A trip to Des Moines always includes a night here. This LGBTQI+ space has a nice staff and the…read moreneighborhood bar energy, especially during the week, makes for a perfect place for catching up with friends. Drink prices are lower than I'm used to in other cities which is an added bonus.

The Blazing Saddle is about the only bar in town that might be packed on any given night.. I have…read morebeen here a handful of times and ever time is been super fun and inviting! Recently I went with some pals on a Sunday night and it was packed! But we found a high top table, got some cheap beers, and double sized mixed drinks! That's there specialty! If you are looking to drink cheap and get your money's worth this is a great spot! They do a have a small little cute alley fenced in patio outside. They are always playing good music. The staff is always super kind and quick with a joke! This bar is a great part of the LGBT community and hosts big time events during PRIDE every year! Everyone is welcome here and that's another things that so great about it.. The crowd is diverse.. Old and Young, all looking to have a fun drinks and fun! Love this spot!

Fabulous. Love the…read morefood menu & drinks. Love the staff. Love the patio great prices & service. Props to Rusty.

Very queer friendly, great people, food, and performances and positive atmosphere. I Appreciate the…read moreowner very much

Had dinner at the bar this evening - great experience and the steak was very good. Had a problem…read morewith a side and Madi, the Bartender, took care of it quickly and with a smile. She is a great bartender and understands service. I will be back because of her!

Finally hit up firebirds for the third time and thought I would share some thoughts!…read more The steaks here are easily the worst in WDM. Texas Roadhouse is better. Seasoning has varied from so salty it wasn't edible today from no flavors at all on NYE. The ambiance is terrible. I have never seen worse lighting; if you're having a date, there's a Seinfeld episode involving bad lighting, and that's how you're going to look. Zero thought to sounds. Open kitchen. No attempt at all to minimize or dampen dining room noise. Third time was a charm, I won't be returning, and I wouldn't suggest this place to anyone.

Incredible little low-key spot. It's grungy, it's cool, you meet creative and interesting people…read morethere. Everyone is very friendly, and it's a great vibe. We just moved back here and my coworker recommended it. We've now been twice and loved it both times. There's absolutely nothing like in Des Moines-- It feels like New York underground, but Des Moines, down to earth, easy parking and SO welcoming. Also, bartenders are super nice. The girl bartender servicing us even said she would make us a custom cocktail, based on what we were in the mood for. My husband told her what he was craving and she made him exactly that. Might I add...with little information on his part. (He's not the biggest talker hehe!). He said it was his favorite drink he's ever had. Tonight was a little more chill, but the first time everyone was dancing and it was just as fun both times. This is our favorite new little spot and we will definitely be back!!

Didn't have any food here but did have a few drinks. No complaints…read more We kind of accidentally went here on our way to Ceviche. I'll definitely be back. Really enjoyed the vibe.

A great bar. Very low key. Low lighting. Low noise. Good job blocking out background noise and…read morenearby table noise as well. Drinks were on point and perfectly crafted. They also looked good. The staff were friendly & attentive. Would recommend.

Beautiful space, attentive and expert bartender, appropriate and interesting playlist, curated and…read moreinteresting drink menu - YAY!! It's telling when the other bartenders in town all agree that they love the same place - and this is that place in Des Moines. The craft cocktails are exquisitely made and the menu is organized for success, grouping drinks by their primary liquor.

This tiny house is giving Des Monies the vibes it's missing…read more.. On a short layover in Iowa, I was looking for good drinks and food without a lot of waiting or being overcrowded. What I found was a little gem off of one of the main roads in downtown Des Monies. Even before you enter this self described "Tiki Bar" you see all the brick buildings, and then you see an actual grass covered roof...yep that's the place and a really nice touch. The interior is equally cool and spacious, you are greeted by the bar area immediately when you walk in. To your right are comfy couches and instagram friendly neon wall signs, with that signature tiki touch of floral patterns and great lighting. The location is connected to a Asian food restaurant, so they get their food from them as you drink some of the most well crafted adult drinks I've had in a while. I came for happy hour on a Saturday 4:00pm-6:30pm. The drinks were basically 2.00 off with discounted food, the menu is limited to mostly chicken wraps and crab rangoons etc. I will say the portions were filling and very delicious. The star of the show was my El Colmillo, a tequila based drink with lime, orange juice, lime. The bartender did say it's all pre mixed, and that day she subbed the tequila with Casamigos, because the house tequila was out. Customer service was great, until it wasn't. Our server was excellent, until a guy came in off break and they seemed to have some tension. She really didn't have that same positive energy as before, otherwise an overall excellent experience. Pro Tip: Take a walk over to "Hello, Marjorie", it's a completely different vibe but drinks there are just as good...if not better. Go see Travis, he is 10/10 at "Hello, Marjorie".

