Tonic Bar

(17 reviews)

9.0 mi

Quaint flamingo decor inside, server was excellent, and food was very good. I had the breakfast…read moreflatbread it was awesome. Wife loved her creme brulee French toast. Their Bloody Mary was good and wife enjoyed her mimosa. We will be back to try lunch/dinner menu next time.

4.3 Fantastic experience every time! The best server in the…read moreDSM area is now the Sunday bartender here? Awesome, so I risked a Painkiller cocktail even though the Rum selection here is lower shelf. Well, I had two and they were darn good. I also must call out the French onion burger as top notch, easily top tier burger in the area. Quality costs a bit more but it is worth every penny. Great Job !!!

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Winchester Public House

(58 reviews)

3.9 mi

Had an opportunity to venture in on a Sunday (No Food Service) to review the minimalist bar food…read moremenu should I return since I do not partake in libations. The food choices were very limited $$, but there was an array of beers, wines, cocktails, and an assortment of other mixed libations. The decor is like a bar dive if liquor is your main thing. As a non drinker -- nothing stiffer than a Dr. Pepper-- this would not be my vibe, but may be yours if all you want is a solid selection of creative and mainstay libations from a very friendly bartender whose primary purpose was to please all who entered -- this tipsy topsy environment ( Like TV Cheers) -- then this may be the place for you.

There is nothing worse than sitting at a bar, during happy hour and having the bartender working…read moredirectly in front of you and not speaking, not making eye contact and completely ignoring you. He was short in his response when I asked about food and basically told me no, and I was angry when another group was served food. The space is cool and has an awesome atmosphere but dang, first impressions matter. There was 3 of us and the one who recommended it said that service can be questionable at times. Tonight was one of those times. Bummer. And it's loud so be ready to shout a bit.

Bar!! Endless possibilities

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Large Bar Options

HiFi Brew Lounge

4.5

(19 reviews)

3.4 mi

I was here for a work group dinner and we had the upstairs area to ourselves. Great service and…read morevery cute atmosphere. Our buffet was good, although not GF or Vegetarian-friendly. This could very well be our organizer's fault, not theirs. Wonderful salad, though. They had the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. dished separately. The drinks were great. We loved the Vodka Sodas - with chosen flavors, such as blueberry, Strawberry Basil, Raspberry Hibiscus, etc. There are restrooms upstairs as well.

Stopped while out riding bikes at the nearby park. It was lunch on a Friday. The service was great…read more The waitress was very friendly and helpful. Friend's chicken salad had kind of an odd texture because it appeared to be finely ground rather than shredded. It said it was basil chicken salad, but the basil was only there as a little hint. The bread was tasty as was the side salad with fresh ranch dressing. I had the lunch special - - two items for $12 or three items for $15. I had their tasty fries with a half turkey and Swiss. The turkey was meh. Kind of like reheated. I had requested a different bread than offered, and the waitress was unable to put it in the iPad. However, she did remember and it came out with my preferred bread choice. That's great service! We sat outside & it was a great day! We'll be back with our hubbies!

Bar area

Falafel Sticks

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Escape Lounge

Get place Great People. A Must Stop if your from out of town or a local. Also on Thursday it's Free…read morePool. Great Times

Great local bar. Stopped by a few times always have great service with Chris and Cathy around…read more Friendly, great service, always have a great time!

These r my brackets for ncca basketball

NCAA basketball pool

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Tito's Lounge

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $20 04/27/2026 Tonight's opportunity to enjoy another stop at Tito's came at the end of my journey updating several locations for happyhourdesmoiones.com. It was getting to be dinner time, so asked my wife to meet me here for my last stop. Every time we've stopped here, we have been impressed with the quality of the food and tonight was no different. I had already enjoyed some Happy Hour specials at another venue, but my wife hadn't yet eaten dinner. She ordered the Gyro & Fries (see picture) and as you might guess, I did try a couple of bites. We both thought it was a very good gyro and were delighted to see that it is the daily special each day from 11-2, so we will definitely be coming back for lunch some day. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

First time you ordered the calamari for an appetizer, and Cevapi…read more Your restaurant/bar is very nice and clean. The staff very friendly and approachable. First time having Cevapi and the bartender showed me how to eat it correctly. Which changed the whole taste of individually eating the sausages.

Restroom Area

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Black Sheep DSM

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.

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!!

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Tip Top Lounge

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!

It wouldn't be Ames without the Tip Top...my family gathered there following both my grandparents…read morefunerals to toss a few back in their honor since they should probably have had a couple stools named after them... and they passed in 95 and 97. Tip Top is iconic and has been a part of the landscape in Ames for as long as anyone can remember.

