50 Best Bars in Des Moines

“very cool vibe and great mix of smooth music. gives a big city vibe of a funky cool space that you want to share with friends“

“This might be the greatest place I’ve ever been. I’m not kidding….“

“What a fun New Year’s party! Thanks for hosting a great event. We all look forward to coming back. Great drinks, fun decor, and super friendly staff. Thank you!“

“The people are fantastic! I went for lunch while I waited for the plane, they were busy, and I was worried I might not have time to eat. The kitchen cranked it out, I was so impressed!“

“We had lunch here yesterday, absolutely delicious burgers. Ate every bite, nice atmosphere. Yummy ice cream sundae to finish off. 10/10“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“I didn't eat but this is a great place if you're looking for a biker bar that's relaxed and not trying to be corporate or flashy. The whole place is just relaxed and welcoming to gear heads or black sheep of the world. It was a breath of fresh air that was welcomed while traveling thru. I'll definitely be visiting again.“

“Run… Don’t walk to The Empire! Friendly staff / great food.“

“coolest bar we have been in...bartender was super friendly“

“Best pizza in Des Moines.💏👍“

“GoodSons on Beaver Ave is the quintessential neighborhood bar. Have a seat, and you're surrounded by friends. Nice rotation on the taps, including many local brews, and a plentiful selection of cocktail options. The food is a delectable selection of paninis and bar favorites. Come in, have a seat, you are welcome!!“

“love this bar, coldest beer in town .“

“I stopped here for a drink and it has the cutest beachy tiki vibe. Great decor, seating areas and music, and friendly staff. I got a Saturn drink and it was delicious, and they make the drinks look just as good as they taste. I do wish they had a bit more on their menu, such as a glass of wine. Either way, a great stop for drink in a cool atmosphere.“

“Best club sandwich in the city“

“Great food Great music awesome outside in the summer. I give this place a 💯.“

“It’s hard to find a night when this place isn’t busy, but that’s part of the fun. Bartenders are pretty loose with the tokens and will give them away if you’re polite or celebrating something. Games are all fun and well taken care of. Pizza taste great when you start the night and even better when the night is over. Super fun place for anyone looking to kill a night. Drinks are reasonably priced and standard compared to other bars.“

“New owners came in and dropped a coat of paint on this bar, hired a great manager (shout out Jess!) and made the place feel more inviting. Plus, hard to beat one of the best steak dinner deals in town on Thursdays. Excited to see what they do with a planned expansion to the kitchen. Looking forward to some breakfast.“

“THEY GOT FREE RESTROOMS AND THOTS!“

“Hands down my favorite bar. All the bartenders rock, the space is cozy, the drinks are actually reasonably priced, and they don’t skimp on the liquor. If it’s a busy night it can be HARD to find seating, but that’s most bars to be fair. Highly recommend“

“Great atmosphere and great people.“

“love the open mic on Wednesdays!! the guys ben and kyle are awesome very welcoming and supportive! If your a musician or just a fan of live music come on out always a good time!“

“Love this place… brought friends with us last night, great female server, very friendly… only complaint, wish u had tap beer.“

“Classic Ingeroll dive bar.“

“Great prices for drinks and a quick bite. The outside makes it seem smaller than it is, but there's a pool table, games and multiple spots to sit, watch games or hang out. I wish they'd fix up the bocce ball court in the back though! There's a lot of potential for the outside area, especially during the summer and fall football season. Needless to say, it's a great location for all Southsiders and friends!“

“Celebrated my Dad's 71st B-day at this est. & was blown away by the service & how accommodating they were. Catered to my Dad making his night special & memorable.
Drinks were great w/ jello shots being my fav.. I'm beyond thankful for all that joined us.“

“Great place very good Belgian selection A Must stop if your in Des Moines. 20 beers on tap“

“The bison dinner was a work of art! This was my first time having bison and I would definitely come back for the dinner again! And their specialty drinks have great names with amazing flavor…. Staff was phenomenal and I really can’t say enough great things… Definitely a must to eat here!“

