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    The Royal Mile

    4.2 (218 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated a few days ago

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    The Royal Mile Photos

    Business Info

    THE ROYAL MILE ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - The Royal Mile

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    Menu
    Stephen C.

    We came here right after lunch so I cannot rate the food. But service was excellent at the bar and we each had a couple drinks. Royal Mile is unique and possibly the only British pub is Des Moines. Everything inside and out (except the bartenders) looked 100 years old. Very authentic and the bar dinks menus vouch for that. My black and tan was different from what I'm used to (Guinness and Fullers ESB vs Guinness and Harp) but I loved it all the same. The Sam Smith cider on tap was a treat as well. The draft list is heavy on English beer and ale but there are quite a few surprises too. And if you like scotch, this is your place.

    Fish and Chips
    Ronnie T.

    Amazing place , our first visit . Fish and Chips and Steak and Guinness pie was very authentic . Server Natasha W was very knowledgeable and really attentive and friendly. Had a good chat about the British isles and food from that region

    Chicken & Chips
    Christine I.

    I always get great service every time I stop by! I love when a setting always matches the vibe. I got the bangers and mash but I think I preferred the Shepards pie - clearly didn't get a pic of it because I was hungry but you'll have to check it out!

    Justina P.

    We were in Des Monies for the Des Monies Con. We were going to go to the Hessen Haus but they were very busy. So we walked down to the Royal Mile. We had never been before and wanted to give it a try. It was a cute little place. The server was very nice and friendly. It was a little busy which we understood. My husband had got the scotch egg for an appetizer and I got the fried pickles. They were ok. I am not a sausage person but the mustard was good! I ordered the fish and chips which was really big but wasn't crunchy enough for it being fried. When we bit into it was soggy/wet and the chips/fries were cold. We also got the steak and Guinness pie. That wasn't too bad but was more veggies and not a lot of meat. From the time we sat down to the time we left was a little over 2 hours (not something we wanted for time wise, we still had to drive 2 hours home). Sadly for the price of dinner I wasn't too impressed and unfortunately we won't be going there again.

    Rohan D.

    Nice pseudo-English pub, food is okay but for the English breakfast which isn't quite authentic but close enough to be pretty special. Great service, but to be more English, the beer really shouldn't be ice cold on tap. There aren't really any better dining choices within walking distance of the downtown hotels, and there are quite a few worse. This is a good place to drink with some friends, it's comfortable and the fare is mostly okay.

    English Breakfast
    Rosie N.

    Great place for brunch! They even have a private covered patio section where dogs are allowed too. So we got the perfect brunch right after an event at Cowel Commons. I got the English breakfast which was a sausage, baked beans, bacon, eggs, toast, and sautéed mushrooms with tomato's. The baked beans are different from traditional southern beans it is more of a light tomato based and on the semi sweet side. It was a good pair with the sausage and bacon to give it a taste of sweet and salty. The only con is the tomato and mushroom, i think it's canned mushrooms sautéed with tomatoes. The mushrooms were a bit rubbery, which makes me think it was canned. Another con would be the OJ that was definitely premade like Tropicana, but also can be expected as it is a pub. So no worries. The eggs were made perfectly, and the toast as well. I would still get this breakfast, since it was still delicious. My husband got the Corned Beef Hash. The corned beef was perfectly pickled and cooked, tender and savory, the potatoes were crispy on the outside and tender soft on the inside. And again the eggs were perfect cooked too. Overall was a great place to dine and food and services was quick and nice. Would definitely come again.

    Turkey Club
    Jekeia C.

    I am not sure what I haven't tried this place sooner for lunch!! I was there on my lunch break around 11:30am and it wasn't too busy at all. There was one server on the floor and a bartender who assisted her. You sit yourself. The ambiance was very peaceful, not noisy like a lot of restaurants during the busy lunch hour. Our server was great! Since it was our first time, she helped us decide between two options we were considering. I tried the turkey club and it was amazing! The flavors went so well together. For a side, I had french fries which were tasty! I will definitely be back! Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5

    Mac & Cheese
    Dee C.

    The poutine was surprisingly good. It's up there in my ranking with poutine I've tried in Canada. The mac and cheese was good in a comforting way. I forgot what sandwich my husband ordered, but he said it was okay. The bartender was super friendly and our whole group liked him. Also a great place to watch a game and have some drinks.