Good times at the Tip Top

Tip Top

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It's 6am on a Cyclone Gameday! Chili, a tequila shot, and a beer.

Juniper Moon

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.

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.

The vibe and interior are great.

The bar is very high

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Decanter lights

Aura Restaurant & Lounge

(48 reviews)

2.9 mi

We had a great experience here with family! My parents had dined here a few times and recommended…read moreit for a nice lunch before we left town. The space itself is stunning: live-edge wood tables, moody decor, and a clear attention to ambiance. The service is impeccable: our server was so kind, attentive, and welcoming. It really made an impact on our visit! My brother was obsessed with his pork belly quesadilla, and I loved my chicken picatta. Highly recommend!

We joined up with another couple to try out Aura as none of us had been there before. It's kind of…read morea long dining area with a bar on the left and booths on the right and tables down the middle. We opted for a booth and settled in and got in our drink orders. They have a nice wine list and plenty of other options for drinks. We decided on the Korean fried cauliflower as an appetizer and that was an excellent choice!. It had a great flavor and was nicely prepared and came out incredibly quick. I highly recommend it. For dinner, two in our group got the glazed salmon. They both said it was pretty good, but not a lot of heft in the flavor. Another in our party got the pesto pasta. He also said it was good and had a very strong pesto flavor. I got the red trout, which is blackened, but the blackening was on top of the skin, which is something I usually leave behind. I know many people love the skin on fish, but I prefer to not have that as part of my experience. The salsa it came with was good but the trout was very bland without the blackening. Our server was very good and the ambience is nice. It's reasonably quiet and on the night we went they were about 1/2 to 3/4 full Overall, it was OK. Prices are maybe on the slightly higher side of average, but were reasonable for what we got.

KNIFE AND FORK CAESAR SALAD

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Lemonade

Tuddy's Tavern

3.9

(34 reviews)

0.6 mi

Food was decent- especially the sweet potato waffle fries…read moreLots of TVs A bit on the pricey side

Beer and an appetizer was $31 before tax and tip. The service was great. The food was too salty,…read moreonly finished half. It was hot and muggy inside, lots of flies. Yes, that's August in the Midwest, but seemed over the top for that price point. Nice, but won't be back.

This is their $18 burger. Absolutely disgusting

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Menu

Topgolf

Always a fun outing even when it's cold out. The heaters made it very tolerable in the winter. They…read morehave nice pricing during week day afternoons. Drinks were good and fairly priced! Only downside was our bay server wasn't very friendly. The rest of the staff was nice. Additional note- somewhat frustrating they don't list any prices for drinks on their menus. However I think this is a standard across all topgolf locations

This might be a me problem, but it stuck with me and I think others should be aware since we were…read morenot. I booked online, used my debit card. We get there, there's a QR to scan and order drinks and food-so we do that. Host ends up coming over eventually and we order some stuff from her...didn't think much of it as she called herself a host, not a server or waitress (others ran the food and drinks to our table)...I had planned to leave her some cash as a tip (since i thought I paid for everything as I'm ordering it). Go to leave and I get stopped and asked if I paid online. I said I believe so, my cards on there...was told they would get a manager, manager said they don't see it paid on their end and asked me to prove it with bank statements...it was kind of embarrassing to be honest. People were starring and I was made to feel like I was going to walk out on the bill-which I absolutely had no intention of...I had no idea I had to present a card while there, no one explained that. We basically did everything ourselves online (ordering, reserving the bay, check in). I really don't enjoy confrontation, so even if someone just asked me for a card I would have handed it over without blinking, but no one did. It went straight to the manager and I felt like I was in trouble. Also-couldn't this have been taken care of before I even tried to leave? It's timed...so they had a general idea of when we would be done. In the end I gave them my card happily and paid, but the whole thing felt gross, process improvement is needed.

Topgolf Des Moines

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Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster

4.4

(74 reviews)

