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!“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“That pizza is crack. The service is friendly and amazing.“

“We had an amazing time at Francies. The food was amazing. I had the steak and peppers sandwich and fries. The fries were so good.“

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

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

“Best pizza in Des Moines.💏👍“

“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.“

“love this bar, coldest beer in town .“

“Classic Ingeroll dive bar.“

“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 little place if not on patio.“

“THEY GOT FREE RESTROOMS AND THOTS!“

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

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

“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!!“

“Thanks Cheese Bar for the great food and accommodating our little one. she loved the kids cheese plate!“

“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“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great atmosphere and great people.“

“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!“

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

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

“IF YOU RUN THIS PLACE, FIX THE MUSIC PLAYLIST.

Ok, for the rest of you: Ernie’s is the best bar in DSM. Cheap drinks, good atmosphere, cool bartenders, and the food truck sells great burgers. Recently the owner(s?) has/have enforced a strict playlist on the place (which is worse than letting your bartenders pick the music, if that needs spelled out), but this is a recent hiccup in a place that I frequent and love.“

“nice little gem hidden on the southside.“

“Such a cool vibe! Amazing food and service— will definitely go back again! 😊“

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

“Best spot in the neighborhood💯🖤“

“Great place to go and hang out. Wonderful atmosphere and Most Friendly Staff. You'll love it here!“

“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?✴??????“

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

“Staff is always good and the happy hour pizza is the best deal in town. As a pinball fan, they have a great selection of pins at a great price, but it's always disappointing when the new Stern machines aren't hooked up to the internet to utilize the Insider Connection. Seriously guys, it's not that hard to connect the machines to the wifi.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Great service. Delicious food, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Special evenings like car show, Halloween weekend and many other events at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The menu has options for everyone. Best food you can get on the grounds and reasonably priced. Amazing service day or night.“

“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!“

“Wonderful bar to catch some live music or just play some pool. The night we went there was only one bartender and she was absolutely killing it. Didn't get her name but hopefully she got some credit for how well she did. Definitely will be coming back in the future. Thanks for a wonderful time Fremont!“

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

“My friends and I had an amazing time at Hello, Marjorie! The drink menu offers a fantastic selection, with something for everyone, and everything we ordered was excellent. We spent the evening out on the patio, which had such a fun and relaxing atmosphere--it was the perfect place to catch up with friends. Even though the bar was busy, the staff provided outstanding service. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, and we were impressed by how quickly our drinks arrived. You could tell the team genuinely cared about making sure everyone had a great experience. Between the incredible drinks, the inviting atmosphere, and the exceptional service, Hello, Marjorie is definitely a place we'll be returning to. I highly recommend stopping by if you're looking for a great spot to enjoy drinks with friends!“

“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.“

“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!)“

“Delicious food and drinks!!“

“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.“