Guidebook for Des Moines

Michelle
Guidebook for Des Moines

Arts & Culture

Home of the Iowa Cubs baseball. A great night out with family or friends.
22 locals recommend
Principal Park
1 Line Dr
22 locals recommend
Home of the Iowa Cubs baseball. A great night out with family or friends.
Convention and concert venue.
28 locals recommend
Wells Fargo Arena
233 Center St
28 locals recommend
Convention and concert venue.
The spot for entertaining kids or seeing a movie and its just across the street.
43 locals recommend
Science Center of Iowa
401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
43 locals recommend
The spot for entertaining kids or seeing a movie and its just across the street.
Voted one of the best in the country and a great Saturday morning excuse for a stroll. 7am-noon; May-October.
41 locals recommend
Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market
300 Court Ave
41 locals recommend
Voted one of the best in the country and a great Saturday morning excuse for a stroll. 7am-noon; May-October.
Amazing concert venue featuring diverse acts in a small, cozy atmosphere. Complete with bar and standing room only.
20 locals recommend
Wooly's
504 E Locust St
20 locals recommend
Amazing concert venue featuring diverse acts in a small, cozy atmosphere. Complete with bar and standing room only.
Great live music joint with weekly acts.
8 locals recommend
Gas Lamp
1501 Grand Ave
8 locals recommend
Great live music joint with weekly acts.
Art museum with an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art and mixed media.
87 locals recommend
Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Ave
87 locals recommend
Art museum with an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art and mixed media.

Drinks & Nightlife

Best collection of nostalgic and vintage beer signs, darn good bacon wrapped tots and a fantastic retro atmosphere!
12 locals recommend
The High Life Lounge
200 Southwest 2nd Street
12 locals recommend
Best collection of nostalgic and vintage beer signs, darn good bacon wrapped tots and a fantastic retro atmosphere!
Largest assortment of beers on tap in the state and a stones throw away!
25 locals recommend
El Bait Shop
200 SW 2nd St
25 locals recommend
Largest assortment of beers on tap in the state and a stones throw away!
This is as much of a restaurant as it is a bar. Polka you way in for a "boot" of German beer or a plate of authentic spaetzle.
19 locals recommend
Hessen Haus
101 SW 4th St
19 locals recommend
This is as much of a restaurant as it is a bar. Polka you way in for a "boot" of German beer or a plate of authentic spaetzle.
Ultimate dive bar - guaranteed not to disappoint. Check out live open jam every Tuesday night.
10 locals recommend
Carl's Place
1620 Woodland Ave
10 locals recommend
Ultimate dive bar - guaranteed not to disappoint. Check out live open jam every Tuesday night.
Friendly staff and a great happy hour. This place is classic.
Zimm's Food & Spirits
3124 Ingersoll Ave
Friendly staff and a great happy hour. This place is classic.
Classic dive joint with friendly bar tenders and excellent daily happy hour specials. Also has outdoor patio.
Beechwood Lounge
416 E Walnut St
Classic dive joint with friendly bar tenders and excellent daily happy hour specials. Also has outdoor patio.
The quintessential dive bar. Ratty and ragged - only a true bar fly can appreciate.
13 locals recommend
Locust Tap
434 E Locust St
13 locals recommend
The quintessential dive bar. Ratty and ragged - only a true bar fly can appreciate.
80s video game arcade meets hip bar scene. Get your pong on!
30 locals recommend
Up-Down
500 E Locust St
30 locals recommend
80s video game arcade meets hip bar scene. Get your pong on!
Beer, Scotch & British-style pub grub served in a casual space with a fireplace & soccer on TV.
14 locals recommend
The Royal Mile
210 4th St
14 locals recommend
Beer, Scotch & British-style pub grub served in a casual space with a fireplace & soccer on TV.
The Red Monk is Iowa’s only bar dedicated to the most interesting beers in the world, Belgian style beers.
The Red Monk
210 4th St
The Red Monk is Iowa’s only bar dedicated to the most interesting beers in the world, Belgian style beers.
Nice selection of craft brews.
25 locals recommend
Confluence Brewing Company
1235 Thomas Beck Rd
25 locals recommend
Nice selection of craft brews.
Food is as good as the beer here and the tasting room/patio are great spaces.
29 locals recommend
Exile Brewing Company
1514 Walnut St
29 locals recommend
Food is as good as the beer here and the tasting room/patio are great spaces.
Craft brews in the heart of downtown happenings.
14 locals recommend
Madhouse Brewery
501 Scott Ave
14 locals recommend
Craft brews in the heart of downtown happenings.
More craft brews just down the street.
14 locals recommend
Madhouse Brewery
501 Scott Ave
14 locals recommend
More craft brews just down the street.
Alpine cold beer - bring a koozie. Alpine cold atmosphere - bring a coat.
6 locals recommend
Alpine Tap Room
2720 Ingersoll Ave
6 locals recommend
Alpine cold beer - bring a koozie. Alpine cold atmosphere - bring a coat.
Voted best nachos and you can get a cheeseburger as a side dish! Also a good choice for breakfast. Near Drake University.
The Pourhouse Dinkytown
1301 4th St SE
Voted best nachos and you can get a cheeseburger as a side dish! Also a good choice for breakfast. Near Drake University.