3.9 mi

I absolutely love this place. I live in Chicago and my fiancé is in DSM so we split time between…read moreboth places until he moves. Being in a transitional phase his kitchen is useless so if we want to eat it's got to be in a restaurant. We've been everywhere so no clue how this gem snuck past us. I would put them next to any of the high end places downtown without a second thought. The ambiance is clean, casual and cozy - think Colorado log cabin. It's not a big place so I imagine you'll find long waits on weekends. If so, wait. Trust me. It wasn't crowded because we typically don't venture out until late but 3/4 of the tables were occupied and several people were at the bar. Even so, it was easy to carry on a conversation without needing to raise our voices. It's difficult to choose what to order because everything sounds great. We ordered chicken fried oyster mushrooms for an app and they set the tone for everything else. Perfectly breaded and seasoned with actual flavor being the stale oil taste of a lot of fried apps. I had the Lobster Mac and it was absolutely decadent. There was a generous amount of lobster and the pieces themselves were substantial. The blend of cheeses was perfect. For the side (which wasn't even necessary because the size of the Mac was more than big enough) I got the Boursin Mushroom Au Gratin. I can't think of a word that describes how delicious it was. Perfect creaminess, rich with a slight tang...it could have stood on its own. My fiancé ordered the Iowa Chop and we were both shocked at the size of it. Again (yawn) cooked just right, not even a hint of the dryness you see a lot with chops. The Creamed Brussels Sprouts were great but I had eaten myself sick at this point so I had to admit defeat. Portions were big enough that I had plenty in the take home container for a whole meal the next day. I wanted to try the amazing looking pie but needed to be able to fit through the door to go home. Next time for sure. Service was really good. The server was laid back and quick with recommendations that she could back up instead of the standard "I like it" you get. I was shocked at the reasonable prices. These days $20 for a mediocre burger is standard so I couldn't believe the quality of food for the price. Our running joke is that once a restaurant starts laminating their menus, the quality is about to tank so I'm keeping my fingers crossed theirs steer clear. It's independently owned by the same people that own Barntown Brewing a few doors down. We will definitely try that out based on our experience here. My only critique is that they serve Pepsi instead of Coke. Seems like DSM leans that way which breaks my heart. My southern roots and common sense keep me loyal to Coca Cola. Where I grew up when you order a Coke the server asks what kind of Coke because it's just what you call every soft drink. Go. Go tonight. You won't regret it.

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 05/20/2026 The neighbors suggested the Guesthouse for our dinner tonight and given our experiences, we heartily agreed. We started our meals with a glass of beer, then ordered our dinners. Tonight, my wife opted for the Sweet Potato Gnocchi with grilled shrimp (see picture) - at our server Chelsea's suggestion (Chelsea was great). While I usually prefer trying different dishes vs. ordering what I've had before, it was Wednesday and I'm a sucker for specials...so again opted for Walleye Wednesday (see picture). While we both enjoyed both dishes after sharing tastes of each, the highlight of the meal was the Campfire Pie (that Chelsea recommended) along with a scoop of ice cream (at our neighbor's suggestion). Check it out in the picture and be sure to give it a try!

S'mores smoked dessert! 9/10. The only things that would have made it better would be a berry compote on top.

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Vietopia Asian Fusion

4.7

(44 reviews)

1.3 mi

Tried Vietopia (carryout), and overall...we left a little confused…read more The wings were honestly the highlight--really, really good. Didn't get much "lemon pepper," but still super flavorful. Potstickers were just okay. The dipping sauce didn't do them any favors--this felt like an easy upgrade they're missing. Imperial Egg Rolls were the biggest letdown. At $17 for three, I expected something memorable...they just weren't. Pad Thai landed squarely in "average." Grilled Honey Roast Chicken Egg Noodles was a mixed bag. The chicken itself was delicious, but the noodles were pretty bland--and oddly, they didn't really work together. Royal Fried Rice was a win. The combo of BBQ pork, sweet sausage, and shrimp came together really well. Seafood Noodle dish was unfortunately pretty bland. All in all, a few bright spots, but not a place we're rushing back to--though I'd reorder those wings without hesitation.

If you are looking for a unique experience to try a different style of vegetarian pho with tofu…read morethen Vietopia of E. P. true near Jordan Creek is the place. The entrees are well portioned. My favorite style of Pho is Soft meats. The tenderloin is too chewy but flavorful. The soft poached egg and the fresh veggies are phenomenal. The service is great with the wait staff being very attentive. However they were out of Mocktail offerings which is not good when more gatherings are opting for non alcoholic flavors. They need to stock up for millennials and the genzeers who want options. The total vibe was very peaceful and it allowed you to sit and think.

House phone special , pretty good

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Stacey E.

0

1

0

12 years ago

If you are looking for an establishment who is willing to charge you $1000 more than what you paid and have management laugh at you then for this is your bar!!!!! Don't ever ask for their incompetent staff of the name Holland pre-auth your card or you'll be in the same predicament that I am in. I was jokingly told the charge would never go through by a loser named Matt which so conveniently went through. read more

Corey F.

0

6

0

10 years ago

This place is great when it isn't busy. It's a bit loud for me when it is busy and a younger crowd but when it isn't busy you can enjoy one of the largest selections of scotch and the bar staff are so friendly. I love going here before a show at the funnybone. Great way to enjoy the wait before the show! read more

Maddie W.

0

9

3

7 months ago

They keep your wallet and then blame you for it. I've been there 1,000 times. And there are fucking insufferable to work with.

Jason M.

