Skip to content
Locrawl

Des Moines

Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), an

See
9
Do
23
Eat
26
Drink
16
Buy
2

8 places match

  1. Drink

    Big Grove Brewery

    Big brewpub whose dining room was once the showroom of the largest Chevrolet dealer in Des Moines. They kept the big glass windows but replaced the shiny Impalas with a central bar serving the brewery's mostly ale-styles, sours, and seltzers. They do a line of IPAs that are variations on their "Eddy" brand. The best brews are their malty dark beers, when they're available: their coffee stout is luxuriously smooth.

    Daily 11AM-10PM

  2. Eat

    La Mie Bakery and Restaurant

    French-style bakery featuring all the goods you'd imagine, with quality omelets and coffee. High ceilings and modern setting make it a popular place to dine for all 3 meals rather than simply carry out fare. Outdoor patio on the back with a few tables. Can also find offerings at Downtown Farmer's Market.

    Closed Sun$2 goodies, omelette and coffee $10

  3. See

    State Historical Society of Iowa Museum

    Exhibits include a venture into Iowa's past when glaciers pushed their way through and mammoths roamed the plains, state's frontier and prairie past where kid-friendly activities such as pushing a plow or carrying buckets with a shoulder yoke can be had. Fossil, Native American, wildlife, and Iowa U.S. Civil War flags on display. Cafe Baratta's inside.

    Tue-Sat 9AM-4:30PM, closed Mon, Sun and holidaysFree

  4. Eat

    Waveland Cafe

    If you're expecting a fancy diner, then you better get lost. This place is for the real Saturday morning crowd and a good place to recover from a hangover. If it was legal to light up a smoke, this is where you'd get no gruff from fellow patrons.

    $8

  5. Buy

    West End Salvage

    Fans of home makeover reality TV will make this a high point of their Des Moines trip because the shop was the star of the TV program West End Salvage, which followed owner Don Short and his team as they went into buildings slated for demolition to rescue unique fixtures, trim, advertising signs, and other interesting architectural oddities, all of which would end up for sale in this 4-story warehouse. Visitors are welcomed at a coffee bar and invited to take their cup of latte or macchiato with them as they browse the amazing collection of fascinating treasures from the past.

    Daily 9AM-4PM

  6. Drink

    Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure

    Features local art displayed around the coffee house. Great spot to sit and drink a cup or talk, study. Sit at the coffee bar or a table. Serves great breakfast. Sells their amazing beans as well so you can enjoy their coffee at home. Very friendly to all walks of life. Also provides catering services and can be reserved for private parties and meetings. You can also order their beans online or over the phone to be shipped.

    Mon-Thu 7AM-9PM, Fri Sat 7AM-11PM, Sun 8AM-6PM$2-7

  7. Drink Not mapped

    Friedrichs Coffee

    If you're looking for a down-to-earth but nice atmosphere place where you can get a great cup of java or a nifty shot of espresso, pull up a chair. One of the owners' great-grandfather owned a coffee shop across from a castle in Charlottenburg, Germany and spirit has passed to the next generation. The owners, a husband and wife team, opened their first coffee shop only a few months after returning from Costa Rica.

    $2

  8. Drink Not mapped

    Grounds for Celebration

    Wonderful place for fresh coffee, tea, and gelato and some lunch items. The coffee beans are from the cafe's privately owned cropland in Panama. Consistently rated as one of Des Moines' best coffeehouses. All locations offer free WiFi.