails, albeit a bit less complex and often lighter bodied than the traditional indoor cocktail bars (including Hello, Marjorie by the same group). It’s definitely a more summery/outdoors vibe in the menu but always worth a stop particularly on a nice day. Patio is gorgeous and there is free lot parking nearby on weekends and evenings.

I’m a big fan of Des Moines’ growing cocktail scene, and SA is a cool out-of-the-way spot that’s not really out-of-the-way. Cozy interior, but it really shines on warm days with a large back patio. The southwest sider was a perfect gin drink for a Iowa summer Saturday.

Very nice Brewery with a lot of good beer options! The Ruthie Exile is fantastic! I love the atmosphere and they had really good live music while we were there. We will definitely be back.

This brewery was nice to visit. They had a food truck available (Jethros BBQ) where I got me some smoked wings. The wings were terrible 😫. Even Flash fried, the meat was tough. Never doing that again. But other than that, the brewery was very nice with an outside patio. The view was great.

Stopped in on a visit after trying the pumpkin beer at a restaurant nearby. It was so good and we are from a total beer town so we had to investigate the brewery. We wish we could have taken some of the beer home! During our time there, they had a haunted house type area you could sit in-which after having to move inside from the patio (also nice). It was so cool and they also were super helpful in finding NA options.

We made reservations for a spooky date and the food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. Will definitely be returning! I definitely think this is the best Halloween pop up in the metro!

Really enjoyed this place. Very nice staff, the food was pretty good, and the place is really nice. Overall it is a great combination and I would go back to grab a beer and some food.

Had a lovely time here! I was 40 minutes early for an interview and the waitresses were very kind and offered samples while waited. They had excellent suggestions for my unique preferences in drinks and I settled on a Tico Time. Once my company arrived, we had split 4 meatball side which was steaming and had a nice spice kick to it. We chatted for a long time and I had an Exile Burger medium done with some fries and a mayo style dip. It was so juicy and flavorful with a little crunch from the included fried onion rings on it. I only give it a 4 for food since was my first time, but I'd gladly go visit and try my beer and food.

Great food and the Halloween decorations were next world. Only issue we had was the appetizer didn't come out till after the main dishes. Not our servers fault.

Always been good on our breakfast visits! We have yet to try lunch. Love both the Seafood hash and the morning mullet. Everyone at this visit of 9 we’re all happy. Enjoyed the flight drinks. Service also was great.

This place is unique and fun. It is also right by the river and bridge, so you can take a walk afterwards. Heck there are also bikes and scooter to rent and ride. We were in the mood for some fried food and our youngest wanted a Belgian waffle, so Mullets was the place that had it all. It is named after the Mullet Fish but they play up to the Mullet Hairstyle with many cool picture collages of vintage mullets. There is even a section with old sports cards that have players such as Jagr with their famous Mullet hairstyles. Also make sure to use the men's room for more great pictures of famous movie scenes. Don't Be Scared! 🤣 Checkout the pictures I posted. Really good place to eat and fun for all.

We’ve been to Mullets twice and both were good experiences. On weekends, it’s worth it to get on the online wait list because the restaurant will be busy! The food, service, and atmosphere are all great. This is a go-to brunch spot that doesn’t miss.

THIS is the place! Great food, great service, great local vibe. We come often and the food is consistently good. Ashley and Amy are typically our servers. We are always greeted with a warm welcome and made to feel like family. The blackened catfish & grits is one of our favorites specials (Wednesday). So flavorful!. Try it with shrimp too! ;-) The avocado and toast is my regular go to. A perfect meal to start the day!

Food was fantastic and fresh. The staff was attentive and treated you like Family. We will definitely be back.!

A neurotypical customer would probably rate the atmosphere higher, but I'm autistic and after a while, the music and crowd gets to me, but I will bring earplugs next time, and plan on a less busy time. The decor is cute and amusing. But, for my first visit, the steak special was delicious, and I have a key lime dessert for later.

We sat at the bar and Paige and Marissa were very kind and attentive and I really enjoyed my experience. And the avocado toast sampler was to die for

Great place to meet up with friends for a cold beer and a bite to eat. The menu showcases a selection of food for those who are really hungry to those who just want a drink and appetizer. Staff is accommodating and checks back to make sure you can enjoy your drinks and food.

Fast and friendly lunch service! Went right as they opened at 11am and a line was waiting soon after. Love the wood decor; very cozy. Food was fresh and very flavorful. Servers all attentive and feel like a team. Great place!

This is our go-to spot. They have good vibes with stiff drinks. We favor their queso dip with grinder meat and seeing Brooke and Lauri!! They are always a good time!!

Nice place and small. Service is good but if its busy, don't expect checkbacks for refills or dessert. Food was awesome, especially krinkle fries.

Average wait time. Incredible food. Amazing server (Amber). Decent prices. Buffalo chicken salad was divine (Get the creamy parm dressing!). Cuban was top notch.

They have the best servers and never had a bad thing off the menu the cooks may in be a small kitchen but they put food out like a fine tuned machine since I don't drink but still sit at the bar for my meal got to give a shout out to my favorite bartender Tanielle she never let's my coffee cup go dry

The atmosphere was good here(the music wasnt booming, and i was able to converse at my table and hear the other party). The servers seemed distracted and the burger I had was good, but the fries were frozen crinkle cut. For some place that's charging about 20$ for a burger and fries, I'd assume they would at least try to make it seem like they were fresh cut. The other reviews I read were great, so I guess maybe I had overinflated expectations. The servers were really the biggest issue I had, from things they didn't take down when we were ordering so we had to ask twice once we got our food, to just plain ignoring us so I had to flag down another to get the check. I might check it out again not during lunch rush hours later. But kindof a disappointment with all the rave reviews I saw beforehand.

I honestly would have given this a 5 out of 5 stars had it not been for the lack of service we received. When the server was at our table they were absolutely amazing! But after we were seated, we sat there for 20 minutes before our server came and nobody even brought us water during that time. We actually contemplated getting up and leaving. After he gave us our drink order and took our meal order we never saw him again. He didn't even stop by and check to see if we were happy with our food. Perhaps they were busy but I've never had this happen before anywhere else. The location was perfect for us as we were staying downtown and it was a block away, and we walked there. Loved the vibe of the entire restaurant. There were so many food items I wanted to choose, it was hard to decide. I still would recommend and would definitely go again! Word to the wise- I would definitely recommend getting a reservation.

This is our first time in Des Moines and we stopped here for lunch. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. We first shared a seared sesame tuna, and it was simply delicious. Then, my husband ordered the burger and he gave it 7.5/10 but he loved the potatoes accompanying the dish. I ordered the golden dragon street noodle dish. It was tasty but I was unable to finish. The creamy coconut/peanut dressing was overpowering. Since we are here for four days, we may come back and try other dishes.

Had a dinner before a show at Hoyt Sherman and I was so impressed by everything! The mocktails were AMAZING and I even got to pour cinnamon smoke into mine 🤯 our server, Theresa was great and helped suggest good things on the menu. Just get the seafood ravioli. Definitely will be back!

