Cute place with plenty of greenery. Laid back atmosphere with earth tone atmosphere!! Great coffee and delicious egg sandwich.
Trent Norden
Zippy chai for any chai
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich
Ellie B.
Good place to experience but will not be rushing back any time soon. We had a latte and a cappuccino which were good but lacking in some flavor. We were there on a Saturday morning and it was extremely busy, the staff was very nice, and it was fun to be in a busy coffee shop on the weekend!
Mike V
Temperatures on espresso machine are off and their espresso latte was watery tasting. They’re a coffee shop that doesn’t make decent coffee. Seems like they served me coffee from Casey’s lol.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Jonathan Covalt
We went here to try their breakfast and drinks for the first time. The counter server was nice and very helpful in explaining what certain items were, as their menu doesn't list ingredients for the different named food items. The general atmosphere of the place was also good.Unfortunately, their products just weren't that good. My wife and I both tried different sandwich items, and while they sounded great, they put so many green onions on them that it was all you could really taste on mine, and my wife said her sandwich was too oniony as well, though not quite as much as mine.Additionally, I got a hot chocolate with white chocolate in place of the sugar so it would be sweeter, but it was still quite bitter. My wife got a mint mocha drink as well, and she said both the mint and mocha flavors were extremely mild and just not that good.While I suspect their regular coffee is good for people who enjoy coffee, what we got just didn't live up to the expectations we had based on prices. I wouldn't likely go here again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Jarid Richards
Awesome local spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DCHS 13
The best coffee shop in dsm hands down!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Philly Philz
Spent $12 to wait $48 for them to bring me a slice of bread & it’s quite laughable at 9am but I’m so very serious
Molaan M.
The place was buzzing and I was lucky to find an open table. The tables are inches apart from another so you can't be the claustrophobic type. I had just spent 30 minutes photographing outdoor sculptures at the DM Art Center and was chilled to the bone. Placed my order at the counter. Sat at my little round table waiting for my order about ten minutes. The sandwich and drink were brought to my table and both were fantastic! I didn't know an egg sandwich could taste so heavenly. The hot chocolate was served in a tall clear glass mug with a handle and topped with lot of whip cream. The temperature was perfect. Walked in frozen and moody, left feeling fully thawed, refreshed and pampered. I can recommend going here.
Courtney Thayer
We use their beans for coffee at home. Always fresh and we have favorites but sometimes get adventurous and try something new. They do a fantastic job roasting!
One of my favorite local coffee spots, always welcoming staff, great food & awesome coffee. Their beans are always fresh & pull awesome shots!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler Huff
I'm not a coffe drinker, but I stopped in here with my mom, who has to have coffe in the morning, when we were in the area on a whim and we weren't disappointed. I ended up getting a breakfast sandwich and hot chocolate and they were both amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: English Muffins, Coffee Cake, Breakfast Sandwich
Cliff K.
Zanzibars...i think they opened in 1993 after the flood....To some of the nicest people around... I grind their coffee everyday.... Julie is probably one matriarchs of independent coffee shops that are small business owners.... She was way before Starbucks was opened in 2002 in Des Moines.... Maybe the only older owners would be the the Coppola's the original owners of Java Joe's ... the new owners of the Java Joe's name closed the original shop and all others in Des Moines and moved to Ankeny... And the owners of friedrichs chain (Gary and Colleen Meyer) opened 1991, so Zanzibars has been serving Des Moines for 30 years still owned by of the nicest people- Julie ...maybe the oldest coffee shop in Des Moines that has had the same owner throughout? ...I hope you'll support a long time independent Business woman in her coffee shop... not only nice people work there but outstanding great coffee and a commitment to Fair Trade coffee...she actively searches out small farms and some are cooperatives that are run by women. .... I just had some wonderful Kenyan AA coffee from Zanzibars, of course I buy whole beans and grinded at home and have there for a years but this particular batch of coffee was so smooth it's kind of a dark roast almost no acid at all. Julie still displays local artists in her coffee shop and has for years and years on a rotating basis. They also have a nice eclectic breakfast menu and pastries. They do have coffee that's light roasted some even they call first crack and they have the syrups that they add to the coffee but they measure the amount in each drink so you'll get a consistent taste every time. They also have special holiday blends! The other thing I do there is by half pounds of coffee and give them to friends. So shop local during the Christmas season and give your friends some great coffee or enjoy some yourself. #zanzibarcoffee #smallbusiness #Freetradecoffee #locallyowned
Megan M.
This seems to be the coffee SPOT for Des Moines It was absolutely packed when we got there, and we struggled to find a table. However, we did manage to snag one so we could sit down while enjoying our coffee/food. I got a triple latte which was sooooo good. I did not feel super jittery after though, so maybe I'll advance to something more intense next time lol. I also got their breakfast sandwich which was really really yummy. They gave us sriracha to put on it which was just *chef's kiss*. The inside is very cute as well, but like I said it gets busyyy. And the inside is not super large, so I wouldn't really reccomend working from here...but great spot to chat with a friend.
