Ceviche Bar

Great vibe. Perfect place to get drinks with friends or for a date night. Huge cocktail menu and…read moreall great drinks ranging from your classics to super unique flavor combos.

Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

One Trick Pony (substitute Aviation American Gin)

Straight Corn Whiskey, bottled in bond, at 100 proof! Shots anyone?

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Try Drink Up & Be Somebody for the Scotch drinker in you!

The Contrary

5.0(10 reviews)

0.2 mi

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.

I've been here a few times this is a beautiful, Chill, Great Vibe's bar that speaks to you like a…read morespeakeasy with the crafted cocktails it has it all, but prior to visiting before I wasn't a fan of the cocktails. I'm not sure what change but the menu got an upgrade and the cocktails were fantastic and the small bits were sickening. That Date dessert needs to be studied because it was too damn good. I'll be back!

Wall Art

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Bar

Hello, Marjorie

4.6(149 reviews)

0.7 mi

Hands down one of the coolest bars I've ever visited. We randomly stopped while in town for a…read morewedding and it was the perfect way to end our night. Somewhat nondescript from the street (except for a neon sign), you walk into an office building and wonder if you're in the right place. Yes, yes you are. A hostess greeted us, checked our IDs, and escorted us to a table. The drinks were strong and the service was outstanding. My perimenopausal brain has no recollection of what I ordered, but I came with a mini disco ball charm for keeps! Every time I look at it, I think of Hello, Marjorie. Don't sleep on this place! Highly recommend.

Cute and fun! Loved the decor and laid back, 70s cool grandma's apartment vibe. Great drinks,…read moredecent prices and the location in the old Des Moines Register and Tribune building gives it a nostalgic touch. I got the Old Fashioned and loved it. My friends got a martini and gin and tonic and had no complaints. Service was fine, maybe a tiny bit slow for how empty it was but it's all good. Lots of opps for social media esque photos and even a sweet little Photo Booth you must check out before you go. Parking is uneven because you are downtown but find a metered spot and get ready to party! Err drink responsibly!

Betty Blonco && Sherry Cobbler

Betty Blanco

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Aesthetic is 10/10

Secret Admirer

4.6(16 reviews)

0.6 mi

I loved the Sandy's Recipe with NUTELLA COCONUT, a very rich and sweet drink doesn't taste the…read morealcohol. My friends had the cookie shot glass (you can eat it) and Serenity Now and they enjoyed theirs.

Went to the Christmas pop up for Secret Admirer and was super impressed. Drinks tasted delicious…read moreand cookies were absolutely perfect. The service was quick despite being packed full on a Friday night. The whole ambiance was perfect and brought amazing Christmas nostalgic feelings. Aesthetic 10/10. Such a vibe - go!!!

Dining/sitting area

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Bar area

Revival House

4.5(34 reviews)

0.5 mi

Tiki bar that transforms you to the beachy vibes. Very cute interior with great service and drinksread more

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".

Seating

El Colmillo

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El Colmillo

Good News, Darling

4.7(19 reviews)

0.7 mi

This is my second time/ year back for the holiday pop up. Last year i got the grasshopper and…read moreenjoyed it. This year i got Tom & Jerry, and my friend got the Cider. We both really enjoyed our drinks. I wanted to get the chocolate later but it was sold out! A bartender let us try the menthol foam by itself and it was yummy. We had great service and the vibes was fun. All of their drinks are really delicious. Cant go wrong.

There are not words strong enough to describe how incredible this experience was. Some of the best…read morecocktails of my life. Incredible flavors, theming - this is art and storytelling through cocktail. The ice cream on the cake was the sample ice cream flavors we got to sample. I'm not exaggerating to say this was also some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted. I'm legitimately and justifiably upset that I can't buy it anyway to have it again. The atmosphere is fun too, but the cocktails and the obvious time and passion that go into them are the draw. This is not a place where the theming outshines the drinks, I'd be blown away by these offerings even in a brightly-lit Chuck-e-Cheese. I will be back every single time I'm in Des Moines, and I hope it's packed with a waiting list because this kind of artistry deserves to be shared with everyone.

