Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Blazing Saddle

    4.1 (35 reviews)
    InexpensiveGay Bars
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Blazing Saddle Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Blazing Saddle

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Adam S.

    This is still the best gay bar in Des Moines! The first time I went was in 2003. I didn't visit it again until about 2008, and then again this year in 2019. Not much has changed, and that's a good thing. This laid-back bar with a country western theme is very friendly to the bear and leather communities. They do have more of a modern dance area on the other side of the main bar too.The narrow patio gets pretty full. Their mixed drinks are intense! If you get a cocktail, account for having the amount of 3 alcoholic beverages. Definitely the best bang for your buck in town.

    a group of women dressed in costumes
    Christina F.

    This is one of my favorite places for drinks and dancing. The music is always on point, keeps me dancing and varied. The crowd is there to have a good time and are friendly. It's often packed and the dance floor is tiny but it fills and empties in waves so you can get some moves in and take a break and get a drink when the dance floor gets full. The bartenders are attentive and serve up doubles. Keep in mind it is cash only. They have an ATM by the pool tables. They sometimes have drag shows, which are super fun, and you can almost always see at least one bachelorette party celebrating a bride to be. If you want to dance til you sweat with fun and accepting people in a space quaint enough to make new friends, hit up the Saddle.

    Kristina L.

    The Blazing Saddle is a place I call home. I especially love going here on Wednesday nights for trivia with Muffy Rosenburg as well as Friday nights with the Saddle Gurls! Stinky, Nick, Erik, Jacob, Maddie and Gary are some of the best bartenders around town and always pour a double. More bang for your buck! I would highly recommend this place to anyone from out of town because there is always something interesting going on. Overall, one of my favorite places in Des Moines.

    SoCo & Sprite :)

    See all

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Patrick T.
    2260
    1732
    8702

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam S.
    427
    181
    1117

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam V.
    81
    23
    4

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The place has been around since 1983. We were there in the early evening and the drinks were great. We felt very welcomed by everyone!

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S. S.
    1
    46
    10

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shannon B.
    17
    168
    56

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Derek N.
    189
    13
    0

    9 years ago

    I love the Saddle! If you love strong drinks and friendly people you need to come here. I will stop in every time I'm in town.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sofie C.
    113
    72
    3

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - The Blazing Saddle

    Review Highlights - The Blazing Saddle

    It's interesting to dwell on the history of the gay community in Des Moines, as well as the gay bars.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Gay Bars 454 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Revival House

    Revival House

    4.5(33 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    This tiny house is giving Des Monies the vibes it's missing…read more.. On a short layover in Iowa, I was looking for good drinks and food without a lot of waiting or being overcrowded. What I found was a little gem off of one of the main roads in downtown Des Monies. Even before you enter this self described "Tiki Bar" you see all the brick buildings, and then you see an actual grass covered roof...yep that's the place and a really nice touch. The interior is equally cool and spacious, you are greeted by the bar area immediately when you walk in. To your right are comfy couches and instagram friendly neon wall signs, with that signature tiki touch of floral patterns and great lighting. The location is connected to a Asian food restaurant, so they get their food from them as you drink some of the most well crafted adult drinks I've had in a while. I came for happy hour on a Saturday 4:00pm-6:30pm. The drinks were basically 2.00 off with discounted food, the menu is limited to mostly chicken wraps and crab rangoons etc. I will say the portions were filling and very delicious. The star of the show was my El Colmillo, a tequila based drink with lime, orange juice, lime. The bartender did say it's all pre mixed, and that day she subbed the tequila with Casamigos, because the house tequila was out. Customer service was great, until it wasn't. Our server was excellent, until a guy came in off break and they seemed to have some tension. She really didn't have that same positive energy as before, otherwise an overall excellent experience. Pro Tip: Take a walk over to "Hello, Marjorie", it's a completely different vibe but drinks there are just as good...if not better. Go see Travis, he is 10/10 at "Hello, Marjorie".

    Simone is the coolest bartender. She went way above and beyond with her service, up to pulling out…read morea light and taking pictures for me and my friend. They have such a lowkey cool vibe here. This is a great place to pull thru with a group of friends.

    Photos
    Revival House
    Revival House - Seating

    Seating

    Revival House - El Colmillo

    See all

    El Colmillo

    Iowa Taproom

    Iowa Taproom

    4.0(449 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Large group friendly

    I stopped in on a Friday night with a small group of friends and we were seated right away. It took…read morea little bit for our sever to come to us, but we didn't mind. We ordered drinks and food. Both came out without having to wait too long. Everyone enjoyed their meal here. I wouldn't say there's anything super special we couldn't wait to eat again, but good food and reasonable prices is a win for me. Our favorite part about this place is how many beers on tap they have. It's so fun to get a flight and try lots of local craft drinks. Definitely the place to be for a few drinks and good vibes with friends.

    The service is really good! The hostess was friendly, and the waitress was attentive…read more The food is not good. I've been a handful of times, and everything is always overcooked and dry. I finally have decided I'm not going back after a few failed tries; the spinach and artichoke dip literally gave my friend and I food poisoning (we hadn't seen each other in over a week and this is the only thing we shared, and our symptoms started at the exact same time). I do love that they have the gluten conscious menu. But the chicken ranch meal is so dry it's not worth the money. The Cole slaw has the least flavor I've ever experienced (and I love Cole slaw). The burgers come out overcooked. I haven't strayed away from sandwiches or salads, maybe the pasta is good? I won't be going back, though.

    Photos
    Iowa Taproom
    Iowa Taproom
    Iowa Taproom

    See all

    The Blazing Saddle - gaybars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...