I dropped in here late at night and was immediately impressed. Even for a late hour, the place had a great energy and a warm, friendly atmosphere that made me feel right at home. The decor and seating are spot on it's a stylish space that still feels incredibly comfortable. The service was 10/10. My waiter was fantastic, very warm, and made the whole experience seamless. I ordered the Zucchini Fritters, and they were a total win. Crispy, flavorful, and exactly what I needed. If you're looking for one of the best spots in the city with high-quality food and a vibe that actually lives up to the hype, this is it. I'm officially a fan and will definitely be back! read more

The Stuffed Olive - Zucchini Fritters - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I loved the concept of tapas sharing plates. We had a wide variety of goodies. The group voted for the stuffed mushrooms as the best! We had reservations and were seated very quickly. Our server was conscious of our theater time so we weren't late. Do yourself a favor and try one of their amazing martinis. read more

02/28/2026 Our friends love Dirty Martinis, so we treated them to a stop at the Stuffed Olive after events downtown. The place was packed tonight, so we were only able to secure a table with our friends for about an hour before we had to clear out for another reservation. We took advantage of a couple of martinis as well as the Bruschetta (see picture) - which was absolutely delicious! read more

The Stuffed Olive - Bruschetta - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

SO and I ordered appetizers to share, and a fancy cocktail . Everything was excellent. I had a martini made with just Deep Eddy Lemon and a drop of Limoncello. Yum . We had the stuffed mushrooms, Spanish Shrimp, Risotto Croquettes and Calamari. It was all good. Will definitely return if we come back this way. Edit: Still in Des Moines for the Senior Games. It's Monday. We can back to the stuffed Olive and found that Monday is BOGO on martinis. The list is extensive and there are no exclusions. This time we ordered Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki and another fun evening sitting at the bar, watching the very busy bartenders. Don't miss this place if you are in town!! read more

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Great small plates. We loved the chicken sliders. Everything was really good and sitting at the bar we got great service. Solid spot highly recommended read more

Unfortunately not their best night. Typically Friday evening but both the service and timing of meal component were way off to a ridiculous level given the reputation of this spot. Appetizer bruschetta, actually came out after the the entree's had almost been finished. One of the meals was delivered a full 15 minutes after all of the others. Let's just say this was not a birthday dinner to remember. We will come back and try it again on a weeknight in a few months to see if it gets better but for now I would not be giving them a recommendation to my friends. Bummer because I had such high hopes. Maybe next time. Sometimes places just have an off night and that happens everywhere. Also win the reservation was made they were told it was a birthday dinner and not so much as event the words Happy Birthday were used by the staff. That is simple free service 101 type stuff and they even missed on that. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Crème brûlée - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The martinis are good but pricey, they do have specials on some nights. I ordered the brisket sandwich which included Cole slaw on the sandwich. The brisket wasn't terribly flavorful and the Cole slaw was on the bottom bun, under the meat, causing the bun to be soggy. Tip: this one of the establishments that charges a fee for using a credit card. They will remove it if you ask and pay with cash. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Spicy Pickle Martini - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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The hostess Morgan deserves a huge shoutout for last night!! We came in with a party of 13 and asked if they could make a table work for my birthday because RōCA next door messed up our reservation. At 6:30 on a Friday night, Morgan made it work for us to be seated so that we could celebrate my birthday. The stuffed olive is one of my favorite places in downtown Des Moines, and the kind people who work there are a big reason why (plus the best martinis!!!) read more

Stopped by on a Monday to check out the new location on a sunny day & was surprised to find they have switched to mainly reservations only (unless it was just the day). The new design is a neat, upscale feel with some spunk. We sat on the patio area, but had a time-frame. Greated by our waitress right away with waters. Its always nice when you dont have to order one! The Martinis are always spectacular (they did shrink the menu) & the appetizers always become my meal. Mini Sliders & Tuna were the choices this time. Great potions, flavor & price. Can't go wrong with anything in my opinion. read more

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So many drinks to choose from, all delicious! Good is super yummy as well. They have good deals every now and then on martinis. Would recommended a recreation especially for Mondays and weekends! read more

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Got the chicken spinach risotto & a house salad & they were Both beyond expectation!!!!! Absolutely 100% delicious & up to par!!!! Highly recommended!!!! read more

