Smitty's Tenderloin Shop
- ★ 4.5
- American
- $
- South Side
The Godfather of Des Moines tenderloin joints. Since 1966, Smitty's has been hand-breading and frying pork tenderloins on a flat-top griddle using family
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Des Moines actually eats.
Where to eat well, no fuss
18 places
Flying Mango
- ★ 4.3
- BBQ
- $$
- Beaverdale
Beaverdale's neighbourhood cornerstone since 1997. Memphis-style ribs and brisket share the menu with Cajun-Caribbean sides, red beans and rice.
Tursi's Latin King
- ★ 4.2
- Italian
- $$
- South Side
Italian-American red-sauce cooking since 1947 in a country-villa building on Hubbell Avenue, with generous portions and reliably consistent kitchen technique.
Book food experiences in Des Moines
Bubba
Downtown Southern comfort with a broad menu spanning fried chicken, shrimp and grits, Southern fried catfish, jambalaya and an extensive whisky selection.
Drake Diner
An all-day diner with genuine character: eggs, burgers and daily specials at prices that undercut every nearby restaurant by a meaningful margin.
Smokey D's BBQ
- ★ 4.2
- BBQ
- $
- North Des Moines
More than 40 Iowa State BBQ championship titles and 200+ national awards behind the recipe; pulled pork and brisket remain the benchmarks here.
Hessen Haus
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.
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
- ★ 3.9
- Burgers
- $
- East Village
Horror-themed East Village burger bar with creative named combinations: 28 Days Later, Walking Ched. Thick Angus patties and milkshakes worth the trip.
Centro
George Formaro's downtown Italian in a former Masonic temple: coal-fired pizza, house pastas and Italian-American classics in a serious evening room.
Fong's Pizza
- ★ 4.1
- Pizza
- $$
- East Village
Asian-inspired pizza that Des Moines takes seriously. The original crab rangoon pizza, topped with crab rangoon filling, cream cheese and sweet chili,
Where to stay in Des Moines
A sample of Des Moines hotels from our booking partner, who list 5,815 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites - Des Moines/Merle Hays Road
When you stay at Econo Lodge Inn & Suites - Des Moines/Merle Hays Road in Des Moines, you'll be in a shoppi...
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Frontdesk - Rowat Lofts East Village Des Moines
With a stay at Frontdesk Rowat Lofts East Village Des Moines in Des Moines (Downtown Des Moines), you'll b...
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Frontdesk - R&T Lofts Downtown Des Moines
Located in Des Moines (Downtown Des Moines), Frontdesk R&T Lofts Downtown Des Moines is within a 15-minute...
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Frontdesk - FLUX Apts Downtown Des Moines
With a stay at Frontdesk FLUX Apts Downtown Des Moines in Des Moines (Downtown Des Moines), you'll be with...
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Lua Brewing
- ★ 4.6
- Brewpub
- $$
- Sherman Hill
USA Today's number one brewpub in the United States for 2025, Lua Brewing earns the title with a serious beer programme and a scratch kitchen that takes
Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company
Des Moines' first microbrewery, anchoring the Court Avenue bar district since 1996. Scratch-made food from homemade meatloaf to Reuben sandwiches pairs
El Bait Shop
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
Eatery A
- ★ 4.1
- Mediterranean
- $$
- The Avenues
Wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean small plates with strong local sourcing on Ingersoll; one of Des Moines' most reliably good neighbourhood restaurants.
Jethro's BBQ Southside
- ★ 4.0
- BBQ
- $$
- South Side
One of several Jethro's BBQ locations across the metro, with the south-side address serving the neighbourhoods most connected to the city's BBQ tradition.
Exile Brewing Company
The unofficial beer of Des Moines festivals since 2012, Exile pairs award-winning lagers, sours and IPAs with a scratch kitchen producing burgers,
Mullets
- ★ 3.9
- Brunch
- $
- Beaverdale
A south-side breakfast and brunch room known for enormous portion sizes, a serious Bloody Mary programme and Iowa's largest selection of drink flights.
Graziano Brothers
- ★ 4.4
- Italian deli
- $
- South Side
The heartbeat of Des Moines' Italian-American south-side community, Graziano Brothers has been supplying house-made Italian sausage, imported Italian
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