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In Confidence

3.6(16 reviews)

0.9 mi

New speakeasy below hotel fort Des Moines. Went here on a Friday night around 9pm. You are led…read moredownstairs where the bar is. The decor was super nice and certainly have a speakeasy vibe. Most of the seating here seemed to be targeted towards large groups so there wasn't a ton of option for a party of 2. We did not have a reservation so there was only 1 high top area that was honestly super uncomfortable. I would recommend making a reservation if you want a chance to sit at one of the lower chair areas. The biggest issue was the service. It took over 20 minutes for anyone to come over and take our drink order. This is a newer spot so I'm hopeful things can improve. It was super loud and not the most inviting space. Some of the seating was a bit awkward with spacing. The drinks were small but I would expect that for a higher end cocktail. For DSM, I did think some of the drinks seemed a bit expensive. The drinks were okay but seemed pretty weak where they were super juice heavy. Overall I would probably not come back unless I had friends who haven't been and wanted to try it. Super bummed as I do think there is potential here but need to work through some of these issues.

This speakeasy bar is located inside the hotel fort in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. To get there,…read moreyou will enter the coffee bar, once you walk around the bar, you'll see a velvet rope. Somebody will ask you how many people in your party and then open the wall pantry. This will lead to the stair that goes downstairs to the basement. Bar lighting is dim, intimate feel. There's bar seating, high tops, tables that accommodate large parties and VIP room that has a curtain for privacy. We ordered cocktails that were unique crafted. Bathroom is available, hallway of pictures of people dressed in the 1920s all over the wall. We enjoyed this speakeasy bar and will definitely come back with more people.

The entryway

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Revelry Room Bar & Kitchen

4.4(8 reviews)

0.5 mi

Stopped in for a cocktail and found a lovely bar with tons of seating. The bartender was so kind. I…read moreordered the Southern Living, which is a very sweet cocktail as described by the menu with peach puree and simple syrup and a lemonade popsicle. Even still, I was not prepared for the first sip! It was way sweeter than the cocktails I generally enjoy, but no complaints from me. It was perfectly executed. The bartender asked me what I thought and when I said it was sweet, she insisted that she could make me another cocktail that I'd enjoy better. I appreciate the thought, though committed to the drink. She did add some club soda when I drank it down a bit which helped! Very kind of her.

Excellent happy hour charcuterie board and bourbon bacon. Pork sandwich is a must try.read more

Dine out in Des Moines at Revelry Room Bar and Kitchen - Dining Area and Bar

Dine out in Des Moines at Revelry Room Bar and Kitchen

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Dine out in Des Moines at Revelry Room Bar and Kitchen - Cocktails

Black Sheep DSM

4.1(42 reviews)

0.0 mi

I liked Black Sheep from the second I stepped through the doorway. Down the stairs toward the red…read moreglow of what Ralphie might have also called "electric sex," whoever it is that makes up the "we" in "we are your shepherds" must have forgotten that black sheep resist being in the herd. Maybe that's the point though, in what feels like a much, much less scary walk down into hell (not a regular hell but a cool hell, right Regina?) put extra emphasis on any word in the sign and you're still left with a mischievous message. The average person will not come to this bar, and that's a good thing. The "bar scene" in general is mostly gross and average and can have the bulk of the flock, and flock right off with it. Black Sheep seems to attract a whole lot of "other," and I really dig that. On top of being a really great concept, the execution thereof is impeccable. It makes its point without coming across as inauthentic, contrived or gimmicky. Hard to do when your schtick is so niche and obvious. Applause. Bartenders were very nice. Crowd of people were very nice. I like being able to dance next to people without dancing with them. I did this here and it worked out well. Just some pleasant eye contact, "hey, you're having fun too, we're twins!" nods, brief mimicry of one another's moves, and that's it. That's exactly how it should be sometimes. Music was mostly okay. There were moments where it was sublime, moments where it was just fun to dance to, moments where I zoned out, and moments where I went "What in the actual hell is this guy on and why am I being audibly assaulted with such nonsense?" I kinda like that though. Just because it's not my jam doesn't mean it's not someone else's. There's a sign above the tables that reads "No Requests" which is awesome. Whomever is spinning gets to do their thing and everyone just needs to handle it. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'll be black for sure. I mean back. Back to the black. Back to Black Sheep. Baa. Did she just....? Yeah. Yeah I did. I Haikcoup de grâce'd the fkcu out of that review.

