Definitely the hip place I was looking to study! Chill atmosphere with just the right music and the right feel. I have to agree with others....I'm not usually a hot chocolate kind of girl, but the Mayan mocha had the kind of chocolatey taste as if they juiced it right from the cacao fruit. The menu had some great vegetarian options, but I wasn't in the eating mood, so I stuck to the beverage. I'll be back! read more

Quick and simple coffee stop! Staff was friendly and the coffee very affordable. Note they open a little later than most downtown coffee shops but delicious and worth the stop read more

Great coffee, loved being able to see in the cafe and people watch and look forward to doing it again. Greatly appreciate everything they did to protect customers and staff so thank you for masking! read more

Judging by the Cappuccino, it was really bad. Not properly made. Too hot. Bitter. Had strange milk foam.

Purchased a Dirty Chai and cup of coffee, but both weren't nearly hot enough. The store is only available for takeout.

Great local coffee shop that has an awesome assortment of food and drinks. I love all of the vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Everyone is really friendly and makes you feel welcome. I wish they were open on Sundays and if you order food it does take a bit of time because it is made to order. I highly recommend the Mayan Mocha with rice milk read more

Ritual Café has such cool art. And I hear they also have pretty cool music acts. There weren't any musicians playing the morning I was there, but based on the music they played in the background I could definitely see it being true. They serve all vegetarian and vegan fair and the food is pretty dang good. I had a piece of quiche (broccoli and cheddar) and it was well done. There aren't a ton of seats, but it was never full while I was there so it seems like a good spot to stop into. And not only were the people working there nice you know they have to be pretty cool because the Wi-Fi password is "too legit to quit." Hey, hey. read more

Great music and atmosphere. Everyone is pleasant and the service is outstanding. Definitely recommend the cafe horchata and the breakfast burrito. read more

Oh Ritual... This is one of my FAVORITE places in Des Moines. Ritual has a soft spot in my heart because I've been going here since the first year it opened. It also is the most LGBT-friendly cafe/dining place. The atmosphere is very ambient and liberal. All types of people are welcome here. The location is great due to its close proximity to businesses, public library, and at being in the core of downtown. Parking usually is never too hard to find. Food and drinks are superb! They are all organic and locally grown-- Even better-- vegetarian. Food: All the vegetarian entrees are fantastic. I recommend the 4 Cheese Panini, Hummus and Bread Plate, and Quiche. They are to die for. The 4 Cheese Panini is oozing with delicious cheeses and crunchy grilledness. The hummus is homemade and fantastic. They also have YUMMY pre-wrapped organic brownies, pastries, and bars by the cashier. Drinks: This is where they really shine. The signature Mayan Mocha is a popular favorite with its Mexican spices. What's unique is that this place serves Cafe Sua Da, which is Vietnamese Iced Coffee! I have never been to an American place that serves Vietnamese Iced Coffee. They get their coffee mix from A Dong nearby, which is great. The Italian sodas and iced green tea are my personal favorites. read more

I gave this place a one star simply because vegan foods were available. I can't express just how disappointed I am in my visit here as clearly I've read such great reviews. Whenever I visit a new city I'm ALWAYS in search of a local vegan restaurant but this was simply way below sub par. From the moment we entered the place we weren't "welcomed" by the manager/owner (I'm making an assumption based on her actions as to her title). We came in a few minutes prior to breakfast time and was rushed to make our decisions. It felt very much that she had no interest in taking our order. Simple requests for not having certain peppers in an order was responded with "it's all mixed in. I can't separate it". Or asking questions about the food was responded with answers that appeared that we were a bother. One of the 4 people in our group because of the lack of options to change the menu went across the street to get a breakfast burrito he was able to have his way while the remaining 3 made due and placed an order almost totaling 40 bucks. The same cashier/owner/manager was watching us like a hawk while we were waiting for our food to eat in. When he came back she literally rushed to let him know he couldn't eat his food there despite that we made orders for everyone else. While I understand the policy, her tone in speaking to us was uncalled for as she went on to say "sorry you don't like our food but you can't eat that in here". To not cause a scene we asked to have our food to go. After waiting what seemed to be a very long time, we got our food and left. Many of the other people working there was genuinely apologetic. But the prior lady that we dealt with was down right Rude. I hate making assumptions based on race but it felt that we were treated this way because we are a minority and she is not. Or hey, maybe she simply had a bad day. As for the food, I had the grilled veggie sandwich which was good but the oatmeal I had was given to me in a 18oz styrofoam cup. The toppings were good but it was difficult to eat. My husband's burrito was lack luster and our friend's stomach was upset after her bagel. Needless to say I will not be returning nor recommending to any vegans/vegetarians that visit Iowa. Deeply Disappointed. read more