This place is sexy. It it dimly lit. And it has a modern vibe. We went for BOGO Martini Night and then we also had several apps...Buffalo sliders, spin artichoke dip, grilled cheese and tomato soup, cheese burger sliders, risotto croquets. Martinis, key lime, sex on the beach, white chocolate raspberry and Almond Joy. Everything was so delicious . Service was super prompt and fast. The food was exceptionally hot and the drinks were so so good! I have been here several times and it is always so good. The only thing that kinda sucks is that you only a period of time to sit and they ask you to leave because they have reservations... totally understand but sometimes you want to chat. read more

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Excellent drinks! Food was wonderful and we had a lovely table outside. Took a star off because both rounds of drinks sat at the bar for 20 min and we had to ask for them...they were busy! Get the olive tray sampler. Quinoa bowl was amazing as was the crème brûlée. read more

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This resistant has so much potential. The vibe is chill, the decor is fun and interesting, and the live music on a Wednesday night was entertaining (but too loud, I couldn't talk to my guest). Unfortunately, the waiter was fairly new and couldn't get even the basics right. He forgot to place my guest's entree and never brought salt and pepper. The stuffed Olive tasted like a mouthful of salt, the presentation was sad, and the jalapeños had zero kick. The Cajun salmon was good and I appreciated the cauliflower purée. The Brussels sprouts were acceptable. They have an administrative surcharge they surprise you with, which can't be removed. I would come back for drinks, the bar scene looked fun and the live music was pretty great. read more

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The new location is great. I would suggest a reservation if you are headed to the civic center for a show. I have been there twice, 1 time before a civic center show and another time I met a couple of friends and sat at the bar. Before the civic center we shared 4 appetizers between the 4 of us and had some wine. The happy hour. They have seasonal cocktails and a great big menu of drinks as well. I had the smores old fashion. It was a good old fashion, but I wish it gave more "smores" my friend had the girl scout cookie-it was delicious-the bartender put a lot of effort to make this drink look spectacular. My second drink is had the chocolate covered cherry-as the patron next to said, it was dessert in a glass. read more

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When you sit in their unpleasant little seats you have a decision to make. Do I order the blend of toxic despair or do I order a pleasant treat. I went with despair and it was the best decision I could've made. My BAC is at .12 and I need to be sent home. read more

This was a lovely evening out.. good cocktails, decent food, except that they were out of the stuffed olive I wanted to try. Ah well.

The elote appetizer was amazing. We had to sit at the bar because there were reservations. That felt frustrating because we were surrounded by vacant tables that we were told had upcoming reservations. After getting over that frustration, we dove into the extensive list of Martinis. Yum! Pages and pages of martinis. I had the applecart which is definitely a fall must. The poke bowl was beautifully presented and the fish fresh. The burger was good and the ambiance was very chill. The bar service was fairly slow even though there were a number of people there. So, that couple with the vacant tables that we couldn't sit at because of reservations; that experience knocked a star away. Overall though still a solid place. read more

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Lots of fun. A crazy amount of Martinis to choose from and a nice atmosphere of upbeat music. We tried a handful of Martinis that came quickly and were good. We had appetizers and they were good as well Bruschetta and Calamari. Both good. We will be trying the Stuffed Olive for dinner as well. read more

The martinis are the best in the city! Very friendly staff and clean establishment. I will always recommend it! read more

The Stuffed Olive - Almost Better Than Sex martini - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

If you are looking for a great cocktail/martini then you need to stop in for a few. Fast service and great drinks! Not only do they have drinks but the food is good as well! I had the Cajun salmon which came with spicy homemade sauce and risotto. If you are stopping in for food that's what I would get! Really really good and flavorful. They have live music some of the nights which was nice to watch and listen to. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Cajun Salmon - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The food and martinis are amazing! Prices are normal for a cocktail bar in Des Moines. My only notes are that not all of the seating options are good. Last time I went, we were sat at a super low table but ordered food so it was hard to eat. They're is also in an iffy neighborhood. Don't get stuck there too late into the night. read more

