This place hasn't changed. Great "dive" bar. The drinks are reasonably priced. They beers were cold. They have live music. The great part was we were here on a Friday and the music started at 5. The music wasn't too loud. We could still talk. They also had a TV with football on. We enjoyed a few hours here before our movie read more

Greenwood Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The great atmosphere and top-notch bands make this a stellar dive bar! The very reasonable drink prices make up for the mostly surly bartenders. You just have to learn to ignore their attitudes and enjoy the music and the vibes! Ha ha! read more

Greenwood Lounge - Antique (original?) chandelier - Dive Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Well I haven't been here in over 20 years but it hasn't changed one single bit. The dogs are still playing cards and pool on the walls and the booths are the same just a whole lot more worn. Actually the booth had a huge hole in the seat that you could see clear to the floor. The seating was missing tiles and you could see large holes in the ceiling too. It really didn't bother me because you expect this here...it was however the first time I have ever been here with the lights turned up. It definitely needs to have the light on much lower... The only other thing is the back door you have to enter from since the city removed most of the parking. It is so dangerous. The concrete is deteriorating and broken and the steps are very scary. I suspect people fall back there regularly... But over all it brought back fond memories of times long ago!!! read more

Hands down the best dive bar in DeMo. Yes this is a true dive bar makes you feel like you are in a Charles Bukowski book! Some of the tables slant. Watch your fingers when sitting in the booths because the sits will pop off. The floor has a downhill roll to it as well. Do not worry about any of that, because the drinks are stiff enough that every thing straightens out shortly after arriving there. They have a pool table that has been road hard and set up wet. There is also pinball and arcade games that have not been changed since the 80s. Great old school juke box with some fantastic music! Are you hungry great because they have an excellent selection of chips. If you are a connoisseur of vintage chips then buy some, because I think the bags are from the 1940's. If you do not like bars with a lot of idiots this is the place to go. Always a good place to get into a random conversation with an intellectual alcoholic! Better then dogs playing poker they have a full mural of dogs at a bar and dancing! What more could you possible want from a place to drink! read more

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You kinda have to love a place where they still sell normal cans of cheap beer! You also have to love a place where you say, to the bar tender.."Does the jukebox work," and he says, "Well, you will have to plug it in!" How great is that! I love the Greenwood, it's old, it's full of townies, and it's a dive bar to the max! One of the oldest still standing bars in Des Moines is a great place to hang with a small group of cats, listening to music, drinking cheap beer, and hanging out in a care free environment! Love this joint! read more

It was touted as the best dive bar in Des Moines and it lived up to the hype!! Very friendly atmosphere

The diviest of the dive bars. Very spaciest once you are inside. And you can enter/exit from the front or the back of the building. They have just the 1 bar but they have a pool table and a room where you can hang out with friends and mingle. We went here recently for a Yelp event so there were snacks and a free drink. It was nice. I went by myself as I sometimes do for Yelp events since there are a lot of variety of people who go there, never know who you're going to meet. The drink was a long island and it looked like the guy at the bartender may have also been the owner (I'm not sure I don't frequent a lot) but he was very friendly and attentive. It wasn't packed or anything, which is nice. Because then it wasn't overly loud. I have been here before where they've had live music (it's great but cramped). And definitely will go here again. The drinks are very nicely priced and not too strong or too weak, they're just right. read more

First of all, I've now lived by the Greenwood for 7 years. When I say live by, I mean I can stumble to/from the Greenwood in about 3 minutes tops. This WAS, by far, my favorite dive bar. I say WAS because I was out of Des Moines for about 18 months and just recently came back. I took a friend down there at 7PM and it was the usual crowd.....and then the BAND showed up. At about 9PM a band started to play and it was so bad/loud that we left. Too bad for the Greenwood, because I likely would've dropped another 20-30 bucks down. I honestly thought about asking the band how much to stop playing and call it a night. I looked at a schedule on the wall, and it looks like there isn't hardly a night you can relax with your $2.50 cocktail in peace there now. This really sucks.... it was one of the few bars I could sit and drink alone without feeling like a total loser. This mostly due to the fact 5 deep to your left/right at the bar people were also drinking alone. This is a shame, and I hope its not the end of Greenwood. I know they've taken a hit due to the economy, but jesus don't scare people out with bad music. The jukebox in the place was the best thing it had going for it when I left town. I guess the Greenwood has become my pre-9PM bar now. read more

This is a great local's bar! Founded in 1933, when a bar has the staying-power to last that long, they must be doing something right. This bar focuses on what they do best - serve great drinks at a reasonable price and offer great music. Greenwood's delivers and as a result, the locals that live around the DSM area come and love it. Walking distance from my home makes this place and added plus! read more

What's with the grumpy old bartenders?? Went in about 9pm, place was about 1/2 full. Waited several minutes to be served as he walked back & forth behind the bar. Finally, I hailed him and he approached me with a scowl on his face and said, "What did you want?". Did this guy lose a bet? He acted like it was an imposition to sell me a beer. This place has been here since 1933 and I don't think the bathrooms have been cleaned since the seventies. Additionally, I'd like to ask: could you put a minimal amount of effort into those booths? I mean, pull them out and put a couple screws here and there. They are very uncomfortable and rickety. It's a good place to find decent music & local talent but that's where the enjoyment ends... read more

We saw the Heath Allen band play at Greenwood Lounge; they were fantastic! The lounge has a great atmosphere with a lively crowd, good drinks, and free billiards. read more

"The divey-est dive bar I ever dived," I said as I watched my boyfriend and his dad play pool in what looked like someone's janky garage. It was meant as a compliment. The bar is dark and the dog mural brilliant. read more

Live music every night, cheap beer, only bad thing is cash only.. otherwise great vibes, great times

Best dive bar in Des Moines. No D-bags. Great bartenders, cheap drinks and live music every night starting at 9. The place is small so it gets a bit crowded when a popular band is playing. read more

Cheap, strong drinks. But frankly a bit skeazy for me. Let's face it, I'll probably be back. But I won't touch anything.