I finally had a chance to order some food from ritual cafe today. Everything was perfect! I'm not sure what I liked better, the tempeh sandwich or the vegan grilled veggie sandwich. They were both a vegan's dream come true! It's hard to find focaccia bread that doesn't contain dairy so I was so excited learn that the veggie sandwich came with focaccia bread. The portions of both sandwich were surprisingly big for the price. I was stuffed after eating a half of both sandwiches. Next time I'll try the hummus plate, I'll be returning for lunch next week! read more

My go to spot for all things coffee! Local and delish. They offer vegetarian and vegan food as well which I have yet to try but high on my list as I hear raves about it. Just east of the Sculpture Garden and situated nicely by a lovely park; close to the Des Moines public library as well so this place gets busy! This is also my dad's favorite coffee shop of all. When he comes to visit from Waterloo he says 'let's go to my coffee spot'. He was so disappointed they were closed on Sundays. ;). read more

Two vegans walk into a "vegetarian cafe"...they leave totally bummed out. I'll make this quick and simple...unhappy. Driving through town, we were excited to see a review raving about a "hearty vegan breakfast". Well, that doesn't exist at all on the menu and when we asked if there was anything remotely close to a vegan breakfast, we were told oatmeal was it...at an "all vegetarian" place mind you. We were kind of hoping for something a little more appetizing and/or creative. Ended up getting an $8 bagel with hummus at 7am. My girlfriend had a coffee that was downright terrible. When she asked for a hot water, she was told she has to be charged for a tea as well which I thought was just insane given our situation. I hate writing reviews about a place that has good intentions but this place just sucked. And what vegetarian cafe doesn't have tofu? If you're vegan and passing through town, I'd recommend the closest whole foods or pretty much any vegan fast food hack we've all come to be burned out on. Sad but true. Try again ritual cafe. read more

I went to Ritual Cafe because I looked up "Best Coffee Shop Des Moines" on Google and Google paused for a moment, because no one has ever searched for that phrase, then spit that out at the top. Ritual cafe is a nice place to chill out in the middle of Des Moines. Is it the best coffee shop in that town.... eeehhhhh that's debatable, but is it a great place to chill in with decent coffee and is it run by the coolest people I met in Des Moines? Yes. If you're in the area and need coffee or a quick bite to eat... or a great spot to work on your laptop, this is it. read more

I found RC because a friend recommended our meeting take place here. The atmosphere was set well with the music selection and the "artsy" vibe. The staff was friendly, attentive, and the Chai I ordered was incredible! (I have had many a bland Chai) On top of the already good experience they also accepted my AMEX. Their business plan includes more than just "buy local." They actually give you a great product! It is so good to see a local coffee / cafe that actually gets it. Score! read more

As far as local coffee shops go, you can't find much better than Ritual Cafe. The service is awesome, the coffee is DELICIOUS (try the Mocha Bianca! YUM!), and the overall atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. This is a great stop for anyone with an appreciation for the arts. Beautiful artwork covers the walls, and you can bring it home with you for a price! They are super "green" and use actual cups, they are extremely LGBT friendly, and have options for all types of diners, vegan, vegetarian, and others! Love it! read more

These girls are the sweetest coffee savvy mamas to walk the face of the earth!! They offer a wholesome menu of vegan and vegetarian cuisine, make amazing drinks and the shop itself is a place where you can really kick back and relax. The local artwork rotates and is always great, and if you're looking for some chill live music, check their calendar for the next show. St*#bucks? I think not!! I like GOOD coffee, thank you. read more

This is a decent coffee shop located in a cozy part of Des Moines, not far from the center of downtown. I like that it's near the library. Note that the entrance is on 13th Street, not Locust. The food options here are unspectacular (think hummus sandwiches with cucumbers), though they do have one tempeh sandwich. If they added some cajun tofu steaks or seitan burgers, there might be more to write home about. I like that they have loose leaf teas and a wide selection at that. They only had two vegan desserts, though, and so I picked the last peanut butter cookie. It was tasty, but crumbled into bits and pieces and was difficult to eat. On a whole, this is not a bad place, and a good enough spot for tea, a small snack and a conversation with a friend. It's not worth going out of your way to come here, though. read more

