50 Best Cocktail Bars near Urbandale

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

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

“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.“

“Exceptional decor! I don’t know if they do this for all holidays/seasons, but I felt like I was at a cocktail bar in the North Pole when I stepped foot in here. Really cool spot! My wife’s drink was extremely well done. Very fancy in appearance and delicious. Awesome place to impress a date, catch up with pals, or even schmooze your boss.

In conclusion, loved it!“

“The vibes were immaculate, I was blown away by the staff, the energy, the time they took to explain/recommend the cocktails. And on top of all that, it started at the top, the owner was behind the bar, greeting and conversing with every customer. It felt like the most well run business run by mind reading best friends“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“Amazing drinks and atmosphere!“

“Fantastic space decorated by the total babes from nearby Divine Times Vintage in authentic 70s style. Amazing staff - especially KC! Staff Tally and Tess are great too. Perfect for late night cocktails, vibes, and cheese/chocolate fondue with friends.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“had great service. food was excellent. we had the meatloaf sandwich which was spicy. the chicken noodle soup was very flavorful with lots of chicken.i had the grilled chicken sandwich with BBQ sauce and bacon. with a over sized piece of chicken and the potato salad was warm and was like German potato salad. we will definitely be back. great addition to Norwalk. took pictures, but don't see a place to add them.“

“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!“

“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!“

“"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!"“

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

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

“I want to start by saying this with full respect: running a restaurant is incredibly hard. I know this firsthand — I’m in the industry myself. I can also see that your family is involved in the business, and that’s something truly admirable.

My intention here is not to hurt your business, but to share honest feedback in hopes it reaches the owner and helps protect your long-term investment. Instead of giving a 1-star review (or zero, if I could), I’m choosing 5 stars so this message actually gets seen.

With that said, my dining experience at Tulpa was extremely disappointing — not because of a lack of effort, but because the fundamentals of Peruvian cuisine were not respected.

From what I understand, you’re not Peruvian yourself, which is perfectly valid. But the person you’ve trusted to run your kitchen is Peruvian — and that makes the issues even more concerning.

Here’s the breakdown:

Ceviche: Made with bottled lime juice instead of fresh lime. This alone completely changes the dish. The tilapia used is farm-raised, and you can taste the muddy undertones that should never be present in ceviche. The sweet potato was over-simmered in a syrup that made it sticky and inedible. The calamari (5 small pieces) were overcooked and rubbery, and the breading fell off due to poor technique.

Pollo a la Brasa: What I was served appeared to be a leg quarter from the W store.cooked grocery-store reheated in the fryer. This is not representative of the dish.

Chicha Morada: Unfortunately did not resemble authentic chicha in flavor.

Lomo Saltado: Lacked the core flavors and technique expected of the dish — no resemblance to traditional Peruvian cooking.

Your sign mentions Novo Andina, but nothing served reflected that or any fusion concept. Instead, it felt like someone convinced you they could cook Peruvian cuisine when, respectfully, they cannot. This is dangerous for a new restaurant. Business may be okay now, but long-term sustainability requires consistency, authenticity, and proper technique — especially with a cuisine as beloved as ours.

Additionally, I was automatically charged a 10% gratuity without any note on the menu. I understand why (Peruvians can be picky about tipping), but for your protection, please list this clearly so customers aren’t surprised.

I’m sharing all of this because I truly don’t want to see your business fail. You’ve invested money, time, and your family’s effort — and you deserve better support from the people working behind your kitchen doors.

If you’d like a more detailed breakdown or want to chat privately, please leave your email and I’ll gladly provide additional feedback. I’m rooting for you, not against you.“

“Great place to celebrate with bottle service. Variety of music to keep everyone dancing. 2 for one drink on Friday and $100/bottle service. Posh place“

“grabbed breakfst at the breakfst club in ia n it totally hit the spot. food came out hot fresh n plenty of it. coffee was good too. staff was upbeat n kept things movin even when it got busy. chill vibe all round — def a spot id swing by again for a mornin boost.“

“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 delightful meal for the price! We were there for the restaurant's 13th Anniversary 4 course dinner. All the food was delicious. The first course, the Soup Duo (half roasted corn, half tomato) was amazing! Portions were moderate. Servers were very pleasant and accommodating, although a bit undertrained & seemed stretched too thin. It was a Tuesday, and the restaurant was half full.“

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

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

“support local businesses!“

“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“

“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.“

“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!!! 🤙🏽“

“The only thing better than the great food is the great hospitality and service. They have great drinks and the best oxtails and cheesy grits, you'll ever find.“

“I was excited to try this place. As a longtime vegetarian of 15+ years, I haven’t gotten to eat biscuits and gravy in a while. The guilt free b&g was so good. I also really wanted to try the French toast. Either the banana foster or the Dutch apple. But I knew that would’ve too much food so I asked for a single piece of French toast with the bourbon caramel on the side. The kitchen went way above and made it a mini foster with the banana slices and nut on the side too!!! That caramel … oh that was so yummy. The French toast itself wasn’t very sweet but when pair with the caramel was perfect. As this is vacation I decided to go ahead and do the mimosas flight. It you are considering it if you go here… do it! (They also offer a non-alcoholic flight which is awesome).“

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

“St. Kilda Collective is a vibrant and welcoming space offering a unique mix of boutique shopping, creative workshops, and artisanal products. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the atmosphere is inspiring, and every visit feels special. It’s perfect for discovering unique gifts or supporting local makers.“

“Great experience. Only comment would be make sure you ask what is extra with your meal… we were charged for extra bread and each topping on the baked potato WITHOUT knowing until the check came. We were not asked of it we wanted it or ifnit was okay to add on Service was great and food was excellent but did not appreciate the sneaking in a couple upcharges.. then when we asked about it, the waitress seemed confused, said “it comes with it” then why is it an extra charge?? Just left a bad taste at the end of the night. It’s not about the price…it’s the principle and ethics…“

“Bears fans need to come and watch a game“

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

“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.“

“Great little place if not on patio.“

“I love this bar and I appreciate that they have gluten free options.“

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

“Very good. We will return. Clean place also.“

“My new favorite Mexican restaurant! I got the lunch special steak fajita. Delicious! The service was fast and if a worker that wasn’t serving me saw I needed something they handled it. A truly team player atmosphere from the workers. The restaurant its self is gorgeous. So much beautiful art work to admire. If you’re in the area a perfect choice.“

“Great service! Awesome food. Best Korean bbq in town. My kids love going there and alway request DZO for their special occasions.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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“

“The service here is awesome from the hostess that took us to our table to the waitress (Amber) Our waitress was probably one of the best ones we have ever had. Explained things to us and was very attentive but not overly! We would defiantly go back to have dinner here and I hope we get the same waitress. The food was fantastic. Prepared perfect and the flavor was outstanding! If you haven't been to Splash you should go. Also the atmosphere is very nice and elegant. I really can't say enough about our experience at Splash.“

“I love sushi and I had been on many sushi places From San Francisco Ca, Guadalajara Jal and this one Blue Sushi Sake Grill in Des Moines IA and this one was special different and I loved it; Not only the food, the service was exceptional, the lady that helped me was amazing cause when she learned was my first time there she gave me edamame and the way the do it was a little different, I loved it; all the rolls were amazing but the one that I loved the most was the one with cucumber that I forgot the name, but was not all; honestly I could not finished all and she told me let me put this for you to go, OMG this beautiful lady packed my stuff really well even I got this lil plate for the soy sauce, so I really recommend this place to eat there or even to go, cause their service and the food is exceptional, and definitely if I am close I going to come again, thanks !!!!“