Three stars is generous but two seemed too harsh. I have no idea why this place is advertised as a tapas bar. This is American food with no small plates in sight. The prices were steep for the quality of food. Menu is basic and nothing tasted exceptional, brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar - I can do this at home. Crispy cauliflower was fried cauliflower and bland. Chicken skewers were over cooked and unseasoned. For the money we spent we were pretty disappointed. We ordered a few martinis and they were good but having more options doesn't always mean better. I'd rather have a few spectacular martinis to choose from than a menu longer than a book. Service was average, not slow, not fast. Ambiance is giving city chic vibes. Place is a bit smaller than I imagined it being. Overall, go for the drinks and specials - skip the food. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Checked out the new location. They did a fantastic job! The ambiance is comfortable gather with friends or nice date night perfect. All together we tried 8 different martinis. The table agreed the Spicy Pickle was a favorite. We tried two apps...the calamari and the smoked corn dip. Food was a 7 for me. Martinis a 8-9 and environment a 10. The nightly specials are great and will definitely bring us back again. read more

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This is one of our consistent downtown dining locations. We went last night for dinner and live music. The music was a solo guitarist who played wonderfully and the volume was just right - easy to hear without drowning out conversations. Our server, who was excellent, like almost every person that has waited on us here, came quickly to get our drink orders. Once we got our drinks we got in our food order. There are MANY martinis to pick from, along with a good wine selection and other drinks. For last night's dinner I got the Brisket Sandwich. It was a nice-sized serving of chopped brisket with a zingy, tasty sauce. My wife got her regular order of Caribbean Salmon - always a nice piece of fish with Cauliflower Puree and a flavorful sauce. I often get the Cajun Salmon - a nicely spicy cut of salmon with Risotto - it's excellent! On occasion we also get tapas, and there are many to pick from. Some of our favorites are Bruschetta, Crispy Cauliflower, Mini-Chimis, Chicken Skewers, and Brussels Sprouts. As previously mentioned, service is almost always excellent. The food is also very good, and the location is perfect if you're going to the Civic Center - you can park once, and walk between the two locations. read more

Met friends for an after work drink! The martini menu was robust and we were very happy to hang out and enjoy our bevvies. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Olive Sampler - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The martinis were good but towards the end of the night we saw 2 MICE running around the area we were in. We approached 2 bartenders and they said "oh yeah we know they've been here for a week and have been trying to get them out". This is disgusting they're open while this is happening and serving f read more

The Stuffed Olive - RAT - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Our favorite for cocktails downtown.. has such a great vibe... Upscale and special, yet comfortable .. The owner, Brandon, and all of his team makes us feel like we are family each time we visit... And the fruit loop Martini... The perfect adult Saturday morning cereal milk! read more

The Stuffed Olive - Fruit loop Martini - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

My husband and I went here for drinks last week with my SIL and had a great evening! The staff were very nice and we really enjoyed our martinis and the stuffed Olive samplers we ordered. Birthday Cake Martini - 10/10 Espresso Martino - 8/10 (yummy but I just enjoy a thicker foam layer) Almost Better Than Sex - 9/10 Honey Latte - 6/10 (this was my SIL's pick - I'm not a big whiskey person and I think that's what put me off this one a bit, it's got Revelton Honey Whiskey in it) We loved the option of sitting outside and it was a great night overall enjoying the nice weather and some tasty cocktails! read more

Ashley was great! She was so lovely and the spooky vibe was perfect for my friends bachelorette party!

Very slow service, took up to 30 minutes to just get our drinks. Told us there was a buy two get one free deal, however it did not start until 9:00pm and did not say that when originally telling the table about it. I wasn't sure how many drinks I had ordered so asked the waitress if my next one was free. she said it was so I ordered one and one when the bill came she still charged me for it. I have been a very loyal customer with Stuffed Olive but will not be coming back after this negative experience. read more

Have been to this location multiple times. The martini menu is expansive and each one has great description. The special was buy 2 get 1 free for our Thursday night visit. Ordered the garlic mashed potato, a take on a classic dirty martini, spicy pickle (my favorite, exactly what it sounds like). For my third, tried something new, the ginberry. Unfortunately it was definitely was not my style, our server asked aboutvthe drink and offered to get me a new one. She replaced with the grape kool-aid which was fantastic. The food is always good, I have not had an app or entree I didn't like. One improvement area, when using the restroom, the hand towel dispenser was empty. I reported to a worker who replied, "no worries" and continued walking. She apparently did not tell anyone because it did not get filled, for me this is an isdue for such a nice veue serving food. Overall, the food and drinks are always good, the service at the table and bar seating are great. 4 stars is for the workers lack of response to the hand towels. read more