Boy oh boy, this is the place! From the delectable appetizers to the main course to the wine selection, you cannot go wrong. We had the octopus and the Brussels sprouts, both incredible. The rib eye next was incredible! We had the red schooner and the vin zant, both fantastic wines! Anne and Kyle were amazing in completing our evening, thank you!

Katie Wiklund was TOP NOTCH!!! She is the bartender who is the most creative bartender I have ever met in my entire life. She gave me a plethora of drinks that made me sit there and think about my life in a positive way. The restaurant overall was great such a next level idea of a restaurant when looking at the menu and the creativity of the menu items. It took a VILLAGE to create this place and I honestly would rate this restaurant in my top 5 nation wide.

Fresko in Des Moines is an absolute gem and easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the area. From the moment we walked in, the warm, inviting atmosphere and friendly service set the tone for a great evening. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made excellent recommendations that really elevated the meal. We started with two appetizers—the Brussels sprouts and the Formaggio cheese flatbread—and both were phenomenal. The Brussels sprouts were cooked in a unique and creative way that gave them a depth of flavor I’ve rarely experienced. Honestly, they may have been the best I’ve had in a long time. The Formaggio flatbread was rich, cheesy, and the perfect starter to share. For the main course, we had the hanger steak served with mashed potatoes and kale. The steak was cooked perfectly—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor—while the mashed potatoes were creamy and the kale provided a fresh, hearty complement. We paired our meal with a glass of Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon, which was a fantastic match to the flavors of the steak. From start to finish, everything was excellent—delicious food, beautiful presentation, great wine, and first-class service. Fresko is a must-visit if you’re in Des Moines!

As someone with celiac, I’m impressed — Fresko in Des Moines is the real deal for gluten-free dining. Got a last-minute 8 p.m. reservation with no problem. Menu is clearly marked with GF items, and our server was top-notch, even giving us tips on other safe spots in town. Started with a fresh, generous spicy tuna roll, followed by short rib tacos that were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My vegetarian wife loved her tofu noodle dish (a rare feat). She finished with a massive cream-filled muffin — delicious, but better as bites. Two hours later, I feel great. Excellent food, pro service, and truly GF-friendly. Highly recommend. I rarely give out 5 stars.

Clyde's is a solid selection for an elevated yet casual dining experience. Located just off of downtown Des Moines, Clyde's provides patrons with a range of small bite, shareable and entre options. Integrating local flavors and ingredients into dishes across the menu, Clyde's doesn't shy away from unique twists on familiar items. During my visit I tried the dill pickle wings, BBQ chicken, brussel sprouts and tomatoes. While dinner was fine, Clyde's seems even more suited for a easy brunch and lunch.

I went to Clyde’s in Des Moines for dinner and wow, the drinks were amazing and the burger was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Totally nailed it. But… about that “kale salad.” I was so excited to order it (because who doesn’t love a good kale salad?), and what showed up was definitely not kale… it was spring mix. I asked the server just to be sure, and she confirmed that, yep, that’s their kale salad. So apparently “kale” means “spring mix” now? Kind of confusing. It definitely took some of the shine off an otherwise great meal. Everything else was fantastic, though, and I’d absolutely come back, hopefully next time for an actual kale salad! EDIT: In response to the reply - spring mix is a “pre-packaged salad blend of various young, tender baby leaves”. Therefore, a variety of baby kale falls into the category of spring mix. For example, I ordered a kale salad at another restaurant last night and it was “regular kale” as expected. I recommend updating the name and/or description of your salad to avoid confusion or disappointment from other kale lovers like me!

Before coming here I had heard great things from a friend so I had relatively high expectations and it didn't disappoint. It's a lovely building, the interior design is fancy yet unimposing. A nice upscale, modern diner with a well thought out bar. I really liked it. For us, it was a quiet evening so service was prompt. The waitress was helpful and talkative but didn't bother us too much other than to ask how we were doing and if we needed any refills. The menu is small which I appreciated and everything is well priced for the area. It seemed well put together and everything sounded delicious. I found it difficult to pick. In the end I chose to go for a diner classic. A smash burger and fries and both were just excellent, no complaints. It was very well portioned but I swear it was gone in the blink of an eye, I enjoyed it that much. The fries are were delicious too. Ours were deep fried and served with ketchup and a very tasty malt vinegar mayonnaise which I adored. (A rare thing for me, I'm usually very indifferent towards mayo). My only ask as far as the food goes is that it would be nice to offer people malt vinegar at the table! Love to have it on fries. As for the rest of the experience it was generally good. I had a few nit-pics. Another family entered shortly after us and were sat besides us despite there being many other available spaces. This made things feel more cramped than they had to be. I like having more space to eat if possible. Additionally, I wasn't a fan of the credit card fees (3 to 3.5% respectively depending on card issues). I understand why they exist and it's nice they offer debit and cash paying customers a small discount but I would prefer to see it factored into the food price more broadly, nobody likes seeing extra fees tacked on at the end, it's bad enough with tips and taxes. There was also a mix up with our bills in the end, the waitress corrected it quickly so it's not a problem but she forgot to apply our happy hour discount on our sides and I can see others not noticing which isn't good. Lastly, I'd love to see Coke Zero or Pepsi Zero Sugar products on the menu and calories for each menu item listed. It's a small thing but I really do appreciate it as it makes nutritional tracking much easier. Overall a great experience. I'll definitely be back.

One of my favorite spots so far in dsm. Space is fun, great bar area, playing good music on a vinyl… food and drinks are great. Good N/A drinks too!

Gaby our host and waitress was super kind, and the food was OUTSTANDING! We had the double smashed burger with fries (OMG those fries!!!!!) and the kale salad with chicken and dressing on the side. Delicious!!! Fast service, great prices and very kind staff. Definitely a place for a great moment and yummy food!

Could never express my love for Clyde’s in a review so I’ll just say- best restaurant in Des Moines hands down! I’ve been coming consistently for years, and this summer’s specials have been some of the best yet. It’s so obvious they source ingredients that are in season and use them responsibly and effectively.

Had delicious shishito pepper appetizer. Family had Mojo pork sandwich and burgers and fries are hand-cut and to die for. Finished it off qith brown butter bread pudding, delish!

This place has great beer. Their selection of styles was right on point, especially since they have lots of onsite and to-go options. Staff were super friendly and their attentiveness was top notch. The food options were nice with large portions with great flavor. The atmosphere was very relaxed and definitely made this a favorite place to visit. Overall if your looking for great beer to drink now or later check this place out, but if your staying for a draft get the food you won’t be disappointed.

Stopped by Lua for dinner since it was a lovely evening and they were one of the only places that allow dogs on the patio. Our server, Annie, was attentive, helpful with choosing sours and very kind. The food was filling and very tasty and fresh. I don't normally love croutons but these were fresh, salted and amazing. I couldn't stop myself. Try the Ghost sour; feels like summer when we drank it!

Loved the food, and the service was amazing. Every employee we spoke with was engaged and extremely attentive. Keep up the good work. Would not recommend the kimchi cheese steak sandwich greasy and very one note not in a pleasant way. Highly recommend the burger and caviar appetizer.

