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!!

Fabulous. Love the…read morefood menu & drinks. Love the staff. Love the patio great prices & service. Props to Rusty.

Very queer friendly, great people, food, and performances and positive atmosphere. I Appreciate the…read moreowner very much

Up-Down IS that girl!! Nobody does it like her and everyone else is jealous. This has got to be my…read morefavorite bar in DSM. The Mac and Cheese pizza is genuinely a godsend, and I've only thrown up from taking one too many shots once!! They have a perfect back alley for that, and there's steps leading up from downstairs to make sure you can get out there in time when you feel it coming, lmao. All jokes and drinking related mishaps aside, I truly am so glad we've got a place like this in the area. Great selection of arcade games and the cocktails are cute and nerdy. They had blood bags around Halloween-- genius! The bartenders are gems and I've had nothing but amazing experiences here.

Fun spot for grabbing drinks and having an activity with all the game options. The security…read morechecking IDs were super funny and welcoming. They did have pizza there which I did not try, but thought it was nice they did offer a food option. The games take quarter tokens and they have a machine to convert dollars into the tokens. Unfortunately, a lot of the games were broken. This is also a very gaming style heavy arcade. The only games they have that are not arcade style games is skee ball and basketball (which was broken). Overall a fun spot in DSM for a date night or hanging out with friends!

I love Saddle with all my heart. I've had so many great memories here, and it's where I usually end…read moremy night out with friends. The drinks are STRONG, but the people are stellar and so fun. Even waiting in the bathroom line is a fun time. This is such an inclusive space and I hope it sticks around for a long time. Every drag performer I've seen here works it like no other. Cash only!

My friend and I came here last night and had a really good time. The first thing I noticed was how…read morepacked it was. There was a show going on and the talent was an interesting mix, while the energy in the room was high and loud. When the show ended, the stage square became open for dancing, so we shook it out like we had rent due. Since this bar appears to be a no-bro-zone, dancing this way runs little to no risk of catching a clingon from behind. I appreciate this a lot. The music was filled with vulgar, thumpy bass - the kind that almost demands that grinding is the only acceptable way to dance. High brow stuff, you know? I was surprised that there weren't more people dancing, actually. It took a long time to catch the bartender's attention, but they were really busy and I think each side could have probably used two. Either way, it was friendly service! This is CASH ONLY though, and drag costs money, so brings them dollars for drinks and tips!

Bellhop is so fun!! Pretty expensive (what can you expect with the novelty of the drinks) and not a…read moreton of space to sit and chat if you've got a big group and aren't lucky enough to get the corner booth. Not an outside type of situation, but you'll get that at Ernie's right next door. Worth trying if you've only got a few days in town or have never been there. Bartenders are always super nice, and they serve regular drinks too if the fancy tiki cocktails aren't your thing.

Cute spot! LOVED the photobooth. Great service and fun drinks…read more Paloma - yum! Funky Flamingo - good but a little too funky for the large drink portion Banana daiquiri - holy moly delicious. Intense for a full drink.

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.

Unique experience and unique cocktails tucked away in downtown Des Moines. Highly recommend for a…read morememorable experience

Another birthday stop!…read more We stopped here for drinks and a game of pool. The place is really cool with an old triple arch back bar with lots of history. Not to mention the vibe here is classy and clean. It gives me an old prohibition period bar feels. Craig the barkeep was very friendly and welcoming. He did a fantastic job telling g us the history of the place and his role there. He expertly provided drinks and made me a spot on old fashioned! The liquor selection is very extensive and great qualities of bourbon and whiskey. The place was immaculate and the glasses were all spot free. However, it was a Sunday afternoon so not a lot of business but I'd like to come back during a happy hour! We will definitely come back here and would recommend trying it out for yourselves! Tell Craig, Hi!

My favorite whiskey bar, then it wasn't, and now it is again. With new management, Craig has made…read moresweeping changes for the better. Besides the speakeasy vibe, old Charm, and great whiskey selection, you can now order tapas and listen to live music. A gem in the east village you don't want to pass up.

New speakeasy below hotel fort Des Moines. Went here on a Friday night around 9pm. You are led…read moredownstairs where the bar is. The decor was super nice and certainly have a speakeasy vibe. Most of the seating here seemed to be targeted towards large groups so there wasn't a ton of option for a party of 2. We did not have a reservation so there was only 1 high top area that was honestly super uncomfortable. I would recommend making a reservation if you want a chance to sit at one of the lower chair areas. The biggest issue was the service. It took over 20 minutes for anyone to come over and take our drink order. This is a newer spot so I'm hopeful things can improve. It was super loud and not the most inviting space. Some of the seating was a bit awkward with spacing. The drinks were small but I would expect that for a higher end cocktail. For DSM, I did think some of the drinks seemed a bit expensive. The drinks were okay but seemed pretty weak where they were super juice heavy. Overall I would probably not come back unless I had friends who haven't been and wanted to try it. Super bummed as I do think there is potential here but need to work through some of these issues.

This speakeasy bar is located inside the hotel fort in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. To get there,…read moreyou will enter the coffee bar, once you walk around the bar, you'll see a velvet rope. Somebody will ask you how many people in your party and then open the wall pantry. This will lead to the stair that goes downstairs to the basement. Bar lighting is dim, intimate feel. There's bar seating, high tops, tables that accommodate large parties and VIP room that has a curtain for privacy. We ordered cocktails that were unique crafted. Bathroom is available, hallway of pictures of people dressed in the 1920s all over the wall. We enjoyed this speakeasy bar and will definitely come back with more people.

Our first experience here was 2 years ago during the St. Pattys day crawl - we had the best…read moreespresso martinis we've ever had in our entire lives. This year, there was about 18 of us bar crawling and when we arrived we were told there were no espresso martinis. We then watched them restock and prep for more espresso martinis - we were not among the lucky few to receive them and it didn't matter how long we waited in line. It was truly frustrating and we would've waited a long period to receive those drinks. The entire purpose of our visit and the highlight of our evening would've been ending the night with espresso martinis. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Daylen was a joy. someone you want to walk in and have greet you. Smile, humor, and total…read morefriendliness amazing. I will definitely go back.

This venue is a good size, the one thing I would change is there are large posts on the sides of…read morewhere you stand to see the show. So if you get a bad spot behind a post, it can be a bit annoying trying to find a space to see the whole show. The security guards were working VERY hard during the show we attended, from catching the crowed surfers to breaking up a fight that happened right in front of us. I was thankful they were there when the people started fighting because it was very rowdy and in the middle of the show! I am excited to go back for another show soon!

I'd heard so much raving about Wooly's, I was excited to see a show there. It was a serious…read moredisappointment. With all the great venues and shows that come through Des Moines I am not in a rush to return. The crowd was extremely rude, talking over the opener. She was a talented songwriter with a gorgeous voice, but it was hard to make out all of her lyrics due to the patrons shouting over her. The place is dirty and staff was less than pleasant. The restrooms cinched the deal for me. They are in a creepy basement and are filthy. I'll pass next time!