Is it a dive bar? Yes. But it was clean and the beer was cold and the bartender was kind and helpful. The vibe was great and I will return.

Wonderful staff and atmosphere!! Pool table is an added benefit to this small bar and drinks are affordable.

Classic dive bar. Locust Tap has a lot of history as a bar thats been in the east village waaaay before it was cool to hang out in the east village. Its small but has a pool table. read more

Quintessential no-BS dive bar that will make you feel dirtier when you leave than when you came in... I love it. Locust Tap may look like it's falling apart on the inside, and your seat or table might be sticky, and you'll wonder if there's asbestos, but I think that's what gives this bar character. It's well-worn and loved, kinda like my liver, go figure. Not one wall lacks texture or graffiti, including the ceiling. Throw in a pool table, a full bar, and tons of beers in bottle, cans, and on tap, and you have a solid scene. Despite the frigid weather, this place filled up for happy hour on a random weekday, which I was glad to see! It was a mixed crowd of patrons, and the bartenders were cool too. Swing by for a swig! read more

If you like being berated this is the place for you White guy with longer dark hair pulled back bartending. I tip in cash bc it isn't taxed, put my bills down on the counter after paying with a card. Dude didn't see the cash right away, and told me "eff you", assuming I didn't tip. Continued to berate me and wouldn't let me speak. This bar is shitty as hell. I would NEVER treat someone like that, even if they didn't actually tip. read more

Been a server for 4+ years and have never had such a terrible experience at a bar-or anywhere else for that matter. Have been coming here a couple times the past year, had typically been a chill time. Have not been in in over 2 months, walk in and am preparing to play a game of pool with a friend, nobody else in the bar. The bartender currently working-long dark haired man, hastily asks us for id's, then immediately angrily says the pool table is only for customers, then tells us "if we aren't expecting to tip then we aren't allowed to get drinks" He swears up and down "last time we were there we didn't tip"-as a person who has spent YEARS in the industry I try to calmly explain to him I think he had us mistaken, I would absolutely never have the audacity to not tip. Wouldn't look me in the eyes, wouldn't give me a chance to even speak, and continues to escalate the situation by throwing some comment out about "well last time you didn't" If on the off chance I had forgotten to tip-I would have felt very bad. Again as someone who works in the industry I know first hand tips are absolutely necessary. I know for a damn fact I had tipped the time I went 2 months ago and I have the credit receipt to prove it. This man was extremely hostile and honestly I'm wondering what kind of situation he ran into before I got there that had gotten him into this terrible of a mood. If even I had been an asshole that didn't tip-which I am SURE he had us mistaken for I hardly ever go there, I would never expect to be yelled at and berated like that. Never been the type to post a bad review as I think that's shitty as hell but after this experience he's changed my mind. read more

Mule was a 2/10. It tasted like a frat kid pouring me a vodka soda with a little hint of roofie. Am I in iowa city? The bartender also IDd us for waters. #AtLeastILooked18 read more

Locust Tap - a person's hand holding a drink - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

When you think of Des Moines dive bars, the Locust Tap is immediately at the top of your lis, and one of my favorite dive spots. The booths are falling apart, the walls are covered in sharpie, and the bathroom doors barely close. The drinks are cheap, the bartenders treat you as well as you treat them, and the place has TOUCH TUNES (can go very well or very poorly, depending on your taste in music, but hey- you can pay a couple more dollars to move your music up!) Hope this place never changes. read more

Bestest LiL hole in the wall I could find in downtown Des Moines. This place is great ! Low Key, dark and mysterious! Right up my alley. Definitely worth the visit read more

Locust Tap - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

A little grunge, but a fun place for east village. Definitely a decent dive. Is a good stop when going to up down or woolys.

Stopped in here with some friends during the afternoon. The other customers were super friendly and chatty. You can make song requests so that was fun. There was only one bartender so it did take us a while to get our drinks. I had a cherry bomb which was made well. The place is very unique with writing on the walls but it is definitely not a clean place. It is a good place if you want a super laid back atmosphere and cheap drinks. read more

Locust Tap - Ceiling. Clock must not work because it was definitely not 8:50. - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Classic, but authentic, dive bar. If you don't like that, then you won't like this place. If you do, then enjoy.

A must visit dive bar when in the east village. I always see something interesting when I'm in this bar. Whether it's in the bar or just outside. The graphetti on the walls and trying to find the sweet spot in the seat your in will keep a person entertained foresure. read more

Bartenders are as shitty as the bar itself. I lived in the EV for three years and was disappointed every time I went in. Much better spots in the neighborhood, I recommend Beechwood if you're looking for this type of vibe. Pool table and cues are always disfunctional, music has no taste and bathrooms are rank. Try not to catch anything. read more

By definition it's hipster cool, but the reality is, this place is not far from condemnation for a myriad code violations. The fact that you feel as if you are standing on the deck of a sinking ship makes the charm and vertigo hard to beat. That urinal puck smell is definitely bringing them in by the truckloads, too. If you really want a $2 can of bad beer, try the grocery store, there are plenty to choose from. Not a huge fan of bars in general, but this place was what a friend called a "sinkhole" and he wasn't joking. Quite literally, in fact. I would guess you'll read about this place in the paper or see it on the evening news in the future, probably for one of the bathrooms swallowing a patron whole. Plenty of decent "dive" bars in DSM if that's what tickles your pickle, so unless you are already drunk or lost, do yourself a favor and try to find one of those other places. read more