Phenomenal. Great service. Clean. Plenty of room. Food is next level and I found my new favorite sour in Candy Paint. I wish I could have it sent to me in Ohio. The breakfast burrito absolutely hit the spot and my wife said the strawberry salad was the best she's ever had. Well. Done.

Seems like a cool place! We came for the special of lobster rolls. Looks very pretty but unfortunately was bland and not worth the $30. Not staffed appropriately for this special event either. Took 20min just to get water. We will come back again when no specials are going on to give it another shot cause the regular menu sounds really good!

I was happy to find avocado toast on the menu. The description sounded great. I also added a side Caesar salad at the server's recommendation. Both were absolutely wonderful and full of flavor.

Great beers and bonus food was also exceptional 👌 (lunch special slaps) Adrienne (hope I have her name right) was lovely and the rest of the staff were friendly and hard at work. Can't wait to be back next time we're in town!

Absolute worst service I have ever received. Came for a private party in the back room and had to set up tables and chairs ourselves. They were also very dusty so we had to ask for a rag to wipe them down and none of the staff offered to help. Bartender seemed to just disappear randomly and I was left waiting at the empty bar for 10 minutes to place an order. Ordered 1 bacon cheeseburger and 2 sides. Asked for no tomato and received not 1 but 2 burgers with tomato. On top of all that they charged the wrong tab and another member of our party was charged for my food (half of which I didn’t order). Went back to the bar to resolve the issue and was told that they needed person who took the order to fix it and that he wouldn’t be back for 30-40 minutes. Burger was also overcooked and dry. Definitely will not be coming back and I would advise anyone else to avoid this place altogether.

Very bad experience. It was our first time there and there was no instruction or direction. You seat yourself apparently but they didn’t even take the time to post that like most restaurants do. You scan to order, half the menu was out of stock, a Pepsi is $4 to fill yourself, once your food is done they place it on a counter where everyone is walking by and checking for their order and sometimes touching the wrong food, there was no service or help besides the bartender who was overly busy. All the people who were there for the bar were blocking the way to the self serve Pepsi station. Tables were dirty. Food sucked. Will never go again.

Go here! Visited February 4th, had the Brussels sprouts and truffle fries! So good I have tried the manhattan and oh my so good! Great place and there were lots of families with kids! We also tried a lot of free beer samples which is so fun!

Great beer selection. Love the open beer hall setup. Good amount of outdoor space as well. Decent selection of food options. They make it easy to order food and drink via mobile device. We typically visit on a Saturday afternoon post kids sports games and there are quite a few families there as well.

Really enjoyed our meal here. It was our first time ordering from our phone at the table, but it went seamlessly. There was plenty of room to spread out from other groups. Service and food was fast and easy, while the environment was relaxed and comfortable. (Note for families: the music playing is un-edited, occasional language)

This place fantastic. I have 2 Pro Tips... 1) The beer menu is on a giant screen above the bar and takes forever to read the whole list. Their website has a live beer menu on it and you can review at your own pace. 2) Download their app to order food. Seriously, I wish this technology was everywhere. Ordered and modified food feom the food trucks from my seat. Your name goes on a big screen when thwy are cooking it and then lets you know when it is ready.

Had not been here before and had a function for work. Nice meeting area, but a but noisy if you are looking for that atmosphere. It worked well for our needs and any places with beer can't be all bad right? Great selection of beers as well. Looking forward to returning later in the spring so we can sit outside and enjoy a cold one after coming off the bike trail.

Was having a fabulous night in Des Moines so asked people which bar continues to be open and was recommended this place. It is a dive but the patrons all seemed cool. We played darts (with broken darts) and pool, with a graffitied table but loved every minute. But like another review said the bartender was not nice. Not only a jerk to someone asking for a bandaid, just throwing the whole first aid kit at her and saying “good luck”. She also sold us a $6 bud light at last call which was just minutes before closing. We thought we had more time but “bar time” was 10 min earlier and we were not aware. As we sat at the bar trying to finish the beer and asking about the time difference she started doing that sassy head shake “not my rules, why do you think I said last call”. Etc. THEN SHE GRABBED THE HALF DRANK CAN OOUT OF OUR MY DATES HAND AND CRUSHED IT. Wow! Would totally go again if she wasn’t behind the bar but also wish we could get some money back.

8/8/25 I had an old bartender that was rude got in my face and called me a liar after I had one drink the whole time there and prior. He was in my face loud rude hurtful and mean. If you want to chill somewhere n feel safe or comfortable do not go there

Local dive bars have a special place in my heart. This one was decent. We came in to watch a basketball game and sat at the bar. Their beer selection is extensive and also listed on Untappd. Kind of cool to see your name on the screen when you check a beer in. You don't see that at many places. It's an interesting form of customer appreciation. The bartenders working Friday night were really welcoming and quick to get our orders. They didn't hover and still got us new beers when they noticed us getting close to the bottom of the glass. Music is loud, TV is loud, but that's what we were going for. You can tell that this is a neighborhood favorite. Didn't get to play any of the games but everyone looked like they were having a good time. I did not go to the bathroom so I can't comment on cleanliness.

Awesome local dive bar in Sherman Hill. Perfect place to end the night when in the area. It is a dive bar but they do have a few decent beers on tap available typically as well!

cool dive bar with affordable drinks. they’ve got trivia there which isn’t too crowded

Open jam on Tuesdays 7-11 pm

Great dive bar. Tuesday night blues jam is the best!

I visited here on 5/25/25 and was overcharged on my card. I have tried numerous times to contact the establishment and spoke with them on Facebook about my refund but have yet not heard back on it. Great place but lacks communication when there is a matter that needs to be taken care of - this has happened to my friends in the past well so just be careful when you visit here and keep your receipts and take pictures so that this does not happen to you!

According to Google, they're open at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. However, at 3:20 p.m., there was no way to access their business. Elevator would not go to the third floor, and all doors to their business were locked. Looking through the window in the emergency stairwell, there were no employees inside. Also, extremely hard to locate. Had to ask a neighboring business how to get to their location.

Online Said they were open at 11:00PM but the bouncer said they were at capacity and counted 25 people come out and they did not let anyone else in for their “manager”. Don’t come here if you want a drink, there are many other better bars in the area that will serve people during their operating hours :)

Decent beer selection, upscale design and feel. They do not serve food but will allow you to bring food in from anywhere. Service was good, attentive and helpful with drink choices.

Saw this near an event we attended and looked up info online. Said it was open (Sat night in March, around 8:30p) and website indicated it's an active business. Attempted to access and found elevator woudn't go up and upstairs doors had signs but were locked and place was dark. Why have a google listing and a website if you have no open business. Just seems lazy.

Refused to validate my parking, costing $25 extra on top of my bar tab. Would’ve been a nice experience but ended horribly with the parking situation.

Don't be fooled. NO craft beer here. Bud, Dos XX, Models. No draft beer at all. Very disappointing.