    This photo was taken inside the restaurant
    Patrick H.

    This place has good service & great food. The wait & bar staff are great. They're open Monday- Sundays.

    Tried to get a picture of the poutine but we devoured it
    Kaitlyn W.

    I have to give Royal Mile a 5 star review because everything was delicious. We started off with the poutine and just look at that cheese pull. Great gravy on all the dishes. I got the Ruben, best I've had in Des Moines with thick strips of corned beef and soft rye bread. My boyfriend got the steak and Guinness pie and, although he stated he was full 3 times, he needed to finish it because it was so good. I had a cider and he had a porter. We sat outside and it was the perfect weather. Our server was quick and friendly. We will be back!

    Their selection, they had one side to the left of this and one side to the right of this filled with just as many bottles!

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    7 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Food was awesome. Service was excellent. Ample seating. The Guinness stew was very good.

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    10 months ago

    We love the Royal Mile! Whenever we are in Des Moines we make plans to stop here. The beer selection is great.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    We had really good drinks, service was ok, and the food is nothing I would order again. Not bad but definitely not good.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food is always great. Fish and chips is the best in town. Service is always good as well. Overall great place for a meal or drink.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Cool place. Food was good and they had a variety of authentic dishes. Reasonably priced

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    2 years ago

    Food and drinks aren't always consistent but 9 times out of 10 I'm still happy with how it tastes

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Good pub food, nice variety, knowledgeable bartender. Fast, filling, delicious. Not for everyone but if you like pubs, worth the stop

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    3 years ago

    Food was delicious. I had the bangers and mash. I want to go back and try something else.

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    2 years ago

    The food was so good! The waiter was really nice and helpful on what to try. We liked the vibe here too.

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Royal Mile

    Are kids allowed?

    Yes - kids are allowed until 9 pm! We are a restaurant with a full food menu so kids are allowed in our establishment. Thanks for asking!

    Do they have a Happy Hour? What are the details if so?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    El Bait Shop

    El Bait Shop

    4.3(588 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    The Ultimate Stop for Bikes, Beer & Bites…read more After a day of biking, we made it back to El Bait Shop with some friends. This place is a solid choice, whether you're in the mood for the world's biggest selection of tap beers or some fantastic gastropub and comfort food from the lounge next door. We love it here because we can park our bikes in the provided area off the patio and still keep an eye on them. The outdoor service area is semi-shaded and the service is just as good as you'd get inside. As a beer lover, I can tell you the selection is ridiculous and expansive. If you want it, they probably have it, and from four or five different breweries at that! The menu is also loaded, with choices from both El Bait Shop and the High Life Lounge. Today, our food order was as impressive as the beer list. While I can't recall all the beers we had, the food included a Prime Rib Sandwich with tots ($14.99), the Pizza Burger also with tots ($11.99), the Philly Style Pot Roast Sandwich with a side of potato salad, and a massive bowl of Macaroni and Cheese ($11.99). We were starving after our ride, but that didn't change the fact that the food was all delicious, well-prepared, and served by our very attentive waiter, Kyle???, May. No one had any complaints, and the beer was cold and on time! Overall, we love the eclectic vibe of this place. Its downtown location gives you some great views, and more importantly, you're within walking distance of almost everything downtown Des Moines has to offer. This is a go-to spot for me, and I love taking first-time visitors here because it's so unique and the quality of both the service and the food is always on point. Oh, and did I mention the beer selection is completely insane? If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out, and you don't even know it. PRO TIP: Come here, and before you leave, slip over to the High Life Lounge for a throwback moment. Next time, start there and slip over here for a beer!

    Wow this is not a dive bar, no matter who calls it that…read more We came in for a bite to eat and a beer while passing through Des Moines based on Yelp reviews. Had a sour with three fruit flavors that was lovely, and lunch of broasted chicken and beef stroganoff. The beef was surprisingly tender. Friendly service. Highly recommend this place!

    Photos
    El Bait Shop
    El Bait Shop
    El Bait Shop

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    Iowa Taproom

    Iowa Taproom

    4.0(449 reviews)
    0.5 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.

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    Iowa Taproom
    Iowa Taproom
    Iowa Taproom

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    The Royal Mile - pubs - Updated May 2026

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