Centro ★ 4.3
George Formaro's downtown Italian anchor occupies a former Masonic temple with open kitchen, white tablecloths and framed vintage Italian posters.
SignatureKill-Bill Pork Tenderloin, Coal-fired pizza, Handmade pasta
Restaurants in Downtown
Table 128 ★ 4.4
A modern American bistro tucked into a westside strip mall that belies the quality inside. Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients underpin a menu ranging
SignatureIowa pork shoulder steak, Faroe Island salmon, Beluga lentil barbacoa
Bubba ★ 4.1
Downtown Des Moines' Southern comfort destination pairs fried chicken, jambalaya and Southern fried catfish with an extensive brown-liquor selection.
SignatureButtermilk fried chicken, Chicken and waffles, Shrimp and grits
Aposto ★ 4.5
Award-winning restaurateur Tony Lemmo's Aposto occupies a historic 1880 Victorian mansion on 18th Street, with herbs grown on site feeding the kitchen.
SignatureHandmade pasta, Seasonal garden herbs
Hessen Haus ★ 4.0
A full-scale German beer hall in downtown Des Moines with 50 German beers on draft and over 100 in bottles, claimed as the largest German beer selection
SignatureWienerschnitzel, Currywurst, Schweinshaxe
Exile Brewing Company ★ 4.2
The closest full-service brewpub to downtown, reliable on Walnut Street since 2012; Ruthie Red Ale is the flagship and weekend brunch fills quickly.
SignatureExile Burger with Bacon Jam, Pulled pork sandwich, Nashville chicken sandwich
Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company ★ 3.9
The original Des Moines craft brewery since 1996, serving reliable American food and a small-batch experimental programme alongside the house ales.
SignatureFrench onion soup meatloaf, BBQ chicken pizza, Handcrafted house beers
Fine Dining in Downtown
Aposto ★ 4.5
Award-winning restaurateur Tony Lemmo's restaurant occupies a meticulously restored 1880 Victorian mansion with herbs grown in an on-site garden feeding
Book1-2 weeks recommended ahead
Table 128 ★ 4.4
Seasonal American fine dining with a strong Iowa-sourcing ethos; the tasting menu changes weekly with Faroe salmon and Iowa pork the frequent anchors.
BookBook via Tock, same week usually available ahead
Centro ★ 4.3
George Formaro's signature downtown Italian occupies a former Masonic temple and opens seven days. The executive chef, Michael Kolodzej, is CIA-trained.
BookOpenTable, a few days ahead ahead
Casual Dining in Downtown
Bubba ★ 4.1
Downtown Southern comfort with a broad menu spanning fried chicken, shrimp and grits, Southern fried catfish, jambalaya and an extensive whisky selection.
SignatureButtermilk fried chicken, Chicken and waffles, Shrimp and grits, Jambalaya
Hessen Haus ★ 4.0
The German bierhalle on SW 4th Street serves large steins of draft beer alongside schnitzel, pretzels and wurst. Oktoberfest in autumn sells out weeks ahead.
SignatureWienerschnitzel, Currywurst, Pork shank
Centro ★ 4.3
George Formaro's downtown Italian in a former Masonic temple: coal-fired pizza, house pastas and Italian-American classics in a serious evening room.
SignatureCoal-fired pizza, Kill-Bill Pork Tenderloin, Handmade pasta
Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company ★ 3.9
Des Moines' first microbrewery, anchoring the Court Avenue bar district since 1996. Scratch-made food from homemade meatloaf to Reuben sandwiches pairs
SignatureFrench onion soup meatloaf, BBQ chicken pizza, Reuben sandwich
El Bait Shop ★ 4.0
A downtown Des Moines institution with a claim to over 260 American craft beers on tap and more than 75 in bottles, billed as the largest craft beer
SignatureIowa craft beer selection, American bar food
Exile Brewing Company ★ 4.2
The unofficial beer of Des Moines festivals since 2012, Exile pairs award-winning lagers, sours and IPAs with a scratch kitchen producing burgers,
SignatureExile Burger with Bacon Jam, Nashville chicken sandwich, Weekend brunch
Cafés in Downtown
Horizon Line Coffee ★ 4.3
A coffee bar and roastery in downtown's West End Artist District, Horizon Line roasts its own beans and rotates a seasonal menu of lattes and pour-overs.