Simone is the coolest bartender. She went way above and beyond with her service, up to pulling out…read morea light and taking pictures for me and my friend. They have such a lowkey cool vibe here. This is a great place to pull thru with a group of friends.

This place is starting to become one of the places we pop in to when we are downtown. Atmosphere is…read morefun with an obvious nod to the Chicago Bears but still feels like an old, big city bar rather than a new sports bar you'd see in the suburbs. Their special drink seems to be a "mini beer" which is a shot that looks like a beer. Personally, I am not a fan of the scented candles, but they moved it for me when I politely asked when there wasn't another place I could move to. Definitely a place to check out when you are in the East Village, and a must if you are a Bears fan.

A great location and space for all Bear's fans. And even if you are not a Bear's fan, you will…read moreenjoy hanging out in this cozy sliver of Chicago here in Des Moines. I have never had a bad time in my visits and you can get all the classic Chicago beers and drinks you can think of!

I stopped in on a Friday night with a small group of friends and we were seated right away. It took…read morea little bit for our sever to come to us, but we didn't mind. We ordered drinks and food. Both came out without having to wait too long. Everyone enjoyed their meal here. I wouldn't say there's anything super special we couldn't wait to eat again, but good food and reasonable prices is a win for me. Our favorite part about this place is how many beers on tap they have. It's so fun to get a flight and try lots of local craft drinks. Definitely the place to be for a few drinks and good vibes with friends.

The service is really good! The hostess was friendly, and the waitress was attentive…read more The food is not good. I've been a handful of times, and everything is always overcooked and dry. I finally have decided I'm not going back after a few failed tries; the spinach and artichoke dip literally gave my friend and I food poisoning (we hadn't seen each other in over a week and this is the only thing we shared, and our symptoms started at the exact same time). I do love that they have the gluten conscious menu. But the chicken ranch meal is so dry it's not worth the money. The Cole slaw has the least flavor I've ever experienced (and I love Cole slaw). The burgers come out overcooked. I haven't strayed away from sandwiches or salads, maybe the pasta is good? I won't be going back, though.

We wandered in on a week night and had so much fun! I imagine given the gorgeous space, incredible…read moredrinks, attentive serve, and delicious bites, this place is packed on the weekends. Oh and BTW... The Contrary in Des Moines has also been recognized as a national semifinalist for Best New Bar ( 2026 ). The Food is elevated Bar Bites The Drinks are contemporary craft ( both cocktails and mocktails ) and the Vibe is New York Chic with Iowa Elbow Room.

The Contrary is one of those places that just gets it right…read more The atmosphere is intimate and stylish without feeling try-hard, and the menu is creative in a way that actually works. Every dish we tried was thoughtful, well-balanced, and full of flavor--you can tell there's real intention behind the food, not just trends for the sake of trends. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and timed perfectly. We never felt rushed, but everything flowed smoothly. It's a great spot for a date night or a low-key celebration where you want good conversation and even better food. If you're looking for something a little different but still comforting and elevated, The Contrary is absolutely worth the visit.

I really don't want to review this place because, if people realize how cool it is, it will be…read moreimpossible to get a table. Awesome, small speakeasy with a macabre vibe. This is where Edgar Allen Poe would hung out. If you're a cocktail enthusiast, they have some great options and offer an authentic absinthe fountain. If you're a mocktail drinker, they have a variety of NA options to make drinks with that aren't just overly sweet, fruity drinks. Old horror movies on the projector with popcorn adds to the vibe, if you're looking for something off the beaten path. Great addition to the DSM speakeasy scene!

From the owner: Amidst the strains of haunting melodies and the whisper of hidden corridors, The Haunt offers a…read morerefined sanctuary for those who seek to commune with the enigmatic, where every sip is an invocation of the sublime and the supernatural.