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One of my favorite places in Des Moines now! I love their special deals! I went for Monday (buy 1 martini get 1 free) and Thursday (buy 2 martinis get 1 free). Their drinks are really good, with a HUGE menu. I get a bit overwhelmed looking at the menu so I usually ask for recommendations. Monday night was very lively. The first time I was here, we got 2 cocktails and 1 dessert cocktail. They were all yummy. I recommend the blueberry lemon drop, red wave, and motini. The food was also amazing!! The cheesy artichoke dip was amazing! I got full eating it. The bruschetta is a bit small in portion but very tasty with cheese in it. I definitely will come back to this place! read more

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Thursday night around 6:30pm. Walked right up and sat at the bar. Order a couple martinis and beers. 5 star alone on the martini bar and selection. The bartender was awesome. She made a great martini. Highly recommend if you like martinis. Ordered some an app and some food. The ambiance is dark but the noise isn't loud. The risotto croquettes had a good taste and fried perfectly. The marinara sauce was bland and needed some spices and flavor. The chicken sandwich was cooked well and the bun was prefect on top. Would recommend coming here again. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Chicken Sandwich & Fries - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Yes! Just go! You won't be disappointed Excellent service, food, drinks and patio

Fabulous food. Arrived early on a Friday with reservations 5:00p. Had 2 appetizers. 2 full meals and 4 drinks for 2 people. Rushed, rushed and wanted out in an hour. We were headed to Botanical Garden and had a few minutes to spare. Very disappointed. Went to Roca 2 doors down. Had wine, relaxed and will pick this restaurant from now on. read more

Wanted to check this place out with a friend after work for drinks and snacks. There was a concert downtown so it was really busy at 5pm with no tables available (all reserved). There were some walk in spots available at the bar so we took those. Bartender was attentive and friendly for how busy it was. Started with the espresso martini for me and friend got the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Mine was perfectly acceptable and friend seemed to enjoy hers. Got the bruschetta and zucchini fritters first. Plating was very nice, but unfortunately I was a little underwhelmed by the food. The toast was super thin and barely held the tomatoes...which definitely had a lot of tomato and very little cheese. The fritters were hot and cheesy, the tzatziki that came with had good flavor but a little too chunky to just dip and bite--I had to use a fork. We wanted more so opted for the spinach artichoke dip. It came out super hot and had a nice sharp cheese flavor, but not much spinach. Garlic toast was a nice dipper. It was buy 2 get 1 free martinis so we split an orange daydream and it was nice--tasted like a melted dreamsicle pop. Overall, the drinks were the best part, the food was just OK and overpriced for what you get. The space was cute but loud with how crowded it was. Not going to be running back here, but I'd give it another try. read more

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Mondays BOGOF Drinks were on point!! I had the dirty birdie...extra dirty. Then almond hot for dessert. So delish! read more

The Stuffed Olive - Almond Joy martini....won't disappoint!! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The new location is so cute! It's right across the street on court ave from the old location, and is in a bigger space. I love the flower wallpaper, colorful chairs, and neon light art. The salmon tacos and zucchini fritters were absolutely delish. Huge drink menu with a wide variety of various martini flavors. Sam is the best server ever! Always on top of it, and made sure I stayed hydrated. Jordan is the best bartender ever! Makes an amazing espresso martini. Thanks everybody for the great experience! read more

I loved, loved, loved the Stuffed Olive. We were in Des Moines celebrating our wedding anniversary weekend. We decided to bar-hop and have appetizers at different places. The atmosphere was great and it was busy! We got the Bruschetta and Meatballs.i had two spicy martinis, and they were AMAZING! Just because a restaurant says it is a martini bar doesn't always mean they're gold martinis. We stayed for a few hours, sipping drinks, talking to the bartenders, and enjoying the atmosphere. I highly recommend this for a date night, small gathering, or the first stop in a Saturday night bar crawl. read more

The Stuffed Olive - Tapas Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa