New speakeasy below hotel fort Des Moines. Went here on a Friday night around 9pm. You are led…read moredownstairs where the bar is. The decor was super nice and certainly have a speakeasy vibe. Most of the seating here seemed to be targeted towards large groups so there wasn't a ton of option for a party of 2. We did not have a reservation so there was only 1 high top area that was honestly super uncomfortable. I would recommend making a reservation if you want a chance to sit at one of the lower chair areas. The biggest issue was the service. It took over 20 minutes for anyone to come over and take our drink order. This is a newer spot so I'm hopeful things can improve. It was super loud and not the most inviting space. Some of the seating was a bit awkward with spacing. The drinks were small but I would expect that for a higher end cocktail. For DSM, I did think some of the drinks seemed a bit expensive. The drinks were okay but seemed pretty weak where they were super juice heavy. Overall I would probably not come back unless I had friends who haven't been and wanted to try it. Super bummed as I do think there is potential here but need to work through some of these issues.

This speakeasy bar is located inside the hotel fort in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. To get there,…read moreyou will enter the coffee bar, once you walk around the bar, you'll see a velvet rope. Somebody will ask you how many people in your party and then open the wall pantry. This will lead to the stair that goes downstairs to the basement. Bar lighting is dim, intimate feel. There's bar seating, high tops, tables that accommodate large parties and VIP room that has a curtain for privacy. We ordered cocktails that were unique crafted. Bathroom is available, hallway of pictures of people dressed in the 1920s all over the wall. We enjoyed this speakeasy bar and will definitely come back with more people.

Incredible little low-key spot. It's grungy, it's cool, you meet creative and interesting people…read morethere. Everyone is very friendly, and it's a great vibe. We just moved back here and my coworker recommended it. We've now been twice and loved it both times. There's absolutely nothing like in Des Moines-- It feels like New York underground, but Des Moines, down to earth, easy parking and SO welcoming. Also, bartenders are super nice. The girl bartender servicing us even said she would make us a custom cocktail, based on what we were in the mood for. My husband told her what he was craving and she made him exactly that. Might I add...with little information on his part. (He's not the biggest talker hehe!). He said it was his favorite drink he's ever had. Tonight was a little more chill, but the first time everyone was dancing and it was just as fun both times. This is our favorite new little spot and we will definitely be back!!

Didn't have any food here but did have a few drinks. No complaints…read more We kind of accidentally went here on our way to Ceviche. I'll definitely be back. Really enjoyed the vibe.

I think the last time I went out to a bar, smoking was allowed! Well, maybe not that long ago but…read moreit has been many years! We went tonight so we could enjoy "Son of a Nutcracker", the community cocktail feature benefitting Des Moines Refugee Support. We were lucky to snag a booth as the bar was otherwise full on a Friday at 5 pm. Moe was an excellent and attentive server. He apologized that they were mixing up another batch of the special cocktail and that it would take about 15 minutes. We ordered some appetizers - jalapeño and peppadew peppers stuffed with cream and goat cheese and the sweet potato chips and house party dip. Both were good and the peppers had happy hour pricing, a bonus. The bar was festively decorated for the holidays and we enjoyed our time out!

This place is super cute with great drinks! The outdoor patio was the perfect place for us on a…read moresunny day. The service was very friendly. Dogs allowed on the back patio as well

A great bar. Very low key. Low lighting. Low noise. Good job blocking out background noise and…read morenearby table noise as well. Drinks were on point and perfectly crafted. They also looked good. The staff were friendly & attentive. Would recommend.

Beautiful space, attentive and expert bartender, appropriate and interesting playlist, curated and…read moreinteresting drink menu - YAY!! It's telling when the other bartenders in town all agree that they love the same place - and this is that place in Des Moines. The craft cocktails are exquisitely made and the menu is organized for success, grouping drinks by their primary liquor.

This is my second time/ year back for the holiday pop up. Last year i got the grasshopper and…read moreenjoyed it. This year i got Tom & Jerry, and my friend got the Cider. We both really enjoyed our drinks. I wanted to get the chocolate later but it was sold out! A bartender let us try the menthol foam by itself and it was yummy. We had great service and the vibes was fun. All of their drinks are really delicious. Cant go wrong.

There are not words strong enough to describe how incredible this experience was. Some of the best…read morecocktails of my life. Incredible flavors, theming - this is art and storytelling through cocktail. The ice cream on the cake was the sample ice cream flavors we got to sample. I'm not exaggerating to say this was also some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted. I'm legitimately and justifiably upset that I can't buy it anyway to have it again. The atmosphere is fun too, but the cocktails and the obvious time and passion that go into them are the draw. This is not a place where the theming outshines the drinks, I'd be blown away by these offerings even in a brightly-lit Chuck-e-Cheese. I will be back every single time I'm in Des Moines, and I hope it's packed with a waiting list because this kind of artistry deserves to be shared with everyone.

