Harbinger ★ 4.7
A vegetable-forward small-plates restaurant drawing on the chef's travels through southeast Asia, with a menu that follows the seasons and the farmers
Signature: Seasonal chef's tasting menu, Southeast Asian-inflected small plates
Restaurants in The Avenues
Eatery A ★ 4.1
A rustic neighbourhood room with a large patio and a wood-fired oven, channelling herbs and spices from Spain, Italy, Morocco and Egypt.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Mediterranean small plates
Fine Dining in The Avenues
Harbinger ★ 4.7
The most ambitious vegetable-focused kitchen in Iowa, with a rotating daily menu shaped by what the market brings and Southeast Asian spice work.
Casual Dining in The Avenues
Eatery A ★ 4.1
Wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean small plates with strong local sourcing on Ingersoll; one of Des Moines' most reliably good neighbourhood restaurants.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Mediterranean small plates
Cafés in The Avenues
Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure ★ 4.4
Des Moines' longest-running specialty roaster, small-batch roasting on-site since 1993. The Ingersoll Avenue room is decorated with artifacts, textiles
Signature drink: Small-batch roasted espresso
Chain and Spoke ★ 4.1
Combined coffee shop and bicycle repair studio with bright, airy design and specialty espresso drinks; one of Des Moines' more characterful cafe experiences.
Signature drink: Specialty lattes
Bakeries in The Avenues
La Mie Bakery ★ 4.6
Widely cited as Des Moines' finest bakery, La Mie has been producing classic European breads and viennoiserie on 42nd Street since the early 1990s.
Worth the queue: Croissants and rustic sourdough loaves
Bauder Pharmacy Soda Fountain ★ 4.3
Bauder Pharmacy, founded in 1916, has paired a working pharmacy with a vintage soda fountain and bakery counter on Ingersoll Avenue since the 1920s.
Worth the queue: Cherry phosphates and house-baked goods
Maxie's Pastry Studio ★ 4.0
Pastry studio near Drake University producing excellent croissants, quiche and rotating seasonal tarts; the tart rotation follows the weekly market produce.
Worth the queue: Croissants and tarts
Coffee Roasters in The Avenues
Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure ★ 4.5
Des Moines' oldest specialty roaster since 1993; small-batch roasting on Ingersoll Avenue with a travel-themed cafe and artefacts from coffee-growing regions.
Wine Bars in The Avenues
Louie's Wine Dive ★ 4.3
The Des Moines anchor of this regional wine bar concept, Louie's Wine Dive pairs an accessible, globally sourced by-the-glass programme with shareable
Wine focus: Global by-the-glass programme; natural wine section
Harbinger Wine List ★ 4.6
Harbinger's wine list is anchored in natural, low-intervention European producers; the best farm-to-table drinking experience in Des Moines.
Wine focus: Natural, biodynamic and low-intervention wines; primarily European
Markets in The Avenues
Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure Retail ★ 4.4
Zanzibar's Ingersoll cafe doubles as retail outlet for its small-batch roasting; whole beans by the bag and artefacts from coffee-producing origin countries.
Budget Eats in The Avenues
La Mie Bakery ★ 4.5
The city's finest bakery doubles as one of its best cheap eats: a croissant, a filled pastry or a slice of quiche alongside a coffee is one of the great
Brunch in The Avenues
Louie's Wine Dive Sunday Brunch ★ 4.2
The Sunday brunch programme at Louie's Wine Dive opens at 09:00 with a brunch menu built for the wine bar format: light plates, avocado toast, charcuterie