Guidebook for Des Moines
Arts & Culture
Home of the Iowa Cubs baseball. A great night out with family or friends.
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Principal Park
1 Line DrHome of the Iowa Cubs baseball. A great night out with family or friends.
Wells Fargo Arena
233 Center StConvention and concert venue.
The spot for entertaining kids or seeing a movie and its just across the street.
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Science Center of Iowa
401 W Martin Luther King Jr PkwyThe spot for entertaining kids or seeing a movie and its just across the street.
Voted one of the best in the country and a great Saturday morning excuse for a stroll. 7am-noon; May-October.
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Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market
300 Court AveVoted one of the best in the country and a great Saturday morning excuse for a stroll. 7am-noon; May-October.
Amazing concert venue featuring diverse acts in a small, cozy atmosphere. Complete with bar and standing room only.
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Wooly's
504 E Locust StAmazing concert venue featuring diverse acts in a small, cozy atmosphere. Complete with bar and standing room only.
Gas Lamp
1501 Grand AveGreat live music joint with weekly acts.
Art museum with an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art and mixed media.
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Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand AveArt museum with an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art and mixed media.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best collection of nostalgic and vintage beer signs, darn good bacon wrapped tots and a fantastic retro atmosphere!
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The High Life Lounge
200 Southwest 2nd StreetBest collection of nostalgic and vintage beer signs, darn good bacon wrapped tots and a fantastic retro atmosphere!
Largest assortment of beers on tap in the state and a stones throw away!
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El Bait Shop
200 SW 2nd StLargest assortment of beers on tap in the state and a stones throw away!
This is as much of a restaurant as it is a bar. Polka you way in for a "boot" of German beer or a plate of authentic spaetzle.
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Hessen Haus
101 SW 4th StThis is as much of a restaurant as it is a bar. Polka you way in for a "boot" of German beer or a plate of authentic spaetzle.
Ultimate dive bar - guaranteed not to disappoint. Check out live open jam every Tuesday night.
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Carl's Place
1620 Woodland AveUltimate dive bar - guaranteed not to disappoint. Check out live open jam every Tuesday night.
Zimm's Food & Spirits
3124 Ingersoll AveFriendly staff and a great happy hour. This place is classic.
Classic dive joint with friendly bar tenders and excellent daily happy hour specials. Also has outdoor patio.
Beechwood Lounge
416 E Walnut StClassic dive joint with friendly bar tenders and excellent daily happy hour specials. Also has outdoor patio.
The quintessential dive bar. Ratty and ragged - only a true bar fly can appreciate.
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Locust Tap
434 E Locust StThe quintessential dive bar. Ratty and ragged - only a true bar fly can appreciate.
Up-Down
500 E Locust St80s video game arcade meets hip bar scene. Get your pong on!
Beer, Scotch & British-style pub grub served in a casual space with a fireplace & soccer on TV.
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The Royal Mile
210 4th StBeer, Scotch & British-style pub grub served in a casual space with a fireplace & soccer on TV.
The Red Monk is Iowa’s only bar dedicated to the most interesting beers in the world, Belgian style beers.
The Red Monk
210 4th StThe Red Monk is Iowa’s only bar dedicated to the most interesting beers in the world, Belgian style beers.
Confluence Brewing Company
1235 Thomas Beck RdNice selection of craft brews.
Food is as good as the beer here and the tasting room/patio are great spaces.
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Exile Brewing Company
1514 Walnut StFood is as good as the beer here and the tasting room/patio are great spaces.
Madhouse Brewery
501 Scott AveCraft brews in the heart of downtown happenings.
Madhouse Brewery
501 Scott AveMore craft brews just down the street.
Alpine cold beer - bring a koozie. Alpine cold atmosphere - bring a coat.
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Alpine Tap Room
2720 Ingersoll AveAlpine cold beer - bring a koozie. Alpine cold atmosphere - bring a coat.
Voted best nachos and you can get a cheeseburger as a side dish! Also a good choice for breakfast. Near Drake University.
The Pourhouse Dinkytown
1301 4th St SEVoted best nachos and you can get a cheeseburger as a side dish! Also a good choice for breakfast. Near Drake University.
Food Scene
This joint is a MUST on your downtown Des Moines list. A quirky joint with asian inspired pizza and drinks. Definitely recommend the Crab Rangoon pizza and any of the drinks in tiki glasses.
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Fong's Pizza
223 4th StThis joint is a MUST on your downtown Des Moines list. A quirky joint with asian inspired pizza and drinks. Definitely recommend the Crab Rangoon pizza and any of the drinks in tiki glasses.
Best seafood in Des Moines hands down. Recommend the Chilean Sea Bass and daily oyster selections. Also good for a well shaken martini.
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Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
303 Locust StBest seafood in Des Moines hands down. Recommend the Chilean Sea Bass and daily oyster selections. Also good for a well shaken martini.