DrinkSeasonal lattes with alternative milks
Northern Vessel ★ 4.3
Specialty coffee with a hospitality-first ethos, Northern Vessel rapidly became one of Des Moines' most popular cafe destinations after opening.
DrinkCold brew latte in 35oz retail bottles
The Slow Down Coffee Co. ★ 4.1
A north-side Highland Park favourite with vintage charm, reclaimed wood and espresso from local roasters; community events and warm neighbourhood vibe.
DrinkSeasonal espresso menu
Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar ★ 4.1
Coffee shop by day and wine bar Wednesday-Friday evenings inside the restored Hotel Fort Des Moines; one of downtown's most atmospheric morning rooms.
DrinkEuropean-style espresso and by-the-glass wine
Bakeries in Downtown
Grande Dolce Pastry ★ 4.1
A small downtown patisserie specialising in French technique applied to American occasions: macarons, entremets and celebration cakes, Tuesday to Saturday.
Worth the queueFrench macarons and hand-crafted layer cakes
Oak Park Bakery ★ 4.2
Neighbourhood bakery with devoted following for long-fermentation sourdoughs and flaky croissants; limited production means sell-outs before noon on weekends.
Worth the queueLong-fermented sourdough and croissants
Coffee Roasters in Downtown
Horizon Line Coffee ★ 4.4
West End Artist District roastery and cafe with light, transparent roast profiles. One of the more progressive specialty-coffee operators in the state.
Northern Vessel ★ 4.3
Northern Vessel roasts in small batches and serves at its downtown cafe, where the bottled cold brew latte programme has become a local retail staple.
Iowa Roast Co. ★ 3.9
Iowa Roast Co. is a small batch roastery with a cafe at the edge of East Village and a focus on accessible medium and darker roast profiles.
Wine Bars in Downtown
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.4
While primarily a jazz club, Noce curates a wine programme designed for the table before a jazz set; one of the most atmospheric wine rooms in Des Moines.
WineClassic Old World bottles; cocktail pairings for jazz sets
Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar ★ 4.1
The wine programme at Hobnob within Hotel Fort Des Moines runs Wednesday through Friday evenings with a by-the-glass list across European and New World
WineEuropean and New World by the glass; approachable natural options
Bars in Downtown
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.5
Des Moines' premier live jazz venue: an intimate Walnut Street club booking national acts with a quality cocktail and wine programme alongside the music.
DrinkClassic cocktails alongside a curated spirits list
El Bait Shop ★ 4.5
The definitive Des Moines craft beer destination, El Bait Shop has maintained over 150 tap handles since opening in a renovated riverfront building.
Drink150+ tap handles of Iowa and US craft beer
Hessen Haus ★ 4.2
Des Moines' authentic German bierhalle, serving large-format steins of German draft beer alongside schnitzel, pretzels, sauerkraut and wurst in a massive
DrinkGerman draft beers in 1-litre and 2-litre steins
High Life Lounge ★ 3.9
One of Des Moines' most beloved dive bars, High Life Lounge has a loyal neighbourhood following for cheap beer, irreverent character and occasional live
DrinkMiller High Life cans and shot specials
Pints Pub ★ 3.9
A westside pub with a tight tap list focused almost entirely on Iowa craft production. The small, unpretentious space is exactly what it intends to be.
DrinkIowa craft tap selection
Street Food in Downtown
Tasty Tacos ★ 4.1
Des Moines institution since 1961: the local Tex-Mex fast food chain the city adopted as its own. Crispy hard-shell tacos and breakfast burritos citywide.
Worth the queueCrispy Mex shell tacos and breakfast burritos
Downtown Farmers' Market Food Stalls ★ 4.6
Operating on Saturday mornings from May through October across 12 city blocks in the Historic Court District, with stalls trading from 07:00 until midday.
Worth the queueIowa sweet corn, local honey, breakfast burritos, kettle corn
Breweries in Downtown
Confluence Brewing Company ★ 4.4
One of Iowa's most respected production breweries, Confluence has built a large following on clean, consistent American styles that have taken the Iowa
Exile Brewing Company ★ 4.2
The closest full-service brewpub to downtown since 2012; Ruthie Red Ale is the flagship. Weekend brunch with house beer flights is the most popular ritual.