The Lift has the best atmosphere of any bar in DSM. It’s low-lit and comfortable, worn in but not dirty. Ava is a stellar bartender. Always nice to visit for a few gimlets and a few games of chess.

Sitting I. The bar now. Great atmosphere and I didn’t get a martini but they made my Hendricks and tonic extra lime perfect. It’s crazy that ppl can’t do it right but they t was perfect. Service is perfect served fast bartenders very welcoming

The bartender's handshake could never. The one bartender is spinning vinyl and shaking cocktails simultaneously. Lana del Rey is drinking a spaghett in the corner. Art is on the walls.

Such a cute place - love the atmosphere, and the martinis are great.

Go here with my boyfriend, have never had a bad time! They have art exhibitions on the walls, sometimes local music and events! Overall a really nice place to get some drinks and maybe catch a show!

Bar tender was nice. Very small bar with a nice atmosphere. Drinks were good. $9 each. They have a small area for a band but there is not enough space for a normal audience area. The bar is on the ground floor.

Love the martinis here! Great specials throughout the week! Staff is pretty nice. Seat yourself. Nice, intimate place to meet a friend or two.

We were visiting with friends on a Thursday night sitting at the bar. Service: Excellent DRINKS: Wonderful Food: we had chips, queso and salsa. I highly recommend this! The pariaso ahumado was very delicious. The pineapple puree and hot honey was a fantastic combination of flavors along with the mezcal. I had 3. Get one for yourself!

Had a free evening after work during a business trip and decided to walk around the East Village for a drink and some food. Tacos and a beer sounded tempting for the hot and humid weather. I stepped into this place and for the time of the day (6pm) the indoors bar was really dark. Big sign at the entry “seat yourself”. Good… because there were two employees outside of the bar and one bartender and none of them acknowledged my presence or greeted me. I wanted to sit in their patio, so I asked one of them if I could do so. He responded “yes, go ahead”. I went out, seated myself, and waited for 20 minutes. There was a couple inside the bar and one occupied table in the patio. No one showed up. So I decided to leave. As I went through the indoors bar, the same three employees ignored me as I was walking out. Totally oblivious. I guess some customer service training before putting people to DO SERVICE would be nice…

Pineapple Margarita was SO good! Chips, salsa, queso, and guacamole was also amazing. Our table finished all three. They were fresh and had great flavor. Such a cute spot!

Fantastic happy hour deals with half off margaritas, chips and guacamole, salsa flights, nachos, beer, palomas, etc. We enjoyed the tacos but didn’t feel they stood out, and we have had better tacos elsewhere. But still solid and well filled, and the corn tortillas were good. We loved the chips and guacamole and enjoyed the salsa flight. The elote side with the tacos was fantastic! The margaritas were all good - we tried several on happy hour, as was the paloma. Service was steady but was consistently a bit slow. We would definitely return especially during happy hour.

My wife and I decided to try Coa Cantina. The atmosphere was great. The Pineapple Margarita was good but the Mezcal Margarita was great. We both had the chicken taco which lacked flavor and was bland. The beef taco had a little more flavor but was not spectacular. I would go back for happy hour drinks but not the food.

I have not been here outside of happy hours because the deal is so good. Half price margaritas and snacks. For example, as a couple we can get three margs and chips and guac for 25 bucks.

I have to say when I first arrived, I was not pleased with the initial service. However after speaking with Ashley and gaining an understanding, the service was phenomenal. Great food and very fulfilling for the price! Thank you for all you’ve done Ashley and Lindsey, keep up the great work!

Eh…was probably a cool place back in the day. High end of beer and a shot prices in my DM bar stops. No ambience what so ever unless writing on the wall does it for you. Bartender did a decent job and prices were on par with the neighborhood. I try LT at night sometime to see why people go there if they even do.

A fun small dive bar worthy of stopping by for a quick drink, shot, or pitstop. Don't expect the cleanest bathrooms if you go, but Locust Tap will definitely be the cheapest priced (and strongest) drinks you'll find around.

Skips every song you play. Why even have a PAID jukebox if the bartenders are just gonna skip songs to play things they like? Would not recommend.

Best place in town for a beverage and the staff is amazing!

This is the perfect small, dive bar. Service is always great. I feel like you never meet a stranger while I'm here.

I approached the bar to order a drink, but the bartender declined to serve me, citing a lack of tip from a previous transaction involving my friend, who had ordered two beers. Despite explaining that I was not associated with that order, the bartender remained dismissive and exhibited rudeness throughout the interaction. I am extremely disappointed with the overall experience.

Hey Leisha, I’m one of the bartenders who cut you off. I just wanted to address some of your review. 1) You say that you planned on tipping after your second round. Curiously, the reason we knew you stiffed us was because you closed your bill and emphasized the line through the tip section. Tabs are generally signed and closed when someone is finished…not halfway through their experience. 2) You never explained anything. What you DID do was stand there mumbling that your family owned a bar and pretended like you were calling someone. To which I’ll repeat what I said then “If your family owns a bar then you should definitely know better.” You’re just upset that you were called out publicly and guess what? I’mma do it again.

The east side of the river really isn’t dirty anymore. It’s been gentrified with your typical cookie cutter businesses and people. I enjoyed my Saturday afternoon visit. The prices are typical with the area. The bartender was on point and it wasn’t to sticky. For me the ambience wasn’t what I expected. Numerous bachelorette parties and those people that ride that drinking wagon thing came and went. A privileged frat boy sorority girl feel but maybe it was just the day. Without the patio I don’t think I’d bother with the place and I wonder what happens in the winter 3/4s of their seating disappears. I’ll swing in again to enjoy a nice patio evening but maybe on a weekday instead.

Been here before and it was always great. Who ever was the bartender tonight lied straight out of his teeth. I asked him what the specials were and he said all bombs were the same price and $1 off - I ordered a corona and a Yeager bomb - on the wall it says corona is $4 and bombs are $6 so with the special should be $5 meaning my total should have been $9. He charged me $12 I didn’t say anything. I ordered Yeager bomb again and asked him how much ? And this time instead of $6 it went up to $7. Just cause I’m not a regular don’t mean you can just try to cheat me. I paid my bill and left. Hopefully he needed the extra money he overcharged

It’s my favorite burger in the whole world. It’s as if McDonald’s didn’t incorporate. Great atmosphere. Great staff. Great soap.

They ID you at the door but don't require vaccination for covid. The bar tenders were very nice and knowledgeable of their craft. 1 helped me pick my 1st drink ever at a bar and it was delicious. I ordered 2different flavored mules, lime and a cherry. I left a tip for both good drinks. It was a nice place to sit and hangout. They have a fireplace and a bit of retro decore which is cool. I'd absolutely return and celebrate another New Years Eve here.

Great place to have drinks. Has a food truck most of the time. Padio is bigger than the inside. Classic dive bar inside. Cheap beer! Try the coffee drink if you get tired at night. It still has alcohol in it. Must go if it's a nice day. Rooftop bar is down the street which makes a great second place.

Great bartenders. Music is incredible. Love the location. Highly recommended.

