49 Best Cocktail Bars near Johnston

“"I had a fantastic experience at the Escape Lounge thanks to Sydney, the bartender. She was incredibly attentive, friendly, and made sure that everything was perfect from start to finish. Sydney not only crafted delicious drinks, but her warm personality and professionalism really elevated the experience. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area—Sydney will make sure your time at the bar is unforgettable!"“

“Not sure if there are many places like this one in Iowa. Very different from your sports/dive bar. Here, the ambiance and music go to a more sophisticated level. The drinks are thoughtfully designed and crafted for a complete experience.
Probably one of my favorite bars in town.“

“I got a chance to see Napoleon Douglas perform his “For Once In My Life” show here. Breathtakingly good! I hope to catch it every time he does it moving forward.“

“The atmosphere and drinks are top notch. I can't say the same for service. Apparently it is acceptable to not ask if our group would like anything else AND for the tab to be tossed on our table while walking by? Yes, I am still that person that tips at least 20% because I understand we all have "off" days but that is no excuse. It would have been 100% if the service was there.“

“Amazing drinks and atmosphere!“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“Finn’s is a great bar!! Everyone is so kind and welcoming, the staff are all awesome, and the drinks are great! It’s such a vibe there and as a lesbian in and interracial marriage, my wife and I have never felt uncomfortable at all. All the patrons are great!“

“I had not been to Ducktail in ages. It's a great bar. Clean with nice decor and a full bar. We went there to listen to a local band called The Adaptors and the atmosphere was great. Everyone was having a great time, enjoying the awesome music and relaxing.“

“A tight knit clan rolls there, the regulars, but ever expanding I think. I didn’t feel too much an outsider, but the guy sitting next to me was there exactly for that reason, to wander and be the quiet stranger at a mid town pub. It’s quaint and an asset to the neighborhood. Thank you.“

“great place great service great food they treat you like family steak night is amazing definitely go“

“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.“

“We just celebrated our marriage there with drinks and tacos! They had a killer beer and taco deal going on. We thought the drinks were delicious, the ambiance was perfect, and the staff and service were top-notch!! I would highly recommend, and can’t wait to head back!“

“Went over the weekend as it was super hot out and the drink flight slushees hit the spot! A bit sugary but def recommend for the sweet tooth fans. The Strawberry Banana was really yummy! The only complaint was sat a drink down to play a game and when went back to get it a server had taken it away. Other than that a very fun time!“

“And amazing waitresses!! Had a blast night listening to Stark Raving Madge😊“

“Thank you Alex for the delicious cocktails & conversation. One of my new faves. We look forward to visiting again“

“Definitely our go to resturant. The drinks. The food. The atmposphere. All of it!“

“We hired Nightingale to bartend our wedding reception. Can not recommend highly enough! My husband and I had a pretty specific vision for what we wanted for the bar, and from the first meeting Heather and Tovka clearly committed to learning and achieving that vision. Great communication throughout the months leading up to the day, and heard a ton of compliments from guests about the service and drinks. The bar they set up exceeded our expectations! Hire these folks right now.“

“Samy the delivery driver was very pleasant when asking for my signature to confirm my order.
My food was delivered on time and still hot!!
This my 2nd time eating fromTullpa Restaurant!!! Love it!!! Will definitely pass the word around town again!!
Peace and Blessings!!“

“I can honestly say I did not expect a restaurant of this caliber in Des Moines but it was AMAZING!!!!

I’m mad at myself that I forgot my servers name, but he was amazing!! Every single dish was incredible, the wine selections were perfect, and I couldn’t pass on the banana split!

Money was spent, but it was worth every dime!“

“A go-to cozy neighborhood staple that never disappoints. Amazing specialty cocktails, great juicy burgers and best salmon in town.“

“Best restaurant in ankney! By so far haven’t change. Has best customer service and FOOD!“

“We had a wonderful waitress, Rio! Made the whole dinner very enjoyable! Food was excellent except the Shrimp Cocktail! Not bad but not really fresh! Carrot cake was the bomb!!!!!“

“We had an amazing time celebrating my daughter's first birthday. Our waitress, Myka made it such a special experience for us. I truly couldn't have asked for a better breakfast to celebrate such a big milestone. The food is delicious and the service was great.“

“Good place in Ankeny to meet for breakfast. I've turned others onto the breakfast egg rolls. My brother-in-law is hooked. If you want something on the lighter side try the Thai fried rice with egg n veggies. Ask for extra sauce on the side. Dad had the steak n egg n cleaned his plate. The breakfast burrito are ginormous. Enjoy the Des Moines based chain. There's something for everyone“

“Absolutely love this place! Last year, I became a fan at the Farmer's Market so I was glad when they opened a brick and mortar so close to me. I'm from Houston and we have a large Caribbean culture so I know good Caribbean food. And Palm's is it here in DSM. Great food and drinks, and exceptional service.“

“Great food and loved the cozy Northwoods atmosphere! I had Fish and Chips, the batter was not thick or greasy. Husband and son had something from the brunch menu and both cleaned their plates. I really recommend it.“

“I took my parents and significant other here yesterday for brunch and it was outstanding! The staff was great, the food was amazing, and the venue very chic! It was really fun when I looked at my photos only to see our waiter (do not know his name but he's awesome!) had not only taken pictures of us, but also of himself! LOL! I definitely recommend this venue and will definitely go back!“

“Delicious! Sushi and sashimi we have had has always been fresh! No kids menu but they had helpful suggestions! My kids eat sushi and sashimi so I didn’t have any problems! Sesame chicken is also delicious! Pad Thai is good! I love the Korean fried chicken “starter”… so good and the sauce is on point!!! 🤙🏽“

“My husband and I wanted to try a new breakfast place. We heard about Breakfast Club and decided to try the West Des Moines location. Parking was convenient. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. Fun atmosphere, great food and coffee selection! Our waitress Maddie gave us tips on the menu and was very friendly and attentive. We definitely want to go back and try something else off the menu! We plan to make this place our go to!!“

“We were visiting with friends on a Thursday night sitting at the bar.

Service: Excellent
DRINKS: Wonderful
Food: we had chips, queso and salsa. I highly recommend this!

The pariaso ahumado was very delicious. The pineapple puree and hot honey was a fantastic combination of flavors along with the mezcal. I had 3. Get one for yourself!“

“Had a business meeting here. Amazing atmosphere, extremely hospitable. Food was OUTSTANDING. Highly recommend; will come back with friends and family.“

“Elegant design, wonderful wood-fired pizza, great service, who could ask for more?“

“What AMAZING food!!! From our Australian coffee to the bacon, and EVERYTHING in between!!! The service was spot on and super friendly. Well done, St Kilda!!!!

Parking: We walk a bit but we had a truck pulling a trailer. It was a Sunday morning so there was plenty of parking.“

“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.“

“Bears fans need to come and watch a game“

“Amazing food! I have tried so much food and have never been disappointed by La Familia. The quesabrilla tacos are to die for!!! Cold and refreshing beverages, hot food, clean atmosphere, friendly staff. You got to try it!“

“Stopped in on Thursday for Happy Hour and late lunch. Food and service could not be better. Will be there again soon!!“

“Great little place if not on patio.“

“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! Yummy food!“

“This is easily my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Urbandale area. The food is always delicious and arrives quickly, and the drinks are very tasty as well. I usually get the chori-pollo and highly recommend it!

The staff is very friendly and helpful, and their new location is very nice. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, and you can tell they take pride in their restaurant.

If you're looking for good Mexican food, you can't go wrong with El Patrón!

Dietary restrictions: They offer corn tortillas in addition to flour, which is nice for gluten sensitivities.“

“I was in town visiting some friends when we decided to stop in here. Food was AMAZING, drinks were FANTASTIC although I think a lot of that had to do with our amazing bar tender Adrina. She was super quick with the drinks and made the best expresso martini I've ever had! Thanks Adrina/Civeche “

“Had a very disappointing experience at DZO Korean BBQ yesterday. There were 5 of us (3 adults, 2 kids), was charged an 18% gratuity on our bill of over $200+. Upon checking online reviews later, it appears this charge only meant for parties of 6 or more. This policy was never disclose to us by the staff and we weren't even given a copy of the receipt (thank to my daughter for taking a video of me holding the receipt was able to see charges). To make matters worse, my daughter also left an additional tip, unaware of the hidden charge. Their website also fails to mention this 18% gratuity. I feel this lack of transparency regarding the gratuity and incredibly misleading like they are taking advantage of their customers. Diners should be very cautious and double-check for unexpected charges.“

“We stopped by Splash before a show at the Civic Center this week. I had the crab bisque, swordfish and creme brulee. My wife had the garden salad, swordfish and key lime pie. Everything was very tasty and served piping hot (except for the pie and creme brulee 😁). Service was terrific and the waitress made sure we were done in time to make the curtain. We'll definitely be back.“

“My husband and I decided to do an impromptu date night and showed up here. Everyone was exceptional, from our greeting by Elvira, our server Joanie, and we even chatted with the GM Tyler who happened to be in tonight. Joanie let Tyler know it was our first time in and he was kind enough to surprise us with the most flavorful, mouth watering brussel sprouts we have ever had. Everyone was so attentive and the vibe was awesome. I am not a sushi fan, but know my hubbie loves sushi so I wasn't expecting much. The vegan options are great! I had the Eden roll and was so impressed that I can't wait to go back and try more vegan rolls! We had the chocolate egg rolls for dessert and o.m.g. Save room you guys. You won't regret it!! We will totally be back, I have to try more!“

“Blue Agave, the Mexican restaurant, truly deserves a five-star rating. From the exquisite food to the captivating decor, including stunning mural art, every detail contributes to an amazing atmosphere. The lively music invites you to dance, while their flavorful margaritas are anything but watered down—unlike many other places. The food and service were exceptional, and I was particularly impressed by the presentation of the churro and ice cream that my friend requested, even though it wasn’t on the menu. It was remarkable. You really need to experience it for yourself. Everything about the place was beautiful, from the clean bathrooms to the incredible theme that permeates every corner, even down to the to-go cups. Blue Agave is not only awesome but also incredibly fun. I thoroughly enjoyed my entire experience and highly recommend that you visit. Five stars—I've yet to see a cooler restaurant in the area than Blue Agave! Nichole Aubert“

“Rooms were a bit on the small size. There was not enough closet space or dressers for clothes. We only had three in the room and we had to use our suite cases to keep our clothes in. The beds were comfortable. Service on the concierge level was outstanding. The banquet meals were over priced and not worth the money we paid for them.“

“Service, food. Ambiance is great.“