121

8

0

10 years ago

Your drunk DJ shouldered me against the wall and tried to fight me. Maybe you need to no serve your staff or DJ

Amber B.

60

10

2

12 years ago

Great atmosphere and friendly staff! My friends and I enjoy going here for happy hour or a full night out.

Matt M.

1

2

6

12 years ago

Great atmosphere! Staff is great! Great wine, and whiskey selection!! Lots of good times to be had here!!

Nikki M.

46

16

0

11 years ago

Looking for a friendlier neighborhood bar...

Tonic Bar - lounges - Updated August 2026

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Shotgun Betty's

3.5

(34 reviews)

Overall, we had fun, but there were some MAJOR issues. Drinks were very expensive (around $7.50…read moreeach). More concerning was a "regular customer named Hunter" who followed my friends and I around throughout the night. We reported his behavior to security MULTIPLE times, explaining that he was making us uncomfortable, but he was never asked to leave. He spent the night staring at us, following us around, and continuing to walk back and forth around our table. He also approached other women in ways that made them uncomfortable. He carried a fan and used it to blow up my friend's top. We witnessed him putting the fan near another woman's skirt. Security eventually asked him to put the fan away as that "was the issue", but no further action was taken despite numerous complaints. He was reported MULTIPLE times to the servers and security, and was NEVER escorted out because "he's usually harmless." Thankfully, a group of guys stood by my friends and my side all night, making sure this creep would not approach us again. Due to this man's creepy behavior and security's failure to make sure my friends and I were safe, I would NEVER return.

Great drink prices & specials. Love the live music. Staff is always very friendly & helpful…read more Definitely recommend.

Black Sheep DSM

(42 reviews)

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.

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!!

Winchester Public House

(58 reviews)

Had an opportunity to venture in on a Sunday (No Food Service) to review the minimalist bar food…read moremenu should I return since I do not partake in libations. The food choices were very limited $$, but there was an array of beers, wines, cocktails, and an assortment of other mixed libations. The decor is like a bar dive if liquor is your main thing. As a non drinker -- nothing stiffer than a Dr. Pepper-- this would not be my vibe, but may be yours if all you want is a solid selection of creative and mainstay libations from a very friendly bartender whose primary purpose was to please all who entered -- this tipsy topsy environment ( Like TV Cheers) -- then this may be the place for you.

There is nothing worse than sitting at a bar, during happy hour and having the bartender working…read moredirectly in front of you and not speaking, not making eye contact and completely ignoring you. He was short in his response when I asked about food and basically told me no, and I was angry when another group was served food. The space is cool and has an awesome atmosphere but dang, first impressions matter. There was 3 of us and the one who recommended it said that service can be questionable at times. Tonight was one of those times. Bummer. And it's loud so be ready to shout a bit.

The Lift

(80 reviews)

This hole-in-the-wall bar is a great spot for a few drinks with a date or small group. I've been…read morecoming here for Wednesday night martini specials for years. Martinis don't disappoint in my opinion. Not all are equal, but they do have some good tasting ones. I personally like the dirty and gimlet martinis the most. But their more fruity ones are good as well. Atmosphere is great. Walls are decked with local art, which I believe is also for sale. Good music plays throughout and not too loud where you can't have a conversation. Service is always friendly and helpful. Overall, it's one of my favorite spots downtown. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed the vibe here and the cocktails are good and reasonably priced. I had a Manhattan,…read more$10. The dimly lit room, local art and music are fun. Of course, the actual "lift" is the centerpiece. Definitely a great spot in a great city.

Good News, Darling

4.7

(19 reviews)

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.

The Bartender’s Handshake

4.7

(66 reviews)

Stopped in on a hot Sunday for a frozen drink. I saw they have a patio online; however, with the…read moreheat of the day, I ended up taking a seat inside. The server was efficient and quickly served me a mug of water. I started with the flamingo, which is a frozen daiquiri. I loved the glass straw and my drink stayed frozen to the last sip. Then I switched it up and got a mocktail. The Karate kid was carrot forward with a hint of ginger and spice. It was all around refreshing. I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the art above the table where I sat. I especially liked, "Be a Good Loser."

The server was friendly. The signage to find it was poor. The space inside is claustrophobic. Many…read moreof the drinks have flowers or vegetables instead of fruit. I got the Lambrusco which I didn't realize was a sparkling wine from a can. I made myself drink a few sips so I didn't feel like I was just lighting my money on fire. My friend ordered and expresso cocktail which we both tried and also had a disgusting face reaction to. I don't know how this place has such great reviews. Their menu is misleading and tells you it's like cherry popsicles instead of sparkling wine from a can.

Hello, Marjorie

4.6

(146 reviews)