Family-owned, this classic Italian neighborhood restaurant is friendly and tasty.
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Tumea & Sons
1501 SE 1st StFamily-owned, this classic Italian neighborhood restaurant is friendly and tasty.
Excellent burger. One of the best Sunday brunches. Great atmosphere.
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Americana
1312 Locust StExcellent burger. One of the best Sunday brunches. Great atmosphere.
Best place for a nice evening out. Food is creative and fantastic. Also try their wood-fired pizza as take out! Brunch with bloody mary bar is excellent.
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Centro
1003 Locust StBest place for a nice evening out. Food is creative and fantastic. Also try their wood-fired pizza as take out! Brunch with bloody mary bar is excellent.
Great happy hour with $1 oyster and shrimp + great drink specials. Menu is american with a french twist. Also a good spot for brunch.
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Django
1420 Locust StGreat happy hour with $1 oyster and shrimp + great drink specials. Menu is american with a french twist. Also a good spot for brunch.
Survive the zombie hordes and hide out with a monster burger and cocktail concoction. Taking burger and booze to new heights - don't miss this one!!!
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Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
300 E Grand AveSurvive the zombie hordes and hide out with a monster burger and cocktail concoction. Taking burger and booze to new heights - don't miss this one!!!
Great river view from rooftop patio. Stop by before a baseball game or during a bike ride.
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Mullets
1253 1300 SE 1st StGreat river view from rooftop patio. Stop by before a baseball game or during a bike ride.
Creative pizzas and a good indoor/outdoor hangout. Walk from the loft on your way to the East Village.
Mad Meatball
Creative pizzas and a good indoor/outdoor hangout. Walk from the loft on your way to the East Village.
Drake Diner
1111 25th StExcellent old-style diner experience.
George The Chili King Drive-In
5722 Hickman RdBlast from the past drive-in. Well worth the trek to it.
Big City Burgers and Greens
400 Locust StVoted Des Moines best burger according to CityView magazine.
Voted best Pizza according to CityView magazine. Has gluten-free options.
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Gusto Pizza Co
2301 Ingersoll AveVoted best Pizza according to CityView magazine. Has gluten-free options.
801 Chophouse
801 Grand AveAmazing a la carte steakhouse.
Tacopocalypse
407 E 5th StTacos on a new level.
New World Cafe
223 East Walnut StreetVegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-free
Best pastries in town. Great sandwiches, quiches and breakfast.
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La Mie Bakery
841 42nd StBest pastries in town. Great sandwiches, quiches and breakfast.
Sightseeing
Surrounded by trails for walking/jogging/biking and close to the loft for a daily jaunt.
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Gray's Lake Park
Surrounded by trails for walking/jogging/biking and close to the loft for a daily jaunt.
A beautiful setting for a stroll or inspiration. Biking distance on trails from the loft. And it has a lovely restaurant with outdoor patio.
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New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern BlvdA beautiful setting for a stroll or inspiration. Biking distance on trails from the loft. And it has a lovely restaurant with outdoor patio.
A beautifully renovated building and tours available.
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World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
100 Locust StA beautifully renovated building and tours available.
Beautiful indoor and outdoor gardens with gift store and restaurant. Accessible along River Walk and by bicycle.
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Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
909 Robert D. Ray DrBeautiful indoor and outdoor gardens with gift store and restaurant. Accessible along River Walk and by bicycle.
Sculptures and festivals just a brief walk from the loft.
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Pappajohn Sculpture Park
1330 Grand AveSculptures and festivals just a brief walk from the loft.
Entertainment & Activities
A great attraction for kids and adults. Check out Wednesday nights during the summer for Zoo & Brew.
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Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th StA great attraction for kids and adults. Check out Wednesday nights during the summer for Zoo & Brew.
Essentials
Best little market in the area - like a mini Whole Foods. Also has a cafe that is worth checking out!
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Gateway Market
2002 Woodland AveBest little market in the area - like a mini Whole Foods. Also has a cafe that is worth checking out!
Shopping
Leona Ruby
400 E Locust StJewelry store in East Village with unique pieces and style.
Get a wacky, Iowa inspired t-shirt as a souvenir at this place!!!
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RAYGUN
505 E Grand AveGet a wacky, Iowa inspired t-shirt as a souvenir at this place!!!
AllSpice Culinarium
400 E Locust StOlive oils, vinegars and spices galore!
A small store with big kitchen appeal. Tons of gadgets and beautiful table pieces.
Kitchen Collage of Des Moines
430 E Locust StA small store with big kitchen appeal. Tons of gadgets and beautiful table pieces.
Aimee
426 E Locust StGreat women's clothing boutique!
Chocolaterie Stam
2814 Ingersoll AveBest local chocolates and a great coffee house.
Coffee bar & 4-story showcase for antiques & goods salvaged from all over the world.
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West End Architectural Salvage
22 9th StCoffee bar & 4-story showcase for antiques & goods salvaged from all over the world.