This was my 2nd time here at Ritual Cafe.. First time was a year ago... Was driving around with my friend around downtown Des Moines to have a good breakfast... So we found RITUAL!!! I remembered I ordered hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin the first time I came here.. I love COFFEE!!! but decided to order a hot chocolate because I have to visit a company after breakfast and I did not want my breath to smell like coffee... I love the hot chocolate.. The temperature of the drink was hot enough for me to enjoy... The blueberry muffin was normal... My friend was craving for a hot breakfast... she ordered a quiche.. That was my first time trying a quiche... I remembered I took 2 bites and I am already in love with it... Since it was a year ago and I remembered how it tasted.. it must be really good and therefore... how can I not give them a 5 rating?? So I stopped by this morning to get a cup of coffee... Looking at their specialty... MAYAN MOCHA!!! Mexican coffee... with chocolate, steam milk.. cinnamon (if I am not wrong)... MMmmmm.... I love my breakfast.. with homemade banana bread that baked by myself.. :D You can taste the chocolate and the coffee... well blend... I just love local coffee shop compare to Starbucks... (well.. I don't hate starbucks.. they are just too common.. I like trying something new.. :)) I don't think I have a chance to stop by here again... I would love to find some good local coffee shop in NYC in the future... NEW YORKERS!! Any recommendation???? read more

In town from Boston for a wedding we stopped here for an early lunch before taking the bcycles out for a ride. I ordered the grilled hummus panini which was in essence so delicious I was enraptured by the zesty collage of garden fresh flavors well after devouring the sandwich declaring it "the best sandwich I'd ever eaten!" The friendly service confirmed I was in warm hands. read more

Ritual Cafe is a little hidden gem in Des Moines. When I was in college at Drake University, my friends and I would come here to get away from the busy study environment at places closer to campus. During our visits here, I found the Spicy Four Cheese Panini. I still crave it every now and then and head over for it. Yum. It's also one of the few vegan-friendly (if not only) coffee shops in town. I even had my art displayed here once. The ladies that run it are so nice and inspiring. A secret is that you also have a great view of downtown from here. It's a nice spot to relax if you're downtown any time of year. read more

Ritual Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I want to get something out of the way here quick: the service here is atrocious. I'm not the sort to complain about stuff like that, but man -- unnecessary, unapologetic rudeness, the minute I walked in the door. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the good stuff, which is pretty much everything else. I had the veggie quiche, which was fantastic. Really rich in flavor, not too heavy -- it was great. You can't top the decor, either. Layers and layers. I spent a lot of time taking pictures (I probably should've asked first, but after the employees started glaring at me, I really didn't care to), and I'd find something new every time I got done. If they could put a pin in the employee attitudes, this place would really be a must-stop. As it stands, it's a really cool place to sit, have coffee and quiche, and get snarled at. read more

LOVE this cafe! The food comes out fresh and they have the best vegan options. Very friendly staff! Love it here!

Best Gluten Free cookies EVER. This place is perfect. Feels like a little piece of home (moved here from California on a whim). Fell in love with this place the moment I walked in. I love the atmosphere and the healthy options for both food and drink. Say "for here" and save a cup. sit back, relax and chill out. They won't judge you if you order a beer at 9:30am on a weekday. Side walk seating available too. Nice spot to clear your head and get the creative juices flowin' read more

So good! Not a vegetarian but still love this place. The sandwich had so much flavor and bread was delicious. I got the red pepper hummus sandwich with extra onion and it didn't disappoint. Also someone else I was with got a horchata latte and said it was very good as well. Friendly service, and a nice homey place to escape the cold for this out-of-towner! read more

This place is awesome! I wish we got to spend more time in here but we hit up Ritual Cafe after eating at Proof and waiting for our Uber driver. They have the most flavor add-ins that I think I've ever seen at a coffee shop. I wish I would have tried one but since we were in a hurry, I stuck with my usual. A dirty Chai (can't remember what their name was for it.) it was so good! The guy working the counter was nice too. There were some people hanging out on laptops and I think they were also setting up for some kind of music or open mic night. It looks really cool in here with all the decor and bumper stickers. If I lived in the area, I'd make it my new chill spot. read more

This is the kind of place with the rainbow flag hanging out front with lots of random posters in the windows, but this straight person who doesn't like politics felt right at home. I would go every morning before I had to set out on my work adventures in Des Moines. LOVE THIS PLACE. Coffee is super yummy and they make this amazing oatmeal with honey and craisins. I see they also serve my fave Fat Tire, but I was never able to get back after the early morning hours. They had chairs and tables and couches and encourage recycling.... truly a place after my own little heart. read more

