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.
40 mid-range places in Des Moines, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Des Moines, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Des Moines food.
Lua Brewing ★ 4.7
sherman-hill · 1525 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Named USA Today's #1 Brewpub in America for 2025, Lua Brewing brings together serious beer credentials and a full kitchen in the Sherman Hill
Lua Brewing ★ 4.7
sherman-hill · 1525 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
USA Today's #1 brewpub in America 2025 hides on a residential Sherman Hill block; the German-influenced lagers are some of the best produced in the Midwest.
Lua Brewing ★ 4.6
sherman-hill · 1525 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Voted the number one brewpub in the United States by USA Today in 2025, Lua in Sherman Hill earns the recognition with a precise beer programme spanning
Lua Brewing ★ 4.6
sherman-hill · 1525 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
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
The Contrary ★ 4.6
east-village · 503 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
East Village's most accomplished craft cocktail bar, with a rotating seasonal menu built on locally produced spirits, house-made shrubs and fresh produce.
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.5
downtown · 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Des Moines' premier live jazz venue: an intimate Walnut Street club booking national acts with a quality cocktail and wine programme alongside the music.
The Contrary ★ 4.5
east-village · 503 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Beyond its cocktail reputation, The Contrary maintains a genuinely well-chosen by-the-glass wine list with a preference for natural and low-sulphur
The Contrary ★ 4.5
east-village · 503 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
East Village's top craft cocktail bar runs until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday with a full seasonal cocktail menu throughout: the best late-night drink stop.
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.5
downtown · 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Most Des Moines coverage skips Noce entirely: the basement jazz club books national touring acts in an intimate room with a quality cocktail and wine list.
Lua Brewing Weekend Brunch ★ 4.5
sherman-hill · 1525 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
The #1 brewpub in America 2025 offers weekend brunch: brunch tacos with house-smoked pork and a dog-friendly Sherman Hill patio for the neighbourhood crowd.
HoQ ★ 4.4
east-village · 303 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Local Food Global Flavor is the tagline, and HoQ earns it. The menu changes almost daily based on what its network of Iowa farmers sends in, cooked
HoQ ★ 4.4
east-village · 303 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Local Food Global Flavor. The menu rebuilds almost daily around what the city's farmers send in, expressed through a rotating cast of global culinary
Noce Jazz Club ★ 4.4
downtown · 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
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.
Flying Mango ★ 4.4
beaverdale · 4345 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310
Award-winning BBQ and Cajun in Beaverdale: spiced fried catfish and pulled pork at the lower end of Des Moines casual dining prices with porch seating.
Mullets ★ 4.4
beaverdale · 2816 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
One of Des Moines' most-loved brunch destinations, known for its Bloody Mary bar with more than a dozen house-made builds, generously plated Eggs Benedict
Centro ★ 4.3
downtown · 1007 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
George Formaro's downtown Italian anchor occupies a former Masonic temple with open kitchen, white tablecloths and framed vintage Italian posters.
Flying Mango ★ 4.3
beaverdale · 4345 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310
A Beaverdale neighbourhood favourite since 1997, Flying Mango started as a catering operation and farmers market stall before settling into its Hickman
Centro ★ 4.3
downtown · 1007 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
George Formaro's signature downtown Italian occupies a former Masonic temple and opens seven days. The executive chef, Michael Kolodzej, is CIA-trained.
Flying Mango ★ 4.3
beaverdale · 4345 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310
Beaverdale's neighbourhood cornerstone since 1997. Memphis-style ribs and brisket share the menu with Cajun-Caribbean sides, red beans and rice.
Centro ★ 4.3
downtown · 1007 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
George Formaro's downtown Italian in a former Masonic temple: coal-fired pizza, house pastas and Italian-American classics in a serious evening room.
Louie's Wine Dive ★ 4.3
the-avenues · 4040 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
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
Tursi's Latin King ★ 4.2
south-side · 2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
A Des Moines institution since 1947, Tursi's Latin King operates from a country-villa building on Hubbell Avenue and serves the classic Italian-American
Exile Brewing Company ★ 4.2
downtown · 1514 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
The closest full-service brewpub to downtown, reliable on Walnut Street since 2012; Ruthie Red Ale is the flagship and weekend brunch fills quickly.
Tursi's Latin King ★ 4.2
south-side · 2200 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Italian-American red-sauce cooking since 1947 in a country-villa building on Hubbell Avenue, with generous portions and reliably consistent kitchen technique.
Exile Brewing Company ★ 4.2
downtown · 1514 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
The unofficial beer of Des Moines festivals since 2012, Exile pairs award-winning lagers, sours and IPAs with a scratch kitchen producing burgers,
Hessen Haus ★ 4.2
downtown · 101 SW 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Des Moines' authentic German bierhalle, serving large-format steins of German draft beer alongside schnitzel, pretzels, sauerkraut and wurst in a massive
Exile Brewing Company ★ 4.2
downtown · 1514 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
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.
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab ★ 4.2
east-village · 300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
The horror-themed East Village burger bar operates until 23:00 on weekends, making it the best full burger stop at the later end of the evening.
Hessen Haus ★ 4.2
downtown · 101 SW 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
The German bierhalle keeps serving pretzels, bratwurst and schnitzel until late on weeknights and into the small hours on Friday and Saturday.
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab ★ 4.2
east-village · 300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Horror-themed East Village burger bar with creatively named combinations, thick Angus patties and a milkshake programme worth the visit in its own right.
Exile Brewing Brunch ★ 4.2
downtown · 1514 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
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
Louie's Wine Dive Sunday Brunch ★ 4.2
the-avenues · 4040 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
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
Centro Sunday Brunch ★ 4.2
downtown · 1007 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Centro's Sunday brunch takes the kitchen's Italian cooking strengths into the morning: eggs in purgatory with spiced tomato sauce and frittata.
Eatery A ★ 4.1
the-avenues · 2932 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
A rustic neighbourhood room in the Avenues with a large patio and a wood-fired oven, channelling herbs and spices from Spain, Italy, Morocco and Egypt.
Bubba ★ 4.1
downtown · 200 10th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Downtown Des Moines' Southern comfort destination pairs fried chicken, jambalaya and Southern fried catfish with an extensive brown-liquor selection.
Fong's Pizza ★ 4.1
east-village · 317 E Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
The Chinese-tiki pizza bar Des Moines made its own: crab rangoon pizza, General Tso's chicken topping, and conventional pies in a bar format.
Bubba ★ 4.1
downtown · 200 10th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Downtown Southern comfort with a broad menu spanning fried chicken, shrimp and grits, Southern fried catfish, jambalaya and an extensive whisky selection.
Fong's Pizza ★ 4.1
east-village · 317 E Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Asian-inspired pizza that Des Moines takes seriously. The original crab rangoon pizza, topped with crab rangoon filling, cream cheese and sweet chili,
Eatery A ★ 4.1
the-avenues · 2932 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
Wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean small plates with strong local sourcing on Ingersoll; one of Des Moines' most reliably good neighbourhood restaurants.
Grande Dolce Pastry ★ 4.1
downtown · 2757 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
A small downtown patisserie specialising in French technique applied to American occasions: macarons, entremets and celebration cakes, Tuesday to Saturday.
Book food experiences in Des Moines