48 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!"“

“Great ambiance. Excellent drinks. Smooth music. Tony likey. :)“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“Amazing drinks and atmosphere!“

“Not much here if you’re looking for food, only thing on the menu was a cookie.

But the drinks were amazing! Our server was super friendly and accommodating, even though we had a very large group.

Highly recommend for your next date night or adult birthday party“

“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.“

“Wow the atmosphere here is amazing and the bartender was on point! Don't be afraid to ask for a drink suggestion.if you want a place to chill out, then head to juniper moon. the indoor and outdoor seating is amazing.I tried 4 different specialty bourbon drinks and they were all very unique and interesting.“

“Courtney was our bartender tonight and she is AMAZING! Huge selection of drinks and each one is better than the next. Service is friendly and the patio is warm and welcoming. They don’t sell cigars anymore but they are walking distance to a smoke shop and you can smoke on the patio. The butterscotch martini is SO GOOD. if you have an opportunity to stop by for a drink from Courtney you absolutely need to.“

“I am an activity director for a local memory care, and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, we tried Finn's Pub. They were MORE THAN accomodating! We visited on a Thursday afternoon, and that coming Saturday and Sunday, the owners were making Corned Beef and Cabbage. When they knew we were coming, they whipped up a special batch just for us! It was so kind! The residents loved the drinks, the food, and the atmosphere. Thank you so much for hosting us!“

“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.“

“Dante is the best bartender and makes this spot off the charts!!! Definitely a great place and atmosphere to chill and have Guinness aka Irish chocolate milk! A gem of a place in the Iowa cornfields! Patio out back is peaceful and the vibes are really nice!“

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“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😊“

“Definitely the coolest speakeasy in town. Also great for pool and darts. Friendly staff and great drinks!“

“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!“

“It was very pleasant to eat in this restaurant, for a moment it teleported me to my longed-for Peru, I have hardly been able to find a good lomo saltado and here I found it, without leaving behind the Peruvian cause that was there ??, authentic Peruvian seasoning, and a great deal Its very friendly staff would repeat...I recommend it.“

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

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

“What can I say that hasn't been already said. Amazing across the board. Service from Jules was outstanding. Each course was exceptionally well thought out presented in an artistic way. Yes, it's pricey but considering this is not the type of place most people dine at all of the time, it is more than well worth the amount.“

“Amazing first time experience! The atmosphere was so fun! Love the music videos playing. Our waitress Michelle was friendly and gave great recommendations! The food was the bomb! Loved my breakfast tacos! Everyone at our table ordered something different and everyone loved what they ordered. The mimosa flight was great! Can’t wait to come back and try something else!“

“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.“

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

“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“

“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!!! 🤙🏽“

“I recently dined at Irina’s and I can confidently say it's my new favorite spot! From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was perfect—elegant yet cozy, creating an inviting atmosphere. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive, making sure every aspect of our meal was exceptional. Overall, Irina’s exceeded my expectations in every way. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their delicious menu. If you’re looking for a top-notch dining experience, this is the place to be!“

“We loved Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster! We started with the chargrilled oysters, which were such a treat! I ordered the pork shank with butternut squash purée, which was amazing! Truly fall off the bone tender! My husband ordered the walleye fish and chips, which was also delicious! The ambience is warm and cozy. My only complaint is that I’d heard there was a fireplace which I was very excited about because there are very few restaurants in the metro area that have fireplaces but was so disappointed to see that their “fireplace” was a YouTube video of a fireplace. ☹️. Definitely not the same thing. There is a beautiful stone wall/ mantle where a gas burning fireplace could go and would greatly add to the north woods ambience they are striving for. Other than this, I would highly recommend Guesthouse Tavern +Oyster.“

“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!!“

“4.8* (out of 5)

Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5*

Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)
Total check/person: $40

12/06/2024
Our friends took us here several years ago and we really enjoyed the experience...finally getting the chance to return and found it just as impressive.

We started with drinks, including a Bloody Mary with Mezcal (see picture) and an After Midnight - both quite tasty. We then ordered Collective Wings (see picture) as an appetizer and found them so delicious that we were tempted to order more of them for our meal.

For our dinner, my wife ordered the Cubano (see picture) and I opted for the Squash Risotto (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each both of us thought that both meals were good enough to order again and recommend.

A great place to eat towards the north end of the Valley Junction 'Strip' with an amazing atmosphere and fantastic service.

If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.“

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

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Devin and Maddie are the only reason I come here. Drinks are always on point and service is amazing. Hard to find such good service especially on busy Saturday nights. They’re both so accommodating and knowledgeable, will be back every Saturday night and tell my friends !!! Thank you both for the best experience !!!“

“DZO is an all around amazing experience! From the appetizers, to the meat, to the banchan, to the table-cooking, to the full bar, and the amazing staff, you will enjoy your meal here! Des Moines finally has Korean BBQ!!!! If you have wanted to experience Korean food, you do not need to wait any longer. Go to DZO, you will love it!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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 “

“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.“

“Mexican food is my favorite, but the atmosphere and decor, as well as the service, bring it to an entirely different level! We started outside, but it sprinkled a little and before we hardly knew it, our sweet server had moved us and our food inside, but still near the outside. She was amazing, as was her attentive service. The drinks were delicious and beautiful. The food was great with huge portions. But the atmosphere—just takes Mexican to A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL! Thanks!“

“Splash was amazing! We went to celebrate a special occasion and they had a wide variety of seafood and non seafood items. The food was excellent quality and the atmosphere and service was also great. They had specialized congratulations menus. I highly recommended

Vegetarian options: There is seafood and non meat options

Dietary restrictions: There is a mix of grains, meat, shellfish there is something for everyone

Parking: There is street parking across from the restaurant“

“Service, food. Ambiance is great.“