“great service, cheap prices . go there befriend Pam. shes amazing“

“A nice little bar. Great conversations. Friendly bartenders but they'll kick you out if you're trouble. Loud music on the Touchtunes / jukebox. 5 overhead flat-screen TVs. No food served but chips are available for purchase. Might even see an occasional Amishman come in and sell naked goods.. Pool table for those so inclined. Nice little place. Come on down to sit at the bar and read a book.“

“nice little gem hidden on the southside.“

“5 stars for atmosphere and live music. Can consistently find live music here and drinks a very reasonably priced. If you're looking for fancy go elsewhere. If youre looking for consistent service, cold drinks and music then head on in.“

“I think Mary go round is the most comfortable bar in Des Moines u never have to wait for a drink and prices are reasonable“

“Love Bomb bar, great atmosphere. Perfect place to hang on any given night. The owner is kind and the employees really help you to feel welcomed.“

“I can't say enough of the bartender. In my book she was great has all the skills to make a bartender. Came in just to kill some time. But found myself haveing a great time playing pool with other customer and enjoyed the outdoor space. Great place to take a bike ride and stop to stretch your legs. I will be going back there 5?✴??????“

“We have been to visit The Republic several times and have had a phenomenal time each visit! The staff are second to none! Ask for Nicole Ripperger for great service!“

“Use to love going there for a Cooler. Good times.“

“it's a great neighborhood bar. Bingo on Wednesday nights is awesome. i have came several times.“

“It’s obviously…the coolest place to hangout! 🍹🎉“

“It's a really nice place and it is classy too...“

“Great little place if not on patio.“

“Just a great bar, we meet our son there when we’re in town.“

“So for some reason this year at the fair: 2025, all the selections seem to be candy-flavored beer. Cotton candy, mango raspberry / lemonade etc. I really like beer. I've liked it since I was 13. I don't want a fruity or gimmicky beer. When I go for a craft beer I want either a good IPA maybe a twist on local stout or a full-bodied ale maybe a smooth summer lager. As for the Beer Tent self itself, it's pretty loud in there. The combination of piped in music, and people partying. it's definitely a party atmosphere.“

“I was very impressed with the service and knowledge of the bartender. I happened to ask if they put dairy in their espresso martinis because I am dairy free and she let me know that they had two different dairy free creamers and made me an amazing drink!“

“We went here for a drink cuz our regular bar was closed for the night. The bartender was rude and ignored us even after I said hi to her. parking lot sucks. Bathroom sucks. Other customers gave rude dirty looks. We will NEVER be back. Poor example for our east side.“

“Best music,wanted a bar that made u feel in ur 20's again. and wanna just dance lol,yet without too many people and it's small,but very nice abdyet has everything a big bar would have for entertainment:great music,pool tables,pinball machines,darts,etc!( Plus I have to mention the nice staff,as well as super friendly people who end up conversing with!)“

“Ken’s is a very nice speakeasy and it’s no secret. Food was good and drinks were also really good. Being from Texas it was nice to taste some of the local beer. Sorry no pics I can’t believe it myself. Well I guess your gonna have to come see for yourself. Thank you to all the staff. We were on a company sponsored event and Ken’s knocked it out of the park. Overall a great experience.“

“Perfect spot and community. It’s my Iowa spot...#dive bar“

“There are few places on Earth where a dive bar and fine dining coexist. Shorty’s is one of those places. It’s kinda like quilt made of denim and white tablecloth. You’ll understand when you go, as you should, and see the highly rated restaurant that sits atop Shorty’s, allowing the shared menu. Like a delicious hat on a drunk man’s head. The 3 times I was there the only thing that outshone the food and drink was the bartender. What a gem.“

“Women were gorgeous and polite..only thing is alcohol to expensive“

“Arrived sometime after five on this Thursday night. The bar was half full and I was greeted by several patrons. The bartender was quick with a smile and a warm greeting. Pamela is not just beautiful but funny and warm. I ordered a Margarita andI that was a great choice. Atmosphere, comradeship I left feeling Good. If you are looking to unwind, meet some good people, good drinks, great service, I highly recommend ROYS. Very clean and sorry no pictures my camera is broke.“