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    Carl's Place

    4.2 (47 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Closed 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Carl's Place Photos

    CARL'S PLACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Loud
    Divey
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Carl's Place

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sarah G.

    We traveled to town for a concert and stumbled across this bar. This is a perfect "dive bar". The staff were extremely friendly. They let me leave my car while I ubered to a concert, recommended restaurants in the area, and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. Drinks were more than reasonable and strong. Garret was so friendly, I hope we cross paths again . They have dart boards which is my favorite. Great time.

    darts, darts, darts, darts, darts, darts, darts, darts, darts, darts, darts,
    Heidi H.

    I LOVE Carl's. I've been coming here for many years. Great dive bar. There is usually a good mix of customers. They have live music on occasion. Staff is always quick on fulfilling drink orders

    Open mic night!
    Nathan G.

    This place is a dive in all the right ways! Bartenders seem to handle a crowd well and I never wait long for a drink. I appreciate that. Tuesday open mic is always fun but loud if you are trying to visit. Might take it to the back room or out front or back. Wings on Wednesday happy hour from the Keg Stand hit the spot. Can't say more or too many people will show up. Have to leave your mark and sign the wall somewhere. Seems like everyone in town has

    Pool room
    Maggie F.

    I used to live in Sherman Hill and was a regular before this become a hipster hangout. But it's like coming home to be back in Carls, even though I didn't recognize a soul. Bring some quarters with you as they have 2 pool tables and darts. Great dive bar and perfect if you are bringing a crowd.

    One of the best bartenders in town.
    Adam P.

    If you can't handle stanktastic bathrooms, and a little dirt on the floor, and maybe a little pimp blood then this place be not for you! This is a five star dive bar! There is a running bet amongst the regulars of when the floor will collapse. What more are you wanting from a dive bar? On a off night it is a local neighborhood bar on weekends this place be a jumping. Everyone will come to carls. I have hung out with true millionaires and broke bums here. You just never know. From time to time they have live bands, or karaoke, but the juke box reigns supreme here! Since it is such a mix of people you will here the most eclectic music ever from rancid to ke$ha. Oh and the regulars will break out in song-a-longs in dance at any moment, so leave your inhibitions at the door and join in. There are four open rooms to this midsize joint. 1) The bar area with large round table by the juke box prime real-estate. 2) The dart room, about 5 or 6 dart boards 3) The video game room where the stage is located 4) the pool table room Also they have some of the best bartenders in DeMo! Stiff drinks FTW!

    Carl's Place!
    Patrick T.

    I dig Carl's it's my kinda place. But if you are not into DIVE BARS this might not be yours! I dig the neighborhood vibe of Carl's definitely one of those places where everyone knows your name and are always glad you came! On any night of the week this place could either be slammed or slow, so go in expecting the unexpected. Sometimes I have gone in on a Tuesday night and there will be Dj's spinning tunes at arena level volume and sometimes I have gone in on a Saturday night and it quite chill. Either way the drinks are cheap, they keep em coming and it's a bar that most of it's patrons can walk home from. So let's raise a glass and just hope the floor does not cave in at some point!

    Emily S.

    Carl's place is the kind of place that makes me feel like Im back home in CF. The perfect kind of dive bar where probably not everyone knows your name but after a few drinks they probably will! Every time I end up here I always run into someone I know, usually someone I haven't seen in a long time! Now the bathrooms are a mess and there is usually a long line but there's some great artwork on the walls to keep ya occupied. The drinks are cheap and music is usually good. They have some fun games too but they are usually taken and when its packed they are kind of hard to get to! Live blues on Tuesdays are a plus too!

    Booze and beer.

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

    The best dive-y atmosphere! Friendly, laid back people. Reasonable prices. A great neighborhood gathering spot to mingle with the locals!

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Fun spot with darts & pool. Affordable drinks and just an overall good neighborhood bar.

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    2 years ago

    It's just that I was treated badly as a woman, and the bar itself is nasty dirty. I would pass it by

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    3 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Great dive bar in Des Moines! Been going there for years.

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Crowded night with live music. Always an interesting crowd here. Super divey, which adds to the charm. Daily drink specials, too.

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    16 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Man, I feel old! Worked at this bar during the flood of 93! Glad to see it's still the same ol dive bar!

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    8 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Best best best local dive bar. Always fun at Carl's. Nice bartenders and cheap drinks. Love Carl's Place!!

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    11 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Carl's Place

    Review Highlights - Carl's Place

    They explained that it was an absolute dive bar, but a great one to visit and one not to pass up while in Des Moines.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Shorty's - Great underground bar

    Shorty's

    3.5(17 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $

    Great little dive bar off the main drag. If you looking for a dark atmosphere in a basement look…read moreno further. My husband, son and I stopped in for a beer and the bartender was very nice and welcoming to out of towners!

