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.

I loved the Sandy's Recipe with NUTELLA COCONUT, a very rich and sweet drink doesn't taste the…read morealcohol. My friends had the cookie shot glass (you can eat it) and Serenity Now and they enjoyed theirs.

Went to the Christmas pop up for Secret Admirer and was super impressed. Drinks tasted delicious…read moreand cookies were absolutely perfect. The service was quick despite being packed full on a Friday night. The whole ambiance was perfect and brought amazing Christmas nostalgic feelings. Aesthetic 10/10. Such a vibe - go!!!

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.

Sydney was a very attentive bartender the amisade was warm and cozy nice TV s sport's were in every…read moreTV I didn't order food just drinks I would recommend to friends and family

This is a funky little whole in the wall in the basement of a building. It specializes in Mules,…read morewhich I had the Whisky variety. We stopped in before a Thursday night dinner date so it was pretty quite. I could see it becoming very loud at night.

We stopped in to waste some time before heading ti the airport. Really, we were dropping our…read morecollege kid off to head back to TX for his spring semester & mom needed a margarita! Margs were $1.99 (Sun/Mon). We ordered fajita nachos to share (we weren't really hungry) but were not disappointed. Our waitress Karina was amazing & we will DEF stop in again when in DSM.

Super good quesadilla super good queso that like liquids queso that's perfect and super good steak…read moreplus my partner loves the vegetarian options as well

My how I have missed my favorite restaurant in the Midwest! This was my first time at their new…read morelocation and it did not disappoint. Chef Lynn greeted me when I walked in and took time to chat with me. Everyone and everything here is fabulous and I will be back as often as possible. The food, service and ambiance are fabulous!

We had a good experience! The restaurant was busy when we visited, but the staff handled everything…read morewith a positive attitude. Even with a full dining room, everyone was friendly and worked hard to make sure we were taken care of. However, we spent more time there than we originally planned waiting. The food was good. You could tell the kitchen and staff were doing their best to keep up with the crowd without sacrificing quality.

We try to catch at least one show a year at Noce (but it is always nice when we go more than…read moreonce!). We usually try to go as part of my birthday celebration and tonight we enjoyed the Des Moines Big Band playing "Sounds of the Season". Two hour show with about a 20-minute break and it was an excellent concert. My husband and I both enjoy jazz and Noce is an excellent venue. Small and intimate with a full bar and, if you are hungry, you can order a cheese plate or salty snacks. There was a biting wind when we went tonight so the hot toddy warmed us from the inside out. Our server replenished the hot water midway through, which was appreciated. Great night out, we really should do it more often!

Max Wellman has created and fostered one of the warmest, most welcoming, creative and lovely rooms…read morein all of Central Iowa with Noce! It is among my favorite local gems to introduce locals and visitors alike to. The jazz music line-up is always evolving, and Max has such a gift for curating a calendar that elevates other artists (musicians, singers, dancers and more). I have so many fond memories made here over the past 9 years. It's a grown-up night out that's not stuffy or stale, and the service is always a beautiful ballet to watch, too! Highly recommend visiting early and often throughout the year, any time Max and/or Napoleon are singing or for all of the Voix de Ville and holiday shows you can snag tickets for. You won't be disappointed!

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.