Great dive bar vibe! They’re slinging Black Velvet like it’s gold...take that as you may. (Only drawback is their Yelp review says they serve burgers and that is not the case!)

Gorgeous little gem! The service, food, drinks and vibe were all absolutely amazing! The bartender was super kind and helped us decide what drinks to get. Wonderful first experience, we will definitely be back!

I stopped here for a drink and it has the cutest beachy tiki vibe. Great decor, seating areas and music, and friendly staff. I got a Saturn drink and it was delicious, and they make the drinks look just as good as they taste. I do wish they had a bit more on their menu, such as a glass of wine. Either way, a great stop for drink in a cool atmosphere.

Tyler and his team at Blue/Revival House did an amazing job helping us plan a birthday party. The food was amazing as usual, and the cocktails and atmosphere couldn’t have been more perfect! Great place to hold an event, or pop in for a cocktail or two.

Love the ambiance/decor! Small cutesy bar. We like going on Sundays for the sushi specials (they use Blue Sushi's menu). The tap water has something wrong with it but that's the only downside :)

As a tiki bar lover, this place ticks all the boxes: great drinks, friendly service, and amazing atmosphere. The menu offers a good mix of classic tiki drinks and some with modern twists. And the vibes are just right…the floor-to-ceiling decor is incredibly detailed and well thought out. You really feel like you’ve left the Midwest when you’re here. Bartender Ben was lovely as well. If you’re a fan of tiki bars or just tasty fruity cocktails, don’t miss this place!

Revival House is such a gem in downtown Des Moines. The atmosphere hits that perfect balance between vibrant and relaxed tiki-themed without feeling overdone, just really fun and inviting. The highlight of the night was absolutely the bartender. Incredibly attentive, genuinely kind, and clearly passionate about making sure guests have a great experience. Their energy really made the whole visit feel special. I can see this becoming one of my new go-to spots, and I’d come back anytime.

Rebekkah was absolutely fantastic! She was the best bar tender I’ve had in so long! She made sure we had everything we needed. Checked on us multiple times and overall was just the sweetest person! Genuine and very hospitable!

My wife and I visited The New Northwestern last night. We had a GREAT experience!!!!! I am a gin drinker and was super excited to try the gin flights. Duke the bartender was extremely knowledgeable when in came to the flights. I ended up doing a flight and a couple other cocktails. Every drink I had was fantastic. The tapas tasted wonderful. All the staff were friendly and attentive to the customers. There was live music as well. All in all it was a really great experience for a date night with the wife. We will definitely be going back.

Usually enjoy this place and spend a fair amount on my company events. Today I was asked to leave because of a “private event” in a rude manner. #1) If you need the money for your business and accept renting out your space for corporate events, they should be done during non-posted business hours.. so that people that drive to spend money at your establishment don’t do it for nothing #2) Hire friendlier employees that aren’t rude to some of your most loyal and profitable customers. My company, including myself, will not be returning.

Cute place in the East Village with some great cocktails. The building itself is an old hotel and the lobby is just gorgeous. We got the rose, an espresso martini and the Star-Zinger, and were all very happy. Will be back!

Came here for some pre-dinner drinks on two different occasions and they did not disappoint! Staff is very welcoming and professional. Drinks were both delicious and beautiful. The space was also visually appealing. This is what I look for when I go to cocktail bars!

Cool place. Stopped in before an event at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates and loved it. Had live music which is always a plus. Nice selection of cocktails. Good service. Good vibe.

Great place to stop and grab drinks!! It is slightly small with tight seating, but well worth the wait...or just get there earlier. Our bartender was amazing and not only made great drinks, but made our experience wonderful!! Will always go back!

Have already been to the New Northwestern twice since it opened and love it. Great original antique architecture and decorating. Had the best Gin & Tonics ever in their cocktail flight. Also great charcuterie boards. The owner Jeff is good at checking in and taking care of you. Check it out

Boy, did we feel cool when we got to go to the secret speakeasy behind Hello Marjorie. We asked the bartender what the rationale was for the bar and she said it was meant to be a smaller, more intimate venue where they could mix complex cocktails. They were complex for sure! We highly recommend the Lemon Bar. My friend did not care for her drink and the bartender Josh made her a different one. He was so accommodating, even moving a giant hot dog so we could all sit together at a table (go visit this bar- the hot dog will make more sense). Highly recommend. We had a great experience!!

This is an awesome spot with exceptionally great staff everyone was attentive and friendly. I had their signature Old Fashioned (highly recommended!), and my friend ordered their signature Cosmopolitan. Both were expertly made. I will absolutely be going back soon.

Fantastic cocktails! Some of the most inventive and depth and combinations of flavors anywhere around Des Moines. Certainly pricier than nearly every other cocktail bar in town but they are making fantastic drinks. Service was great as well when we were there. They have a “Scoops” section of the menu which are essentially boozy sorbet servings. Dark, classy, speakeasy type vibe in the back of Hello Marjorie. You can make reservations for a table as it’s a small place, or show up and hope to snag a first come first served bar seat.

The host was very kind to let us in even though it was packed with only 1 bartender. We went around 10 pm on a Saturday. The theme was 'No Menu,' which meant you told the bartender a few flavors you like, and he'd make you drink based on your preferences. My husband went with whiskey influences, and both were flavorful and sweeter than I would have predicted. He loved both drinks. For my first drink, I asked for lavender, elderflower, honey flavors. I forget what he called it, but it was decent. The second one I asked for tajin. He made me a margarita with butterfly pea flower (or whatever makes your drink purple), egg white froth, tajin on the rim and he said, "I forget what else - I blacked out when making it." 🤣 Bartender and atmosphere was awesome 🫶

One of my favorite cocktail bars, which I try my best to visit any time I’m in Des Moines. Definitely hidden - you have to know where you’re headed in order to find it, but the drinks are absolutely outstanding. The presentation is top-notch, and the flavors are out of this world. If only I lived closer - I’d be a regular!

A really cool speakeasy within a bar. Downright experimental drinks that really work! Delicious drinks and a friendly staff that can tell you all about them. Loved it!

This place gets my vote for the most special cocktail bar in central Iowa. While all of Nick Tillinghast’s bars (Hello, Marjorie…Secret Admirer) are absolutely fantastic, Good News Darling is the crown jewel. Dark and intimate, unique and consistently high-quality, this is the place to go for a truly special date night out. Mixologists here are highly skilled and take special pride in inventing and delivering amazing drinks. Presentation is first-class. Value is also strong, considering the high-quality drinks served here. It’s a small place and reservations (through the website are a must. Service is both personal and very consistent. If you’re looking to impress or simply feel pampered, there’s no other place like it in Des Moines. Staff very proficient in explaining ingredients and bringing them together in drinks that can only be found here. There’s no other place like it.

New menu is very limited on cocktails, service was very lackuster, didn't get anyone stop over for over 45 minutes. I know staff was very limited but it was dead and they never came by. Edit: unable to reply to owner response. We were there Friday night around 9:30. Service was good at first but towards the end was when it slowed down.