515 Brewing Company ★ 4.0
Just over the western border in Clive, 515 Brewing has earned a loyal fan base for its approachable and well-made session-strength ales and lagers.
Court Avenue Brewing ★ 4.0
The original Des Moines craft brewery on Court Avenue since 1996: reliable American food, a small-batch experimental series and house ales in a historic room.
Markets in Downtown
Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market ★ 4.7
Iowa's largest farmers market, running every Saturday morning from May through October across 12 city blocks of the Historic Court District.
Iowa Food Hub at Mainframe Studios ★ 4.0
An emerging food hub in Mainframe Studios on Keosauqua Way, hosting rotating food vendors and pop-up markets near downtown; the creative-district anchor.
Food Festivals in Downtown
World Food and Music Festival ★ 4.3
A three-day August festival in Western Gateway Park that brings together food vendors from more than 23 countries alongside live music stages.
Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market ★ 4.7
The Saturday morning farmers market operates every weekend from early May through late October across 12 city blocks of the Historic Court District.
Hessen Haus Oktoberfest ★ 4.3
Hessen Haus turns its beer hall over to Oktoberfest for more than two weeks from mid-September, pouring Hofbraeu, Paulaner, Warsteiner and Spaten from Germany in litre steins or Das Boot, with over fifty biers on tap alongside giant Bavarian pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzel and spaetzle.
TipThe run is continuous rather than weekend-only, so a weekday visit avoids the stein-hoisting crowds; the kitchen keeps its regular menu alongside the festival dishes.
Cooking Classes in Downtown
Culinary Annex ★ 4.2
The Culinary Annex in West Des Moines operates small-group hands-on cooking classes in an intimate kitchen studio.
Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC ★ 4.1
The Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC trains professional chefs and maintains a public-facing lunch restaurant where culinary students prepare seasonal
Budget Eats in Downtown
Tasty Tacos ★ 4.1
A Des Moines original since 1961: crispy hard-shell tacos with seasoned beef and breakfast burritos at quick counter prices. Multiple metro locations.
Jethro's BBQ ★ 4.1
Beloved local BBQ chainlet born in Des Moines: BBQ nachos with pulled pork, half-rack of ribs and mac-and-cheese brisket sandwich at family-friendly prices.
Brunch in Downtown
Exile Brewing Brunch ★ 4.2
Weekend brunch at Exile Brewing pairs the kitchen's creative egg dishes, beer-battered French toast and house-cured meats with a flight of brewery-fresh
Centro Sunday Brunch ★ 4.2
Centro's Sunday brunch takes the kitchen's Italian cooking strengths into the morning: eggs in purgatory with spiced tomato sauce and frittata.
Late-Night Eats in Downtown
Hessen Haus ★ 4.2
The German bierhalle keeps serving pretzels, bratwurst and schnitzel until late on weeknights and into the small hours on Friday and Saturday.
El Bait Shop ★ 4.4
The 150-tap craft beer bar operates until 01:00-02:00 and while the kitchen is primarily bar snacks in the late hours, the beer quality remains constant.
Nightlife in Downtown
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.5
Des Moines' most important live music destination: an intimate basement jazz club on Walnut Street booking national touring jazz acts and strong regional
Hessen Haus ★ 4.2
Hessen Haus hosts live German folk, polka and contemporary music regularly, with the Oktoberfest season (September-October) being the most intensive live
Blazing Saddle ★ 4.1
Des Moines' most established LGBTQ bar, with a long history in the East Village and a programme of drag shows, karaoke nights and themed events.
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.5
Noce functions as Des Moines' only genuine listening bar: the music is the purpose, the environment is designed around hearing, and the cocktail programme
High Life Lounge ★ 3.9
One of the city's most beloved dive bars, with cheap Miller High Life cans, irreverent decor and occasional live music on weekend evenings. The regulars span
Book food experiences in Des Moines
Guided tour · 1 hour
The Deadly Dirge of Des Moines Ghost Tour
Uncover the eerie secrets of Des Moines with our captivating ghost tour, where you'll wander through the city's most haunted and historic sites under the cover of night.
from$24 Check dates