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.

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The Copper Cup

4.0(28 reviews)

0.5 mi

I won't lie, the floor is sticky everywhere and it's definitely hole in the wall vibes. But I am a…read moreproud lover of a Moscow mule and you won't find another place in DSM that has this many flavor options. I've been here when it's packed with hardly no place to stand and never had a problem, and I've also been there when we basically had the place to ourselves. The bartenders can be hit or miss, we've had really nice ones and others that seem to hate their lives. Wish they had more dart boards, but with the small space it's not feasible. The front claw machine area near the bathroom never gets used so wondering if they could expand?? Nevertheless, fun place and worth checking out if you're doing a bar crawl downtown.

Sydney was a very attentive bartender the amisade was warm and cozy nice TV s sport's were in every…read moreTV I didn't order food just drinks I would recommend to friends and family

Inside the place

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Inside the place

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

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2 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Adam J R.

4 years ago

Great food I had the shrimp cocktail and A sandwich to go along with it shrimp cocktail was great refreshing

Marcia L.

5 years ago

Overpriced and non-athentic. The local Cubans hate this place.

Ceviche Bar - cafes - Updated October 2026

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Ariana's Tex Mex

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We stopped here for lunch while driving out to Colorado. It is a little off 80 but totally worth…read moreit. Clean restaurant- lots of seating and the food was great. Great service too! Don't let the outside of the restaurant deceive you. This place is good!!

Stopped for lunch and had a nice meal. The place is huge and bright and clean! Very well decorated…read morein Mexican themed dia del muerto murals. They brought chips and salsa right away. The salsa is very very mild. The chips were crispy. We both had beef chimichangas. They were ground beef, not shredded beef. The rice was really tasty. I don't care for beans so skip them. They had some lettuce and tomatoes with sour cream to go on the chimichanga. The tomato was way too out of season so I didn't eat it. I just had water and my meal came to nine dollars. The waitress was attentive & checked in on us a couple of times. The place is huge so bring the whole gang.!

Cowboy Mexican Bar & Grill

4.6

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My husband and I visited this location last night for the first time. I gotta tell ya. Best…read morerestaurant experience I have ever had. We went around 6pm and they were busy. The host sat us right away and a waitress was close behind him with chips and Salsa. As soon that waitress walked away, a waiter came and took our drink order. We ordered Strawberry Margaritas and they were excellent and came out within 3 minutes. We ordered our food right away and within 5-10 minutes our food arrived hot and soooo tasty!! They worked as a team waking care of their customers and I can say I will 100% be back!!

Okay...I preface this by saying I've been spoiled by Tex-Mex after growing up in Colorado and…read moreregularly visiting Arizona--Cowboy Mexican is THE best Mexican food in the Des Moines area. Actually, maybe in all of Iowa. I had a chicken taco and a cheese enchilada, and it was AMAZING!! My boyfriend had a carne asada chimichanga with rice--outstanding! We each had a margarita--he had a peach and I had the jalapeño--YUM!! We rounded out our meal with a sopapilla,which was in the top ten of sopapillas I've had in my 57 years on this planet. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the service--10 out of 10, no notes. Our waiter, Eddie, was incredible!! We will be back--likely a few times a week. This is our new go-to for Mexican food, and I can't wait to bring family and friends here!!!