Been here 3x in a three year span. It's great every.single.time. I've come here for food. I've come here for drinks. I've come here for food AND drinks. I've sat at the bar. I've sat at a table. The food is always perfect! The drinks are always perfect! The staff is awesome no matter who you get! Honestly, this is one of my favorite places in DSM!

Cool little speakeasy to distract ourselves while waiting for dinner upstairs. Delicious lobster artichoke dip started our experience accompanied by a smooth honey nut old fashioned. Coupled with amazing service started our night off right.

The food was tasty, the drink selection was great, but it took 30 minutes for me to get a drink after I ordered at the table and I think the waiter forgot about me. Maybe I just caught them on a bad night.

If you're looking for a more relaxed, old school style of food and drink, then you'll definitely enjoy a stop at Ken's. No tvs and a pleasant atmosphere allow a stress-free experience. Good whiskey to pick from and good service.

An excellent stop for delicious cocktails and an extensive list of whiskey! The wings were delicious and the atmosphere was moody with a great speakeasy style vibe. Will definitely be back when I'm in town

Really great space under the Iowa Taproom. Chatted with Joe who was a great bartender and friendly guy!

Unique place with great food! It was relatively busy when we arrived with a 25 minute wait to dine inside Zombie Burger. They also had patio seating for a slightly shorter wait. While waiting we took the opportunity to do some of the photo ops and noticed a Ramen place attached. Turns out, it's all the same place with the same menu and this side could serve us immediately. The lady was super welcoming and friendly. We ordered fried pickles, a cheeseburger, Dawn of the Dead, Walking Ched, & T-Virus all with fries. Everything was made to order and delicious. Fries were perfect.... perfect batter, perfect flavor, perfect crunch. It was a little on the pricey side, coming in at over $86 without tip. Overall, it was family friendly and a good experience.

Fun! Friendly! Delicious! We came into town for the Nicotine Dolls/Wic Whitman concert from Minnesota, a few local Ladies we were standing near told us about Zombie Burger so we hung around on Friday to see the sights until they opened. We are so glad we did! The leather Face was to die for. And the Brussel sprouts with the Zombie sauce was AMAZING! We sat outside as it was a beautiful breezy day, then this FREAKY TRUCK PULLED UP! AND A PIG MAN JUMPED OUT WITH A CHAIN SAW!!! How fun! I asked my wait staff if it was just because it was October? They said Nope, they were from the slaughter house where they get their meat from..."Just making their weekly delivery!" Talk about perfect timing to be there! It totally completed our AMAZING girls trip to Des Moines. It was my mother's 78th birthday getaway...one she will NEVER forget! Thank you Nicotine Dolls Wic Whitney and ZOMBIE BURGER!!!!!

I've been here a handful of times over the past few years. The burgers are decent and the milkshakes are always pretty good. My favorite thing to get every time is the Goat Cheese Poppers, though. So good! Especially with the raspberry dipping sauce. Somehow, it just works! I'm not sure when they added the ramen, but my hubs brought it home tonight. It was alright. The broth was a little too bitter and the char sui was cooked weird for being in ramen. It was still decent, but I think I would just stick with the burger after my next year-long hiatus. Love the updates to the inner-space, and the kiosks for ordering take-out. Novelty food, for sure. But if you like jalapeño poppers then definitely try theirs!

Des Moines I stop here for dinner. Tonight was our first time eating dinner here. The food and service is fantastic. The prices are reasonable This is all-time favorite restaurant due to the fantastic food, creativity of the menu and the atmosphere. I am a huge fan of Zombie movies and shows. I love all the decor throughout the restaurant, and the Zombie news on the back of the menu is a nice touch.

Tried Zombie Burger for the first time and had their special K-Pop Ramen Hunters—absolutely delicious! I don’t usually handle spice very well, but the staff was awesome and swapped the spicy broth for pork broth, which I really appreciated. On top of that, their cereal shakes are a must-try—sweet, fun, and just as good as they sound. Definitely a spot worth checking out!

Sure it’s a little gimmicky but it’s an indulgent treat every once in a while. I got a cinnamon toast crunch shake which it’s exactly as sweet and delicious as you’d expect. I also got the Juan of the dead burger with lettuce (no bun) and the veggie nut patty. I was expecting a lettuce wraps but was pleasantly surprised it was more like a salad. The veggie patty was unique and not your typically black bean burger. The burger was cheese and the sauce was creamy. I appreciate they gave the sauce on the side so it wasn’t soaking wet. It’s a bit pricey but worth it. Parking meters and garage nearby are finicky but not the restaurant’s fault.

Zombie Burger – 4/5 The food was really good, but what truly makes Zombie Burger stand out is the killer theme. The place is packed with clever, zombie-style takes on classic movie posters, and the atmosphere is an absolute vibe — everyone there seemed to be having a great time soaking it all in. I ended up giving it a 4/5, but honestly, that’s only because I think I ordered the wrong burger. I’ll definitely be back to try another one — this place is too fun (and too tasty) not to.

The Iowa State Capitol was stunning from the start, its gold dome gleaming proudly above Des Moines. Inside, friendly security officers greeted us with smiles and a touch of humor, setting the tone for a great visit. The intricate tile mosaics were breathtaking, and the library was a true gem, filled with charm and small spiral staircases leading to its upper levels, making it one of the most beautiful spaces in any Capitol we’ve visited.

We went on a tour with Karen, who was a great tour guide. It is worth finding out if you can go on a guided tour instead if a self tour. She pointed out things we would never have seen and we got to go to the dome. Great tour, lovely building.

We got a guided tour and it was incredible! Julie was extremely knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. The history, the architecture, the art, it is all rich and intriguing. I can not thank Julie enough for how amazing she was at informing us of the beauty of the Capitol. Iowa, for all the times people call you an ugly state, your capitol is one of the most beautiful I have had the pleasure of being in!

This is a must see if your visit Des Moines! It is free to visit with free parking. Beautiful building and amazing architecture. Amazing this was built in the 1800s. Visitors tour guide book is only $1 and no tax.

This is the most beautiful state capitol I have ever seen. We had a wonderful tour and enjoyed it immensely. Its beauty reminds me of many buildings I have seen in Europe!

Great place!! Very beautiful inside and great architecture. It's free to visit. And they even offer a tour (free maybe) to go further up in the building. We didn't get to do this, but I would definitely recommend getting this booked ahead of time if you want to.

Went on a Sunday 😣but enjoyed the outside sculpture. The view from the capital is amazing , there is a section on the front entry on the ground they have the map with all the counties , Al the outdoor benches are named after every governor. That is a nice gesture.

For high end dining it's tough to beat Django. The elegant ambiance and excellent service set it apart. Maryann was attentive and friendly. Save room for tasty deserts, especially the cherry sundae; the tartness and sweet explode your tastebuds.

We are here for Senior Games and seven of us had a delicious dinner on the patio. Our waitress, Debbie was great. We were too full for dessert. We are thrilled we stopped here for one of our dinners in Des Moines.

Desserts 10/10. Atmosphere 10/10. We were kind of ignored a couple of times. I personally didn’t like the pork chops but this looks like a place that you can have a nice date or celebration depending on the personnel that assist you.

