Guidebook for Des Moines
Food Scene
Olympic Flame Restaurant
514 E Grand AveGreat Greek food!
Sunday brunch is great and reasonably priced. Dinner entrees are over-priced and mediocre. Hamburgers are very good and reasonably priced.
23 personas locales recomiendan
Centro
1003 Locust StSunday brunch is great and reasonably priced. Dinner entrees are over-priced and mediocre. Hamburgers are very good and reasonably priced.
To die for pastry selection, yummy veggie friendly breakfast and good coffee. Popular place with locals. Large parking lot in back fills up fast. Worth the wait.
46 personas locales recomiendan
La Mie Bakery
841 42nd StTo die for pastry selection, yummy veggie friendly breakfast and good coffee. Popular place with locals. Large parking lot in back fills up fast. Worth the wait.
Fantastic breakfast. Not your usual fare but a variety of options... Many with avocado. Good coffee selection. Trendy environment with lots of seating. Park on the street.
11 personas locales recomiendan
St. Kilda
300 SW 5th StFantastic breakfast. Not your usual fare but a variety of options... Many with avocado. Good coffee selection. Trendy environment with lots of seating. Park on the street.
Mediterranean food and oven-fired pizza. Everything is TASTY. Vegetarian options. Good wine. Patio is nice during good weather. Trendy. Be prepared for hipster vibes and the slightly inflated price-tag for a normal, not American, sized portion. Maybe part your hair or quickly grow a beard to fit in? I love the food and wine.
42 personas locales recomiendan
Eatery A
2932 Ingersoll AveMediterranean food and oven-fired pizza. Everything is TASTY. Vegetarian options. Good wine. Patio is nice during good weather. Trendy. Be prepared for hipster vibes and the slightly inflated price-tag for a normal, not American, sized portion. Maybe part your hair or quickly grow a beard to fit in? I love the food and wine.
Long-established local restaurant. Italian food. Wear your good jeans. ;)
10 personas locales recomiendan
Tursi's Latin King Italian Dining
2200 Hubbell AveLong-established local restaurant. Italian food. Wear your good jeans. ;)
What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for 10 fold in quality steak. Pick your own cut from the case and grill it over an open flame. Or have the chef do it for you. YUM and $$$. But so YUM. Popular with locals but never so busy you need to wait. And get steak. Don't do menu food. Note: this is a hipster-free zone. Dress up or don't. No one cares.
Iowa Beef Steak House
1201 E Euclid AveWhat it lacks in ambiance it makes up for 10 fold in quality steak. Pick your own cut from the case and grill it over an open flame. Or have the chef do it for you. YUM and $$$. But so YUM. Popular with locals but never so busy you need to wait. And get steak. Don't do menu food. Note: this is a hipster-free zone. Dress up or don't. No one cares.
Iowa's very own hamburger joint. No indoor seating, just drive-through. Get the hamburger and eat it ASAP for a taste sensation that will make you remember Des Moines fondly. Get anything else and you may be dissapointed. Shakes and fries pair well. Be prepared for heart attack in about 20 years.
9 personas locales recomiendan
B-Bop's
2205 SE Delaware AveIowa's very own hamburger joint. No indoor seating, just drive-through. Get the hamburger and eat it ASAP for a taste sensation that will make you remember Des Moines fondly. Get anything else and you may be dissapointed. Shakes and fries pair well. Be prepared for heart attack in about 20 years.
Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe
Cash only for cold treats.
Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral
5955 Merle Hay RdYummy BBQ.
Drinks & Nightlife
English pub downstairs for drinks and grub, the Red Monk upstairs for Belgium beers. Pub serves food late! And as a bonus, you stand a chance to hear each other talk, especially upstairs.
14 personas locales recomiendan
The Royal Mile
210 4th StEnglish pub downstairs for drinks and grub, the Red Monk upstairs for Belgium beers. Pub serves food late! And as a bonus, you stand a chance to hear each other talk, especially upstairs.
Bar-cade. MS. PacMan is a personal favorite. Quarters will work or get a cup of tokens for $5. Minimum $15 purchase for credit cards. Body-to-body on Friday/Saturday nights common with lines for skee-ball. Worth it if you are in the mood. P.S. it's downstairs.
30 personas locales recomiendan
Up-Down
500 E Locust StBar-cade. MS. PacMan is a personal favorite. Quarters will work or get a cup of tokens for $5. Minimum $15 purchase for credit cards. Body-to-body on Friday/Saturday nights common with lines for skee-ball. Worth it if you are in the mood. P.S. it's downstairs.
Tiny gross (as in filthy) dive bar with die-hard fans. Enter at your own risk.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Locust Tap
434 E Locust StTiny gross (as in filthy) dive bar with die-hard fans. Enter at your own risk.
Large dive-bar with diverse clientele. Darts and pool. Popular place with generally loud atmosphere. But thank goodness no one is dancing to crap music.