Mojitos

(58 reviews)

Mojito is a fun word to say and now a really good place to eat…read more Weekday evening was a perfect time to go. It in a strip mall area and we had driven by multiple times and finally getting in a stop. Our waitress was a sweetheart. I threw my typical questions at her and she was on top of it. Chips were warm and the salsa was perfect. She brought us our drink orders quickly. The blue margarita was a good suggestion. We enjoyed the chips and the drinks. We were taken aback when our meals arrived. Hubby ordered the CA burrito and it was bigger than this forearm! I ordered the steak chimichanga and it also was way more than I imagined it would be. We both enjoyed our meals. We both were so full that I feel like we were going to have to be rolled out of there. The menus are huge. There is no excuse not to find anything. The restaurant is decent sized, with music playing like you come to expect in a Mexican restaurant. I think it was the manager who came out and checked on us to make sure we were doing alright. We decided that we would be back sooner than later. The price was right and it ended up being another meal for both of us.

Went with a group of friends. Had a great time. Fast attentive service. Great portions. Great food…read more Everyone loved their meals and drinks. No complaints. Would recommend.

The Stuffed Olive

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Food and drinks were absolutely on point! Fantastic service and a very clean establishment. Great…read moreplace to have drinks and to socialize. We were not hurried or rushed off-it was overall a great experience!

The atmosphere is amazing!! But now let's go to the service…read more.. Our server doesn't know how to present nor open a bottle of wine correctly. Also when my partner and I got our food delivered to our table, the server couldn't even explain what food was what. Now let's describe the food here. If you want to eat food that looks like slush or slob this is the place for you. Very disgusting and dissatisfied with the food/service. And not even taking a few bites of the food says a lot. The server should've asked us how the food was and didn't.

La Familia Mexican Restaurant

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We love La Familia!! We go here all the time... PROBABLY more than we should…read more.. The food is great, and pretty authentic, especially for Mexican food in the Midwestern suburbs! The beer is SO SO cold, and the lines are always clean. We have had near perfect service almost every time we have been here. People saying there are no Mexicans in that kitchen CLEARLY have not seen the people who work in that kitchen... I definitely recommend!

We went for the first time tonight to La Familia. While they said they had staffing issues, our…read moreservice was phenomenal. The server kept our drinks filled and checked in with us multiple times. Food: I had the Chori Pollo (Polo Queso with Chorizo), and my wife had a ground beef chimichanga. They nailed my dish, and my wife said hers was tasty too. However, I did want to rave about the chips -- they were fresh made chips and were very crispy. Lately, chips at Mexican restaurants have either been stale or "off" (old oil), but these were excellent that I skipped the tortillas and had my Chori Pollo with them. Salsa was a bit too mild, but also fresh. Price: With two drinks ($10 mojitos) and 2 entrees with 20% tip, we were pennies over $50. I would say that's a good price for the amount of food we got and left well-satisfied.

El Huapango Mexican Restaurant

3.4

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Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 3* Service: 4*…read more 08/20/2022 Although it wasn't high on my wife's list based on the exterior appearance, I talked her into trying it since it was relatively close to where we live. We started with a 28oz Margarita and Paloma. Although they didn't have Mezcal for the Paloma - both drinks were still very good, but a bit on the pricy side. For our meal, I ordered the Ceviche Shrimp (see picture) and my wife ordered the Carnitas (see picture). Both were very good and we would order either again. Although it seemed a bit on the pricey side for the area, we wouldn't hesitate to return and would recommend that you give it a try. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

food is disgusting, people there are very rude, drinks are watery expericnce there was a 1/10...do…read morenot recommend. I also saw a rat there but did tell the waitress there but she strugg it off....please do not go there

Toro Loco

4.5

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I had the Tacos Alambres, and they were amazing. Great flavors, and the portions were huge. Staff…read morewas very friendly and attentive. The restaurant looks very nice, with the murals on the walls and other Mexican decorations.

Had driven by multiple times decided to stop for dinner on a Friday night and sure glad I did…read more Very attentive server with a cool setup inside of the restaurant. Our table ordered : Chrriopollo - was best I've had in metro Chicken enchilada- feedback was very good Watermelon margarita - could tell was fresh not syrup One additional observation was the meal wasn't dripping in cheese / sour cream / slop like many metro Mexican restaurant rather the flavors spoke for themselves Overall Toro Loco will be in our rotation for future stops.