If anything, go here to see the prosthetic leg hanging near the door. And if you can get past the fact that this place smells like a men's restroom, then sit back, relax and have some $2 PBR. You will surely be entertained when reading the walls, along with seeing panties displayed behind the bar area. Neat. read more

The old retro sign was the draw. We spotted it from Tacopocolypse and said we should check it out. We went to a few local pubs and stopped in. Really cool graffiti all over the walls. The place was filled with a disproportionate amount of women and then it dawned on me. The rainbow tap also hinted what I had concluded. Overall we had a blast. All the patrons were engaging and fun. read more

This is one of the most ultimate dive bars in all of Des Moines! They play loud music, have cheap beer, the booths are falling apart, and the walls are covered in graffiti. So I kinda love it.. You can get a can of cheap beer for 2 bucks and meet fascinating locals at any hour of the day! This is one of the, if not the, oldest surviving bar in Des Moines and it has a rich history in the ever changing scene of the East Village of down town Des Moines! If you dig dive bars hit this place up! read more

We stopped in on an awkward night. Beer from the tap was far warmer than it should have been and everyone in the place was, including us, was wearing far too few clothes for the weather outside. Yet they would shut the door or turn up the heat. Warm-ish beers plus too cold air was not a good combo. I like what Locust Tap is doing though. Simple and authentic. No frills. So although our visit was ho-hum, it wasn't bad. It was just ... Off. We'll give it another go on a warmer day or when we're properly dressed to drink beers from their cooler. read more

As a teenager I hung out at a pool hall just down the street, and I remember going in here then. IT HASN'T CHANGED A BIT! It's still a little hole in the wall dive bar! Good drinks, very casual atmosphere and a place to hang with friends! read more

Whatever. It's a 'dive bar'. I get it. Started my visit with with a red solo cup of a local beer and admired the graffiti on the wall. Then the bar staff changed over. The new chick was more interested in doing shots with her friends than taking care of the paying customers. I didn't feel like waiting another 10 minutes for a can of PBR, so I left. read more

The Tap is very cozy...great service and good music on the jukebox. Definitely check it out read more

Locust Tap - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This is what a dive bar should be: Cheap, dirty, and lots of character. Come here, bring your low expectations, and make a friend or two. read more

We usually love stopping in here for a drink or two every so often but we went in on a Sunday afternoon and there were only about 4 people in the bar. We ordered our drinks and the bartender was extremely rude and made us feel like we were inconveniencing her. We were also made to feel out of place by the very few people which were the bartenders friends. Not sure we will ever go back now. read more

This place has been a staple in Des Moines for longer than anyone can remember. It is under new management, so it has changed a bit from its days of glory. Still the same dive/dumpy bar, but with less cool. Locust tap was owned by a prominent Des Moines Architect that gave the place credibility , but now it's changed into something less than it once was. For my money I go to Greenwood, The Fremont, and Carl's.. read more

A true dive. Good music, pool table in back, $2 Shlitz in a can. It certainly beats the hotel bar.

This place has graffiti on the walls and has a certain ambiance.

This place was nasty. I wouldn't have had such a bad time if the bar tender was more friendly but she was annoyed by my group coming in from the start. read more

Holy shit the king of dive bars. No mistake, this is a no frills craphole bar. Expect strong drinks and sloppy beers. Crooked tables and graffiti on the pool table.no pretense. read more

Locust Tap is everything you want in a dive bar. Graffiti on the walls, snarky but very efficient bar tenders, and often a strange beer + musty smell. Draws a very diverse crowd, which is one of the best things about it. There are only a few booths, so grab one if you see one open. Pool table is rough but serviceable. They've got a good variety of music on the digital jukebox, which they play loud. read more

Classic dive bar. Everything's broken, the drinks are cheap, and the walls are covered in graffiti. Interesting mix of people(professional types to hipsters to a possibly homeless person), but everyone was friendly enough. If you go in expecting a dive bar experience you will be happy with this place read more

Worst service. So rude. I tried to hand them my money and they refused service because I looked at them wrong or something or was just dressed too nice for the establishment, i am not sure. Place is a sunk cost business funded by the workers daddy or something. i Get the whole dive bar experience but even the Men's bathroom urinal sprays you because the pipe is broken and literally just hangs their barely making contact with the ceramic fixture. Needs to be shutdown by government services asap. DISGUSTING PLACE AND EMPLOYEES! read more

Definition of a dive bar, in the best way possible. The staff are all awesome, pool table, and the music selection is something hard to beat. read more

This bar is one of the best dive bars! It has a fun, low key atmosphere where professionals mingle with regulars. Very fun atmosphere and cheap booze. Bartenders are the best!!! Jukebox music is great. Floor is now straight. Recently, had major renovations to structure. No worries for possible sinkhole. East Village is hopping. Need to check it out! read more