10 personas locales recomiendan
Carl's Place
1620 Woodland AveLarge dive-bar with diverse clientele. Darts and pool. Popular place with generally loud atmosphere. But thank goodness no one is dancing to crap music.
Retro, vintage vibe with specialty cocktails and traditional drinks.
14 personas locales recomiendan
Hello, Marjorie
717 Locust StRetro, vintage vibe with specialty cocktails and traditional drinks.
Shopping
Iconic t-shirt shop with a snarky attitude. Books, mugs, baby onesies and more.
20 personas locales recomiendan
RAYGUN
505 E Grand AveIconic t-shirt shop with a snarky attitude. Books, mugs, baby onesies and more.
Brass Armadillo Antique Mall
701 NE 50th AveAntiques, collectibles, junk and treasures. Massive.
Higher end antique furniture and decor. Cafe and seating.
12 personas locales recomiendan
West End Architectural Salvage
22 9th StHigher end antique furniture and decor. Cafe and seating.
Iowa is not a fashion mecca as demonstrated by our biggest, bestest mall. Preschool play area outside of Scheels and small pond with pleasant walk lined with $$ eateries. Movie theater has decent chairs. Kill time and waste money with abandon! (or go to REI which is not too far from the mall)
51 personas locales recomiendan
Jordan Creek Town Center
101 Jordan Creek PkwyIowa is not a fashion mecca as demonstrated by our biggest, bestest mall. Preschool play area outside of Scheels and small pond with pleasant walk lined with $$ eateries. Movie theater has decent chairs. Kill time and waste money with abandon! (or go to REI which is not too far from the mall)
The workers are bizarrely devoted and enjoy sharing their expertise. Quality clothing and equipment for outdoor adventures including bike gear.
REI
5901 Mills Civic PkwyThe workers are bizarrely devoted and enjoy sharing their expertise. Quality clothing and equipment for outdoor adventures including bike gear.
Kyle's Bikes
1840 SW White Birch CirBike repair shop, bikes, some nice gear, knowledgeable staff and running shoes.
Collectamania
3200 Delaware AveChalk full of treasures and trash. What will you find?
Parks & Nature
Grandview Park
3230 Easton BlvdFrisbee golf course, playground.
Large paved trail around the lake is lit up at night. Popular with city folk. May spot bald eagles.
28 personas locales recomiendan
Parque Gray's Lake
2101 Fleur DrLarge paved trail around the lake is lit up at night. Popular with city folk. May spot bald eagles.
Drive by a buffalo heard, walk around the large visitor center and go for a paved hike. A bit of Iowa's natural beauty preserved here.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
9981 Pacific StDrive by a buffalo heard, walk around the large visitor center and go for a paved hike. A bit of Iowa's natural beauty preserved here.
Beaver Creek Crossing Bridge
A bicycle trail.
Essentials
Grocery store open late. Pharmacy has limited hours. Has food for carry-out or eat-in (also limited hours).
22 personas locales recomiendan
Hy-Vee
420 Court AveGrocery store open late. Pharmacy has limited hours. Has food for carry-out or eat-in (also limited hours).
Fresh baked bread loaves from South Union Bakery near the checkout are unsurpassed and not expensive. Great wine selection and fun "health market" type groceries that aren't cheap but are tasty.
Attached cafe is yummy.
35 personas locales recomiendan
Gateway Market
2002 Woodland AveFresh baked bread loaves from South Union Bakery near the checkout are unsurpassed and not expensive. Great wine selection and fun "health market" type groceries that aren't cheap but are tasty.
Attached cafe is yummy.
Franklin Avenue Library
5000 Franklin AvePrinting, faxing, scan-to-email and helpful staff.
Fareway Meat and Grocery
A local grocery store known for good meat. Not open on Sundays.
Entertainment & Activities
Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair! When the Fair is NOT in session, there are often events including Flea Markets, Craft Shows and Home and Garden Shows.
27 personas locales recomiendan
Iowa State Fairgrounds
3000 E Grand AveNothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair! When the Fair is NOT in session, there are often events including Flea Markets, Craft Shows and Home and Garden Shows.
Arts & Culture
Rotating art gallery on 2nd floor. Audubon original folio on display in case. Internet and printing available with ID. Mon-Fri with Sundays during school year. Free parking under the building. Near the sculpture park and other points of interest.
Central Library
1000 Grand AveRotating art gallery on 2nd floor. Audubon original folio on display in case. Internet and printing available with ID. Mon-Fri with Sundays during school year. Free parking under the building. Near the sculpture park and other points of interest.