Food Scene

This joint is a MUST on your downtown Des Moines list. A quirky joint with asian inspired pizza and drinks. Definitely recommend the Crab Rangoon pizza and any of the drinks in tiki glasses.
42 locals recommend
Fong's Pizza
223 4th St
42 locals recommend
This joint is a MUST on your downtown Des Moines list. A quirky joint with asian inspired pizza and drinks. Definitely recommend the Crab Rangoon pizza and any of the drinks in tiki glasses.
Best seafood in Des Moines hands down. Recommend the Chilean Sea Bass and daily oyster selections. Also good for a well shaken martini.
8 locals recommend
Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
303 Locust St
8 locals recommend
Best seafood in Des Moines hands down. Recommend the Chilean Sea Bass and daily oyster selections. Also good for a well shaken martini.
Family-owned, this classic Italian neighborhood restaurant is friendly and tasty.
8 locals recommend
Tumea & Sons
1501 SE 1st St
8 locals recommend
Family-owned, this classic Italian neighborhood restaurant is friendly and tasty.
Excellent burger. One of the best Sunday brunches. Great atmosphere.
19 locals recommend
Americana
1312 Locust St
19 locals recommend
Excellent burger. One of the best Sunday brunches. Great atmosphere.
Best place for a nice evening out. Food is creative and fantastic. Also try their wood-fired pizza as take out! Brunch with bloody mary bar is excellent.
23 locals recommend
Centro
1003 Locust St
23 locals recommend
Best place for a nice evening out. Food is creative and fantastic. Also try their wood-fired pizza as take out! Brunch with bloody mary bar is excellent.
Great happy hour with $1 oyster and shrimp + great drink specials. Menu is american with a french twist. Also a good spot for brunch.
18 locals recommend
Django
1420 Locust St
18 locals recommend
Great happy hour with $1 oyster and shrimp + great drink specials. Menu is american with a french twist. Also a good spot for brunch.
Survive the zombie hordes and hide out with a monster burger and cocktail concoction. Taking burger and booze to new heights - don't miss this one!!!
44 locals recommend
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
300 E Grand Ave
44 locals recommend
Survive the zombie hordes and hide out with a monster burger and cocktail concoction. Taking burger and booze to new heights - don't miss this one!!!
Great river view from rooftop patio. Stop by before a baseball game or during a bike ride.
16 locals recommend
Mullets
1253 1300 SE 1st St
16 locals recommend
Great river view from rooftop patio. Stop by before a baseball game or during a bike ride.
Creative pizzas and a good indoor/outdoor hangout. Walk from the loft on your way to the East Village.
Mad Meatball
Creative pizzas and a good indoor/outdoor hangout. Walk from the loft on your way to the East Village.
Excellent old-style diner experience.
16 locals recommend
Drake Diner
1111 25th St
16 locals recommend
Excellent old-style diner experience.
Blast from the past drive-in. Well worth the trek to it.
George The Chili King Drive-In
5722 Hickman Rd
Blast from the past drive-in. Well worth the trek to it.
Voted Des Moines best burger according to CityView magazine.
Big City Burgers and Greens
400 Locust St
Voted Des Moines best burger according to CityView magazine.
Voted best Pizza according to CityView magazine. Has gluten-free options.
14 locals recommend
Gusto Pizza Co
2301 Ingersoll Ave
14 locals recommend
Voted best Pizza according to CityView magazine. Has gluten-free options.
Amazing a la carte steakhouse.
15 locals recommend
801 Chophouse
801 Grand Ave
15 locals recommend
Amazing a la carte steakhouse.
Tacos on a new level.
Tacopocalypse
407 E 5th St
Tacos on a new level.
Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-free
New World Cafe
223 East Walnut Street
Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-free
Best pastries in town. Great sandwiches, quiches and breakfast.
46 locals recommend
La Mie Bakery
841 42nd St
46 locals recommend
Best pastries in town. Great sandwiches, quiches and breakfast.