Really liked this spot. I was welcomed by all of the folks working and ordered an iced coffee to drink while i did some work until it was time to head to the airport. I was in Des Moines on business and hadn't had any time to explore the city besides a few hours before my flight on my final day there. And I am happy I found this cute cafe! The food menu looked okay, but I didn't try any. Coffee was decent and the space was really inviting. I wish I had a place like this close to me! I would be in there all the time. If I ever go back to Des Moines I'll have to come back here. read more

If you enjoy artsy coffee shops, this is for you. Great drinks, good food, nice atmosphere, good location, and a very friendly wait staff. Although very liberal looking, no views are pushed on patrons. I will frequent this place at every chance I get. read more

I love coming here!!! My girlfriend and I return here for the amazing smoothies!!! :D Plus it's all vegetarian here and so calming and welcoming. The atmosphere is perfect for a relaxing, fun morning. :) read more

Ritual Cafe - Down Under smoothies - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This place is pretty cool. I stopped by for afternoon coffee but the smoothies caught my eye. I ordered a Active Evolution smoothie which has cherry and raspberry juice blended with some other good for me things. It was delicious. Its nice to have places in Des Moines that offer a healthy alternative choices for food. Besides coffee and smoothies they have a full vegetarian menu and lots of treats as well for your sweet tooth. And if you are looking for a cold brew or wine with your food they offer that too. read more

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I love this spot! Very comfortable and cozy, felt very at ease and the food is wonderful. We are vegetarian getting closer to vegan and it was great to peruse a menu and chose from more than one option and not only a side dish. The tempeh sandwich was delicious as was the black bean burrito. Will definitely visit again soon. read more

Awesome place to get coffee or pastries. The Ritual Roast is always good but my favorite are the hempnut chocolate chip cookies. The owner makes them herself and without exaggeration they are as good a cookie as you will find anywhere. They also have full meals like the vegan breakfast burrito which is a 5 star by itself! read more

Ritual Cafe - Ritual from the Principal Building. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I came in to try the Mayan Mocha, and I'm glad I did! Rich and smooth, a perfect way to start my day. I also got a carrot and ginger muffin that I'm excited to eat while I'm on the road. The ambience is trendy and fun, a neat clash of Eastern culture and western art. It's very apparent that the owners and staff care about this place, and want the customers to care too. The service here was professional and friendly. Overall, a fantastic find. Des Moines has some great things to offer the world, and I'm planning on coming back! read more

What a great spot! Came to Des Moines with really no expectations, and was excited to locate a cool, relaxed, artsy, local coffee shop to hang out and do work at. As others have said, the Mayan Mocha is excellent (can't speak to any other drinks there as it's the only thing I ordered). Had a couple hummus-based food options that were delicious. Was a good place to hang out and do some work, with a nice variety of seating options. Only qualms were that there weren't that many outlets, and that I couldn't get the internet to work (both are pretty critical in a place like this). read more

Closed... says open til 10, actually closed at 7pm...drove 20 minutes to get here... Would have checked website, except it doesn't work... read more

Driving to Illinois from Colorado and was pumped to see a coffeeshop mentioning using organic products and the wife was craving a latte so I drove down from i-80 after crossing the wasteland that is Nebraska and western Iowa. VERY disappointed to find out they use Anderson Erikson milk and styrofoam cups WTF?? Hate the thought of very hot liquid being poured into something so toxic. Ended up getting two Americanos that were decent and the place had a cool ambiance so I'll give it 2 stars for that. Guess I'm spoiled in Boulder where just about every coffeeshop uses local hormone free milk and compostable cups. read more

I stopped by last Thursday because no lunch makes me angry. I had bought Ritual's coffee before, but this was the first time I tried their food. The Hummus Sandwich was delicious. I would easily come back for it, despite not being vegetarian. Also a welcoming environment for a meeting or just to be left alone and get some work done. I'll keep coming back. read more

Loved the atmosphere and the people here are very friendly. Also this place wasn't bustling, which I like as it kept the atmosphere mellow and calm. I'm sure it gets busier during other times but I was parked in a corner mid-morning and barely saw a soul come in and out which was just fine for me. Wasn't too wowed by the oatmeal, but liked the atmosphere enough I would/will come back anyways. The chai didn't taste like concentrate and had a great head of foam on it. Also, this may not matter to some but the cup it was served in felt awesome in my hands. Big wide handle I could get my fingers through, and a nice medium height. I picked it up from the counter and immediately thought "woah, I really like this cup". It's a small detail but I enjoyed it, so perhaps others will too. read more

I going here for the music food and there coffee.its really not to high price must check it out. I go down to Ritual Cafe 2 or three times week read more

Ritual Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa