Looking forward to another trip to Welch Ave on Saturday afternoon before students come back…read more Always good drinks and food from Pizza Pit. Only 2 people in the place sitting at bar eating and having drinks. Sat in normal "dining" area of the bar. Bartender watched us walk in and didn't even say "hello". Found a table easily but no waitress ever came. Finally went up to the bar to see what's up. "I'm the only one here". Oooookay? So the 2 people at the bar were going to ransack the place while you came over to our area to say "hey, sorry but I'm solo today. Would you mind coming to the bar to order?" Not too hard, but too difficult kind of multi-tasking for this guy. Decided to leave and walked down the street to have a sandwich and a drink. Lame! One of my favorite places to go but good help must be hard to come by on a slow Saturday. Maybe he didn't need the $10 tip he would have gotten for our drinks and meal??? You'd think on a slow day anything extra you could make would be a bonus. I know it's a college bar but it needs a cleaning. With it empty... the odor in the place was weird. So probably should have left for that reason. They need to get that addressed -HVAC or clean/replace carpets? Both?

Spotless, good selection of beers, nice personalized ambiance--not your tired, formulaic theme or…read moresports bar. Mixed crowd of locals, ISU students and profs. Bonus: you can order food from Pizza Pit upstairs. And spotless! Super clean!! Same can be said for Pizza Pit.

This place was a great find for blowing an hour before dinner and after my sister's graduation from…read moreIowa State this weekend. Cold and cheap beer. Service was good, bathrooms were clean and they had pool tables and games! Ambiance was legit for a bar, check it out.

So I wrote a bad review a few months ago. My boyfriend goes often there, he told me tonight since…read moreI wrote a true review..I am not allowed there anymore. I do not want any part of that bar. It's like the high school mean club but between ages 50 to 60. Just improve your service if it's not up to par. It's not high school. It's a business someone is trying to run. Good luck! If you are white and 50ish, it's the place to go.

My husband & I love this local speak easy vibes type cocktail bar! We went for my birthday in…read moreJanuary & it was such a nice time. Ambiance is exactly what you'd expect; intimate, petite bar, calming lighting & the cutest little tables whether high tops or lounge type. They make a delicious dirty martini & even hand stuff the bleu cheese olives. They always have a menu of other craft cocktails available. Service is always prompt and I've never had a cocktail I didn't enjoy here. For an added bonus; check out Cyclone Liquors selection. Very impressive!

YES so much fun to drink here. They also have a beer menu if cocktails aren't your thing. Great…read moreservice. Speakeasy.

8/6/26 11:45 p.m…read more This little bar is a diamond in the rough for sure! It's small, fun, and perfect for locals that aren't into large college kid crowds. The prices are phenomenal, and the apple pie shots are pretty darn delicious. The bartender on shift when we went in, Leah (I don't know how to spell her name, but that's how she pronounced it lol), was so much fun! She enjoyed herself and engaged with everyone in there without overindulging or breaking the rules. She has a great personality and definitely made our experience there far more enjoyable. They do not have a kitchen anymore, so there are no food options, unfortunately. But everything else definitely makes it worth it. There are also gambling machines for those who enjoy that as well as a pool table.

Leah was incredible! She was so welcoming and attentive. I will be back as soon as we are back in…read moreIowa! Highly recommend for a late night spot!

6/13/26 9:15 p.m…read more What a great little spot! When we arrived, it was almost completely empty except for 2 other customers, which we didn't mind lol. We were greeted by the bartenders with a smile and a "Welcome in!". The staff were really nice and even when the bar picked up a little later, they were attentive, efficient, and polite. They definitely didn't "crack under pressure" lol. Inside, the bar and tables were very clean and organized. There is a pool table, but only one :/ I do wish they had a few more because when the bar got busy, everyone wanted a turn. The prices are amazing and the specials are so fun! It's also nice that they're open during the summer, since most bars in Ames seem to close for summer vacation.

Gayle, Scott, Dad, and I had just experienced a forgettable meal experience at the nearby HyVee…read moreCafe. Instead of heading straight home, Scott suggested that we drive past our former Ames house and then stop for a drink at Mother's Pub, which was known as Dugan's Deli when he attended ISU. We had a nice time, as we ordered our drinks, took them to the patio outside, and let Scott reminisce about his college days. And even though I graduated as a Hawkeye, I could tell my own Ames stories, like the time Bob Merrill and I stormed onto the old Clyde Williams Field with others to cheer the ISU football team during coin toss. As ISU is not in session, Mother's Pub was a bit quiet, like we were almost the only ones there. I wouldn't mind coming back to hear some live music and hanging out with family again.

If you are riding the High Trestle Trial and need another watering hole and maybe a place to fill…read morethe tank? Flat Tire Lounge is a solid stop and could not be more convenient. They have ample bike parking for the average biking crowd out back and plenty of parking for the trucks and hogs out front. It is not uncommon to see the mix of leather and spandex at this place! They also have a self supported bicycle repair station with a pump! The place itself is an old steel kwanza hut, but with some ingenuity and creative craftsman they have converted it into a fun and 'divey' spot. Indoors there is a large expansive bar, a walkup counter to order food and plenty of high-top tables to spread out the patrons. While outside they have a massive deck and an outdoor bar and smokehouse. It's a great place to sit an soak up some sun and watch he bike, runners and even horse riders go by. We love the Moscow mule selection they have here, and always seem to need more than one. While we didn't eat this trip the food is always a solid choice. The waitress on this last visit was running and taking care of an ever growing crowd. She is calm cool and collected and even made time to check on us folks on the deck. If you are out and about and find yourself near Madrid, Iowa - make sure to check out this fun stop. If you want to really experience it when it is hopping, pick a night when they have a live band! So much fun and it gets LOUD! Come check it out!

Went on a party bus and stopped here, the staff were very kind and friendly! I tried ordering food…read morea little too late so they point in the direction of their snack fridge (genius idea) and I got to try the house made tortellini salad. 10/10 experience and I couldn't recommend it more!!

Great atmosphere and love the vibes here! Good prices too, especially on the weekly deals. Tuesday…read moreis 2fer Tuesday, so BOGO. The only thing to note... We came here with a Pub Pass. A deal where you buy a $25 booklet and get a free beer at about 18-20 bars all throughout Des Moines and Ames. That's the deal. It's well known and an annual thing. We presented it to the bar tender as expected and was promptly told that they do not recognize it and only use it for BOGO's. That's simply not the deal that we paid for. Unfortunate.

DV has a great selection of wines plus spirits, beer and seltzers. The atmosphere is chill and the…read moreowners are very friendly and accommodating to large groups. If you stop by, order one of their delicious charcuterie plates!

I live next to Sam's so I attend quite often. The management usually doesn't have any issues and…read morethey definitely care about their customers. Anyone in Ames should definitely check it out.

Great place. Nice pool tables and cool staff. Plenty of TVs with games on. Also they have darts,…read morepinball machines, and live music on the weekends. Best bar in Ames by far!