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!“

“If anyone is looking for a bar in downtown Des Moines I always recommend this place. We have been here several times and I enjoy it every single time. I feel like I could walk around and look at the decorations and still not see everything. The owner has and opened several bars and restaurants in downtown Des Moines and every single one I've walked into I absolutely love. They all have their own theme/ vibe. He is so incredibly talented and creative. They have a great cocktail menu and we've even had dessert here. I'm a bit older so it's a little dark so I had to use my phone to look at the menu. There are a lot of different seating arrangements so it can accommodate different size parties. You could sit at the bar, tables, booths, etc. I believe they take reservations and if you plan on going I recommend you get one. It always seems very busy. Also, they used to have a speakeasy in this bar but now they are opening a larger space across the street. Which makes me a little bit sad because it was so special! It was so unique and I understand it was very small and they want to have a larger space. But that's actually why it made it really cool! I do wish them the best though! And we will have to try it out when it opens.“

“Love the location and food trucks on occasion“

“We don’t get out much with littles, so when we do we love when it isn’t a disappointment. The Contrary offered something we’ve yet to find here in Des Moines. Being from Southern California where incredible restaurants and bars are in abundance—this place was truly impressive. The cocktails were 20/10. Crafted with intention, fresh, and incredibly tasty. The details from the lighting, wallpaper, and old disposed brick made for a unique modern yet historic feel. Food was great. Music was chill. Went on a weeknight and it was a perfect place to get a drink, light bite, and enjoy good ambiance with great company.“

“Came in to do some karaoke and gotta tell ya...the staff treated me with really good hospitality, had no issues with anyone or anything. Really nice people there, I'd recommend checking this place out if you're out on the town and need something to do.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Oh my gosh!!! Sophie!!! If you see this, please know I've been meaning to write this for over 1 yr now. You're the best server- you're so so sweet, genuine, and you go out of your way to help customers.
The food here is great! Their pre-meal snack is so different than the typical bread and butter..and oh so good; it is cooked corn with these 2 amazing homemade sauces. 🤩 You wouldn't believe these creamy sauces are dairy free, if that matters to you.

I also had a delicious chicken entree a few times. Check this place out at the Farmers Market where their pupusas sell out by 11am lol.

Lastly!- the place was low key and perfect.“

“If you're looking for a fun night out, this place is a total catch! 🎤✨ The karaoke is a blast, the drinks are delicious, and the atmosphere is cozy, comfortable, and seriously gorgeous. The vibe is just right for singing your heart out, making new friends, or maybe even catching someone's eye. 😉 Best of all, the prices are incredibly affordable, so you can enjoy the night without breaking the bank. Absolutely love this place and can't wait to come back!“

“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.“

“The wife , my son Dalton and I had the most amazing breakfast at the Breakfast club. Shrimp and grits , the absolute bomb.
Terra was our server and she knocked it out of the ballpark. Once again it's highly recommend.100%
Once again we are at the club Love it“

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

“We celebrated my father's 90th birthday at The Oak with a party of nine, and the entire evening was absolutely unforgettable.

From the moment we arrived, Katie took incredible care of us. She was warm, professional, organized, and managed every detail flawlessly. Her service made such a special occasion feel effortless, allowing our family to simply enjoy being together.

The food was exceptional. The potato gnocchi was outstanding, the filets were cooked to perfection, the salmon was tender and flavorful, the pork chops were juicy, and the duck was absolutely delicious. Every single dish that came to the table was beautifully prepared and exceeded our expectations. The drinks were loved by all.

A special touch was the gentleman who walked us through the tea selection with such knowledge and enthusiasm—it made the experience feel even more thoughtful and refined.

Then came the birthday cake, and it was the perfect ending to a spectacular meal. The portion was just right after such a wonderful dinner, and the flavor was incredible. It had the perfect balance of sweetness with a depth and elegance that's hard to describe—you simply have to experience it for yourself.