Celebrated my birthday with family and friends. Excellent food and service. I loved the low dim lighting and our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and specific ingredients. Highly recommend!

The pork chop had almost no flavor other than the sauce. The Beef Bourignon needed salt. The escargot, cherry sunday and bread pudding were great. Our food took wayy too long to come out. Our server walked by us several times without asking if we were ok. I mentioned that I wanted my wine paired with my meals (specifically asked which wines would go well with my food) and the wine was brought 15 minutes before my food. Tried to have a conversation with manager about the 5 course dinner they are having on the 17th and I was met with very short responses. Overall, I wasn't happy with this experience at all. I doubt we will be back.

Me and my group had the best experience at Django for a friend’s birthday dinner. We had poutine & oysters as appetizers, I had the beef bourguignon as my entree, and for dessert we shared the creme brûlée. I cant say enough how delicious the food was- it was a meal I’ll be thinking about for awhile. We also had lotsss of espresso martinis & as true connoisseurs of the cocktail (for better or worse) we all agreed it’s the best in the area. Our server (I believe her name was Loretta) was absolutely OUTSTANDING. We felt so well taken care of from start to finish.

My husband and I love this place. We've been coming here for a few years and it's always quality food and a quality experience. Their escargot, and their mussels, are top notch, the likes of which I've only had in France/Belgium. This is one of the places we always bring guests who come to visit us. While it might be priced a bit more than a casual restaurant, it's not ridiculously expensive like some other places in the area, and it's amazing quality for what you pay.

We were really looking forward to visiting the science centre and had kept it for a cold winters day. The experience was super disappointing. I was expecting more things for adults I guess, and a little more excitement. I enjoy a planetarium and when they said there was a show we made sure to go. Our planetarium back home in South Africa is a far better experience. There is no talking, the seats are comfortable and go back, and you are able to take it all in. Here there was chatter, you sat on plastic chairs, and in order to experience it all, you have to sit with your head back for half an hour - a rather painful experience. Been there, done that.

While the Science Center is a fun place to explore and learn...I feel like the experience has been downgraded in recent years. I remember there being a lot more to do when you where there...from seeing the pendulum that kept time by the IMax theater, to seeing Channel 13 weather broadcasted if you were lucky to be there during a time they were there. And I also remember there being a lot more hands on activities too... Now the pendulum is apparently shut down(?) as is the cafe that was there..And everything seemed largely scaled back. I remember when the Science Center has something there for everyone of all ages, now it seems to be just a glorified children's museum and very dumbed down. I don't know if and when I will be back. I was disappointed that so much was either closed or just blocked off. Definitely not worth the price in my opinion. But I do enjoy the nature area. It always is my favorite area to visit here. I'm glad to see it has gotten such a glow up in recently years. And the space show was cool too.

This is such a fun place for all ages. We loved the time we spent and there was fun things for toddlers, teens, and adults.

Our family of 4 (kids 5 &3) spent ~5 hours here, but we could have easily spent more! It was our first time here and I was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the staff as well as the cleanliness and condition of of the facilities. We couldn’t pick a favorite room, we loved the variety in the rooms and were impressed with multiple. We will definitely plan another trip in the future and look forward to seeing their new exhibit that was being renovated while we were there!

If you haven't done the sensory hours at the science center, you are missing out. My daughters and myself are very sensitive to sound so once a month they offer a sensory friendly night. It literally felt like we had the place to ourselves. Of course we didn't but only 10 or so families were there tonight spread all out the science center. We always love the activity room on the second floor with the rockets and water table, and the little play room on the first floor off to the left. My girls are 4. They had a great lego display on the first floor off to the back left and the kids loved picking corn, apples and gathering chicken eggs in the play room.

What a great family experience! There are activities for all ages. All of the exhibits are interactive. It has activities that helped my child want to try all them all. Love the rocket building and launching, the big ball wall, and of course the Lego room. Had fun building something in the make it area. Overall, great experience for everyone in my family. Many fun times at the Science Center!!

Fun for the whole family. We could have spent a couple days here without the kids getting bored. After 6 hours they were asking when we could come back. As a parent I was disappointed that several of the exhibits were closed when we visited (June 2024), but it didn’t bother the kids. My kids were bummed that some of the (I’m guessing older exhibits) were missing parts and dysfunctional/inoperable. But overall, definitely worth spending a day there with the kiddos. Also, you can save $2 per person if you buy tickets in advance online.

We went to Malo for the first time. We had a nice experience. We were there during happy hour so our margaritas were well priced. I had the trio of tacos and opted for the lettuce leaves. All 3 were meat options and all really nicely flavoured. My favourite was the Beef Barbacoa, which was most like brisket. We did start with chips and salsa (which meant there was a LOT of food). The salsas were very tasty too. We need to learn to share, didn’t finish everything and definitely left feeling fuller than I would have liked!

Had a really, incredibly delicious vegan burrito here. Opted not to add $7 vegan chorizo in because that cost was just hard to justify, luckily is was great without it. Chips and salsa were fresh and my waitress was really friendly and polite. My issue however was with the hostess, who gave an attitude when I asked to sit in the shade outside instead of in the direct 5:30pm summer sunlight. She seated me at the very back corner of the patio next to the alley at a 4 top even after passing numerous seats with umbrellas that could have been opened up. When the waitress came out to take my order, she didn’t even see me at first because of where I had been seated. Rude, college age hostess who I guess thought she was being funny? Hardly. Everything else was great but that behavior really rubbed me the wrong way. Even the waitress was surprised to see where I had been seated.

Nice upscale place for Mexican food. We got queso and guacamole, both very good. I got the mix and match street tacos; mahi mahi, carne asada, and beef tenderloin, all were delicious. They have a nice drink menu as well. They also have an outdoor patio, though we sat inside, plenty of seating options. Lighting inside could be better, dark spots and spotlights in your face at the same table. Overall the food would bring me back!

We hosted our son's wedding rehearsal dinner here on June 27, 2025. We had 50 people, including children in attendance. We opted for the taco bar buffet with bowls of guacamole and platters of the seafood nachos, drunken nachos and grilled veggies. The entire experience, from the first booking through check-ins and then the night of the dinner, was completely outstanding. We couldn't have been more pleased with the beautiful space, extremely tasty food, and the excellent service all throughout. If it was possible to give more stars I would.

Went to Malo for the first time and had a pretty decent time. We were seated on the patio and it was cute. The service was nothing special, and the food was ok! I’m not much of a drinker, but I liked my passion fruit margarita a lot (I even finished it!) I think in the future, I would come to this establishment for drinks and skip on the food. They were really light with the onions which was disappointing. I spent $25.28 for everything. PS. look at that HUGE fork.

Love the vegan burrito with the vegan chorizo. I have dreams about this burrito. You can tell everything is made from scratch. Drinks are mostly good. The margaritas kind of lack in flavor. Service is mostly good. The atmosphere is good, but kind of loud if you're trying to have a conversation.