Tonya Lafarr
Best coffee ever! I met Senator Celsi here and ordered a iced tea and she got a coffee. Our meeting was really good and I hope it helped her with the fight for our homeless.
Cute place with plenty of greenery. Laid back atmosphere with earth tone atmosphere!! Great coffee and delicious egg sandwich.
Zippy chai for any chai
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich
Good place to experience but will not be rushing back any time soon. We had a latte and a cappuccino which were good but lacking in some flavor. We were there on a Saturday morning and it was extremely busy, the staff was very nice, and it was fun to be in a busy coffee shop on the weekend!
Temperatures on espresso machine are off and their espresso latte was watery tasting. They’re a coffee shop that doesn’t make decent coffee. Seems like they served me coffee from Casey’s lol.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
We went here to try their breakfast and drinks for the first time. The counter server was nice and very helpful in explaining what certain items were, as their menu doesn't list ingredients for the different named food items. The general atmosphere of the place was also good.Unfortunately, their products just weren't that good. My wife and I both tried different sandwich items, and while they sounded great, they put so many green onions on them that it was all you could really taste on mine, and my wife said her sandwich was too oniony as well, though not quite as much as mine.Additionally, I got a hot chocolate with white chocolate in place of the sugar so it would be sweeter, but it was still quite bitter. My wife got a mint mocha drink as well, and she said both the mint and mocha flavors were extremely mild and just not that good.While I suspect their regular coffee is good for people who enjoy coffee, what we got just didn't live up to the expectations we had based on prices. I wouldn't likely go here again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Awesome local spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best coffee shop in dsm hands down!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Spent $12 to wait $48 for them to bring me a slice of bread & it’s quite laughable at 9am but I’m so very serious
The place was buzzing and I was lucky to find an open table. The tables are inches apart from another so you can't be the claustrophobic type. I had just spent 30 minutes photographing outdoor sculptures at the DM Art Center and was chilled to the bone. Placed my order at the counter. Sat at my little round table waiting for my order about ten minutes. The sandwich and drink were brought to my table and both were fantastic! I didn't know an egg sandwich could taste so heavenly. The hot chocolate was served in a tall clear glass mug with a handle and topped with lot of whip cream. The temperature was perfect. Walked in frozen and moody, left feeling fully thawed, refreshed and pampered. I can recommend going here.
We use their beans for coffee at home. Always fresh and we have favorites but sometimes get adventurous and try something new. They do a fantastic job roasting!
Restaurantji Recommends
One of my favorite local coffee spots, always welcoming staff, great food & awesome coffee. Their beans are always fresh & pull awesome shots!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm not a coffe drinker, but I stopped in here with my mom, who has to have coffe in the morning, when we were in the area on a whim and we weren't disappointed. I ended up getting a breakfast sandwich and hot chocolate and they were both amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: English Muffins, Coffee Cake, Breakfast Sandwich
Zanzibars...i think they opened in 1993 after the flood....To some of the nicest people around... I grind their coffee everyday.... Julie is probably one matriarchs of independent coffee shops that are small business owners.... She was way before Starbucks was opened in 2002 in Des Moines.... Maybe the only older owners would be the the Coppola's the original owners of Java Joe's ... the new owners of the Java Joe's name closed the original shop and all others in Des Moines and moved to Ankeny... And the owners of friedrichs chain (Gary and Colleen Meyer) opened 1991, so Zanzibars has been serving Des Moines for 30 years still owned by of the nicest people- Julie ...maybe the oldest coffee shop in Des Moines that has had the same owner throughout? ...I hope you'll support a long time independent Business woman in her coffee shop... not only nice people work there but outstanding great coffee and a commitment to Fair Trade coffee...she actively searches out small farms and some are cooperatives that are run by women. .... I just had some wonderful Kenyan AA coffee from Zanzibars, of course I buy whole beans and grinded at home and have there for a years but this particular batch of coffee was so smooth it's kind of a dark roast almost no acid at all. Julie still displays local artists in her coffee shop and has for years and years on a rotating basis. They also have a nice eclectic breakfast menu and pastries. They do have coffee that's light roasted some even they call first crack and they have the syrups that they add to the coffee but they measure the amount in each drink so you'll get a consistent taste every time. They also have special holiday blends! The other thing I do there is by half pounds of coffee and give them to friends. So shop local during the Christmas season and give your friends some great coffee or enjoy some yourself. #zanzibarcoffee #smallbusiness #Freetradecoffee #locallyowned
This seems to be the coffee SPOT for Des Moines It was absolutely packed when we got there, and we struggled to find a table. However, we did manage to snag one so we could sit down while enjoying our coffee/food. I got a triple latte which was sooooo good. I did not feel super jittery after though, so maybe I'll advance to something more intense next time lol. I also got their breakfast sandwich which was really really yummy. They gave us sriracha to put on it which was just *chef's kiss*. The inside is very cute as well, but like I said it gets busyyy. And the inside is not super large, so I wouldn't really reccomend working from here...but great spot to chat with a friend.
Best coffee ever! I met Senator Celsi here and ordered a iced tea and she got a coffee. Our meeting was really good and I hope it helped her with the fight for our homeless.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cafe Zanzibar