Thank you to everyone at The Oak for making my father's 90th birthday so memorable. You gave our family an evening we'll never forget, and we can't wait to come 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😊“

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

“"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!"“

“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!“

“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!“

“support local businesses!“

“Can't wait to come back! Got the Bananas Foster French Toast. It was very good, I probably would get a side of eggs or meat for more substance though. Tried the biscuits and gravy with eggs, which the gravy was well seasoned! Also tried the pancake sandwich and it is the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Intend on getting the shrimp and grits the next time I come back!“

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

“The smashburger sliders were amazing and so was the painkiller drink! Also loved the candied yams and fried plaintans!“

“Quesabirrias! Delicious! Never disappointed“

“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.“

“The atmosphere of The Breakfast Club was elite! I loved the colorful decor and the music was great! It was a little hot in there but July in Iowa and a busy place I’m sure the air was struggling to keep up! I had the breakfast poutine and it was amazing! Bacon, gravy, and cheese curds are my favorite food groups so I was happy! My aunt had the breakfast tacos which were delicious as well! The portions were huge so we even had leftovers! Our waitress Jen was wonderful! Super attentive and friendly! This was our first time here and we will definitely be back!“

“Great little place if not on patio.“

“St. Kilda is a phenomenal eatery, there's never a bad dish on their menu. I myself have been completely wowed the handful of times I've eaten here as a guest. The staff are always super attentive and courteous. Their menu offers several Vegetarian options to choose from. If you're in the Valley Junction area this place is a must. Coffee lovers this is the place. Often but not always they offer some delectable baked goods. The interior is designed like a modern art gallery it actually feels like you've stepped into a sophisticated minimal but rustic museum, in fact there's abstract art and photography on the walls throughout the location. The cooks are on full display as they work as well, if you choose to sit at the kitchen bar or dining area the open kitchen bar design allows you to watch as they meticulously craft your dish. This place is impressive. Highly recommend!“

“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. 😋👍👍“

“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“

“Bears fans need to come and watch a game“

“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!“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Picture quality 1…..food and service 10!!!! Holy moly! We don’t get our often so we bought a Groupon for Ceviche Bar! Wow!! 10/10! The food and drinks we outstanding!! We took chat GPTs recommendations and had the Ceviche to start (not your typical ceviche! More of a fish/shrimp bruschetta. I don’t even like fish…. But WOW!!! The flavors POPPED!! We are half before I remembered to take a picture) For entree we got the Cuban sandwich and the Ropa Vieja. Lord have mercy!! The flavors were CRAZY!!! Wrapped up the dessert with the Chocolate Espresso Cake
ganache tarte drizzled with chocolate, and garnished with seasonal berries
(Description copied from the website). This was good but not my favorite. It was a very hard block of chocolate. My husband liked it. I was thinking more “cake”. I had 2 mojitos (YUM!! Took me back to a Cuban restaurant in Mexico!) and hubby had a Cuba Libre! He was very happy!! Service was excellent!! Go check them out!!“

“We stopped at El Patron on my birthday on a ridiculously hot day and had a good time. The chips and salsa were good, especially after asking for the hot salsa, and the cheese dip was good enough that I probably could have just kept eating that and called it lunch.

Our meals were good with generous portions, but the drinks were definitely the star of this visit. They were hitting! 😂

Service was okay. Everyone was friendly, but they seemed a little distracted and we waited for attention a few times.

The restaurant itself is colorful and fun, and apparently mentioning your birthday gets you the full treatment. I got the song, giant sombrero, and a shot of some very questionable tequila. 😂 It made for a fun birthday memory!

Overall, good Mexican food and a fun atmosphere. I wouldn't make a special trip across town for it, but if we're nearby again, I'd happily stop in for chips, hot salsa, queso and a margarita.“

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

“You guys were right! Michelle IS GREAT! I was like are you Michelle and she’s like yes! I’m like you have so many positive reviews and she’s like omg really I had no idea! She went over exceptional, it was my and my friends first time too! Had a sampler of dips, elote, and chips! I have been drinking a lot of water and I just asked her to make it look like a fancy flavored water and it was awesome!“

“Great service! Yummy food!“

“We had the pleasure of attending Splash’s Open House tonight, and wow. what a great experience!

My husband and I have been to Splash for dinner before, but we had never attended one of their open houses, so we honestly didn’t know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised and completely blown away by the hospitality.

Hospitality sometimes feels like a dying art these days, but Splash absolutely gets it right. The service was amazing from start to finish. even down to the two wonderful people serving the wine. The food was incredible, as always, and the entire atmosphere felt welcoming and relaxed.

One of my favorite parts was being able to mingle, meet, and have conversations with other people in the community. That kind of atmosphere felt genuinely refreshing.

Overall, Splash knocked it out of the park. We will absolutely be attending future events, and, of course, continuing to dine there throughout the year. Highly recommend!“