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!

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.

As a noobie to Ames, Iowa, I wasn't sure what to expect of the nightlife here. Iowa State is a big…read morecollege campus, and on any given night, you can find youngsters like myself roaming the streets to find a good bar. Well folks, I think we found a keeper. My boyfriend insisted that Welch's makes the best White Russians (my absolute favorite drink of all time) , so we stopped into Welch's on a Saturday night around 11:30pm. For any other noobies like myself, you enter Welch Ave Station by going through the door and DOWN the stairs. The stairs that go up lead to a pizza place. When I entered, I saw that it wasn't too busy and on a Saturday night, that surprised me. I wasn't complaining though because that meant A) no nasty sweaty bodies everywhere and B) more breathing room for me! We immediately made our way to the bar. They have a variety of lit up signs that let you know what the drink specials are, and the different kinds of shots/drinks they make which was helpful! I saw names of drinks I'd never heard of before! We started with the infamous White Russians and went from there. The White Russians (we got the double) were delicious...creamy with just the right amount of vodka. I swear it tasted like a milkshake. We also got a round of Scooby Snack shots. I've never had them before, but I'm a big Scooby-Doo fan, and they were mega-tasty! If you're looking for a "shake-your-booty-to-booty-bumpin'-music" kind of energy, Welch's isn't the place for you. Welch's has a very laid back atmosphere. If you want to munch on some 50 cent popcorn, have conversations with your peers or play some pool, Welch's can do all of that for you. I enjoyed having a casual and relaxed night with some friends...nothing too crazy, but still a great time. Oh, and get the White Russians. Every. Time. P.S.- I heard they only used to accept cash, but they do accept both cash and card now!

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?

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.

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.

I am here currently and I asked to play pool with the guys playing. I was told no. it seems locals…read morehave it shut down for travelers. It is not a good bar to visit if you are looking for something to do in the area.

Best dive bar in Ames…read more Good prices drinks Daily deals Friendly staff 10/10 would recommend going here if you like dive bars

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!!

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!

Awesome place that really surprised. Clearly a farm to table concept with a varied but overwhelming…read moremenu. Came in on a weeknight with coworkers and received good service and fantastic food. Nice drink menu (I enjoyed their take on the old fashioned) with cocktails and a nice craft beer selection. Everyone loved their food, from the barley soup to the ravioli, burger, Brussels salad, and the salmon I got. Hidden gem perhaps was their incredible dessert selection. The cherry tart was a pleasant surprise and the salted caramel chocolate cake will def fix a choc craving. Would gladly come back.

Since Dad's now a bit more mobility challenged (at 97), I've taken him to Provisions Lot F for…read moredinner during my last 3 visits to Ames. The booths are large, the aisles are wide, and the bathroom is very accessible. He "complains" about the prices, but we both agree how much we like the menu, the service, and atmosphere. Actually, I came by myself the other night and sat at the bar as the restaurant seating was pretty much full. And despite a solid menu, I'm a creature of habit and chose what I "always do (with a glass of white wine). SOUP + SALAD + BREAD cup of soup (my choice: Salmon Chowder), house salad, warm multigrain roll, whipped cottage cheese dip Delicious, relatively healthy, and just the right amount of food. And I don't forget to pick up one of their wonderful baked goods on the way out.