Centro

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The person who checked us in seemed a little rude, but our waitress was very friendly! We placed a…read morereservation, which I would highly recommend because otherwise, there's a 1 hour and 30 minute wait. We learned that from the day before, when the front lady completely seemed to ignore us. Anyway, our food was very good, and the restaurant has a very classy, rich vibe. I got the gnocchi, but I feel like the grated cheese on top didn't really go with the pasta. Other than that, it was good, but it's just not really my type. I'd probably skip this one. Since I didn't eat much of it, I got the kids' Alfredo pasta. WOW. Chef's kiss! That was the best Alfredo I've ever had. So cheesy and saucy--definitely a MUST. The complimentary bread was also very good, but the texture made it seem like it definitely wasn't fresh. It tasted a little old, but I still ate it . My family loved their food, and the chicken was absolutely delicious. Overall, definitely a spot you should try!

Service 5/5 Food 3/5…read moreAtmosphere 4.2/5 We had a reservation for 21:00 on a Saturday evening. Our server was welcoming and courteous, but they were understaff for hosts it seemed. We were given a complimentary bread which is not pictured in my photos. For the most part the bread was already warm and not freshly made. It didn't come with butter but olive, cheese and chili flakes were provided at the table. That bread was a 2/5 given the texture and flavor. Even the way it might've been cooked could improve. The Zelda alcoholic drink was sweet and tangy. I'd recommend it if you're up for it. Bruschetta appetizer kind of disappointed us. Bread was a little overcooked and didn't have much flavor. It came with the cheese, tomatoes and onions. I'd say try a different appetizer instead. Entrees were hot when they came out. Chicken saltimbocca could be best described as rich in flavor. Had a savory chicken and a strong white wine taste to it. The fettuccine Alfredo was cheesy. Ricotta gnocchi had a strong tomato flavor to it. I enjoyed the added cheese to the gnocchi. This was cooked very well and the portion size was big I couldn't finish it. Lastly, The dessert hazelnut brownie tiramisu was cold when served. Easy to put the spoon into. Strong hazelnut flavor and great mascarpone. The bottom half has the brownie part to it. It did have some nuts at the top. The server checked on us enough but not to the point where it was overwhelming. Again they could improve on their beginner bread and bruschetta bread.

Harbinger

4.6

(202 reviews)

Amazing creativity, highest quality. And thoroughly knowledgeable service. Small plates with the…read morefreshest local ingredients, often done with an Asian twist. We've gone to happy hour, dinner, and restaurant week. All are amazing. Happy hour and restaurant week are excellent value. Last night we had sweet corn tartlets with a savory cream and white truffle. I wanted them for dessert as well as the amuse bouche. Corn ricotta pasta and an Asian glazed beef tenderloin were standouts. Always order yuzu anything for dessert. The dining room is fairly small but with tables arranged so you're not listening to your neighbor's conversation. Natural decor (moss, branches, grasses, etc.) soften the space. Cocktails are inventive and the wine selection really interesting (in a good way). A biodynamic Spanish selection was one of the most pleasantly versatile bottles I've experienced, and the wine pairings for restaurant week were well conceived. If you're not sure what to select, staff will knowledgeably do it for you. Portland, Oregon is the city where we dine most often, and is one of America's best food cities. We did not expect this quality in Des Moines--were blown away by it--and return every time we're in town.

A must-visit Des Moines restaurant that pulls off a unique menu in a cozy interior with elite…read morecustomer service. Grace, our server, was amazing, adding so much to the entire visit. Thankful! They serve tapas style, and we grazed all night! We literally tried as much as we could, and loved the entire experience. Among my favorites were the Black Pepper Pork Noodles, Halibut Cheeks, Pea Pasta, and the Beef Fat Potstoes. But I also loved the Farm Carrots and HH Onigari. Seriously, amazing growth food, bolstered by an incredible level of customer service. Finished a great meal with terrific Dark Chocolate Gateau and Strawberry Shortcake. This is a superb place...GO!

The Hills Bar & Grill