Another birthday stop!…read more We stopped here for drinks and a game of pool. The place is really cool with an old triple arch back bar with lots of history. Not to mention the vibe here is classy and clean. It gives me an old prohibition period bar feels. Craig the barkeep was very friendly and welcoming. He did a fantastic job telling g us the history of the place and his role there. He expertly provided drinks and made me a spot on old fashioned! The liquor selection is very extensive and great qualities of bourbon and whiskey. The place was immaculate and the glasses were all spot free. However, it was a Sunday afternoon so not a lot of business but I'd like to come back during a happy hour! We will definitely come back here and would recommend trying it out for yourselves! Tell Craig, Hi!

My favorite whiskey bar, then it wasn't, and now it is again. With new management, Craig has made…read moresweeping changes for the better. Besides the speakeasy vibe, old Charm, and great whiskey selection, you can now order tapas and listen to live music. A gem in the east village you don't want to pass up.

Gorgeous jazz bar with exceptional drinks. I'm a huge Old Fashioned fan. I tried both the smoked…read morebutter pecan and the cinnamon one. Delicious. Service was excellent from a new bartender on his second night. Ice cubes were a fun touch. This is a great date night location.

My husband and I love speakeasies, whenever we visit cities we get excited about trying one out, so…read morewe've been to quite a few. This one was disappointing. LOWS: Food: Mozzarella sticks were pale and bland. The red sauce tasted like canned tomato paste. The charcuterie board was a let down too. The prosciutto was overly slimy and smelled spoiled. The bread wasn't a fresh sourdough like advertised, it was a Texas toast. HIGHS: Cocktails: The drinks we had were great! They have over 100 different bourbon and a variety of cocktails. Mixed Feelings: Music: The band Nola was fantastic. They matched the vibe we were expecting. But no one told us about the $5 (per person) cover charge. It wasn't on the menu, the website or the reservation nor was it mentioned to us verbally. Ambiance: The decor and dark chairs were great. However I've never been to a speakeasy with wide open windows that let so much light in.

Call ahead when you're on your way to put your name down if possible because there is always a wait…read more(but it's worth it!) the restaurant is gorgeous. It's dark enough where it's cozy but lit up at the tables really well. The servers have always been so amazing with our groups we've gone with including when we haul the kiddos! Salad bar is a must and I have to encourage getting as much Oreo fluff as your plate will hold ha! The steak de Burgo, Bonnie, or Bugsy are all solid choices (any of their steaks are an amazing pick) don't forget to order the garlic mashed on the side, the loaf of bread they bring to the table is always a nice touch as well. It's not most family friendly in price but there are price ranges for all budgets!

I've been to the Chicago Speakeasy several times. This time I went with my wife and her son. We…read morearrived early on a Monday night and were seated immediately. Although they have an extensive bar, we all drank water. We ordered the prime rib special, the 14 ounce New York strip, and the 16 ounce ribeye. One thing you definitely notice while you're being seated is the salad bar, and the salad bar was included with all of our meals. My wife's son and I both got in 2 trips to the salad bar before our steaks arrived. The steaks were cooked to perfection. Everyone ordered their food medium rare and everyone got what they wanted. The food looked so good when it came out we forgot to get photos of them all. However, we remembered in time to get a photo of the 16 ounce ribeye. The only downside to the experience was that we were seated in a booth near the kitchen. Every so often, it sounded like something was slammed into the wall from the other side. It was loud enough to startle my wife a couple of times. We were all happily full and also got to take food home. We will definitely be back.

My companion and I visited Juniper Moon after an event On a Saturday night around 9pm. Place…read morewasn't very busy with maybe 10 people having cocktails. We sat at the bar. Ordered drinks off the menu. I got the impression that the bartender didn't care if we were there or not. I tried making small conversation with him but he clearly wasn't interested. My companion ordered mixed nuts off the menu and in a short manner he said "we are out of them". No "sorry" or explanation. There are a lot of places downtown to go for $12 cocktails. I don't feel the need to visit Juniper Moon after this visit. Great ambiance, service was meh.

What a great stop! I was with a ladies for a bachlorette…read moregroup who decided to stop here. It was an early Saturday and the bartender was spot on . He came right over to our little group. We were a little rowdy but he was able to take care of all of us. I bravely tried something I haven't tried before. The service was great , the drinks were great. It was great that they have their own special phone that calls Gusto pizza next door. We ordered a quick meal and it didnt take long to come over and feed the hungry wolf pack of ladies. Great little place.

This bar is also in the basement, across from the black sheep. The lighting is better, pretty big…read morewith lots of seating options. They offer food however the kitchen was already closed. This is a whiskey bar, the only cognac they have was corvosier. I ordered a shot anyway.

Tried this place based on a Google search. As a bourbon fan, I was a bit disappointed in Ken's …read more The service was excellent, food good, but selection not quite what I expected. Prices are reasonable, but keep in mind that pours are about 1.25 oz. The atmosphere is as expected for a place advertising a speakeasy vib. For some reason, they are advertising tiki drinks. Not quite in keeping with the prohibition drink theme!