Sightseeing

Surrounded by trails for walking/jogging/biking and close to the loft for a daily jaunt.
6 locals recommend
Gray's Lake Park
6 locals recommend
Surrounded by trails for walking/jogging/biking and close to the loft for a daily jaunt.
A beautiful setting for a stroll or inspiration. Biking distance on trails from the loft. And it has a lovely restaurant with outdoor patio.
341 locals recommend
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd
341 locals recommend
A beautiful setting for a stroll or inspiration. Biking distance on trails from the loft. And it has a lovely restaurant with outdoor patio.
A beautifully renovated building and tours available.
7 locals recommend
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
100 Locust St
7 locals recommend
A beautifully renovated building and tours available.
Beautiful indoor and outdoor gardens with gift store and restaurant. Accessible along River Walk and by bicycle.
53 locals recommend
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
909 Robert D. Ray Dr
53 locals recommend
Beautiful indoor and outdoor gardens with gift store and restaurant. Accessible along River Walk and by bicycle.
Sculptures and festivals just a brief walk from the loft.
78 locals recommend
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
1330 Grand Ave
78 locals recommend
Sculptures and festivals just a brief walk from the loft.

Entertainment & Activities

A great attraction for kids and adults. Check out Wednesday nights during the summer for Zoo & Brew.
47 locals recommend
Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th St
47 locals recommend
A great attraction for kids and adults. Check out Wednesday nights during the summer for Zoo & Brew.

Essentials

Best little market in the area - like a mini Whole Foods. Also has a cafe that is worth checking out!
35 locals recommend
Gateway Market
2002 Woodland Ave
35 locals recommend
Best little market in the area - like a mini Whole Foods. Also has a cafe that is worth checking out!

Shopping

Jewelry store in East Village with unique pieces and style.
Leona Ruby
400 E Locust St
Jewelry store in East Village with unique pieces and style.
Get a wacky, Iowa inspired t-shirt as a souvenir at this place!!!
20 locals recommend
RAYGUN
505 E Grand Ave
20 locals recommend
Get a wacky, Iowa inspired t-shirt as a souvenir at this place!!!
Olive oils, vinegars and spices galore!
AllSpice Culinarium
400 E Locust St
Olive oils, vinegars and spices galore!
A small store with big kitchen appeal. Tons of gadgets and beautiful table pieces.
Kitchen Collage of Des Moines
430 E Locust St
A small store with big kitchen appeal. Tons of gadgets and beautiful table pieces.
Great women's clothing boutique!
Aimee
426 E Locust St
Great women's clothing boutique!
Best local chocolates and a great coffee house.
16 locals recommend
Chocolaterie Stam
2814 Ingersoll Ave
16 locals recommend
Best local chocolates and a great coffee house.
Coffee bar & 4-story showcase for antiques & goods salvaged from all over the world.
12 locals recommend
West End Architectural Salvage
22 9th St
12 locals recommend
Coffee bar & 4-story showcase for antiques & goods salvaged from all over the world.