Live music almost every night! Gotta love the wallpaper of dogs playing cards. This place, like Carl's, has charm! Friendly, local people. A tad older crowd usually. It's cash only! Domestic taps and such. read more

Street parking. OLD place. Bartender was very friendly. He was talking with a couple of old mates that were visiting him. He served us our drinks and he cleaned the bar as he talked. We looked around. There is a beanie baby on the ceiling. If you sit at the bar and look straight up there is a doll staring at you. Completely freaked me out. Lots of live music almost nightly. Pool table. ATM. Definitely worth a try read more

This place is good but getting/ has been too much a place for aging hipsters. The real dive bars are on the east side.

Had good music, but it was extremely packed and the back room by the pool table kind of smelled like urine...

After a horrible dinning experience at Bistro Montage down the road was thankful was able to wash the bad taste out of my mouth with a nice Icy cold beer!! Love the dogs playing poker and pool decor!! read more

Ahhh, a dump. My boyfriend LOVES dumps. So on a recent Friday night in Des Moines, I found myself at the Greenwood Lounge. Cheap beers, a rough-around-the-edges clientele, and a secret smoking spot out back. What's not to like? read more

This was the first bar I ever stepped foot in (*cough* once I was of age of course). It's molded me into a connoisseur of dives and my liver into a lover whiskey. The Greenwood Lounge is one of the oldest bars in Des Moines with one of the finest traditional bar staffs you could ever care to meet. Paul, Mo, Bill and Joe are amazing. read more

The dive of all dives in the DSM. Cobwebs, old Budweiser paraphanelia, torn vinyl booths and still rocking that old school jukebox.

Best place ever. My sister and I started here in our 20s. We don't live in the state anymore, but when we are, have to stop in. Does Mike still own it?? read more

Great dive bar. Grew up there,kinda. I get the old thing(Cub's and Wrigley Field).however,it becoming un sanitary! Keep most everything in tact, but just take everything outside and clean everything? Please. Luv the place. read more

I've only been to the Greenwood a couple times and its not nearly enough! Its a great dive bar, cash only kind of place, with charm. My first visit here was during the day, stopped off for a drink during a walk. It was pretty empty, the bartender was friendly but my friend had a baby with them and they definitely were not okay with that. He did let us have a quick beer though and then we had to leave. The next time was for a friends birthday. The location is great, right on Ingersoll, we just walked over from a nearby restuarant after dinner and the place was hopping! People were buzzing from the beers and the live music! The crowd was a mix of young and old, seems like anyone can find their place here! I was not expecting this place to have live bands but they have a perfect little set up for it. They have an atm if you need cash. There's seats at the bar, old booths that you sink right into and tables for bigger groups. The bathroom was pretty much what you would expect from this kind of bar, but it was clean. Love a place where I can share a pitcher of cheap beer with my friends! Hopefully when the weather is warmer I'll be able to make my way to the Greenwood Lounge more often and get more of the full experience! read more

What an awesome place! I love local dive bars with history. The bartender is a cool dude who has been working there on and off since before I was born. It was easy to chat with the locals as they were very friendly! A woman told me I was pretty - very sweet. :) Drinks are cheap and strong and my boyfriend's sodas were free. They should have local beers, though, and cans would be nice instead of just bottles. That's just my personal preference. Live music was great! They have a pool table, darts - this is a real, genuine bar. A great place to go and chill and get drunk. Apologies to the two people outside I told I was 22 when asked my age. I was drunk and messing with you; I'm actually 31. But you bought it! Haha. I even said I was born in 91 which would make me 24 lol. Thanks for the cigarettes. Everything else I told you was true, though. And I enjoyed chatting with the chef from Christopher's very much whose name I don't recall. Keep on keepin' on. :D read more

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I wish the Greenwood Lounge took credit cards! That is really my only complaint. I would like to say, if you want to listen to The Doors, Bob Dylan or Led Zeppelin with the best acoustics in Des Moines, head to the Greenwood, throw some money into that old juke box and play pool in the side room... You will have an amazing time read more

Love this place cause it is a bar, No theme just a place that serves drinks and you can carry on a conversation.

When I get to D.M. (I live in N.Y.) I head straight to the Greenwood every Thursday Nite to see the Soul Searchers and have some drinks with friends. This bar has good music and the atmosphere and people are perfect. No hot heads or crazy idiots, just people having a good time. Love this bar, but I isn't a dive bar by my scale. Just a great place for music and drinks. read more

Really enjoyed our night at the best dive bar in DeMo. Good beer. Good music.