My bridesmaids and I got ready here in October before my wedding. There were 7 of us, and there was…read moreplenty of space for us all in the seating area. There was PLENTY of space for our hair and makeup and the lighting was great! I loved that there was a little dining area in the back for us to keep drinks and bagels so we could eat breakfast and drink mimosas while getting pampered!! We were able to hook our phones up to the sound system to play our own playlists while we got ready too, which was such a good vibe for the morning of my wedding. I was also REALLY impressed with the customer service - we had a bit of a mix up while booking, and Samantha was INCREDIBLY accommodating. The space was SO cute and felt so special :)

From the owner: Specialties Bridal Suite Rentals…read more Services Baby Showers, Bridal Party, Bridal Showers, Day-of Wedding Services, Event Venue, Photography Sessions, Photography Studio, Small Events, Wedding Consultations, Wedding Party Locations Notes Across the alley from Amour 515

Wow, fancy pants new events space just south of downtown! I…read morewas invited to the DSM MAGAZINE cover unveiling party, so I thought I would check it out! Little did I know there was going to be free food and drinks in a new fancy pants events space.. The River Center is set up perfect for an event like this! Lots of space upstairs and down stairs, and also fun outdoor space! The River Center had bar set up in all three locations as well, up/down, and outside! The staff was super nice and were super accommodating! I got to check out the upstairs bathroom cause naturally I brought my son ( bad idea?) and he had to go! Bathrooms were super nice, the food looks fab (again my son ate like 5 fancy cookies) and the space and sound system worked really well! If you were going to have a huge wedding, prom, or a big corporate event, this would be a great spot to do it.. It's fancy without being, to fancy. It got lots of parking around it, and it's close to other fun restaurants and bars, and the baseball stadium if you need to venture out and eat more food since you didn't get to eat 5 cookies like your kid.

One Great Location for any Gala Occasion, the Event Staff and Culinary Team can make your ideas of…read morethe perfect Swarah Happen. Chef Diego will make Magic happen with an appetizer spead, buffet style meal, or a full plated table service. Check out the Catering Guide online, Call the Event Directors, and get your Event Scheduled. This is an extremely unique Event Space that can handle small business Groups during the day and large Cascading Parties day or night...Dream it, Book it, then Enjoy it...

Really beautiful spot, excellent food! Service was very good, they even made a special meal for me…read morebecause I have major allergies issues and I'm also really picky.

From the owner: The Conservatory is conveniently located in the heart of Des Moines' East Village. Within blocks…read moreof some of the best restaurants, shops, and entertainment. The event center is comprised of a 5000sf ballroom that can be used as a large gathering space for a wedding, corporate event, or party or it can accommodate executive meetings, classes, and small groups that range in size and setup. The Conservatory can accommodate events for over 275 guests seating and over 421 for standing/cocktail setup. It provides the comforts of an inhouse bar, many catering options and, lighting/decor options, and a staff specially attuned to the unique needs of weddings clients, meeting planners, and all types of guests and attendees.​

I was in downtown Des Moines for work & was looking for somewhere within walking distance of our…read morehotel to hang out w/ my colleagues. A coworker suggested this ping pong bar which also has skee-ball & other games. As a former college tennis player, I was in & had such a blast. We came in at 9pm on a Wednesday night & it wasn't too busy. We 1st got drinks & had the friendliest bar tender. We were interested in local beers & she also easily rattled off helpful descriptions of each one. I was having trouble deciding between the Mango Cart wheat ale & the Citris Surfer by Big Grove Brewery. The bar tender said that both combined was pretty good & let me try it. I didn't even know you could do that so my mind was blown when it tasted great. Who knew how fun it would be to work up a sweat & drink beer at the same time?! We had almost gone to a brewery to hang out but I'm so glad we didn't. Also note that the nearby breweries close by 10pm so this place was a great option open much later so we wouldn't feel rushed or that our evening was cut short. I hadn't played ping pong forever but the easygoing but trendy-ish atmosphere made it fun! I'd def come back when I'm here for work again.

I've been here plenty of times, and I've never had any issues, but tonight was just stupid. My…read morefriend and I came in to celebrate his birthday with 2 shots. I could already tell the bartender was irritated, but did what she needed to do anyway. I asked about darts, she said they don't work, but she'd let us play anyway (but couldn't help to mention she usually doesn't do that after 1) yet there other people there currently deep in other games. My friend and i decided to play a game of bags. then we leave. Within 10 mins I realized I had left my phone there, so I rushed back to grab it, but the doors were locked (@1:48), and refused to let me in to find my phone (yet again people still playing games and finishing drinks). I had to ask them to search but CLEARLY did not want to. Had to ask twice for a more thorough search because I was not allowed in. And was told they did not see anything. I just know if it were them they'd be pissed. The employees were just over it, and ready to go. AND MY LOCATION IS ON, showing it is there. Currently 3:47AM, I have been walking up and down the street with my laptop trying to locate by phone knowing its there hoping they'd see me looking around and run it out to me, while the bartenders and "security" were having drinks at he bar after bar close mind you. Isn't that illegal? While I was desperately searching outside the building, a coworker comes up to tell me they found it and I can come get it in the morning, because they closed (I have been searching since 1:48AM) as if they did not see me outside the door looking for it while they drank at the bar, and came before they closed. I will never be back, and will for sure push the fact that the employees give lazy, selective, and unprofessional service and hospitality. In the heart of downtown I think service should be better. And why rush to close? To drink at the bar till 3:45AM with your coworkers? And then to let no one in when technically they should be open especially when other guests are still in the building, ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL I WANTED WAS MY PHONE THAT THEY HAD, and refused to care. Dude tried to apologize (getting in his car outside richotett) cuz he knew they could have done better. But still is making me come back to get it, when he could have right then?!?! LIKE WHAT?! I work downtown too, so this kinda service baffles me!!!