    I just got home from Shorty's. I've been there a few times and I can't wait to go back. Shorty's is…read morethe closest bar to where I live. A tavern in the tradition of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, it opened this year. When I first saw the old-time Shorty's signs hanging above the door in the alley across from my building, I knew for sure I was living in the right neighborhood for me. Shorty's is dark and cozy. It's a nice no-frills establishment with lots of character. There are five TV's on the exposed brick walls of Shorty's, but I wouldn't call it a sports bar. It's in the back of the basement of the classy Des Moines wine bar and wine shop, Sbrocco. But Shorty's serves no wine before it's time or anytime. It doesn't need to. One drinks beer or liquor at Shorty's. Shorty's offers mostly old-school beer and old-school food. The menu includes mini corndogs, sliders, hero sandwiches, cheese quesadillas, chicken sandwiches, roast beef po'boys, and Tombstone pizzas. Food prices range from $3.95 to $7.95. I haven't tried any of the food yet, but I bet it's good. It's made in Sbrocco's kitchen. The bartenders at Shorty's are cool. The bar is owned and operated by the Full Court Press gang. These guys know what they're doing. They have other enjoyably unique bars and restaurants in downtown Des Moines, including Sbrocco, High Life Lounge, el Bait Shop, Hessen Haus, Royal Mile, and Red Monk. Shorty's is open Mondays through Saturdays from 5PM to 2AM and Sundays from 11AM to closing time at the bartender's discretion. It's located at the SW corner of 2nd and Court. Say hey if you happen to see me drinking, eating, or sleeping there.

    Photos
    Shorty's - Benefit for HG!

    Benefit for HG!

    Shorty's - Why do we like this???? It taste likes soda.

    Why do we like this???? It taste likes soda.

    Shorty's

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    El Bait Shop

    El Bait Shop

    4.3(588 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    The Ultimate Stop for Bikes, Beer & Bites…read more After a day of biking, we made it back to El Bait Shop with some friends. This place is a solid choice, whether you're in the mood for the world's biggest selection of tap beers or some fantastic gastropub and comfort food from the lounge next door. We love it here because we can park our bikes in the provided area off the patio and still keep an eye on them. The outdoor service area is semi-shaded and the service is just as good as you'd get inside. As a beer lover, I can tell you the selection is ridiculous and expansive. If you want it, they probably have it, and from four or five different breweries at that! The menu is also loaded, with choices from both El Bait Shop and the High Life Lounge. Today, our food order was as impressive as the beer list. While I can't recall all the beers we had, the food included a Prime Rib Sandwich with tots ($14.99), the Pizza Burger also with tots ($11.99), the Philly Style Pot Roast Sandwich with a side of potato salad, and a massive bowl of Macaroni and Cheese ($11.99). We were starving after our ride, but that didn't change the fact that the food was all delicious, well-prepared, and served by our very attentive waiter, Kyle???, May. No one had any complaints, and the beer was cold and on time! Overall, we love the eclectic vibe of this place. Its downtown location gives you some great views, and more importantly, you're within walking distance of almost everything downtown Des Moines has to offer. This is a go-to spot for me, and I love taking first-time visitors here because it's so unique and the quality of both the service and the food is always on point. Oh, and did I mention the beer selection is completely insane? If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out, and you don't even know it. PRO TIP: Come here, and before you leave, slip over to the High Life Lounge for a throwback moment. Next time, start there and slip over here for a beer!

    Wow this is not a dive bar, no matter who calls it that…read more We came in for a bite to eat and a beer while passing through Des Moines based on Yelp reviews. Had a sour with three fruit flavors that was lovely, and lunch of broasted chicken and beef stroganoff. The beef was surprisingly tender. Friendly service. Highly recommend this place!

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    El Bait Shop
    El Bait Shop
    El Bait Shop

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    Yacht Club

    Yacht Club

    4.2(16 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $

    Great service, diverse atmosphere, and drinks that are not poured short. Diverse mix of…read moremusic/bands, always a good time. They do not serve food, but big tomato pizza is next door and well as many restaurants within a block stroll.

    My great uncle, a musician, had been telling me that if I wanted to go to a "real musician's bar"…read more(whatever that means), that the Yacht Club should be on my list. It wasn't until a friend suggested it, on account of the fact that a former roommate was going to be playing that night, that I got the opportunity to go. Sounded like a decent adventure... We got there and the first thing I noticed was how LIVELY everyone was. A lot of dive bars have a tendency to let themselves become droopy, borderline pathetic places - but this isn't one of them! Everyone was smiling, laughing, dancing and having a great time. The second thing I noticed was how drunk everyone was. I don't think a single person in there could've passed for sober. Kind of an odd thing to walk into if you are sober like I was. There's a vibe and you ain't in it! Third thing is that this place does not appear to have a target demographic or a decided crowd. I saw people who looked to be at the springy end of early twenties, all the way up to the geriatric crowd. Further, a whole wide range of races and aesthetics, which made it even cooler to watch how much everyone was vibing together. There were a few times where the entire place smelled like an ever-revolving mix of weed, cigarettes, alcohol, cheap perfume, expensive perfume, body odor, food...it was a heady hodge-podge of life stank, which is exactly what a place like this should smell like. The live music was awesome - my friend said that the roomate's dad was also playing in the band that night, and as I watched how lovingly that dad looked at his son as he played, I made a comment about it to my friend. It was then that my friend gave me one of those really cool "ow my heart" looks and said, "his dad is actually blind." Pow, right in the soul, right?! Come here on a night there's live music - zero regrets, 10/10 would do again.

    Photos
    Yacht Club
    Yacht Club
    Yacht Club - Expanding together: North, South, East and West.

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    Expanding together: North, South, East and West.

    Carl's Place - divebars - Updated May 2026

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