Burgers$east-villageSun-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00
East Village's theatrical burger destination: zombie-themed patty combinations, deep-fried mac and cheese buns, and a Drink Lab serving cocktails and
Signature: Mac and Cheese burger, Dawn of the Dead burger, Spiked milkshakes
German$$downtownMon-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-02:00; Sun 11:00-22:00
A full-scale German beer hall in downtown Des Moines with 50 German beers on draft and over 100 in bottles, claimed as the largest German beer selection
Signature: Wienerschnitzel, Currywurst, Schweinshaxe
Pizza$$east-villageSun-Mon 10:00-23:00; Tue-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri 11:00-24:00; Sat 10:00-24:00
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.
Signature: Crab Rangoon pizza, General Tso's pizza, Tiki cocktails
New American$$$east-villageTue-Sat 17:00-21:00; Thu-Fri lunch 11:00-14:00; closed Sun-Mon
A refined take on the American diner: crudo, agnolotti, beef cheek and smashed burgers in a room that feels intentional, precise and design-led.
Signature: CFD Burger, Hot Bird, Charcuterie plate
Brewpub$$downtownTue-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri 11:00-23:00; Sat 10:00-23:00; Sun 10:00-21:00; closed Mon
The closest full-service brewpub to downtown, reliable on Walnut Street since 2012; Ruthie Red Ale is the flagship and weekend brunch fills quickly.
Signature: Exile Burger with Bacon Jam, Pulled pork sandwich, Nashville chicken sandwich
American$$downtownMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri 10:00-23:00; Sat 10:00-23:00; Sun 10:00-22:00
The original Des Moines craft brewery since 1996, serving reliable American food and a small-batch experimental programme alongside the house ales.
Signature: French onion soup meatloaf, BBQ chicken pizza, Handcrafted house beers