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    Ritual Cafe

    4.2 (161 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Cafes

    Ritual Cafe Photos

    RITUAL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ritual Cafe

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    Atmosphere
    Kelli W.

    Coffees in all flavors that are delish! The ambiance is quirky and comfy. If you are looking for a quick peaceful bite or an afternoon chatting with a friend...this is the spot! Sandwiches and sides are delish and the servers are always happy to help you.

    James W.

    Excellent coffee house with tasty vegan menu. The brews are strong, and the espresso drinks are equally made very well. I loved their daily quiches most of their baked goods are also delicious. The breakfast burrito was rather small, so do add the beans. I love the decor and the messages of support for the cause. Fight the power!!

    Dope sweater and logo
    Johnathon J.

    Love this little cafe. Awesome vegetarian food and good coffee. The owner was so sweet and accommodating. 100% support this lovely cafe then corporate chains that are around here.

    the interior of the restaurant
    Heidi H.

    The Ritual Cafe is an amazing gem right downtown near the sculpture park. The coffee was amazing. We were able to sit outside and their cute little tables and enjoy our coffee and muffin.

    I walked here from my hotel and was pleasantly surprised to find this bohemian gem. Right away as I walked in I was met with vibrant color, tons of art, posters, sculptures, and plants to admire, mellow music that wasn't too loud, the amazing aroma of coffee beans, and cool A/C. The baristas immediately greeted me and pointed out the descriptive menu and said that any of their hot drinks they could prepare iced. I ordered the tomato and basil panini with provolone and parmesan cheese on a garlic herb focaccia along with the iced Mocha Bianca. The sandwich came with a small side of homemade coleslaw. Everything was so fresh and delicious! I finished my sandwich and sipped my perfect white mocha while reading a book. What a wonderful afternoon! I will definitely return next time I am in downtown Des Moines.

    Grilled tempeh sandwich with "BBQ" sauce. It was okay, but the sauce tasted like mustard.
    Quincy V.

    Decent, but certainly has more potential. Don't get me wrong, this is a reasonably priced, cozy and inviting vegetarian cafe, although there are several reasons why I didn't give them a higher rating. I came in and ordered the tempeh sandwich with BBQ sauce, to dine in. I liked that free water was made available, so the $8.00 cost for a lunch was very inexpensive. Their online menu didn't list any prices and frankly, I was expecting to pay more, so that was a pleasant surprise. Although it wasn't very busy, the simple sandwich took about 20 minutes to cook. The dish itself was good, but very basic. Even though the menu said that sandwiches come with vegan coleslaw, mine didn't. Instead, it had about five or six tortilla chips on the side... The sandwich tasted nothing remotely close to BBQ for most of the meal, as it was heavy on the mustard. It wasn't until the last few bites that I noticed a tiny bit of sweet BBQ sauce. Either it was overpowered by mustard or they only added a few drops. As a whole, the sandwich was good, but based on the menu description of what I ordered, I was underwhelmed. I came right around noon on a Wednesday and there was plenty of parking right out front, so that was convenient. Ritual also has an opportunity to be a bit more inviting to vegans. Although the menu is all vegetarian, only a small amount of the dishes are vegan and nothing on the counter menu noted if a dish was vegan or not. In summary, I liked the atmosphere, both parking and prices were good and the food was fine, but I wasn't overly impressed by the dish I ate, or the relative lack of vegan options for an exclusively vegetarian cafe.

    Renee M.

    This spot is super adorable, and very reminiscent of a place I used to frequent in Long Beach, CA. It has a cozy vibe while still offering plenty of space between tables. The baristas were exceptionally friendly and all had very pretty and genuine smiles. That kind of lovely is contagious, I think! I had three large mugs of their plain black coffee and it did not disappoint. I was also gifted with a large, flat brick of peanut butter crumbly goodness. Whatever that was, it was good. The art on the walls was nice to look at too. This is a great place to study, or to just sit and get caffeinated in good company.

    Large hot coffee with sugar free white chocolate syrup
    Alyssa T.

    Lovely spot! Incredibly welcoming atmosphere and a wide variety of diverse options for food and drink. Was in town for one night and made this a must visit. Next time I'm in town I'll be sure to stop in again! A true gem.

    Mayan mocha- yummmm
    Brittany S.

    Okay, so they may not sell vagina pillows or demand all gender-neutral word usages but this place could not remind me of the famous Portlandia bookstore, Women & Women First, more. Why? Well, the gentle and warm vibe of the staff for one. The earthy decor with liberal signage adorning the walls. I love it, don't get me wrong. I mean c'mon, look at the 5 rosy stars I'm dishing out. Why should you pop in here for a meeting, drink or study session and not somewhere else? 1.) four words: homemade spicy mango jam. Must must must. Pair it up with egg breakfast topped with chives and cheese and you have a perfect morning; 2.) despite the frigid Des Moines air outside, this place is as toasty as all get out. The ample seating doesn't hurt either; 3.) Mayan Mocha: chocolatey/spicy bliss - I'm not a coffee drinker but this one seemed too good to pass up; 4.) they also sell beer. Day drinking and work? Okay. I guess. Can't beautiful my next visit when in Des Moines!

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    1 year ago

    What is not to love about this place? Had a delicious Mexican coffee and sandwich. Great people and ambience.

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    1 year ago

    Everything is amazing here. From the quality and care put into the food and beverages to the beautiful art and decor.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Ritual Cafe

    Do they have live music?

    They have a monthly open mic and spoken word. You can find details on the their website (http://www.ritualcafedsmiowa.net) in the Events section. Great coffee shop, by the way!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Photos
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    Shepard Fairey tribute to bees/Joe Strummer.
    Shepard Fairey tribute to bees/Joe Strummer.
    Best capp in town. Easily.

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    Best capp in town. Easily.

    Ritual Cafe - coffee - Updated June 2026

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