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.

Cool place. Obviously British themed. Very chill when we went. Really neat bar - very historic…read morelooking. Mix of young and mature. Good specials and friendly bartenders. Good Mules and Pimm's Cup specials.

My wife and I came here on a pubpass and we parked in back. When we first arrived at this hidden…read moregem, I thought "am I at the right place?" Then I noticed the big flag and I decided that we were There was cool music playing at a reasonable volume, The bartender was very welcoming. They have a cute menu with a descent happy hour menu (pic attached) they had Paulener Hefeweizen on tap so I was happy. My wife ordered Slingshot from local Backpocket. Then she ordered a cucumber mint mule that was delicious. If you're looking for a nice,chill, dimly lit atmosphere, then London Underground is a great choice. I will definitely be back here again!

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

Happy they're open! The food is absolutely awesome, and the drink selections are creative and…read moregenuinely fun to explore. The service is consistently great, and the atmosphere feels lively, welcoming, and totally on point from the moment you walk in. Highly recommend

What a gem! This place was amazing. Such a cool building, loved the atmosphere. Service was…read morespectacular! We sat at the bar (you can make reservations for the bar, which is our favorite place to sit-highly recommend getting reservations for the weekend nights!). Creative cocktails, food had really great flavor. We were in town from Omaha and we will definitely be back!

Located approximately one block off the high trestle bridge bike trail, the public house is open…read moredaily (primarily morning hours, however, currently offering several days a week later afternoon check web for updates). A wonderfully preserved older building that offers indoor and outdoor seating, coffee bar, meeting areas, and a little stage area for musical events. Great pastries available too! Clearly a staple in the downtown Slater Township, this cute little shop has great service and excellent coffee!

GET YOUR AMAZING COFFEE IN THE COOLEST SPOT - I am obsessed with this location. The coffee is so…read moredelicious & the interior is genuinely amazing. They have a pool table & large area that would be perfect for a team meeting. Their coffee is delicious & the staffing is super helpful & quick to answer my questions. I even ended up spending more money on some homemade waxes they make & they are decadent & I get compliments on them so much.

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.

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.

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $32 03/14/2026 While certainly not our first visit here, it is the first time that I'm finally getting it documented. Tonight we stopped with friends who are neighbors with the owner after Mass. We started off by sharing a Wisconsin "Charcuterie" appetizer (see picture) - which was great to share with 4 people. Each of the items served in the pretzel were great - and we really enjoyed each of the dipping sauces. For our meals, my wife ordered the Chicago Beef (see picture) and I opted for the Mediterranean Bowl (see picture). As we always do, we shared our plates. While both were very good, I was especially impressed with the Mediterranean Bowl - it was so cool, light and tasty! Merll's is a relatively recent addition to the Waukee pub scene and worth a stop to sample some of their great food! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

I like Merll's! The service is really good. It is classic bar food. Tons of TVs to watch sports…read more They have a huge amount of drinks to try at decent prices, and rotating cocktail flavors. I'd definitely recommend pizza, bowls, and cheese curds.

We wandered in on a week night and had so much fun! I imagine given the gorgeous space, incredible…read moredrinks, attentive serve, and delicious bites, this place is packed on the weekends. Oh and BTW... The Contrary in Des Moines has also been recognized as a national semifinalist for Best New Bar ( 2026 ). The Food is elevated Bar Bites The Drinks are contemporary craft ( both cocktails and mocktails ) and the Vibe is New York Chic with Iowa Elbow Room.

The Contrary is one of those places that just gets it right…read more The atmosphere is intimate and stylish without feeling try-hard, and the menu is creative in a way that actually works. Every dish we tried was thoughtful, well-balanced, and full of flavor--you can tell there's real intention behind the food, not just trends for the sake of trends. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and timed perfectly. We never felt rushed, but everything flowed smoothly. It's a great spot for a date night or a low-key celebration where you want good conversation and even better food. If you're looking for something a little different but still comforting and elevated, The Contrary is absolutely worth the visit.

Always fresh and hot. Made to order every time. Our go to for great Mexican food. A half hour drive…read morefor the best Mexican restaurant is not a problem.

Great good love the chili Relleno's. Service was fantastic especially with a large group no…read morecomplaints.