Beautiful site for weddings and other celebrations. The exterior of the building itself is blocky…read moreand not that remarkable. The site is a different matter. One entrance reveals the river. Another opens to a beautiful lawn with a fountain and butterfly gardens on the borders. We saw several monarch butterflies. Inside is grand without being cold or forbidding. Note that bathrooms are in the basement and second floors. There is an elevator. Staff was very friendly.

This place is extremely beautiful. The biggest downside to here is the hours on their website are…read morenot accurate. I came here to visit the inside and the arrive to a locked door. On the door was a note saying they are only open 1 day a week. I was able to peak in the window and see all the beautiful architecture. I was also able to explore the outside grounds too. However it can be slightly frustrating if your website says it will be open but you're not actually open. Overall this place is not huge and is a walkable distance to several other things. So I recommend walk past it to see if it's open. If it's closed, visit somewhere else.

TL; DR: This is a great place for a wedding. Food is really good and the service was great as well!…read more I visited the Tea Room for a wedding and it was amazing. From the food to the service, I was amazed. The space itself felt very open and never crowded. I also loved the outdoor space aka the balcony's - it had a great view!

Came here for a wedding reception. The venue was decorated perfectly for the wedding reception and…read morethe food was amazing. There were two bars in the venue to order drinks from. No outside drinks were allowed. The view from the balconies were gorgeous of downtown Des Moines. Very upscale and classy. Great place to have a party or reception. Highly recommend.

If you're looking for a relaxing break while exploring downtown Des Moines, I'd definitely…read morerecommend spending an hour or two at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden! The gardens are beautiful year-round, with a mix of tropical plants, seasonal flowers, and peaceful walking paths. The conservatory is my favorite part--it feels like stepping into another climate, and there are so many unique plants to see! Outside, you'll also find beautifully landscaped gardens overlooking the Des Moines River. Whether you're visiting as a couple, with family, or just looking for a quiet place to explore, it's an easy stop to add to your itinerary! If you're visiting Des Moines, I'd definitely put the botanical garden on your list!

This place is honestly magical. We've talked about going to the Des Moines Botanical Garden for…read moreyears and just never made the time. We finally went during the holidays, and I'm so glad we did. Everything was decorated beautifully, the self-guided walk was easy, and there were photo opportunities everywhere. It was busy with families, but the timed ticketing really worked -- it never felt packed or overwhelming, which I appreciated. Going on a snowy, cold night actually made it even better. It felt cozy, festive, and kind of special. They also have concessions with drinks for kids and adults (with or without alcohol), which was a nice surprise. There's a restaurant inside called Flora that's reservation-only, plus brunch options. We also saw the little igloo huts you can reserve for dinner or small groups (I think around 8 people), which looked really fun -- definitely want to look into that more. Parking was free, and if you want to make it more of an experience, you can even ride the trolley over from the East Village. Overall, this was easily a 10/10 for us. Can't believe it took us this long to go -- we'll definitely be back.

I really enjoy the space in this theater. It brings the show right up and close to the audience…read more In spite of the smaller scope they have a great setup. With multiple layers on the performance area they allow many parts to be played out in different ways for the audience while maintaining separation for the locations. The seating is rather hard and tightly spaced which can be a bit uncomfortable if the show lasts over an hour and has no intermission. I thought their ability to use such a space in such a great way was terrific. The lights and sound worked really well.

I'm so excited that the Des Moines Social Club's Kum and Go Theater is open for business! Last…read morenight was my first experience in the Black Box Theater! It was awesome! I got to play a show with Har Mar Superstar and MAIDS! The place is 2nd to none, awesome video projection screen so I did not have to bring my own, Great sound system and the staff who I think were mostly volunteers were incredibly nice and professional! I got the opportunity to see some of the behind the scenes spots like the artist back stage green rooms and these were the best in town at any venue for sure! I'm super excited this is finally open as I hope to be attending many theater productions, and concerts here! Super excited when the weather warms up to enjoy a beer on the open roof as well! Also cool art by local legend Van Holmgren welcomes you to the theater! Great SPOT!

Such a fun first visit, as we attended a watercolor class and it was an enjoyable experience that…read moreended too soon. Easy parking, visited without lofty expectations, as it was a brutally cold day and we were happy to be out of the house and wanted to have fun. Joanie and Megan made the whole experience a great time! They are pleasant, knowledgeable, encouraging, and talented. We enjoyed interacting with our fellow total of ten attendees, and they made it a better event. I like how you all sit at a community table and experience it together. I learned how to do really fun watercolor strokes and designs, but also had a terrific time doing it. We will return, as it is a great place to get away and have some fun.

AR Workshop is fun for a date, ladies night out, activity for families (kids and grandma can come…read moretoo)! It's quality time crafting, and anyone can do it! Highly recommend!