This is very close to the Hotel Fort DesMoines we were staying at. It had good reviews, so we decided to try it. It was an excellent choice. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Try one of the taco trios. It’s a great value. Everything coming out to the neighboring tables looked delicious. There were margarita specials too!

I had been to Louie's Wine Dive a few times before Friday, August 15, but usually for apps and drinks, not a full meal. On this occasion, I ordered the chicken piccata. It was amazing. I literally cleaned my plate, and it was a very generous portion (see picture). Our server was friendly, attentive, and took care of us perfectly. I will definitely be back!!

Went here for an early Valentine's Day dinner with the wife to avoid crowds. First, I will say that even though they were somewhat busy and we didn't have a reservation, we were able to get a table quickly, which was nice. The table they had us at was very small, even for just 2, which was a bit of a downside. Our server was very professional, and did a good job checking in during the meal without being overbearing. I got the 4 pork gnocchi. I was a bit worried that the red wine sauce might be too strong, but it was actually very good, and I enjoyed the dish a lot. The only downside is that there weren't as many pork pieces as I would have expected; the dish was great, just a little light on meat, especially given its name. My wife got the Pumpkin Marscapone Ravioli with chicken. She thought the sauce was actually much too sweet, and though the chicken was good, the dish was just not as good as she'd hoped. She put a generous amount of salt and pepper on, which improved it, but she still ended up eating less of it than she would have if it had been more savory. We also got a chocolate molten cake to share. This was small, but given how intense the flavor was turned out to be just the right size. It was good, but easily took twice as long as our entrees to come out (nearly 30.minutes just for this; we weren't sure if the order just got in at a bad time, it what, but the wait for the desert was the worst part of the experience for the night. The atmosphere was also good, with jazz music played just loud enough that other tables talking were just a din, but not so loud you couldn't talk at your own table. The lighting was also good. The only bad part was that our table was more like the size of an end table, but we made do with it Overall, this place was very good, with just a couple little things that could be improved. We'd go again.

Great place overall. The service was excellent, and the staff was friendly and professional. Live jazz was performed as part of the Wednesday night schedule, which created a fantastic atmosphere for dinner. The food was served hot and fresh and was plated well. The crab cakes were delicious.

Food is consistently good, service super, love live jazz nights. Cameron and Alexis deserve raises as they were incredible!! Thank you for delicious food, atmosphere and top notch service. Love open table for reservations! New app to track points, easy to know where I stand. Keep up the great work Louies!!

Decided to come here for my belated birthday brunch because the patio is dog-friendly and because the menu seemed to accommodate dietary restrictions for my friends. My gluten-free and Vegan friends ended up getting just homefries and a bowl of fruit for $5 each. The portions were very small for that price point. The restaurant does have GF bread but there were a lot of dishes that were already prepped where they couldn't have certain ingredients removed. The rest of us enjoyed our food and drinks. My only personal complaint is that the Fig & Ricotta Toast didn't have enough Fig or Ricotta on it. Also, the herbed ricotta tasted kind of weird. More fig, maybe in the form of a jam, and either a neutral or spicy/tangy ricotta would have been better. There was so much arugula I felt like I was eating a messy salad with no dressing. Other than that, food (and drinks especially) took longer than normal to come out and it seemed like there was enough staff to accommodate us. We arrived before it started filling up (at 11) so I'm not sure if they were just busy training or something else. The server was really funny though and helpful to us. It's too bad that the bar and kitchen couldn't be more efficient.

Best cheese curds I’ve ever had & they are GF! 🙌🏻 The crab Benedict, chicken sandwich & burger were very good! The ball got dropped with the breakfast potatoes & French fries…soggy & not very hot. (Could have been timing?) Loved being able to sit on the patio in the shade & seeing its dog friendly! Server was nice but late in taking our order & clearing our plates. I’ll definitely be back for another Limoncello Spritz & Squeaky Cheese (curds) with my dog, Blue!

Great patio sitting once the sun moved toward the horizon enough. So many tasty dishes to choose from, many of hhem gluten free. Server even made sure we got a second drink order in just before their special ended.

A very popular brewery, especially with the cyclists. There is a bike path leading from the park directly to the brewery in the rear of the building. The entrance is easy to find. We didn’t have a problem with parking, but unless there is more parking elsewhere, the main lot would fill quickly. A new concrete wheelchair ramp was being installed and should be functional once rails are put on. You have to traverse a few hallways to get back to the taproom. They advertise new beers every week and it shows. There were 35 beers on the tap board during our visit. The flights are 4 sets of 5 oz pours. We visited at 4:30 on a Saturday. The staff was friendly and there was no wait to order with several seating options available. It’s family friendly with kids joining their parents. Unfortunately there is little sound dampening and the noise was loud enough that I had to use my outside voice to talk across the table. The atmosphere was friendly with cool wall art. Overall a good brewery. The flavor profile of the 8 beers my wife and I sampled weren’t to our tastes with only 1 each meeting “would order again” status. No real complaints, but not on my list to visit again.

In town for business and I asked a colleague what their favorite microbrew was in the Des Moines area and they said Confluence! Cool taproom with indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area has lots of tables, and outdoor bar, and tonight they were playing live music. Loves the chill vibes and all of the people walking and riding bikes along the trail and to the taproom. There is plentiful bike racks for safe keeping while you enjoy a beer and a break. I tried the Milkman Molk Stout and it was superb stout - they have an extensive selection and I wish I had time to go back and try more.

It's difficult to even put into words how much I love this place. Confluence isn’t just my favorite brewery in Des Moines — it might be my favorite brewery, period. It’s the only spot within walking distance of our house, and it’s become our go-to. It feels like "Cheers" in the best way: friendly staff, catching up with neighbors and an awesome patio overlooking Gray's Lake park. And that’s just the atmosphere. The beer itself is on another level. There’s probably a dozen I look forward to every year - there's a new release each Friday - which is wild, because I’m not the most adventurous beer drinker. They just know what they’re doing. If you’re local, you already know. If you’re visiting, make this one of your stops. You won’t regret it.

Great drinks! The inside smell I couldn’t tolerate but it’s okay because they have plenty of outdoor seating. Great place to bike to or walk over to if you are at Greys Lake.

Always a great time. Lots of different styles of their beers are always available. When it’s stout month you should go (mostly) dark! They have a gorgeous patio that is just a short walk away from Grays Lake park and the bike trails.

Amazing experience. Loved the patio and live music. So many beer options and they were all very tasty. Fun taproom, great art. Highly recommend. We came in from KC and are already talking about a trip back for Confluence

We recognize Chris for going above and beyond at Wasabi Waukee on September 23, 2025. We were facing an urgent issue with our keg cooler that was impacting draft service. Chris not only helped diagnose and repair the cooler on the spot, he also assisted with swapping in new kegs, confirming lines, pressures, and temperatures, and ensuring every tap was pouring correctly before he left. His professionalism, technical know-how, and willingness to stay until the job was truly complete prevented service interruptions during a busy period and saved us product waste. Please pass along my thanks—this is exactly the kind of partnership we value. Chris represented Confluence exceptionally well. Thank you, Rhiannon King General Manager, Wasabi Waukee