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.“

“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 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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Incredible cocktails, great music and the best vibes with a few fantastic plates on the menu.

This spot is run by some of the coolest and most creative people in the city. James Beard semifinalists. Don’t sleep on it.

The only downside is that it can get a little busy, but it’s always feel good. If it’s chill, ask one of the bartenders to make you something custom. They know what they’re doing.“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“Amazing drinks and atmosphere!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!"“

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

“We had our wedding reception here and our guests were blown away by the staff and the atmosphere! Such a great place and awesome staff!“

“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“

“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.“

“Four of us dined tonight at Oak Park on Ingersoll. We were welcomed at the door and thanked for coming out on a snowy evening. After being seated we were presented with menus from our server (who did a great job throughout the entire night). The menu was explained well to us and we made some choices that everyone loved from starters and through the entrees.

Some of the best starters were: the Brioche bread and the potato gnocchi. The gnocchi was truly the hit of the evening with everyone. My Filet Mignon was wonderful (and I am picky about steak having grown up on an Iowa farm where Dad raised Black Angus). My wife and SIL both had the Chilean Sea Bass which was also wonderful. I tasted some of it and it was better than any other I have had at high end restaurants anywhere.

We brought our own Magnum sized bottle of wine to share for which we paid one corkage fee. The desserts we ordered included Crème Brûlée and scoop of sherbet and some fresh-brewed French Press coffee. Overall we all agreed that dining at Oak Park tonight was a better experience than any other fine restaurant in the Des Moines area.

The service from everyone was truly fantastic.“

“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!“

“Amazing!!! We had a really good time. My son is definitely autistic severely and very antsy and also likes to throw things. The waitress was so sweet. Also, the people around were really sweet as well and understanding what we were going through but also helping us keep my son, calm and comfortable. Just thanks to everybody around. I appreciate the service and the great environment. Everything was A1. Thanks.“

“Every time we come to Des Moines, Iowa, one of our must-stop places is The Breakfast Club. The food is always great, but what really makes it special is the service. Our waitress, Michele, helped us each day we came in and she was absolutely wonderful—so kind, positive, and welcoming every single morning. She truly makes you feel at home and starts your day off right. If you’re visiting Des Moines, do yourself a favor and stop by The Breakfast Club for breakfast and ask for Michele. We’ll definitely be back!“

“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.“

“support local businesses!“

“Great little place. Definitely for the Cubs fans. Great variety of bomb drinks. I had the Capri sun and that's exactly what it tasted like. Black cherry rum with an orange monster Delicious. Bartender was great, friendly and helpful. Will be going back when we are in town again.“

“Savory, rich, and oh so good! The staff made our experience over the top. We will be back.“

“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.“

“The food was incredible! The inside is beautiful, they really did such an incredible job. We sat at the bar that overlooks the kitchen which is immaculate. You can see how fresh all of the ingredients really are! Highly recommend stopping if you're in the area. Tons of cute little shops close by as well.“

“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 came there on a Saturday and had the prime rib special. My steak was cooked to perfection. For dessert I had the smore. 😋👍👍“

“Quesabirrias! Delicious! Never disappointed“

“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!“

“Bears fans need to come and watch a game“

“Great little place if not on patio.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“When the food is this good, the celebration gets even better 😋🔥 Celebrating my son & my new daughter-in-law’s birthdays at DZO Korean Restaurant — highly recommend! 💕🎂Seriously you can’t go wrong to coming here!“

“Absolutely amazing experience!

We barely had time to sit down at the bar before they already brought us fresh chips — that alone set the tone for the whole visit. The service was incredibly fast, friendly, and welcoming.

The beer was served in ice-cold frosted glasses, which was an instant win for us. The staff took their time to explain the menu, recommended what to try, and every suggestion was spot on.

And the margarita… WOW. One of the best margaritas we’ve ever had — perfectly balanced, fresh, and absolutely delicious.

Great food, outstanding service, and an awesome atmosphere. You can really feel that they care about their guests.
We will 100% be back and recommend this place to everyone!“

“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“